The Awakening Evil Read online

  The gas burned Jane’s throat. Her stomach. Her lungs. She could feel it filling up every part of her.

  Finally, it was over.

  The air in the room looked clear, normal. Still.

  Jane breathed in slowly.

  She could smell the faint scent of the faded rose in a bud vase on her rolltop desk. Jason had brought her the flower when she was sick.

  Jason. Jane had to warn him.

  But she was too exhausted. She’s won, Jane thought. Sarah has won.

  Jane found herself on her feet.

  She headed downstairs.

  Every time she blinked, she found herself in a different room of the mansion. I’m having tiny little blackouts, she realized.

  She was searching for something. What?

  Oh, here it was. The box of knives that Thomas had given her. The family heirloom.

  She carried them back to the library. She set the box down on the same table they had been on that horrible afternoon.

  Jane watched herself run her hand lovingly over the polished wood. Then she lifted the lid and smiled at the ten shiny knives, each knife held in place with a purple velvet sash.

  I liked using these so much the last time, Sarah explained. When I cut off Aaron West’s leg. He deserved it after all those horrible things he said about me.

  Jane ran her finger over the handles of the knives.

  She stopped at the longest knife.

  I am powerless to stop Sarah, Jane thought.

  Utterly, Sarah agreed.

  And besides, Sarah was only doing what she herself secretly wanted to do all along. Jason, stern-faced Jason, had always been so shocked by her wild behavior as a child. He had snitched to Aunt Betsey more than once when they were youngsters. Like the time she switched the salt with the sugar. He had told. And she had been punished.

  Now he would pay.

  Jane pulled the gold cord that rang in the servant’s room. She told the servant who arrived that she needed to speak to Jason at once.

  She saw the look on her servant’s face. They must have all been whispering about her and Jason. Already spreading their beastly little rumors. Telling everyone in town that she and Jason had planned to go to the theater together.

  If only they knew the truth. That Jason was her stepbrother. And that in just a few minutes, he would be dead.

  “Jane,” Jason cried. He rushed into the room and slid the door closed behind him. “I’ve been so worried about you. I—”

  Something in her expression made him stop.

  Jane stepped forward quickly. “I have something for you,” she told him calmly.

  She tightened her grip on the knife she held behind her back.

  Chapter

  21

  Jane shoved Jason against the wall. She whipped the knife around and held it at his throat.

  There was amazement in his eyes, but no fear.

  “You’re not afraid?” she demanded, feeling the anger rush through her.

  She could feel her eyes glowing hot.

  She could see green vapor wafting out of her mouth with every breath.

  She nicked his neck with the blade, and watched the blood run down into his starched white collar.

  Still, he didn’t shake or tremble or beg for his life.

  “You will die!” she shouted hoarsely. She put her face right up into his. “And I will have fun watching!”

  He gritted his teeth. He stared into her face. “Who are you?” he murmured.

  She cut him deeper. He gasped in pain. She shrieked with glee.

  “You’re not Jane. Jane!” he cried. “Can you hear me?”

  It shocked Jane to hear her own name.

  For a moment, she felt strong again. She wrenched the knife away from Jason’s throat.

  Jason’s hand flew to his neck. He stared at his fingers. At the blood.

  It’s all right, she told herself. He isn’t hurt badly. Yet.

  “Say my name,” she whispered. “Say my name again. And again.”

  “Jane Hardy,” Jason said, his voice loud and firm. “Jane Hardy, Jane Hardy, Jane Hardy.”

  Every time Jane heard her name, she felt stronger.

  She could feel the evil spirit inside her struggling to control her body. Trying to force the knife back to Jason’s throat.

  “Say my name!” she screamed. “Say my name!”

  Jason shouted her name. Over and over.

  “Don’t stop!” Jane cried.

  She could feel more of herself coming back to life every time he yelled the words: Jane Hardy! Jane Hardy!

  Jane threw the knife onto the floor. She backed away from Jason.

  They stared at each other across the dimly lit library.

  Jane covered her face with both hands. “Jason. Oh, Jason.”

  She heard him take a step toward her.

  Jane jerked her head up. “No!” She pointed at him. “Please, don’t come near me,” she begged. “It is not safe.”

  He stood across the room, watching her.

  “It is Sarah,” Jane said at last. “Her spirit. She is here.”

  “What?” Jason cried.

  “She was so angry that she drowned, Jason. So angry. She wants to destroy my life,” Jane told him.

  “It—it’s so hard to believe. But it is even harder to believe that you would ever try to hurt me. I knew it couldn’t be you holding that knife,” Jason said.

  “Then—you believe me?” Jane shook her head.

  “How else could we explain what has happened?” he asked.

  “Oh, Jason! I am so frightened!”

  This time when Jason hurried toward her she didn’t stop him. She let him hug her, hold her.

  She told him everything. Everything that had happened. And what Sarah planned to do next.

  As she spoke, she realized an amazing thing.

