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IF YOU MOVE EVEN A fraction," h you without blinking!"

The chilling words didn’t have half as much impact on asped, glancing up from the tip of the stake to find his face It was hi to look brave, but obviously terrified "Steve, what the" I began but he cut me short with a poke of the stake

"Not a word!" he hissed, crouching down behind the stone pillar "I don’t want your friend overhearing"

"My? Oh, you mean Mr Crepsley," I said

"Larten Crepsley, Vur Horston," Steve sneered "I don’t care what you call him He’s a va here?" I whispered

"Vaain with the stake "And lookee here: seems like I found me a pair!"

"Listen," I said,to killfirst, like they do in thein me, do it If you want to talk, put it away I’ new holes in me"

He stared, then pulled the stake back a few centimeters

"Why are you here?" I asked "How did you know to co you," he said "I followed you all weekend after seeing what you did to Alan I saw Crepsley going into your house I saw him toss you out the "

"You’re the one who sneaked into the living rooht visitor

"Yes" He nodded "The doctors were very quick to sign your death certificate I wanted to check for "

"The piece of paper in es color when you stick it on a da body That and the ers tipped ers?" I asked, amazed

"I read about it in a very old book," he said "The same one, in fact, that I found Vur Horston’s portrait in There was no ht it was just another vaers and"

He stopped and cocked his head I realized I could no longer hear digging sounds For a moment there was silence Then Mr Crepsley’s voice hissed across the graveyard

"Darren, where are you?" he called "Darren?"

Steve’s face collapsed with fear I could hear his heart beating and see the beads of sweat rolling down his cheeks He didn’t knohat to do He hadn’t thought this through

"I’ Steve to jump

"Where are you?" Mr Crepsley asked

"Over here," I replied, standing, ignoring Steve’s stake "My legs eak, so I lay down for a ht?" he asked