The Sleepover Read Online Free PDF

gut-churning feeling from when we were looking at horror movie titles is back. I don’t know anything about hypnosis.
    Paige leads the way while the hypnotist glides behind. Max and his friend try to sneak down the steps after us, but Anna Marie notices right away and says, “Oh no. Not you, doofuses!” and points them back to the first floor. They groan and moan pretty loudly about it, but eventually they slam the door.
    Veronica immediately begins picking things up from around the room (the bowl of M&M’s, her stack of Get Fuzzy comics, the cans of soda we’d abandoned when our game of I Never got interrupted) and stacking them on the wood bar. “I don’t know how much space you’ll need,” she says to the strange woman.
    â€œAre you Veronica?” Madame Mesmer asks, referring to a sheet of paper in her hand.
    â€œYup, that’s me. And that’s Anna Marie—it’s her thirteenth birthday tomorrow.”
    â€œHi,” says Anna Marie again, with a tiny wave. Madame Mesmer gives her a cool smile in return. She is a lot bit creepy, and I can tell by the expression on Anna Marie’s face that my best friend feels the same way. Paige, of course, seems nothing but calm and collected. As usual. Ugh. How do some people get so lucky not to be scared of anything? I feel like I’m nervous about ev-ery-thing.
    Madame Mesmer arches one eyebrow and launches into this long spiel:
    â€œWelcome, girls. I am Madame Mesmer, queen of hypnosis. I will help you explore the hidden depths of your subconscious. If you’re open to my talents, you will experience a show of epic proportions, where you’ll expand your mind and challenge your preconceptions.”
    I avoid the other girls’ eyes. I get that this is a party act, but at the same time, it feels like something is tickling its way up my spine and into the pit of my stomach, where it fliesaround like a bee trapped underneath a drinking glass. I’m so not used to this weird combination of fear and excitement that comes with trying something completely unknown. I sneak a peek at Madame Mesmer’s turban and clunky rings and decide, yes, this definitely has the potential to be epic. The question is: epic good or epic bad ?
    â€œPlease be seated,” the hypnotist orders. We all follow her instruction obediently, arranging ourselves in a semicircle on the floor, the sectional couch propping up our backs. Everyone else seems intent on avoiding eye contact with Madame Mesmer, but I steal glances at her from underneath my lashes. I totally suspect Paige is trying not to burst out laughing (if Paige isn’t afraid of anything, she’s not gonna start now with a woman who mixes orange and yellow in her outfit), but Anna Marie looks superserious, and Veronica is leaning forward breathlessly.
    â€œVery good.” Madame Mesmer nods, her eyes settling eerily on each of us. When she stares me down, it’s all I can do not to shiver. Eventually, she moves on. Creeeeeepy.
    â€œNow, let’s cover a few basics before I begin. Hypnosis is an ancient and powerful art, and you will explore it under my trained tutelage. If you open your mind to the suggestion of what we’re doing here tonight, you will find it easier to enter into the trancelike state that is called hypnosis. Contrary to popular belief, you will not be asleep. You will experiencesomething more akin to a daydream. You will be in full control of your body at all times and very aware of your actions. I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.”
    Anna Marie giggles, which I can tell is out of nervousness, and Paige shoots her a look that very clearly says, Zip it! Madame Mesmer watches us all quietly before continuing.
    â€œYou will feel very relaxed, and you will lose all inhibitions. You will be steered by your subconscious, the part of you that controls your actions in the background so subtly, you aren’t aware