The Second Evil by R.L. Stine Page B

Debra.
    â€œPeople said some pretty weird things to me at Bobbi’s funeral.”
    Bobbi’s funeral.
    Chip’s funeral.
    There had been so many funerals in her life recently.
    She forced down a few more spoonfuls of soup. It didn’t taste great, but the warm liquid was soothing on her throat.
    â€œWe have to talk about the evil spirit,” Debra said suddenly, lowering her voice even though they were the only customers in the diner.
    Corky sighed. “Yeah. I know.” She stirred her soup, but knew she couldn’t eat any more.
    â€œYou and I both know that the evil spirit killed Chip,” Debra said heatedly. “He didn’t accidentally cut off his hand and stand there bleeding to death without calling for help or anything.”
    â€œThe doctors said he probably sawed off his hand and then went into shock,” Corky said.
    â€œDo you believe that?” Debra demanded.
    Corky hesitated, then shook her head. “No.”
    â€œFor one thing, Chip was a careful guy. He wouldn’t stand there and slice off his entire hand.”
    â€œI know,” Corky said, her voice catching in her throat.
    â€œAlso, do you know how hard it would be to slice your hand clean off? If you just nicked your wrist, you’d pull it away immediately. You wouldn’t keep right on sawing!” she exclaimed.
    â€œDebra, please.” Corky turned her eyes to the front of the diner. Through the window she could see that wet flakes of snow had started to fall.
    â€œThe evil is still alive, Corky,” Debra continued. “I know it, Kimmy knows it, and you know it. We can’t just ignore it. We can’t pretend it isn’t there and hope it’ll go away and everything will be nice again.”
    â€œI know, I know,” Corky wailed. “I know better than anyone, Debra.”
    Debra reached across the tabletop and squeezed Corky’s hand. “Sorry. I just meant—”
    â€œThe evil revealed itself to me,” Corky told her. “Just before Chip—just before I found Chip.”
    Debra lowered her cheeseburger to the plate. She stared at Corky as if trying to read her mind. “What do you mean?”
    Corky took a deep breath and told her everything that had happened in the science lab, starting with the door slamming shut and the lights going out, ending with her desperate struggle with the skeleton’s hand.
    Debra listened in silence, resting her chin in her hands. Both girls ignored their food while Corky told her frightening story.
    â€œI don’t believe it,” Debra said softly. “I don’t believe it.”
    â€œThere’s more,” Corky said softly, raising her eyes to the window in front. The snow was turning to a bleak wet drizzle.
    â€œGo on,” Debra urged. “Please.”
    Corky told her about her encounters with Jon Daly and Sarah Beth Plummer. Then she told about driving past the Fear Street cemetery, about seeing Sarah Beth and Jon in the cemetery together.
    â€œWhat were they doing?” Debra asked, removing her chin from her hands and sitting up straight.
    â€œI don’t know,” Corky told her. “It was so strange. I saw Sarah Beth perform a dance on Sarah Fear’s grave.”
    â€œYou mean while Jon was watching?” Debra asked.
    â€œJon leaned on the gravestone and watched,” Corky said. “It was so creepy.”
    â€œThe evil spirit is definitely alive,” Debra said in a whisper.
    â€œBut where?” Corky asked. “Why didn’t it stay down in the grave? Where is it?”
    â€œ1 think I know how to find it,” Debra said mysteriously.

Chapter 15
Razzmatazz

    â€œWe’ve got razzmatazz! Pep, punch—and pizzazz! Hey, you—you’ve been had. Shadyside Tigers got razzmatazz! RAZZMATAZZ!”
    As they repeated
razzmatazz,
the five cheerleaders performed flying splits. Then they landed on their feet and, with a whooping cheer,