  She no longer heard Sarah’s voice in her head.

  “Jason?” she whispered. She was almost afraid to speak the thought out loud. “Could she be gone?”

  Jason nodded. “You have defeated her.” He gripped her shoulders hard. “I am sure of it! She would have killed me if you hadn’t.”

  Jane wanted to believe him.

  But she couldn’t.

  “No,” she murmured, trying to push him away. “I have to get away. Away from everyone. But away from you most of all. She will kill you, Jason. If I give her another chance. I swear to you, she will.”

  “That’s right. Sarah wanted to kill me,” Jason said. “And if she is still inside you, she won’t be able to resist this chance. Here.” He ran over and picked up the knife she had thrown on the floor. He pressed it into her hand.

  “No!” she cried. “Are you crazy?”

  He pressed her fingers around the knife’s silver handle. Then he lifted her hand and brought the knife to his throat.

  “We have to know. You have to know,” Jason said. “If Sarah is still with us, she will never be able to resist such an opportunity.”

  Jane tried to move the knife away, but Jason held it in place against his throat for several more seconds.

  Finally he let go.

  She lowered her hand and let the knife drop to the floor.

  Sarah was really gone.

  It was finally over at last.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  The next morning, Jane sat at her desk. She glanced around the room.

  It appeared so normal. So ordinary.

  But such horrible things had happened to her here.

  She heard a knock on her door. “Come in,” she called.

  Jason strolled into the room. “I have a surprise for you. We’re going sailing. And we’re taking Michael and Margaret with us. They’re waiting downstairs.”

  “Jason, no. I can’t,” Jane protested. “How can I even be around the children after the hideous things I’ve done? I’m a murderer.”

  “You didn’t kill anyone. Sarah did. And Sarah is gone,” Jason said firmly.

  He pulled h
er to her feet. “We mustn’t let Sarah kill another person. We mustn’t let her kill you, Jane. You can still have a life.”

  Jason tugged Jane out the door and down the stairs. Michael and Margaret raced up and hugged her.

  “Race you to the carriage!” Michael called.

  He and Margaret dashed out the front doors.

  “Come on,” Jason cried. He ran after them, pulling Jane along beside him.

  He helped Jane into the carriage, then climbed up himself. He clucked to the horses, and they started down the road at a fast trot.

  Jane tilted back her head and let the sun shine on her face. It felt good.

  Perhaps Jason is right, she thought.

  Perhaps the thing to do is get on with my life. Try to put the past behind me.

  Far behind.

  Jane took Margaret and Michael by the hand. “We’re going to have such fun today!” she exclaimed.

  Yes, the evil spirit answered. We’re going to have lots of fun.

  Chapter

  22

  Jane stared out at Fear Lake. She could still hardly believe the evil spirit had tricked her. She had felt so certain Sarah was gone.

  Sarah laughed and laughed. What a little fool!

  A low whimper escaped Jane’s throat. I must find a way to warn Jason, she thought.

  But how could she? Sarah controlled her lips, her mouth, her throat. Sarah controlled her hands. Sarah controlled her.

  A black-and-gold butterfly fluttered down and landed on Jane’s palm.

  “Look at the butterfly,” Margaret called. “Isn’t it pretty?”

  “It must have stowed away on our sailboat,” Michael answered. “I don’t think it could have flown halfway across Fear Lake by itself.”

  Jane felt her fingers close into a fist—crushing the delicate butterfly.

  “Why did you kill it?” Margaret demanded. “It didn’t do anything to you.” Her voice quivered. Jane could tell she was about to cry.

  Sarah allowed Jane to answer.

  “I … I thought it was going to fly away,” Jane told the children. “I just wanted to hold it in my hand a moment longer. I didn’t mean … I’m sorry.”

  Sarah cackled. And how will you explain to Margaret why you have ripped out Michael’s throat? she asked sweetly. What will you say to the child when she has to watch you pluck out her brother’s blue eyes?

  You will not harm the children! Jane screamed back. By all that I hold holy, I am warning you, Sarah Burns! You will not harm these children!

  Who will stop me? You? Sarah asked her.

  The boat began to spin wildly. The children screamed. Sarah laughed.

  Sarah placed one of Jane’s hands on little Michael’s head. The other on Margaret’s.

  So innocent. So trusting. Sarah could have Jane kill them anytime she wanted.

  No, Jane thought. No! She would not allow that to happen.

  Jane felt strength rush through her. She would stop Sarah. No matter what it took.

  I will drown you, Jane said quietly.

  What did you say? Sarah demanded.

  I will drown you, Jane repeated.

  And just how do you plan to drown me? Sarah asked Jane.

  I will drown us both, Jane answered. I will drown myself and take you with me.

  She felt calm and certain. I can do this, Jane thought. I must. I will never allow Sarah to kill again.

  You don’t have the courage, Sarah told her.

  Jane felt Sarah’s control over her loosen.

  She is frightened, Jane realized. The thought of drowning a second time terrifies her.

