The New Year's Party by R.L. Stine

18

A CROWDED CAR
    A crunching sound nearby. A low roar.
    â€œWhat’s that?” Jeremy whispered.
    Beth heard it, too. “It’s a car!” she exclaimed. “Coming from over there.”
    Headlights swept over the snow as the car approached. The low roar of its engine grew louder.
    Beth and Jeremy moved to the side of the road, frantically waving their arms. The car’s headlights grew brighter.
    But… but it’s not slowing down! Beth realized.
    â€œStop! Hey—stop!” she screamed. “Emergency! Stop!”
    The car roared past them, whipping snow and slush into Beth’s face.
    What is wrong with that guy? Why didn’t he stop? Beth wondered. She watched as the car’s taillights shrank to two red dots, then vanished.
    â€œMaybe he thought it was a trick,” Jeremy suggested. “Maybe he thought we planned to rob him. Or maybe he was late for a New Year’s party. It is New Year’s, after all.”
    Beth clutched his arm. “Listen, another car is coming!”
    â€œI’m going to make sure this one stops,” Jeremy said. He strode to the center of the road and turned to face the oncoming vehicle.
    Beth joined him. A truck this time, she decided. She could tell by the way the ground shook, and by the sound of its diesel engine.
    The truck’s headlights rolled over the snowy ground.
    The vibrations beneath Beth’s feet grew more intense.
    Beth and Jeremy frantically waved their arms over their heads.
    The truck sped toward them, roaring through the silent night.
    â€œHelp us!” Beth screamed. “Please!”
    Beth could see the truck’s grille.
    And bumper.
    â€œJump!” she shrieked. She flung herself out of the truck’s path. Jeremy landed hard beside her.

    â€œI don’t believe it!” Beth cried. “That truck nearly flattened us!”
    â€œHe didn’t even slow down,” Jeremy murmured, his eyes on the vanishing taillights. “What is wrong with people tonight? Don’t they have any holiday spirit?”
    They picked themselves up. Beth brushed some snow off Jeremy’s back. I should be freezing, Beth thought. But I’m not. Must be the shock of the accident.
    â€œSomeone
has to stop,” Beth murmured.
    Help us, she thought. Please. Someone.
    A tear trickled down her cheek. Then another. And another. She wiped them away.
    Three more cars sped past them without slowing down.
    â€œWhat are we going to do?” Jeremy asked. “We can’t stay out here. We’ll freeze.”
    â€œI saw some lights over there,” Beth said, pointing.
    But she couldn’t find them again. Where were they? Could the trees be blocking her view? She moved to the left, peering through the trees.
    And there they were! Pale white lights. Up near the top of a hill. Windows. Glowing brightly.
    â€œIt’s a house!” she cried. “Whoever lives there will help us. They’ve got to!”
    They hurried toward the distant lights. When they reached a wire fence, they climbed over and found themselves in a snow-covered field. The ground beneath the snow was uneven, and they both kept slipping.

    â€œMy boot is full of snow,” she complained. But her foot didn’t feel cold. Did she have frostbite?
    They trudged on. The lights grew brighter. They could see the house clearly. But they had to climb over two more fences before they reached it.
    â€œFinally!” Beth sighed as they climbed onto the wooden front porch.
    Lights glowed from three windows. Someone had to be home. Thank goodness, she thought. Oh, thank goodness.
    Beth pressed the doorbell. She could hear the chimes ringing inside.
    They waited.
    No one came to the door. Beth and Jeremy exchanged worried glances.
    Beth rang the bell again. She thought she saw the curtain in the front window twitch, but no one appeared.
    Jeremy knocked on the door. He pounded on it again and again.
    And still no one