Bad Moonlight Read Free Page A

eyes.
    â€œFeeling better?” Caroline whispered.
    â€œA little,” Danielle replied. “I just wish I understoodwhat’s happening to me. Why do I keep having these awful hallucinations?”
    â€œYou can blame Joey for this one,” Caroline told her, tucking a strand of long blond hair behind her ear. “He was driving too fast. Everybody knows how nervous you get on the road. I mean . . . ever since your parents’ accident.”
    Danielle felt a lump in her throat. It happened every time she thought about her mother and father.
    Almost three years ago Mr. and Mrs. Verona were driving home from a convention when their car spun out of control. It broke through a metal guardrail—and tumbled over a cliff onto rocks fifty feet below.
    It happened on a night like this, Danielle thought. On a road like this. Clear and dry. Moonlit.
    But it wasn’t a fantasy.
    Her parents had died.
    They had both been thrown from the car. The rocks had slashed them like blades.
    No! Danielle told herself. Aunt Margaret never said they were cut up. She never told me any details. I’m just imagining that part.
    Imagining the worst.
    â€œI still can’t believe it happened,” Danielle whispered to Caroline. “It was night, and Dad was used to driving at night. And he was such a careful driver. I mean, he never went even a mile over the speed limit. I used to tease him about getting a ticket for being too cautious!”
    Caroline shook her head sympathetically. “The fantasies started after the accident, didn’t they?”
    Danielle nodded. The fantasies were like nightmares. But she wasn’t asleep when they happened. She was wide awake—and terrified.
    â€œHave you talked to Dr. Moore about them?” Caroline asked.
    Danielle sighed. “What haven’t I talked to him about?”
    She had been seeing Dr. Moore since the accident. The psychiatrist was trying to help her get to the bottom of the fantasies. “Once we find out what’s causing them, Danielle,” he told her, “they will stop.”
    I hope he’s right, Danielle thought. And I hope it happens soon.
    The fantasies were getting worse. More real. More violent.
    â€œI’m sure he’ll be able to help,” Caroline told her. “Just stick with him.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” Danielle said. “I’m not going to quit him. He asks too many questions, but I guess he has to. And he’s smart. He was the one who said the band would be good for me. He was right. If I didn’t have the band, I’d really go off the deep end!”
    Caroline laughed. “The Deep End. How’s that for a name?”
    â€œHey—that’s not bad,” Danielle replied.
    A few minutes later Joey pulled the van into the hotel parking lot. “Last stop!” he announced. “The luxurious Midland Hotel. And across the street—the Rocket Club. Appearing nightly—the No-Name Band. Step lively, folks!”
    Yawning and stretching, the group climbed out of the van.
    Danielle followed Caroline down. The moonlight painted the street in a shimmering glow.
    Her smile faded. She pulled her duffel bag against her chest and shivered.
    Something is wrong, Danielle thought.
    My body—it feels so weird.
    The cold. I can feel the cold sweeping down over me.
    Something strange is happening to me. Something . . . terrible.
    She turned to see Caroline staring at her, her blue eyes wide with shock.
    Caroline sees it too! Danielle realized.
    â€œCaroline!” Danielle cried, shivering violently. “What is happening to me? What is it?”

Chapter 3

    I’M WARNING YOU!
    â€œW hat is it?” Danielle demanded. “Tell me!”
    Caroline raised her eyes. “It’s your hair, Danny. It’s standing straight up!”
    â€œHuh? Standing up?” Danielle dropped her duffel bag and lifted her hands to her head.
    She wore her brown hair in a