The First Horror Read Online Free PDF Page B

lowering her voice to a solemn whisper. “A cold presence. Mistlike. I felt it float over the table. And then, a second later, I saw the knife plunge—into Daddy,” “Stop it, Kody,” Cally warned. “Please. Just stop it right now. Your ghost talk will only upset everyone.” “What makes you think you know everything?” Kody demanded with sudden passion. She leaned close to her sister, her nostrils flaring angrily. “Stop roiling your eyes, Cally. You don’t know everything! I hate it when you act so smug and superior.” Kody let out a frustrated cry. “Mom and Dad didn’t believe me either.” “Kody— you told them this wild ghost story when they got back from the hospital?” Kody nodded. “It isn’t a wild story. I felt something in the room. I thought they should know.” She sighed. “But they laughed at me too.” “Kody, listen to me,” Cally pleaded. “There are no such things as ghosts. Really. You—” “I’ve read books that say there are ghosts!” Kody shot back. “Books by real scientists.” Cally laughed. Kody jumped to her feet. She balled her hands into fists. “Don’t laugh at me, Cally. I don’t like everyone in this family laughing at me.” “Then don’t be such a jerk,” Cally replied. She shook her head. “Ghosts,” she muttered scornfully. “You really are a pain!” Kody cried. “So are you!” Cally shot back, feeling herself lose control. Kody stomped toward the door. “Hey—if a moaning white sheet comes flying down the hall at you, be sure to duck!” Cally called after her. Kody stormed into the hall, then slammed the door behind her. What is her problem? Cally thought, shaking her head. Sometimes I can’t believe we’re twins. How can a sister of mine believe in ghosts? She clicked off her bedside lamp. Then slid down into the bed and pulled the sheet over her. Through the open window, Cally could hear the whisper of wind through the trees in the backyard. She forced herself not to think about Kody, not to think of the frightening incident at dinner. Instead, she thought about the boutique, about Sally and Gene, the young couple who had hired her to work there. And as she began to relax and feel drowsy, she found herself thinking about Anthony. Maybe I’ll stop at The Corner after work, she thought, smiling. Just to say hi. Maybe I’ll remind him I’m new in town and don’t know anybody. Maybe I’ll ask him to show me around. Thinking these pleasant thoughts, Cally drifted to sleep. Three hours later she woke up, startled by a sound.
    The sky was black and starless outside her window. A heavy silence hovered over the house. Then she heard the sound again. A soft knocking on her bedroom door. Three knocks, then a pause. Then three more knocks. Faint and weak. “Who’s there?” Cally’s voice came out in a sleep-choked whisper. She cleared her throat. “Who’s there? Kody?” No reply. Silence. Then three more faint knocks. Gentle scrapes, as if from someone too weak to pound. “Who’s there?” Cally demanded more loudly. She lowered her feet to the floor. And listened. No reply. Am I dreaming this? she wondered. What’s going on? Three more knocks. A pause. Three more knocks. Cally took a deep breath and held it. She tiptoed quickly across the room. Then she grabbed the doorknob—and yanked open her door.

Chapter 7
    No one there. Cally stared into the dim orange light cast by a tiny night-light halfway down the hall. No one. An empty, silent hallway. “Who’s there?” she whispered, suddenly chilled. No one there. Kody’s door was closed. James’s door stood open a crack, revealing only darkness. “Weird,” Cally muttered softly. She pulled her door shut, hurried back to bed, and pulled the sheet up to her chin. Shivering, she shut her eyes. And heard three soft knocks. And then three more. “Who’s there?” she demanded shrilly. Silence. Then three more knocks. Catty pulled the sheet over her head and pressed her ear into the