Wrong Number 2 by R.L. Stine

Author:R.L. Stine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse

chapter

14

In the pale, hazy light from the street lamp, the scene in front of her seemed like a dream to Deena.

Chuck lay sprawled on his back at the foot of the driveway, the big man pressing him down. Jade shrieking as she tried frantically to pull the man off Chuck.

A terrifying dream.

And as Deena ran down the driveway, she entered the dream.

Jade’s frightened cries grew louder.

The intruder’s grunts and groans rose on the still night air.

Chuck didn’t move.

“Chuck! Chuck!” Deena repeated his name as she ran.

And then another name burst into her ears.

“Teddy—stop! Teddy!”

Jade’s desperate cries. “Teddy—please!”

And Deena realized the powerful intruder wasn’t a stranger. She recognized Teddy. The basketball game flashed into her mind. Teddy’s heroic shot at the sound of the buzzer.

Teddy had seemed so light on the basketball floor. So graceful and light.

And now he had become a heavy monster, strangling Deena’s brother, leaning on Chuck’s still body, holding him down.

“Let me up!” Chuck pleaded weakly.

Not dead. Not strangled!

Deena breathed a long sigh, her heart still thudding.

“Let go of him! Teddy—let go!” Jade’s shrill pleas.

A neighbor’s lights flashed on. And the lights flickered on in the house across the street.

Slowly, breathing hard, Teddy backed away.

“Teddy—why?” Jade cried shrilly, tugging him away. “Why?”

“I heard you screaming at him,” Teddy replied, breathing hard. “I saw you running after him, yelling at him. I saw him push you. I thought he was hurting you—”

“But he’s Deena’s brother!” Jade cried.

But before Teddy could say anything, Chuck startled them all by jumping to his feet.

“Chuck—no!” Deena screamed.

Too late.

With a loud groan, Chuck pulled back his arm—and swung his fist hard at Teddy.

The punch went wild as Teddy ducked. Chuck staggered forward, off balance. Teddy landed a hard punch on Chuck’s shoulder.

“Stop it, you two! Stop it!” Jade shrieked.

Deena covered her eyes. Why won’t they stop? Why are they doing this?

She opened her eyes in time to see Teddy land a solid punch on Chuck’s face. Chuck’s nose began to bleed, bright red blood streaming down his face onto his sweatshirt.

Chuck staggered, his eyes wild with surprise. Deena thought he would go down. But then he came back at Teddy with a shout—and began beating frantically on the bigger boy’s back and sides.

Teddy grunted with pain, then twisted around and pulled himself away from Chuck.

Chuck’s face twisted with fury. He ran toward Teddy again, the full weight of his body behind him.

Teddy dived to one side.

Chuck staggered forward. Stumbled.

Fell.

Deena heard the crack as his head hit the curb. The sound seemed to split the air. It forced Deena to shut her eyes again.

“Chuck!” Jade was shrieking. “Chuck!”

Chuck didn’t answer.

Deena opened her eyes.

Chuck lay sprawled facedown in a dark pool of blood.

His head twisted to the side at an odd angle. The one eye Deena could see was open wide, staring blankly down the street.

• • •

Deena dived to her knees beside him. “He’s unconscious!” she wailed.

Teddy pushed in beside her. “Don’t move him!” he warned breathlessly. Sweat dripped down his forehead. He placed a hand on the side of Chuck’s neck.

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