SHUDDERVILLE Read Online Free Page B

He was my next-door neighbor. One wish, he said. I thought about it long and hard. I could’ve asked for anything. But I was young and stupid, so I told him I never wanted to die. It was the worst decision I’ve ever made in my life. Think about it, Sophie. Would you want to live forever and watch everyone you care about pass away before you?”
    She said sourly, “I just did.”
    “Sorry. I’m just saying. I never age. Not a day. Not a minute. Immortality is overrated. As a matter of fact, it sucks.”
    “You’re crazier than he is!” she said, getting up and storming out.
    He followed her into the hallway. “Look, I was as mixed up as you are, Sophie. I thought he was joking. I thought he was kidding around, but he wasn’t. He’s dead serious. He can do it. The guy’s for real. He’s for real! Don’t fall for it!”
    She opened the heavy fire door and ran down the stairwell to the underground garage, where she could still hear him shouting behind her, “He’s the Devil, Sophie! The Devil!”
    *
    She drove to a cramped little bar on the east side of town called Stellini’s Hourglass Lounge, where stiff red curtains covered the windows and the university students played pool out back. The noisy kitchen served hamburgers and ribs and the air was dense with barbeque smoke. Sophie chose a quiet booth in back, got out her mobile phone and called Cassie. “We have to talk,” she said.
    “Are you okay?”
    “No, I’m cracking up. I’m at Stellini’s.”
    “Be there in fifteen minutes.”
    When Cassie arrived, they ordered a pitcher of beer.
    “What’s wrong, Sophie? You look terrible.”
    “Mandelbaum is psychotic. He knows all sorts of private things about me. Like what happened the day of the accident. Details. It’s freaking me out. Look at my hands, they’re shaking.”
    “Somebody must’ve told him,” Cassie said, reaching for a reasonable explanation.
    “There’s no way he could’ve known. And Ryan’s crazy, too. Do you know what he said? He thinks he’s immortal.”
    Cassie laughed. “Are you sure he didn’t say immoral ?”
    She shook her head fiercely, eyes wet with tears. “Mandelbaum offered to grant me one wish, Cassie. He said I could have anything I wanted.”
    She waved a dismissive hand. “It’s Alzheimer’s.”
    “What about Ryan?”
    “Honey, calm down.” Cassie cupped her chin in her hand. “Want a cigarette?”
    Sophie nodded. “They’re both insane. Maybe I should call the police?”
    “Ryan’s just messing with you,” Cassie said matter-of-factly.
    “You think?”
    “Yeah.” She took out a pack of cigarettes and made a big deal out of handing one to Sophie, flicking her lighter and holding the flame up to Sophie’s cigarette. Then she lit her own cigarette with a dramatic gesture. She put the lighter away and rested her hands on the table.
    “Ryan said he met Mandelbaum back in 1966 and made a wish—and now he can’t die. He said he asked for immortality. He called Mandelbaum the Devil. And it kind of makes sense now, because how else could he know every detail, every gesture, as if he’d been there? All those intimate details nobody could’ve possibly known about me, and now…” She had to stop and catch her breath. She suddenly noticed the diamond ring on Cassie’s finger. “Cass, what the fuck?”
    “I’m getting married!” she squealed with delight.
    “Really?” It stopped her cold. “Congratulations.”
    They hugged.
    “Isn’t it exciting?” She flashed the diamond ring. She held out her left hand and proudly examined the ring on her third finger.
    “Wow.” Sophie plucked another cigarette from the pack on the bar and lit it, drawing deeply until her lungs hurt. “So who’s the lucky guy?”
    Cassie laughed. “Billy, of course. We made up. He’s such a sweetheart. I realized how much I loved him. I mean, this is true love we’re talking about here.”
    “Are you sure?”
    Cassie laughed. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
    “But you