Cheerleaders: The New Evil by R.L. Stine

basketball coach stuck his head in. He was a young man, younger than Ms. Closter, but his brown hair was thinning on top. He was short, kind of chubby, with a round, friendly face.
    He usually flashed a warm smile to everyone. But as Corky raised her eyes to the doorway, she saw that his expression was grim. “Obviously we can’t finish thegame tonight,” he reported to Ms. Closter. “We’re going to try to squeeze it in at noon tomorrow. Before the regularly scheduled game. If they can get the seats cleaned up.”
    Ms. Closter nodded, her expression as grim as the coach’s.
    â€œAnybody see anyone messing with the cannons?” the coach asked her.
    Ms. Closter shook her head. “We haven’t a clue.”
    Yes, we do, Corky thought bitterly. We do have a clue. It wasn’t a little practical joke pulled by a Lions’ supporter. I know that for sure, Corky told herself.
    It was a trick played by an evil spirit hundreds of years old. An evil spirit that we called back.
    And this evil spirit may be in this room right now, may even be sitting on this bench.
    Corky jumped to her feet, unable to stop the chills that swept down her back one after another.
    â™¦ ♦ ♦
    She dreamed about the evil that night.
    In the dream she couldn’t see it, but she knew it was there.
    She could sense it in the swirl of gray smoke that curled up in the strange, white-walled room where she stood. She backed up, frightened, alert to its presence, pressing her spine against the white wall.
    The wall was cold. So cold.
    The gray smoke curled around her.
    Kimmy and Debra appeared in the room. They keptyelling at Corky, yelling frantically. They pointed accusingly at her, the two of them, shouting and pointing their fingers together.
    What are they saying? Corky wondered. Why are they pointing at me? Why can’t I understand them?
    Because it’s a dream, she told herself.
    And as soon as she realized she was dreaming, she woke up. Gazed around the dark room. Didn’t know where she was.
    It took Corky a few seconds to remember she was in a motel room in New Foster. Peering across the dark room, she could see Kimmy and Ivy in the double bed against the wall.
    Pink and blue neon light from the sign out front spilled in through the window, onto their bed. Ivy snored lightly. Kimmy slept on the far edge of the bed, her back to Ivy.
    Corky jumped when she heard the tap on the window.
    Two taps. A pause. Then three taps, a little harder.
    She realized at once that someone was out there. Someone was tapping on her window.
    Her dream still fresh in her mind, Corky lowered her feet to the floor.
    Tap tap. Tap tap tap.
    Whoever is tapping on the window is the evil!
    The evil has come for me , Corky thought, feeling the goose bumps rise on both arms. Whoever is tapping on the window is the evil!
    I know it. I know it for sure.
    Tap tap tap. Tap tap. Even louder.
    Corky took a deep breath. Then she crept to the window and peered out.
    Who is it? Who’s out there?
    When she saw the face behind the glass, Corky let out a startled cry.

Chapter 18

THE EVIL EYE
    H er heart pounding, Corky pulled up the window. “Alex—what are you doing here?” she whispered, unable to hide her shock.
    He shrugged. He had a black and gray Raiders cap pulled over his blond hair. His Shadyside High jacket was unsnapped, revealing an olive-green pullover. The neon light fell over his face, making his grin appear eerie, unnatural.
    â€œHow did you get here?” Corky demanded, glancing back to make sure Ivy and Kimmy hadn’t awakened.
    â€œWalked,” he replied. His breath steamed up pink and blue in the strange light of the motel parking lot.
    â€œAll the way from your motel?” Corky sounded surprised. “Why?”
    â€œI couldn’t sleep,” he replied. “Come on out. It’s not too cold.”
    â€œHuh?” She stared out at him, studying his face, trying to decide