The Pearl Earring by Suzanne Weyn

Author:Suzanne Weyn
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2014-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

HOURS LATER, Lily slumped with fatigue. But Daniella exuded vitality. Lily noticed the bright sparkle in the woman’s blue eyes, and the pink in her cheeks. Daniella’s hair even seemed to have more bounce to it.

“How are you doing there, Lily?” she asked, peeking around the side of her easel. “Feeling all right?”

Lily’s stomach grumbled, demanding to be fed. Would it seem unprofessional to admit she was growing tired? It must nearly be time to leave. She had to call Amy.

“I’m okay,” she fibbed.

Daniella came out from behind the easel. “Oh no, you’re not okay,” she observed, approaching Lily. “Your energy is flagging. How thoughtless of me to work you so hard!” As Daniella checked the small wristwatch she wore, she scowled. “We’ve been at it for three hours. When I get wrapped up in my work, the time simply flies.”

Only three hours?! Lily felt as though she’d been there for days.

“I think you need to eat,” Daniella said. “Come down from the stool and I’ll find something for you.”

Lily pulled the shawl more tightly around her shoulders.

“You’re shivering, dear,” Daniella noticed. “I’ll turn the air-conditioning down as much as possible.”

Sitting on the leather couch, Lily nodded. She really did feel hungry and cold, and a little dizzy, too. “Thanks.”

Daniella looked into her half-size refrigerator and pulled out a container of yogurt. “Here!” She offered it to Lily along with a spoon. “This should revitalize you.”

The doorbell rang, a melodic chiming sound. “Who could that be?” Daniella wondered. “I’m not expecting anyone. Excuse me. The bathroom is down the hall if you need it.”

The yogurt did make Lily feel a bit better. At least her brain was less muddled. Standing, she glanced at the door. Daniella seemed to be arguing with someone, but Lily couldn’t see the other person who stood in the hallway.

The cell phone in Lily’s bag buzzed and Lily crossed to it. Maybe she could get cell service in here after all. Daniella might not realize it, but she’d said she didn’t have a phone anyway.

“Hello?” Lily answered. She didn’t hear anything, and pulled the phone away from her ear to check the number. But it wasn’t her mother or Amy, and a shiver ran down Lily’s spine. The call was from 000000! She tried again. “Hello?!” she repeated, hoping for more silence.

Then the whispering began, fast and impossible to understand. “Who is this?” Lily demanded. “This isn’t funny.”

The whispering got louder and wilder, as if other voices had joined the first. So many voices speaking at once! So impossible to understand what they were saying!

And the whispering seemed to be coming from another source besides her phone. Holding the phone away, to her side, Lily listened closely.

The hallway! The whispering was also coming from the hallway.

Daniella was still over at the door speaking to someone on the other side as Lily walked toward the closed door in the hall. Gooseflesh formed on her arms. It was getting colder and colder.

Lily touched the door. It was freezing!

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.