Chapter 9
The ghost—the monster—slunk a step to the side to block half the television screen as the crowd burst into cheers. In transfixed terror, I watched as it cast its face around the room, seeming to pay me no mind—first to the left, then to the right, like a guard dog on the lookout for something.
Or somebody—Melissa?
Not the time to think about that. I had to get away—had to get it away from my family, at least. But there was nowhere to go, no reasonable excuse to make.
“Lanie? You all right?” My dad was peering at me concernedly. “You look ill.”
“I…” The monster took another few steps, its movements lithe and predatory, nearly rounding the coffee table. It paused less than a foot away from my grandma. Cold beads of sweat sprouted on the back of my neck as I heard a throaty gro