  Good.

  Jane struggled across the deck toward the railing.

  What are you doing? Get back down at once! Sarah screamed. She tried to force Jane back down onto the deck of the boat.

  But Jane was too strong. So much stronger than she had ever been before.

  Jane stared down. The murky water waited below.

  It is my only choice.

  “Don’t!” Margaret shrieked.

  “Come back!” Michael yelled.

  Jane glanced at the children. She smiled.

  Don’t leave the children! Sarah cried.

  I’m doing this for them, Jane answered.

  Then Jane turned and dove under the railing.

  Sarah screamed as they plunged into the cold water and down, down, down.

  Jane kicked her feet. Taking them deeper and deeper.

  Shrieking with anger, Sarah forced Jane back toward the surface.

  Jane could see the water growing lighter, lighter as they neared the top. They burst through the surface. Sarah pulled in a deep breath of air.

  Jane saw the boat. It was overturned. Oh, no. The children, she thought.

  Jane did a somersault, taking them under again. Kicking her feet. Heading down, down through the murky water.

  You’ll kill us both! Sarah shrieked.

  Jane kicked harder.

  She felt Sarah gathering force inside her. Sarah tried to force her lips open.

  Let me out! Sarah wailed.

  No! Jane shouted. She locked her teeth together.

  The water around her began to bubble, began to boil.

  I can’t get out! Sarah cried.

  Red dots exploded in front of Jane’s eyes. Her lungs burned.

  But she had to go deeper.

  Jane forced herself down, down.

  She needed air. She had to have air.

  Jane opened her mouth and gasped.

  Water rushed in. Trapping Sarah inside her.

  Jane felt the water filling her lungs. Her lungs ballooning.

  I win, Jane told Sarah.

  Then her lungs burst.

  Epilogue

  Sarah stared out of Jane’s dead eyes.

  She wore a beautiful white lace dress. Her gold wedding band was on her finger. A white satin pillow rested under her head.

  Was it worth it, Jane? Sarah asked. Was it worth dying to stop me?

  But there was no answer from Jane.

  And there never would be again.

  Jason appeared beside the coffin. He’s crying, Sarah realized. He kissed Jane’s dead cheek. Then he slowly lowered the lid of the coffin.

  Sarah felt herself being raised into the air. They are taking the coffin to the cemetery, she realized.

  She was trapped. Paralyzed. She couldn’t move inside Jane’s dead body. She could only stare out of the corpse’s lifeless sockets.

  Stare endlessly at those four black wooden walls.

  Sarah felt the coffin being set on the ground. Then she heard the minister begin the service.

  She bucked and writhed and wriggled inside Jane’s dead body. She was running out of time!

  She heard the shifting of footsteps. The workmen grunted as they lifted the coffin. Then the coffin began to sway as they used ropes to lower it into the ground.

  The fools! Sarah thought. Don’t they know—can’t they sense—that I’m in here? And I’m alive! They’re going to bury me alive!

  She heard the first clump of dirt land on top of the coffin.

  She screamed, but no sound came out of Jane’s mouth.

  Another clump of dirt hit the coffin.

  Soon she would be covered in a mound of earth. Trapped here forever.

  Jane had murdered her twice!

  No! She wasn’t going to let Jane win.

  Sarah refused to allow this to happen to her. No matter what it took, she would find a way out. Yes, even if it took her a hundred years. She would find a way… .

  About the Author

  R.L. Stine is the best-selling author in America. He has written more than one hundred scary books for young people, all of them bestsellers.

  His series include Fear Street, Ghosts of Fear Street and the Fear Street Sagas.

  Bob grew up in Columbus, Ohio. Today he lives in New York City with his wife, Jane, his teenage son, Matt, and his dog, Nadine.

  Books by R.L. Stine


  The Fear Street Saga

  THE BETRAYAL

  THE SECRET

  THE BURNING

  FEAR STREET SAGA COLLECTOR’S EDITION

  Fear Street Sagas

  A NEW FEAR

  HOUSE OF WHISPERS

  FORBIDDEN SECRETS

  THE SIGN OF FEAR

  THE HIDDEN EVIL

  DAUGHTERS OF SILENCE

  CHILDREN OF FEAR

  DANCE OF DEATH

  HEART OF THE HUNTER

  THE AWAKENING EVIL

  Available from ARCHWAY Paperbacks

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  AN ARCHWAY PAPERBACK Original

  An Archway Paperback published by POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster Inc. 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  Copyright © 1997 by Parachute Press, Inc.

  THE AWAKENING EVIL WRITTEN BY ERIC WEINER

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

  ISBN: 0-671-00297-X

  ISBN13: 978-1-4391-2111-5 (eBook)

  First Archway Paperback printing December 1997

  FEAR STREET is a registered trademark of

  Parachute Press, Inc.

  AN ARCHWAY PAPERBACK and colophon are

  registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster Inc.

  Cover art by Lisa Falkenstern