Fear Hall: The Beginning Read Online Free Page B

You’re going to make me lose my job.”
    I didn’t leave the restaurant until about seven-twenty. The dishwasher was broken. And Marty made me wash all the cups and glasses by hand.
    I didn’t really mind. He always paid me overtime when I worked late.
    But I couldn’t understand why he kept staring at me all afternoon. Studying me. Like I was a bug under a rock or something.
    A couple of times, I started to ask him what his problem was. But each time, I chickened out.
    Jasmine, don’t look for trouble.
    That’s what I told myself.
    I dried my hands and hung up the towel. Then I picked up my backpack from the supply closet and headed to the back door.
    Marty locks the front door at seven. So I always leave by the back.
    â€œAre you working tomorrow?” he asked as I stepped out into the alley.
    He knows the schedule. He knows that I work fourafternoons a week. But he always has to ask if I’m working tomorrow.
    I nodded. “Yes. See you tomorrow.”
    â€œGoing to meet friends?” he asked. Why was he staring at me like that?
    â€œI’m heading back to the dorm,” I told him. I turned and took a few steps into the narrow alley.
    When Marty closed the restaurant door, I was left in total darkness. There were no lights back there.
    The solid back walls of brick buildings on one side. A tall wooden fence on the other.
    A cold wind blew through the alley, ruffling my hair, pushing me back. I leaned into it and tried to walk.
    This alley always gives me the creeps. The other night, a huge rat jumped from a garbage Dumpster and scurried right over my shoes.
    I only have to walk half a block through the dark alley. Then it opens onto Pine Street, which leads to the dorm two blocks to the north.
    I was nearly to Pine Street when I heard the crash of a metal garbage can lid behind me.
    The sound startled me, making me jump.
    I didn’t turn back. I was sure the gusting wind had blown the lid off the can.
    I was sure—until I heard the thud of footsteps on the alley pavement.
    Then I knew that someone was running after me.
    I spun around and squinted into the blackness. “Marty—is that you?”
    Did I forget something in the restaurant? Was Marty bringing it to me?
    â€œMarty—?”
    My voice caught in my throat.
    If only I could see.
    â€œMarty?”
    The footsteps pounded the concrete alley floor. Then two hands grabbed me. Grabbed me hard around the shoulders.
    The hands slid down to my waist. Started to pull me against the building wall.
    And I opened my mouth to scream.

chapter 9
    B
efore I could utter a sound, a hand clamped down hard over my mouth.
    I let out a terrified grunt. Tried to bite the hand. But it pressed tighter against my face.
    Choking me. Smothering me.
    I struggled to squirm away.
    But the other hand shoved me against the rough bricks of the wall.
    A face pressed up against mine.
    A young man.
    I smelled peppermint on his breath. I smelled sweat.
    And then I saw his face.
    Darryl.
    I raised both hands and shoved him back. An angrycry escaped my throat. “Darryl!” I gasped. “Let go of me! What do you think you’re doing?”
    A car rolled by up ahead of us on Pine Street. A pale glare of yellow from the headlights washed over the building, washed over us.
    Darryl’s blue eyes stared into mine. Beneath his leather jacket, his chest heaved up and down. He breathed noisily. His face so close to mine. I smelled the peppermint again.
    â€œJasmine—” His voice escaped in a choked whisper. “Are you going to turn me in?”
    â€œHuh? Me?” I cried. I swallowed hard. My waist ached from where he had grabbed me.
    â€œAre you?” he demanded. His face slid back into darkness. “Are you and your roommates going to tell the police?”
    I sucked in a deep breath. How should I answer?
    â€œNo,” I told him. I lowered my gaze to the ground. “No. We’re not going to tell