Fear Hall: The Beginning by R.L. Stine, Franco Accornero

up,” I told her. “I’m off to a late start.”
    I pulled open the room door and held it for her, hoping she’d take the hint.
    â€œOkay. See you later,” she said. She forced a smile and made her way out.
    Melanie is very suspicious, I realized as I closed the door behind her. She kept studying me, watching my every move.
    What has she heard? What has she seen?
    Maybe she saw Darryl sneaking in and out of my room, I decided. Maybe she thinks I’m hiding him now.
    Darryl. I’ve got to talk to him. If Melanie suspects …
    Darryl has to go away for a while, I decided.
    It will break my heart. But he has to leave the campus. Get far away. Hide somewhere safe until this all blows over.
    Yes. I suddenly started to feel better.
    I realized that I’d finally had a good idea. The right idea.
    Darryl had to go away.
    But will he agree? I wondered. What will he say when I tell him?
    Will he rant and roar and get furious as usual? Will he try to argue with me? Will he tell me that he’ll never leave me—never?
    Or will he realize that this is the best plan? Will he see that I’m only thinking of his safety? Only thinking of
our
future?
    Outside the window, clouds rolled away from the sun. Orange morning sunlight washed into the room.
    I moved to the window and felt the warmth of the sunlight on my face. Squinting down at the campus below, I saw dark-uniformed figures scurrying around.
    Police officers!
    What’s going on? I wondered.
    I peered through the glare on the glass. And saw three officers surrounding a guy with dark hair.
    Darryl?
    Yes. Darryl.
    â€œOh no!” I cried, pressing my hands against the glass.
    What are they
doing
to him?
    I pressed my face against the glass and squinted into the sun. One officer grabbed Darryl’s shoulder. The other two moved on either side.
    Are they arresting him? I wondered.
    Do they know? Do they know he’s the one?
    I have to get out there, I decided. I have to try to help Darryl.
    Maybe I can give him an alibi. Maybe I can persuade the cops that Darryl was with me when the murders occurred.
    I have to try, I told myself.
    I can’t just stand here watching. Watching them take Darryl away.
    My heart pounding, I crossed the room. Pulled open the door. Started into the hall—before I realized I was still in my nightshirt.
    Down the hall, two girls looked up.
    I spun around and darted back into the room.
    â€œGot to get dressed. Got to hurry,” I told myself.
    I had to get outside before the police dragged Darryl away.
    I ran to the closet to get some clothes. I grabbed the handle, started to turn it—and remembered Eden.
    Eden. My prisoner.
    My friend. My prisoner.
    A sick cry escaped my throat.
    How could I have done that to her? Was I out of my head? Was I totally nuts?
    I’ll let her out, I decided. I’ll explain to her. I’ll apologize and beg her to forgive me.
    Eden will understand. Maybe …
    I took a deep breath and pulled open the closet door. “Eden—?”
    She was gone.

chapter 24
    I stared down at the closet floor. At a crumpled pair of jeans on the floor. And a pair of black sneakers on their sides.
    â€œEden—?”
    The closet darkened in front of me, as if a black cloud were sweeping over it. I felt myself pulled, pulled into the gaping darkness.
    As if the closet were opening wide, revealing a black hole at its back. Opening wide and swallowing me whole. Sucking me into endless darkness.
    â€œEden—?”
    Where was she? Where?
    I heard a soft groan. Behind me.
    â€œHuh?”
    I spun around. Blinked twice. Three times.
    Eden rolled over in her bed. She raised her head off the pillow and opened one eye. “What time is it?” she asked sleepily. “Is it late?”
    I was too stunned to answer. I grabbed the sides of the closet with both hands. My mouth dropped open.
    Eden opened her other eye. “Hope—are you