Cheerleaders: The New Evil Read Online Free PDF Page A

lips moved silently. As Corky cried out, they continued to stare into the flames, concentrating so hard, they didn’t hear her.
    Corky remained in the doorway, unwilling to step into the room. She didn’t like Debra’s strange chants.
    Finally Kimmy raised her eyes. Her expression changed to surprise. “Corky—what are you doing here? How did you get in?”
    Debra groaned and straightened up, raising her candle from the others. “You ruined it,” she complained.
    â€œWhat on earth are you doing?” Corky asked, taking a reluctant step closer.
    Debra climbed to her feet. She stretched her arms above her head. “Did you ring? The doorbell is broken. It froze, I think.”
    â€œThe door was open,” Corky explained, staring down into the candlelight. “Kimmy’s mom said she was here, so—”
    Debra pushed past Corky. “Oh. There’s the phone. Be right back. Then you can help us.” She hurried out of the room.
    â€œHelp you do what?” Corky asked Kimmy.
    Kimmy lowered herself to a sitting position. She wore an oversize wool sweater and black leggings. “Debra found an old chant we’re trying,” she explained casually.
    She leaned back on her hands. The orange light danced over her face and black hair. Her eyes glowed as they studied Corky. “Did you go out with Alex last night?”
    Corky lowered herself to her knees beside Kimmy. “No. He called and said he couldn’t make it.” She sighed. “He gave a really lame-o excuse.”
    Kimmy tsk-tsked.
    â€œWish I didn’t like him so much,” Corky confessed.She bent to pull off her shoes. They were still cold from being outside.
    â€œOkay. Let’s try again,” Debra said, returning to the den. “This is great. With three of us chanting, the power will be much stronger.”
    Corky reluctantly got down on the floor beside Kimmy. “But what are you chanting about?” she demanded. “What are you trying to do?”
    â€œWe’re trying to make Alex appear in the den!” Kimmy joked. “With no clothes on.”
    Debra’s cold blue eyes narrowed at Kimmy. “Come on. No jokes. The spirits won’t take us seriously.”
    Debra lowered herself to her knees on the other side of the ring of candles. Then she leaned over the big book on the floor and studied it.
    â€œIt’s a chant to summon a spirit,” Kimmy explained, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Debra found it in a book we bought in a used-book shop.”
    Debra continued to study the old book.
    â€œWhat spirit?” Corky asked, whispering. “The evil spirit?”
    â€œNo—of course not!” Kimmy replied, her eyes on Debra. “We want to call up a different spirit—a spirit to protect us.”
    â€œYou mean—” Corky started.
    Debra raised a hand to silence them. Her eyes caught the firelight as she gazed at Corky. “We’re going to call up a spirit to protect us from the evil. In case the evil really has returned. We—”
    â€œThat’s what I wanted to tell you,” Corky interrupted.“I went to the river, where I drowned the evil. The river is frozen over.”
    â€œI know that,” Debra replied sharply. “I’ve gone skating on it. Lots of kids have been skating there. It’s been frozen for a few weeks.”
    â€œWell, I saw a hole in the ice,” Corky reported breathlessly.
    â€œHuh?” Kimmy cried out in surprise.
    â€œA pretty big hole, perfectly round,” Corky reported. “And there was smoke pouring up from it. Like thick, evil fog. Pouring up from under the ice.”
    â€œProbably just steam,” Debra murmured thoughtfully.
    â€œYou really think the evil has escaped?” Kimmy asked. “Do you think Hannah’s accident . . .” Her voice trailed off as her eyes grew wide with fear.
    â€œYou put the idea in my