Read Online Wanted by R. L. Stine - Free Book Online Page B

her mom said. “They were already here once. They couldn’t believe the damage one girl could do.” She sighed. “My insurance company won’t believe it, either.”
    â€œYou ruined my party,” Polly said in a trembling voice. “We all … we all just wanted to have some fun. And you ruined it!”
    They both narrowed their eyes and scowled at me.
    â€œI … I’m so sorry,” I murmured. “I came back to apologize. And to help clean up.”
    â€œWe don’t want your help,” Polly’s mom said.
    â€œWhy did you do it, Lu-Ann?” Polly asked.
    â€œI … don’t know,” I answered. “I can’t explain it.”
    â€œDo you hate me? I thought we were friends.”
    â€œI don’t hate you, Polly,” I said. “It’s just …”
    â€œWhy do you still have that horrible mask on?” her mom demanded. “Take it off. It’s not funny. It’s making me sick. Really.”
    â€œI can’t take it off!” The words burst out of me. “Don’t you see?” I screamed. “It won’t come off!”
    â€œThat’s not funny,” Polly said. “I thought you came back to help us. So why are you telling such a stupid lie?”
    â€œIt’s not a lie,” I said, trying to calm down. “Look at me, Polly. Look —”
    Her mom let out a long sigh. “Just go home, Lu-Ann. You’ve done enough damage for one night.”
    She turned to the living-room window. Gusts of cold wind blew in through the open hole. “I can’t get anyone out here this late to cover up the window. It’s freezing in here. Look what you’ve done. Just look what you’ve done.”
    â€œI can help,” I said.
    She was right. I’d done a horrible thing. But she wasn’t trying to understand. She didn’t want to believe me about the mask. She said I was a liar.
    A liar … a liar … a liar …
    â€œI can help,” I said. “Watch.”
    I picked up a long-handled broom. And I swung the handle into a table lamp. The lamp cracked and toppled off the table, shattering on the floor.
    Then I swept the broom over the mantel, knocking all the little pumpkins to the floor. I walked over them and stomped hard on them, smashing their pumpkin goo into the carpet.
    Then with my incredible evil strength, I pushed the tip of the broom handle into the back of the couch. It split the leather and slid right through the couch, and poked out of the other side.
    â€œSee how I can help?” I screamed.
    Polly and her mom were running around in frantic circles, shouting and wailing in a total panic.
    â€œGo home, Lu-Ann! Go home! Go home! You’re sick !” Polly shrieked, her face bright red, her eyes bulging in horror and disbelief.
    Her mom grabbed the phone. I knew she was calling the police.
    All I wanted to do was apologize and help them clean up the mess I’d made. But I couldn’t control myself. The Haunted Mask was telling me what to do. Forcing me to do its evil.
    I tipped over the coffee table. Then I picked up the vacuum cleaner cord and tore it in half.
    Polly came charging at me and tried to tackle me. I spun away and darted to the stairs.
    Breathing hard, I ran all the way up to the attic. The lamp was still on. The black-and-gold chest sat open near the wall. Costumes were strewn over the floor. The closet door was closed.
    The closet …
    Once again, I pictured the ghost inside the closet. The terrifying ghost that had grabbed me and tried to pull me inside.
    Suddenly, I had a crazy idea.

I took a few steps toward the closet door, thinking hard.
    That hideous old ghost … I never had a chance to warn Polly about him.
    Maybe I could scare the ghost away. Maybe I could use the evil of the Haunted Mask to chase the ghost from the closet.
    That would be an act of kindness for Polly and her mother, right? That would be an act