The Dark Corner Read Online Free Page B

strap with your foot.”
    â€œI’ll try,” Sally said and strained forward with her right foot for the bag. Just another two inches and she’d be able to reach it, but even arching her back and kicking out, the tip of her shoe justmissed the straps. After a couple of minutes of struggling she gave up and sighed. “I can’t do it. What are we going to do now?”
    â€œProbably rot for eternity,” Watch said.
    â€œDon’t say that,” Adam said. “We have to maintain a positive attitude.”
    â€œI don’t know if a positive attitude helps when you’re in hell,” Sally mumbled.
    â€œWe’re not in hell,” Adam said. “We’re in a hell. That’s not exactly the same thing.”
    Sally stared down the street at the other captured people. A few were moaning and a couple even had bird nests on top of their heads. Black ravens screeched in their dry hair. Sally sighed again.
    â€œRight now I don’t think it makes much difference,” she said.
    â€œLook,” Adam said, trying to sound upbeat, “we’ve been in difficult situations before and we’ve always managed to find a way out. We’ll do the same this time. We just have to come up with a plan.”
    â€œWe’re waiting,” Watch said.
    â€œWell,” Adam said. “First we have to break out of these chains. Let’s concentrate on that.”
    â€œI don’t think the power of our concentration is going to break these chains,” Sally said.
    â€œI can’t believe you guys are ready to give up,” Adam complained.
    Watch nodded down the block. “It looks like a tall demon is coming. I hope it’s not one of those Gatekeepers the others mentioned. They didn’t sound all that friendly.”
    Watch was right. Another monster was approaching.

6
    C indy was lying in the grass beside Madeline Templeton’s tombstone when the others reappeared. Because she was resting with her eyes closed, she heard them before she saw them. She was surprised because they had only been gone a few minutes. She sat up when she heard them talking and watched them as they stood huddled together in front of the tombstone.
    â€œYou guys just left.” She was so relieved to see them again she broke into a huge grin. “Did you find Bryce?”
    They paused and stared at one another as ifsurprised by her question. Then Adam said in a flat voice, “We weren’t looking for Bryce.”
    Cindy got up slowly. “But that’s why you went on the Secret Path. Don’t you remember, Sally?”
    Sally broke into a smile at being addressed. She was looking around as if she had never seen the cemetery before. “We didn’t find him,” she said in a rather heavy voice. “But it doesn’t matter. We don’t need him.”
    Cindy was confused. “But you were worried about him.”
    â€œHe’s gone,” Watch said simply. “He’s not a problem. Take us to town.”
    â€œWhat did you see on the other side of the tombstone?” Cindy asked. “Anything exciting?”
    For a moment their eyes brightened. Indeed, it was as if a faint red light shone in them. Cindy blinked her own eyes, thinking she must have imagined the glow.
    â€œWould you like us to show you what we saw?” Sally asked.
    Cindy shrugged. “Yeah. If it’s safe.”
    Adam turned to Sally. “We’re not showing her anything right now. We have things to do here first. Later we will take her.”
    â€œWhere will you take me?” Cindy asked.
    Adam smiled strangely. “To a nice place. We will take you there tonight.”
    â€œI don’t know if I can go out tonight,” Cindy said. “I think my mother wants me to stay in to watch my little brother.”
    â€œWe’ll take him with us as well,” Sally said, stepping forward. “Enough talk. We want to go to town. We have much to