Stalking Shadows (Scary Mary) Read Free Page B

card, at least.”
    Mary didn’t think Hallmark made a card that would cover how she felt about Vicky: ‘Sorry you were in an accident and put in a coma. Stay away from the boy I like.’ It didn’t even rhyme.
    “I promised Rachel that I’d help her study for a biology test this Wednesday,” she said, in an attempt to get away from the subject of Vicky and Cy.
    “Oh, that’s nice. Will you two be studying here?”
    She shrugged. “Don’t know. We haven’t planned it yet. Don’t worry. We can look after ourselves.”
    “But I like looking after you, and Rachel’s a sweet girl. Unusual, but sweet.”
    Mary smirked at that. The first time they’d met, Gran had a little trouble not staring at Rachel’s hair. It’d been Astroturf green at the time. Once she’d gotten over the hair, she’d stared at the piercings. Rachel had told her that she’d look good with a nose ring. Gran had wondered how she’d blow her nose. Rachel’s answer of ‘Very carefully’ had made her chuckle. They’d gotten along famously ever since.
    “Well, I’m going to go curl up with my book. Do you need anything else before I go to bed?”
    Mary shook her head. Gran cleared away the leftover pizza, and Mary pulled out her homework again. Chowder followed Gran to bed, and Mary had the living room to herself. She put the television on for company and worked for the rest of the evening.
     
    *    *    *
     
    “You didn’t come by. I know you have no social life, so don’t even try giving me an excuse.”
    Mary turned around and groaned. Once again, there were no exits, only a hospital bed and one annoying, non-comatose cheerleader. She said the thing that had been plaguing her all day. “You were on a date with Cy.”
    “Oh, you’re still into him?”
    Mary turned away so she wouldn’t launch herself at the other girl. “Is this real or just a nightmare?”
    “It’s real. Very real. Look, I don’t think this thing is just affecting me. I think it’s going after other people, too.”
    Mary turned back to face her. “How do you know that?” Vicky looked up at the ceiling as if trying to see the answer to her question.
    “I can just sort of feel it out prowling around. I can feel it clawing at other people.”
    “Do you know anything else about it? Does it talk? Can you see it?”
    Vicky shook her head. “I can only feel it. Please come to the hospital. I’m afraid it’s gonna kill me.”
    Mary stared at the other girl. Vicky was serious.
    “I’ll come by.”
    “Are you going to bring that friend of yours? You better not let her mess with me.”
    “You’re in a coma. What do you care?”
    “I care. No drawn-on mustaches.”
    “What about a soul patch?”
    “No!”
    The dream snapped off at that, and Mary rolled over into normal sleep.

 
     
    Chapter 2
    Family Gatherings
     
     
    The next day at school was boring. Cy was absent again, and everyone assumed he was still with Vicky. Mary saw Kyle in the hall once, and he looked like he wanted to talk. She’d ducked into the girl’s restroom to avoid him and waited until the bell rang to emerge. It was cowardly, and Kyle probably thought she was a complete nut case, but she didn’t want another Cy update. At least not from him. She’d wait and get it directly from Cy.
    She knew she needed to get to work helping Vicky, but it was going to be tricky. If she told Rachel that she wanted to visit the cheerleader, she would insist Mary was sick and in need of medical attention herself. Then she’d have to explain the dreams, and she had no idea how to explain them. She still wasn’t sure if they were real. She’d never had dreams like this before. Trying to think up another reason to go to the hospital was tough. She finally settled on lying and claiming to be interested in volunteering, and why not visit Rachel’s mom to find out more? Rachel drove her to the hospital after school, but she was still skeptical.
    “I thought hospitals gave you the