First Evil by R.L. Stine Page B

her shoulders. Corky grabbed her calves to brace her.
    Bobbi moved into position to catch Kimmy. “I’m ready whenever you are,” she called up to her.
    â€œShouldn’t she go on a diet first?” Debra cracked.
    Kimmy glared down at her. “Since when do you make jokes?”
    Debra shrugged. “Ronnie made me say it.”
    â€œLet’s get serious, girls,” Miss Green scolded. “This stunt could really be dangerous.”
    â€œCorky and I have done it a million times,” Bobbi reassured her, looking up at Kimmy. “Ready?”
    â€œI guess,” Kimmy replied with a shrug. “Wish I had a safety net.”
    â€œYou can do it!” Jennifer yelled encouragement from against the wall.
    â€œOkay. On three,” Corky said. “One, two—”
    Bobbi braced herself, spreading her feet far apart in preparation for the catch. She arched her back. And started to raise both arms above her head.
    â€œâ€”three!”
    Bobbi sucked in a mouthful of air. My arms, she thought. What’s wrong? What’s happening to me?
    I can’t raise my arms, Bobbi thought, frozen in horror.
    I can’t move. I can’t move anything.
    She could feel beads of cold sweat run down her forehead.
    Stop! Bobbi thought. You’ve got to stop this! Hold everything! Please! Just stop!
    But to her horror, she couldn’t speak out. She couldn’t make a sound.
    I can’t move. I can’t speak.
    She strained to raise her arms, to get into position.
    No! Please—no! Bobbi cried, only no sound came out.
    What is happening to me?
    She could see herself standing there, as if she had floated out of her own body.
    She could see herself looking up as Kimmy prepared to dive, looking up with her arms still at her sides.
    Unable to move them, to raise them.
    Unable to catch Kimmy.
    Unable to warn her.
    No! Please—Kimmy, don’t dive! Don’t dive!
    Can’t you see I’m paralyzed here?
    Can’t you see something is holding me here? Holding me in its grip? Holding me so I can’t move a single muscle, cannot even blink?
    Can’t you see?
    Corky’s shoulders bobbed under Kimmy’s weight as Kimmy bent her knees and began her jump.
    No! No! Kimmy—don’t!
    Kimmy’s eyes narrowed, her features tight in intent concentration. Her knees bent, the muscles tightened.
    No! Stop!
    Kimmy—stop!
    I can’t catch you!
    I can’t even move to break your fall.
    Kimmy—please!
    Kimmy took a deep breath. Held it.
    And then she leapt off Corky’s shoulders.

Chapter 15

The Accusations Fly
    K immy hit the floor hard.
    She landed first on her knees and elbows.
    Everyone heard a sickening crack. And then a heavy thud as her forehead smashed against the floor.
    Her head snapped back and her mouth let out a whoosh , like air escaping a blown-out tire.
    And then her eyes closed, and she didn’t move.
    At first no one reacted. Everyone seemed as paralyzed as Bobbi.
    But then Heather’s shrill scream pierced the air, echoing off the high gym ceiling.
    Several other girls cried out.
    Corky dropped to her knees beside Kimmy’s unmoving body and stared up at Bobbi.
    Her eyes locked on Kimmy, Bobbi stumbled back. One step. Two.
    She raised her hands to her cheeks.
    I can move, she realized.
    I can move again.
    I’m me again.
    Jennifer was wheeling her chair frantically toward Kimmy.
    Miss Green leaned over Kimmy, took her hand, slapped at it.
    Kimmy groaned.
    â€œShe had the wind knocked out,” Miss Green announced. She raised her eyes to the girls huddling around the fallen cheerleader. “Quick—call for an ambulance. Call nine-one-one.”
    Megan and Heather, pale and shaken, went racing from the gym.
    I can move now, Bobbi thought. But what happened to me?
    â€œYou didn’t try to catch her!” Debra’s words stung Bobbi. Stepping close, Debra pointed an accusing finger. “You didn’t