Midnight Games by R.L. Stine Page B

And—”
    â€œDana, are you high on something? Are you drunk? Why are you calling me so late?”
    â€œJust listen to me, Dad. Please. For once.Just listen to me. I need you to listen. It’s Jamie. She—”
    â€œWhat about Jamie? Speak up. I can barely hear you.”
    â€œI can’t speak up. She’ll hear me. Dad, I’m frightened. Seriously frightened. Jamie is using some kind of magic. I don’t know what she’s up to. I saw her sprinkle my clothes with powder. I think she’s trying to poison me or something. Dad—”
    â€œDana, you’re talking crazy,” he said. “Listen to what you’re saying. You’re not making sense. Have you been drinking?”
    â€œI know it sounds crazy, but it isn’t,” I insisted, my voice breaking with emotion. “You’ve got to believe me. She’s doing something to me and—”
    â€œCalm down. Just calm down. Take a breath, okay? Get some sleep, Dana. You’ll feel a lot better in the morning.”
    â€œNo. You’ve got to come get me, Dad.”
    â€œLook. I’m in Atlanta. I can’t just drop everything.”
    â€œDad, please—”
    â€œTell you what. I’ll try to come next weekend. I think I can clear my schedule. But getyourself together. I mean it. You’re talking like a crazy person.”
    â€œDad—?”
    He hung up.
    I didn’t sleep all night. I thought about packing up my stuff and running away. But where could I go?
    In the morning, I left the skirt and top on the couch. I put on a different outfit, a loose-fitting black turtleneck over green cords. I grabbed my backpack and crept downstairs.
    I heard voices in the kitchen. I poked my head through the doorway. Jamie sat at the kitchen table, finishing a bowl of cereal. Her mom stood at the kitchen counter, a white mug of coffee in her hand.
    â€œNo breakfast for me,” I said. “I’m going right to school.”
    â€œNo. I’m sorry,” Aunt Audra said. When she turned to me, I saw that her eyes were brimming with tears. “I’m sorry, Dana. I can’t let you go to school.”
    My mouth dropped open. “Excuse me?”
    Jamie set down her cereal bowl. She glared at me icily.
    â€œI’m taking you to a doctor,” Aunt Audra said. “Before she died, I promised your mother I’d take good care of you, Dana. And now I’m going to see that you get the help you need.”
    â€œHuh? Help?”
    What was she talking about?
    â€œYour father called me early this morning,” she said. “He’s very worried about you too.”
    My heart leaped to my throat. My knees started to buckle. I grabbed the door frame to keep myself up.
    Jamie’s eyes burned into mine. Her jaw was set tight. She spoke through clenched teeth. “Why did you say those horrible things about me to your dad, Dana?”
    â€œJamie, listen—”
    â€œI’ve been so nice to you,” she said. “Why did you tell him I’m trying to poison you?” Jamie’s eyes grew colder. She raised her butter knife in her fist.
    â€œI’m terribly hurt,” she said. “You shouldn’t have done that, Dana. You really shouldn’t have . . . . ”

27
    With a gasp, I dropped the backpack, spun away, and started for the stairs.
    â€œDon’t go far,” Aunt Audra called. “I’m calling Dr. Wilbur as soon as his office opens.”
    I hurtled up to my room and slammed the door behind me. I paced furiously back and forth in the tiny room, trying to decide on a plan.
    What should I do?
    After a few minutes I heard the front door slam. From my tiny attic window I saw Jamie trotting toward school, backpack bouncing on her back.
    I waited till she was out of sight. Then I took a deep breath, trying to force my heart to stop pounding, and sneaked downstairs to her bedroom.
    Her nightshirt was tossed