Moonlight Secrets Read Free

caught in the backpack strap. I pulled her hair free as she fiddled with the tape controls.
    â€œI know you don’t believe me,” Jamie said. “But this is the perfect place to find someone from the spirit world. You know the stories about the Fear Mansion. Simon and Angelica Fear were supposed to be the most evil people in the world.”
    â€œWe studied it all in fourth grade,” I said. “I thought it was a crock back then. And so did you. Why don’t you put down the recorder and come warm me up?”
    She smiled. “Maybe later. Do you know about the Fears’ daughters? The two little girls who were found in the woods? I mean, their skin was found, but their bones were totally gone.”
    I shook my head. “I hate when that happens.”
    Jamie glanced around. The wind hadstopped. A hush fell over us. I watched my breath steam up in front of me.
    â€œThere must be dozens of spirits lingering on this spot,” Jamie whispered. “You know. Poor souls who were tortured by the Fears. Angelica Fear was a witch. She cast spells on a lot of people. And now their ghosts are waiting around to get revenge.”
    I shivered again. “How long is this going to take?” I asked.
    Jamie shrugged. “As long as it takes. Cindy promised she’d send a signal. The spirit energy is so high here, Lewis. I can feel it.”
    We sat down on a pile of bricks, and we didn’t say another word. The only sound was the soft whir of Jamie’s recorder.
    No wind at all. The trees around the grounds stood still and silent. No cars on the street. The houses all around lay crumbled, in ruin, ready to be carted away.
    Yes, I suddenly felt creeped out.
    I don’t believe in ghosts. And I never really got into the stories about the Fear Family. But sitting there so silent and alert, listening and staring out into the darkness, I felt a cold tingle at the back of my neck.
    â€œSometimes ghosts appear as bright orbs,” Jamie whispered. “Little flashes of light that you can’t explain any other way.”
    â€œHave you seen any?” I whispered back.
    â€œNot yet,” she whispered.
    She edged closer to me. I pressed my shoulder against hers. We sat there for a long time. My nose was getting numb, and my fingers felt frozen stiff under my gloves. I watched my breath puff up in front of me and waited.
    I was being a real good sport here. Jamie was going to owe me—big-time.
    â€œI feel something,” she whispered. “I’m serious, Lewis. I sense something strange, something very close.”
    â€œI don’t see anything,” I whispered.
    â€œShhhh.” She shoved me in the ribs. Her whole body went stiff. She kept her eyes straight ahead of her. “Who are you?” she called out. “I know you’re here. Cindy—is it you?”
    Silence.
    I watched for a shiny orb of light, but I didn’t see one.
    â€œAre you there?” Jamie called, her voice just above a whisper. “Cindy? It’s me. Are you there?”
    No reply.
    We sat there some more, breathing softly, not moving.
    Finally her tape recorder made a loud click. “End of tape,” she said. “Let’s see if we got anything.”
    I clenched and unclenched my fingers, trying to get some feeling back in them. I’d been gripping the camera so hard, my fingers ached. My knees cracked as I climbed to my feet.
    â€œI’m totally frozen,” I said. “I can’t stay out here in the cold listening to the tape. Besides, we didn’t see or hear anything.”
    Jamie grabbed my arm. She pressed her cold cheek against mine. “Let’s go to my house, Lewis. We can listen in my bedroom.”
    â€œYou’re kidding, right? If your parents catch me in your bedroom . . .”
    â€œThey’re heavy sleepers,” Jamie said, stepping over a pile of bricks, heading to the street. “How do you think I get out