The Second Evil Read Free Page A

eyes. Hard, determined eyes. Angry eyes. Gray eyes, so pale they were almost colorless.
    Pale gray ghostlike eyes.
    Somebody—help me! Corky wanted to cry out, but she could only pant in terror as she fled.
    His shoes pounded the ground. So close behind her.
    Or was that the pounding of her heart?
    Who was he? Why was he spying on her? Why was he chasing her?
    The questions made her dizzy as she ran, gasping in mouthfuls of the heavy, cold air. Ran through the darkness. Ran toward the street. Fear Street.
    Her house was only a block away.
    Would she make it?
    She was nearly to the street.
    Running hard. Her right side aching.
    The footsteps pounding behind her.
    â€œOw!”
    She cried out as her leg hit a low tombstone.
    As the pain shot up her leg, she fell and toppled forward, her arms and legs sprawling out as she dropped facedown into a pile of wet leaves.

Chapter 3
“Please Come Back”

    â€œC orky!”
    At first she didn’t recognize the voice.
    â€œCorky!”
    She raised her head, scrambled to her feet, frantically brushing at the wet leaves clinging to the front of her coat.
    â€œHey, Corky!”
    The voice came from the street. From the little blue car just beyond the curb.
    â€œKimmy!” she cried. “Oh, Kimmy!”
    Kimmy was running toward her, her eyes wide with concern. Behind Kimmy, Corky could see Debra and Ronnie climbing out of the car.
    â€œHe—he’s chasing me!” Corky cried breathlessly She skidded to a stop.
    Kimmy protectively threw her arms around Corky’s shoulders. “What’s wrong, Corky?”
    â€œWhat
is
it?” Ronnie called, hurrying up to them.
    â€œHe’s chasing me!” Corky turned and pointed behind her.
    No one.
    No hooded man. No pale, pale eyes.
    Vanished.
    Or was he another nightmare?
    Corky shuddered. Her side ached. Her ankle throbbed from its collision with the granite tombstone.
    Another nightmare? Just a hallucination?
    â€œWe’ve got to get you home,” Kimmy said, her arm still around Corky’s shoulders. “Come on, Corky. Come with us,” she urged softly.
    â€œIt’s freezing out here!” Ronnie exclaimed, wrapping her big coat tightly around herself.
    Debra remained silent, staring up at the crooked gravestones in an old section of the cemetery. Intense concentration froze her face. She reached for the crystal she wore around her neck and, still gazing up at the old stones, moved her lips in some sort of silent chant.
    â€œDebra, come
on!”
Kimmy’s voice from near the car interrupted Debra’s concentration. She turned, still distracted, and followed her friends to the car.
    A short while later Kimmy pulled the Camry up the gravel drive beside the Corcorans’ rambling old house and cut the engine.
    The four girls jogged to the front porch. Corky fumbled with her keys before finally managing to push open the front door. They all stepped inside.
    â€œBrrrrrr!” Debra shivered and stamped her feet.
    â€œDebra, it isn’t
that
cold,” Kimmy scolded.
    â€œYaaaaii!”
    A screaming figure leapt out at them from the living room.
    â€œSean, give us a break,” Corky told her little brother, rolling her eyes.
    â€œI scared you.” Sean grinned, his blue eyes lighting up. With his straight blond hair and high cheekbones, he looked like a smaller, more angelic version of Corky.
    â€œWe don’t really feel like being scared right now,” Kimmy told him, tossing her coat onto the banister.
    â€œDo you feel like playing Nintendo?” Sean asked, tugging her arm.
    â€œNintendo?”
    â€œYeah. I’ve got Mega Man II.”
    â€œNot right now,” Kimmy told him.
    â€œJust a short game,” Sean insisted, pulling Kimmy toward the stairs.
    Kimmy turned helplessly to Corky.
    â€œSean, take a hike,” Corky said sharply. “We can’t play with you now.” She poked her head into the living room.