Dance of Death (13 page)
Authors: R.L. Stine
It's not important, she thought. Getting away from Justin is the only thing that matters.
The glow ahead of her grew stronger.
I've got to keep going. I'm almost there.
She rounded a bend in the passage and a strange room spread out before her.
It looks like a scientific laboratory, she thought.
A young man sat at a large desk in the center of the laboratory. He stared at Madeline with sorrowful eyes. His body glowed with the eerie yellow light.
The ghost!
Madeline tensed, waiting for the ghost to attack her.
But he just sat there, looking sad and beaten.
“You weren't trying to hurt me, were you?” Madeline
whispered. “You were trying to warn me. And keep me away from Justin.”
The young man nodded. He rose and floated toward her.
“Now you're trying to help me get away. How?
How do I do it?”
“He can't tell you,” came the reply. “And besides, it's too late.”
23
J
ustin!
There must be another passageway, Madeline thought.
Justin stood on the opposite side of the laboratory. Cutting off her only escape route.
“You're too late again, Tobias.” Justin gloated as he sauntered into the laboratory. “I've tasted her blood. You know what that means. She belongs to me now.”
Tobias! The name Auntie always called.
The ghost of Tobias floated between Madeline and Justin.
Even now, he's trying to protect me, she thought.
The ghost threw his head back. His mouth opened in a silent howl. The glow around him turned an angry red.
He can't speak, she realized. There was no way for him to explain what was really happening.
“Get out of my way, Tobias,” Justin cried. “You couldn't stop me when you were alive. You can't stop me now. She's mine and I'm going to take her!”
Justin lunged at Madeline.
The ghost flew at him. Madeline scooted around the edge of the room. She could hear Justin's evil laughter.
“I'm going to beat you again, Tobias,” he shouted. “I'm stronger than you are, even though you have ghostly powers.”
Justin and the ghost of Tobias wrestled together. A tray of laboratory bottles fell over with a crash.
Justin is right, Madeline realized as she watched their battle. He is stronger than the ghost. She could see the fight draining Tobias's strength. Already, the glow from his body had faded to a pale light.
Madeline began to edge toward the passageway Justin had used. I've got to find the way out. If only Tobias can hold Justin off long enough, I can escape!
With a great shout, Justin plunged his fists straight through Tobias's body.
The ghost disappeared.
“I've done it,” Justin cried. “I've beaten you, Tobias. Now, nothing can stop me. Madeline is mine.”
Justin spun around to face her. His chest heaved with exertion. Sweat dripped down from his brow. His blue eyes burned with a terrible fever.
A fever for my blood!
How can I ever have thought he was handsome? He looks like a demon. A demon hungry for blood.
I've got to get away from him. I must!
“There's no sense in running. You can't escape me, Madeline,” Justin told her calmly.
He strode toward her. Madeline backed away.
“It doesn't hurt, you know,” Justin continued in the same calm tone. “You won't feel anything at all. And your beauty will help me be young forever. Wouldn't you like that?”
He's completely insane, she thought. Completely evil. And there's no one to protect me from him. I'm all alone.
She took another step back as Justin advanced. He reached for her. His fingers twitched uncontrollably, as if he longed to wrap them around her throat.
“Be sensible, Madeline,” Justin suggested. “Why make it harder on yourself?”
Desperately, Madeline looked around for a weapon.
Too late! Too late! Justin grabbed Madeline with his cold, cold hands.
Madeline glimpsed a streak of white out of the corner of her eye. Then a flash of metal.
Madeline heard a howl of furyâand someone leaped onto Justin's back. Justin cried out and twisted around.
It's Auntie! Madeline thought. She has a knife. She's trying to kill Justin!
But is she strong enough?
Justin shrieked like a madman. He spun in circles. Trying to fling Auntie from his back.
He flailed at her, striking her and striking her. He tried to catch hold of her legs and pull her off.
Auntie's harsh panting filled the laboratory.
She can't do it, Madeline thought.
She can't use the knife. It's taking all her strength just to hang on to Justin.
One part of Madeline's mind told her she should run. Race down the passage. Run for her life.
But another part of her couldn't bring herself to abandon Auntie.
She tried to warn me and protect me. She's the only real friend I have in Shadowbrook.
I can't abandon her to Justin. I've got to stay to help her.
Madeline rushed toward them.
Too late.
Bellowing in fury, Justin threw himself back against the laboratory wall.
Crack!
Auntie's head smashed against the hard surface. Blood spurted from beneath her veil.
Crack!
Justin slammed himself against the wall again and again. Auntie's head flopped like a rag doll's. She lost her grip on his shoulders and slumped to the ground.
