Nightmare in Niceville Read Online Free Page A

towels from my bathroom and went downstairs to the laundry room.
    After throwing in the laundry, I swept the kitchen floor, then loaded the dishwasher and got it going. I started on my homework at the kitchen table so I would hear when the dishwasher buzzed. I did biology first and got halfway done with math before the dishwasher finished. I unloaded it, then went back to my homework. I had three questions left in history by the time I heard Mom and Ashley walk through the front door.
    â€œ. . . and I’m hungry Momma. Why can’t I eat?” Ashley whined.
    â€œBecause the dentist said not to,” Mom told her patiently. “Lily? Are you home?”
    â€œYeah,” I called back.
    â€œYay, Lily!” Ashley cried with joy. She ran into the kitchen and scrambled into my lap.
    I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed her. “Hey, squirt!”
    â€œWhat’cha doin’?” she asked.
    â€œHomework,” I answered.
    â€œWhat kind of homework?” she asked.
    â€œJust some boring old history,” I told her.
    â€œOh okay,” she said and hopped off my lap. She walked over to Mom and said, “Lily is doin’ history, Momma.”
    â€œIs that so?” Mom said and bent down to kiss Ashley on her forehead.
    â€œNot anymore,” I told them. I shoved my books back into my bag. “I’m done with my chores and homework.”
    â€œOh good. Would you like to help me heat up leftovers for me and Ashley?” she replied.
    â€œYay food!” Ashley called from behind us before I could reply. I smiled at Mom and she chuckled.
    â€œCan I go to Emily’s after the movie Saturday?” I asked while washing my hands in the kitchen sink.
    â€œThat’s fine with me,” she answered.
    â€œThanks! The movie is called A Stalker’s Greatest Wish . It sounds creepy, I know, but it should be fun.”
    â€œI hate scary movies,” Mom said.
    â€œI know, Mom.” I laughed as I headed to the fridge to look for leftovers. There wasn’t much left in the Tupperware, which was probably why Mom left lasagna out for me. She was always thinking of little things like that.
    â€”————
    After they finished eating, I got the bath ready for Ashley. I plugged the drain and adjusted the water temperature, then dumped bubbles in the water. Ashley took a long bath, playing with almost all of her toys, which was a lot. She had to make up a game for each individual toy. After her bath, I tucked her in bed and read her a story. By the last page, she was out cold. I wished I could fall asleep that fast.
    As I walked down the hall to my room, someone grabbed my shoulders. I yelped and jumped, my heart pounding in my chest.
    â€œShhh!” my mother said.
    â€œOh my gosh, Mom. You gave me a heart attack!” I said, laughing.
    â€œSorry honey . . . is Ashley already asleep?” she asked.
    â€œYeah, I read her a story.”
    â€œOkay good.”
    â€œGoodnight, Mom, love you,” I said hugging her.
    â€œGoodnight, sweetheart.” She hugged me back, squeezing me to her. She kissed me on the forehead, just like she did every night, and went back down stairs.
    I laid out my outfit for work the next day. Then I grabbed my mystery/thriller book, plopped on my bed, and started reading. After some time, my eyes felt heavy, and I had a hard time keeping them open. And just as I felt myself dozing, my head slipped sideways onto the pillow, and I saw a dark figure crouching in the rhododendron bush on my front lawn. I couldn’t see the face, but somehow I knew it was smiling.
    I jolted awake. A warm breeze brushed my cheek through my window. I didn’t remember opening it. Had Mom opened it? That seemed likely; she loved the breeze coming through the house.
    What was wrong with me? My heart was still pounding from the dream. I plucked the book off my chest like it was a foul creature and threw it aside. Maybe I would