What Scares You the Most? Read Free Page A

shaking his head. “We’ve got to find Marlin.” He spun around and began following the beach as it curved in front of the rocks.
    April and Kristen trooped after him.
    â€œMarlin? Hey, Marlin? Maaaaaarlinnnnnn?” They shouted his name as they walked.
    April felt a cold raindrop on her forehead. “He couldn’t have gone far,” she said.
    After a few minutes, Kristen stopped. “Maybe we should split up. You know, search in different directions.”
    â€œMaybe one of us should search the rocks. And one of us should search the beach. And one of us—”
    â€œNo,” Anthony interrupted. “I think we should stick together—just for safety.”
    Kristen turned to April. “I agree with Anthony,” April said.
    The rain started to patter down, pushed by a gusting wind. They climbed the sloping hill of blue rocks and gazed down from the top.
    No sign of Marlin.
    Then, trudging wearily over the wet sand, heads bowed in the rain, they searched the beach again.
    No Marlin.
    April sighed. “If he is waiting for us back at the village, I’ll kill him!” she exclaimed.
    She picked up the radio Kristen had rescued and started to carry it to the village. She thought about how nice it would be to change into dry clothes and get under some shelter. But her thoughts kept returning to Marlin.
    â€œI don’t know why I bothered saving that,” Kristen said, walking beside April. “It’s not going to work. We don’t have any batteries.”
    April let out a sigh. She pulled back her arm and prepared to heave it into the ocean.
    â€œNo—wait.” Anthony grabbed her arm. “I have some batteries in my cabin. The ones I used for my tape player.”
    April tucked the radio back under her arm. “I’m so exhausted, I can’t think straight.”
    The dock came into view, still empty, still bobbingin the rough waves. They turned and started to jog to the cabins.
    â€œMarlin? Are you here?” April shouted. “Marlin?”
    No reply.
    Trudging through the rain, they searched every building. The cabins were dark and empty.
    Anthony’s pale features tightened with fear. “How could he disappear into thin air?” he asked in a tiny, frightened voice.

5
    They sloshed through the puddled sand to their cabins. April squeezed her hair. It drizzled water like a soaked sponge.
    She dried it as best she could and changed into a pair of snug leggings and a heavy sweatshirt. She realized she was shivering.
    â€œWhy is it suddenly so cold?” she asked Kristen.
    Kristen shrugged. She had pulled on two T-shirts and a vest over faded jeans. “At least the rain has finally stopped,” she said.
    They made their way to the mess hall. It was early afternoon, but the cloud-filled sky was dark as night.
    â€œOh!”
    April saw a boy walking quickly toward the back of the mess hall. At first, she thought it was Marlin, and her heart jumped.
    But then he turned around, and April saw that it was Anthony wearing one of Marlin’s jackets.
    Marlin, where are you? April wondered, gazingtoward the ocean. There are only three of us left, and it’s very scary without you.
    Anthony huddled over the electrical generator. “This can’t be too complicated,” he said. “Let’s try this.”
    He flipped a switch on the side. Silence. And then the generator hummed to life.
    April heard a whirring sound inside the big metal structure.
    And then the whole thing rattled and hummed as it came to life.
    â€œYes! I’m a genius!” Anthony exclaimed. He slapped the two girls high-fives.
    Kristen rolled her eyes. “Anthony, all you did was flick a switch.”
    â€œBut now we have power,” he said excitedly. “We have electricity.”
    He turned and ran to the front of the mess hall. April and Kristen hurried after him.
    Inside, he clicked the switch, and the ceiling light flashed on.