The Secret Path by Christopher Pike Page B

was a little insecure about his looks. His brown hair, similar in color to Sally’s, was not nearly so long. His father cut his hair, and the man believed in closely trimmed lawns as well as heads. Nor was Adam as tall as Sally, who seemed to him to have stilts sewn on to her legs. But people told him he had a handsome face. At least his mother did when she was in a good mood.
    â€œI guess,” he replied to her last question about the character in her face.
    She followed him. “Are you going to introduce me to your family? I always like to meet parents. You can get a good idea of what a guy is going to become by looking at his dad.”
    â€œI hope not,” Adam muttered.
    â€œWhat did you say?”
    â€œNothing. How long have you been living here?”
    â€œTwelve years. All my life. I’m one of the lucky ones.”
    â€œYou mean, it’s really neat living in Springville?”
    â€œNo. I mean I’m lucky to be alive still. Not all kids last twelve years in Spooksville.”
    â€œWhat’s Spooksville?”
    Sally spoke in a serious tone. “It’s where you’re living now, Adam. Only adults call it Springville. Kids know the real story of this place. And let me tell you it deserves to be called Spooksville.”
    Adam was bewildered. “But why?”
    She leaned close, telling him a great secret. “Because people here disappear. Usually kids like us. No one knows where they go, and no one talks about the fact that they’re gone. Because they’re all too afraid.”
    Adam smiled uneasily. “Are you pulling my leg?”
    Sally stood back. “If I was pulling your leg, you wouldn’t be standing. I’m telling you the straight truth. This town is dangerous. My advice to you is to drive out of here before the sun goes down.” Sally paused and put a handon his shoulder. “Not that I want to see you leave.”
    Adam shook his head. “I’m not leaving. I don’t believe a whole town can be spooked. I don’t believe in vampires and werewolves and junk like that. I’m surprised you do.” He added quietly, “I think you are going through an identity crisis.”
    Sally pulled back her hand and regarded him gravely as she spoke. “Let me tell you the story of Leslie Lotte before you decide I’m crazy. Until a month ago she lived down the block from me. She was cute. You might have been interested in her if you met her before me. Anyway, she was great at making stuff: jewelry, clothes, kites. She was really into kites. Don’t ask me why. Maybe she wanted to be a bird when she grew up. Anyway she used to fly her kites in the park by the cemetery. Yeah, that’s right. In Spooksville the park is next to the cemetery, which is next to the witch’s castle—which is a story in itself. Leslie used to go to the park by herself, even close to dark. I told her not to. Last month she was there all alone flying her kite when a huge gust of wind camealong and blew her into the sky. Blew her right into a dark cloud, which swallowed her whole. Can you believe that?”
    â€œNo.”
    Sally was exasperated. “I’m not lying! I may be confused about my personal values at the moment, but the truth is still very important to me.”
    â€œIf she was flying the kite all alone in the park, how do you know what happened to her? Who told you?”
    â€œWatch.”
    â€œWatch what?”
    â€œNot what. Watch is a who.”
    â€œWho’s Watch?”
    â€œYou’ll meet him. And before you get worried, I want you to know that our relationship is not and never has been romantic. We’re just good friends.”
    â€œI’m not worried, Sally.”
    She hesitated. “Good. Watch saw Leslie disappear into the sky. He wasn’t in the park but in the cemetery. So you see, technically, Leslie was in the park all alone.”
    â€œIt sounds to me like your friend Watch