First Evil by R.L. Stine Page A

Bobbi said, not realizing that she was almost shouting. She stood over her sister, her hands knotted tensely in front of her, feeling hot and trembly, the pain still pulsing behind her eyes.
    â€œMaybe we should tell Mom and Dad,” Corky said, glancing at the bedside clock. “I mean, just stop and think for a minute, Bobbi. First you told me you saw all the lockers at school open and close when you walked down the hall. Then you told me you were paralyzed at practice this afternoon. You couldn’t move. You couldn’t even speak. And that’s why you let Kimmy fall.”
    â€œBut, Corky—”
    â€œLet me finish,” Corky said sharply, holding up a hand as if to fend Bobbi off. “Then there was that weird story about Chip, about how he froze, too, and couldn’t move. And now you come home from Jennifer’s and—”
    â€œBut it’s true! ” Bobbi cried. “It’s all true. I mean, I think it’s true. I think—I—Don’t you believe me, Corky?”
    Corky was holding her hands over her ears. “Stop shouting. You’re screaming right in my face.”
    â€œSorry. I—”
    â€œLet’s go tell everything to Mom and Dad,” Corky urged. “I really think you have to go talk to a doctor or something. I think you need help, Bobbi. I really do.”
    â€œYou don’t believe me,” Bobbi accused heatedly, bitterly, her head throbbing. “You don’t believe me.”
    Without thinking about it, she picked up Corky’s pillow and heaved it at her angrily.
    â€œHey—” Corky cried, grabbing the pillow and tossing it back in its place.
    â€œJust don’t talk to me!” Bobbi snapped. “Traitor!”
    â€œOh, fine!” Corky screamed. “That’s just fine with me! You’re crazy, Bobbi! Crazy!”
    Bobbi stormed over to the closet. “Shut up! Just shut up! Don’t talk to me! Ever again!” She began to tear off her clothes, tossing them on the closet floor, muttering to herself.
    Corky punched her pillow, fluffed it, and slid back under the covers, turning her back on her sister.
    She’s gone totally crazy, she told herself. She’s just so weird!
    Imagine—calling me a traitor because I think she should talk to someone and get help.
    Me, a traitor.
    And now she’s gotten me so upset, I’ll probably be up all night.
    I hate her. I really hate her, Corky thought darkly, struggling to get comfortable. She just makes me so mad.
    â™¦ ♦ ♦
    Corky might have been more sympathetic. She might have been more understanding. More caring. More believing.
    But Corky had no way of knowing that this was the last night she would ever spend with her sister.

PART THREE

The Evil

Chapter 18

In Hot Water
    â€œO kay, everyone—some aerobics to warm up!”
    Bobbi trotted enthusiastically onto the gym floor, clapping her hands, trying to get the girls up for their after-school practice.
    But they lingered against the wall, clustered in pairs, talking quietly.
    â€œCome on, everyone—line up! Let’s warm up!”
    Bobbi’s eyes wandered from girl to girl. Where’s Corky? she wondered, and then remembered that Corky had to stay late in Mr. Grant’s science lab. She saw Jennifer wheel herself in, concentrating as she maneuvered her wheelchair through the double doors. Jennifer saw Bobbi and smiled, giving her a little wave.
    â€œLine up!” Bobbi insisted.
    â€œWhere’s Miss Green?” Kimmy asked, stepping forward slowly, holding her wrist with the white cast on it awkwardly.
    â€œI don’t know,” Bobbi told her. “Are you going to warm up with us? Or does your wrist—”
    â€œMy wrist is no concern of yours,” Kimmy snapped. “I’m not quitting the squad because of it, if that’s what you mean.” Her eyes burned angrily into Bobbi’s.
    â€œLet’s warm up! Come on,