Her veil slipped off and landed in a bloody heap beside her. Madeline saw Auntie's face clearly for the first time. She felt hypnotized by the sight.
In the wrinkled old face Madeline saw the shadows of ruined beauty. Auntie had been lovely once. Except for the long jagged scar that ran across one cheekbone.
Her blue eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. Madeline felt her stomach reel at the sight of the blood that spurted from the wound on Auntie's head.
“Old fool,” Justin gloated. He panted, trying to catch his breath. “Did you think that you could beat me?”
“The knife,” Auntie gasped. “Madeline, the knife!”
24
M
adeline lunged.
Yes, the knife! Her only chance. She had to grab it!
She felt the breath shoot from her lungs as she landed on the hard floor of the laboratory. She could feel the hilt of the knife digging into her ribs.
I've got it! I've got the knife! Now I can save myself.
She rolled over, her fingers scrabbling for the handle of the knife. She grabbed it and sat up just as Deborah and Marcus burst out of the passage.
“Take her,” Justin shouted wildly. “Stop her. She's got a knife.”
Marcus strode forward. He reached down to grab her. Madeline slashed the blade across his hand.
Blood ran down the blade and dripped onto Madeline's dress. Marcus fell back, howling in rage and agony.
“You horrible girl,” he cried out. “Look what you've done! I ought toâ”
He reached for her with blood-soaked fingers.
“Don't hurt her, Marcus,”
Justin shouted. “If she's damaged she's useless to me. She's got to be perfect.”
Everyone in the laboratory stood stone still.
They're all afraid of what I might do, Madeline realized. She slowly pushed herself to her feet.
She held the knife up in front of her, waving it at Deborah and Marcus. Instantly, the two fell back.
Madeline reversed the blade, so that its keen edge pointed straight at her own face.
“Stay away from me, all of you,” she commanded in a tense voice. “Stay back or I'll cut myself.”
Slowly, Madeline inched around the outside of the laboratory, aiming for the passage that she guessed led to Justin's house.
Justin stood in the center of the room, pivoting as Madeline made her slow circuit. His blue eyes never left her face. Madeline stared into them, drawn by their fierce power.
“Madeline, listen to me,” Justin whispered. His voice sounded soft and soothing, as if he were telling a bedtime story to a small and frightened child.
“What has come over you all of a sudden? You can't really think I want to hurt you. I asked you to be my wife. I love you, Madeline. I want to marry you!”
Madeline felt woozy. Her legs felt rubbery. She stumbled as she crossed the floor.
He wants to marry me. He says he loves me.
All her earlier feelings for Justin returned with a rush.
What am I so afraid of? Justin is brave and handsome. He loves me and I love him. He wants to
protect me from danger, not hurt me. He wants me to be his wife.
“Justin,” Madeline whispered. “Oh, Justin, I've been so unhappy. So confused.”
“I know,” Justin answered soothingly. “I know you have, my darling. But that's all over now. You have remembered your true feelings and everything's going to be all right.
“I want you to listen to me very carefully, Madeline,” Justin continued, edging forward.
“Put down the knife.”
The knife, she thought. There's something important I have to do with the knife.
What is it? Why can't I remember?
“The knife,” she murmured. “The knife ⦔
“Put the knife down, Madeline,” Justin instructed again. He moved a little closer. “Put it down and no one will get hurt. Then we can be married. Wouldn't you like that?”
Married to Justin. It was what she wanted. What she dreamed of. The happy ending to her unhappy life.
Madeline's grip on the knife wavered. Her arm dropped to her side.
“That's right, Madeline,” Justin encouraged her. “That's right.”
Across the room, Madeline heard Auntie moan.
Madeline's head cleared instantly. Her grip on reality returned with a snap.
I understand what Justin is trying to do. He's using the power of his voice to seduce me.
“Justin.” She sighed, pretending to be under his sway. “Help me. Help me do what you want me to.”
She teetered, as if her tired legs could no longer hold her. “Justin, help me,” she cried.
Closer. Come just a little closer, she thought.
“Justin,” Madeline whispered. “I love you.”
Triumph flooded Justin's face. “I know you do, sweetheart,” he crooned. “And I love you, too. Now give me the knife, Madeline.”
He stepped closer. Madeline smiled up into his face.
So handsome. So evil.
“Yes, Justin,” she whispered. “Yes.”
She held out the knife.
Justin reached for it, eagerly.
Madeline slashed the knife across his eyes.
25
J
ustin screamed and staggered away from her.
Bright red blood poured out of his eye sockets.
“The blood of all your innocent victims is flowing from you at last,” Madeline cried. “Now you will have the horrible fate that you deserve. All your youth and good looks will desert you. You will grow old and die.”