Read Don't Scream! for Free Online Page B

okay,” I said. I could see our car through the glass door. I just wanted to be in it, driving away from this place. “I really don’t need a phone,” I said.
    Dad squinted hard at me. “You’re joking, right? You’ve been asking us for a phone for months.”
    â€œWell …”
Think fast, Jack. Think fast
.
    Dad gave me a push toward the phone display. “Come on. Check them out,” he said. “Mom and I want you to have a phone. So we can always reach you.”
    â€œBut … but …”
    â€œWhat if that girl comes on your new phone?” Eli whispered.
    Of course I was already thinking that. But I whispered, “No way. How could she? She’s gone. She’s in the trash.”
    Eli and I began pawing through the phones on the glass display case.
    â€œSomething simple,” Dad said. “You don’t need a smartphone with Internet and all that. You just need a phone for calling and texting.”
    It took a while. But we found a cool-looking phone that Dad said was okay.
    It takes a long time to buy a phone. Dad had to deal with a calling contract and all that stuff.And the sales clerk had to activate it so it would work.
    Finally, we walked out of the store. I squeezed the phone tightly in my hand. It felt cool and sleek.
    â€œGo ahead. Try it,” Dad said. “Call your mom. Tell her you got a phone of your own.”
    I stopped at the car. “Okay,” I said. I dialed our home number and pressed SEND .
    I raised the phone to my ear.
    And heard the girl’s voice:
    â€œHi, Jack. Don’t be worried. I’m still here.”

18
    My breath caught in my throat. I made a choking sound.
    Eli saw my mouth drop open. I waved the phone in his face. He knew why.
    We couldn’t talk in front of Dad. The ride home was silent.
    â€œHappy about your new phone?” Dad asked from behind the wheel.
    â€œYeah. Happy,” I repeated like a robot.
    What was I going to do?
    How could I get rid of this girl?
    We dropped Eli off at his house. He thanked Dad again for the new game-player. Before he closed the car door, Eli gazed at the phone in my hand. “Text me later, okay, Jack?”
    I nodded. “Later,” I said.
    I had to get some answers from the girl. I had to find out who she was and why she was haunting me.
    I had to stop her somehow. Maybe if I talked with her. Maybe if I could get her to tell me what she wanted …
    If I did what she wanted, maybe she would go away so my life could return to normal.
    At home, I had to show the phone to Mom. I had to tell her the number so she could put it in her phone.
    â€œHe has unlimited minutes,” Dad told her. “So it won’t cost a fortune.”
    â€œGlad you finally got it,” Mom said. She handed it back to me.
    Luckily, it was past Rachel’s bedtime. So I didn’t have to share it with her, too.
    Mom asked if I wanted some ice cream for dessert. I said I had homework to do, and I hurried up to my room.
    I closed the door behind me. I sat down on the edge of my bed.
    My heart started to pound again. Was I scared of the voice in my phone?
    Of
course
I was!
    My hands were sweating. I set the phone down on my lap. “Are you there?” I asked. My voice cracked on the words.
    â€œI’ll always be here.” Her voice rose clearly from the new phone.
    â€œStop saying that,” I snapped. “I … I don’t understand what you want.”
    â€œI want you to help me,” she replied.
    I stared at the phone. “Well … if you want me to help you, you have to tell me who you are,” I said.
    Silence.
    Then, after a long pause, her voice came out in a whisper. “I’m … nobody,” she said.
    â€œSorry,” I replied. “That’s not an answer. Try again. Who are you? I’m not going to stop asking until you tell me.”
    â€œI can hurt you,” she said.