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urged. “Sit down.”
    Amanda gazed at the eager faces in the candlelight. She still didn’t like the idea. But if she agreed to do it, and nothing happened, then the others would drop the whole thing.
    â€œOkay,” she finally said. “We try to call up thespirit. But then we forget about it. We’re supposed to be talking about our halftime routines, remember?”
    â€œDon’t worry, we’ll do this real fast,” Victoria assured her. “What does it say we have to do, Janine?”
    â€œWe all hold hands,” Janine directed. “And then we say, ‘Come forth, spirit. Rise and walk the earth again.’ ”
    Keesha burst out laughing. “If it’s that easy, why doesn’t everyone in the world do it?”
    â€œThere’s more to it,” Janine replied. “We have to do a bit of chanting.”
    â€œHow will we know if the spirit is here?” Keesha asked. “I mean, will it talk to us, or what?”
    Janine shrugged. “How should I know? Let’s just do it and find out. Everybody ready?”
    The five cheerleaders placed their hands on the table and gazed into the flickering black candles.
    Amanda suddenly felt cold all over. Even for a joke, this was pretty creepy.
    Led by Janine, the other four had already begun chanting the words on the old pages. Amanda’s mouth felt dry as she joined in.
    Finally the chant ended. Silence filled the kitchen.
    Amanda’s gaze skipped around the shadowy room. She half expected to see some creature lurking in the corner or a ghostlike figure hovering in the air.
    Nothing.
    No one. No spirit or ghost.
    Except for her friends, the kitchen remained empty. And silent. No ghostly voice called out from the shadows.
    â€œShould we try it again?” Victoria whispered.
    â€œNo way,” Amanda replied. She freed her hands. “Once was definitely enough.”
    â€œI guess the evil spirit didn’t want to join us,” Keesha murmured.
    Good, Amanda thought. Let it stay where it belongs.
    As she leaned forward to blow out her candle, a blinding flash of white light suddenly split the darkness.
    Victoria screamed.
    â€œWhat is that?” Janine cried. “Where is that light coming from?”
    The light flashed a second time. Blazing.
    Then it went out, leaving the room in darkness again.
    â€œIt’s suddenly so cold!” Natalie gasped. “Do you feel it? It’s freezing in here!”
    â€œWhat is going on?” Victoria cried.
    Before anyone could answer, the kitchen door banged open.
    A cold wind blew in, snuffing out all but one candle.
    In the wavering light, a tall shadow fell across the table.
    Then a dark figure slid into the room.

Chapter 9

HE CRUMPLES
    V ictoria screamed again and leaped to her feet. Her chair tipped over, falling to the floor with a loud crash.
    The others sat frozen, staring at the figure looming in the doorway.
    Amanda’s heart thundered. Her mind told her to get out, but her legs refused to move.
    As Victoria scrambled across the room, another figure stepped into the room and flicked on the overhead light.
    Everyone stayed silent for a moment, staring in disbelief.
    And then Keesha laughed. “Whoa! Do we feel like idiots—or what?”
    The others laughed too.
    Because it was only Judd, standing next to the refrigerator.
    And behind him stood Brandon, looking bewildered. “How come it was so dark in here?” he asked.
    â€œI don’t believe this!” Victoria cried, sagging against a counter in relief. “It’s only you! I’ve never been so glad to see anyone in my life!”
    Keesha blew out the last candle. “So much for the spirit world,” she declared. “What are you guys doing here, anyway?”
    â€œWe had another practice tonight,” Brandon explained. “I was giving Judd a lift. But I decided to stop by and see Janine.”
    Janine went to Brandon and slipped her