Temptation Read Free Page A

dark.”
    â€œI think there used to be some beach houses there,” Monica replied. “But you can only get to the island by boat. I don’t think there are any people left. Only bats.”
    â€œThey’re so creepy,” Elly said, close to Monica, her eyes trained on the two bats that seemed to be flying together.
    â€œThey flutter around,” Monica said softly, “but they’re harmless.”
    As she said that, one of the bats plunged toward Elly.
    Elly didn’t have time to move or cry out.
    She saw gleaming red eyes.
    Heard the hiss of wind, a shrill whistle, a screech of attack.
    She felt it grab her hair. She felt it brush her face. Hot and wet. Hairy. Sticky.
    It scratched her.
    It beat its wings against her cheek.
    â€œHelp me!” she shrieked. “Oh, Monica—please help!”

CHAPTER 3 CHOOSING VICTIMS
    â€œHelp! Monica!”
    Frantically waving her arms, Elly tried to beat away the attacker.
    Monica hesitated for a second, horrified by the struggle, then lunged forward to help her friend.
    As she moved toward Elly, the second bat swooped down. Monica cried out and raised her hands to shield herself.
    She could feel a cold rush of air as the creature darted past her.
    Then, to Monica’s surprise, the second bat appeared to attack the first, flying at it, pushing it with its wings, hissing at it, bumping it away from Elly.
    Screeching its anger, the first bat resisted the attack. But the second bat, its red eyes aflame, snapped and swooped until it pushed the first one away.
    And then, as both girls stared openmouthed, their hands still held up protectively in front of their faces, the two bats lifted up into the darkness and disappeared over the dunes.
    â€œAre you okay?” Monica cried, rushing to hug her friend. Elly was trembling all over. Her skin was cold and hard with goose bumps.
    â€œI think so,” she whispered uncertainly.
    â€œLet’s go,” Monica said.
    They began to run back toward the cluster of beach houses at the north end of the beach.
    The whole struggle had taken less than ten seconds, Monica realized.
    But it was ten seconds she would like to forget.
    What’s with these bats, anyway? she wondered, studying the inky black sky as she ran.
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    On the south end of the beach, beyond the clusters of beach houses, beyond the grassy dunes, a tall rock cliff jutted out over the ocean, leaning into the water as if trying to reach the dark, wooded island across from it.
    In the shadow of this granite cliff, deserted and silent except for the relentless wash of waves against the shore, two bats descended to where sand met rock. Whirling furiously in the sand, they transformed themselves and stepped out to confront each other as humans, a boy and a girl.
    â€œWhat is your problem ?” Gabri demanded, glaring at Jessica and thrusting his hands angrily on his hips.
    â€œI had no choice,” she replied heatedly, standing her ground.
    â€œBut I’m so thirsty !” he declared. “One sip—”
    â€œNo,” she said firmly.
    â€œIt’s none of your business—” he started.
    She tossed her long hair behind her with a sharp snap of her head. “Did you see how crowded the beach was?” she asked. “Did you see how many people were watching?”
    She didn’t give him a chance to reply. “Do you want to have everyone terrified before summer even begins? Use your brain, Gabri. Or has that dried up too?” Then she smiled as she made a joke: “You could give vampires a bad name!”
    He snarled furiously at her, a frightening animal sound. His fangs curled down on his chin.
    Jessica didn’t back away. “One stupid attack like that, and all the fresh blood could be scared away. The town could close the beach until the bat problem was solved.”
    He turned away angrily, unwilling to admit