turned around. Just a passing station wagon.
When she looked back down toward the old section, her eye caught a tilted hundred-year-old tombstone lit up by the bright moon. Corky knew it well. Surrounded by four other graves, Sarah Fearâs stone, worn by time and the weather, stood silent.
It was over Sarah Fearâs grave that Corky had battled the evil spirit on that dreadful, terrifying night. Over Sarah Fearâs open grave, she had fought and wonâand sent the evil pouring out of Jennifer Dalyâs body, back into the grave forever.
Or so she had thought.
But the evil hadnât remained in the grave.
The evil was back.
Somewhere.
Corky shuddered.
I donât want to think about this now.
I donât. I donât. I donât.
âThis way,â Corky said, turning away and striding with renewed purpose up to her sisterâs rectangular grave marker. Remnants of the flowers Corky had brought there a week ago lay shriveled at the foot of the stone.
Suddenly chilled, Corky shoved her hands deep into the pockets of her windbreaker and turned back to Chip. He was leaning against a tree several yards away, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes on the sky.
I guess heâs giving me a little space, Corky thought.
She turned to face her sisterâs gravestone. âItâs me, Bobbi,â she said in a low voice. âIâm really not going to be coming here for a while. At least Iâm going to try not to come. I need to get my life back to normal. I know youâd want me to.â
Corky paused, glanced at Chip who was still staring at the heavens, took a deep breath, and continued. âI just wanted to tell you about the decision Iâve made. I hope itâs the right one. Iâve decided to go back on the cheerleading squad. You see, Bobbiââ
Corky stopped. She heard a sound. She turned and peered down the hill.
Her breath caught in her throat.
She froze.
And stared in horror as a woman floated out of Sarah Fearâs grave.
Chapter 6
Five Mysterious Deaths
A s the woman materialized in the shadows, Corky struggled to find her voice. Finally she managed to call out Chipâs name.
Uncrossing his arms, he turned to her, startled. Corky pointed.
Would Chip see the woman too? Or was she seeing things again?
Corky was suddenly filled with dread. Was she losing her mind completely? Had she really seen this woman float up from Sarah Fearâs grave?
âHey!â Chip shouted. He saw the woman too.
Corky realized sheâd been holding her breath. She let it out with a loud
whoosh.
âOh. Hi!â the woman called up to them.
The beam from Chipâs flashlight played across her face as he made his way down toward her. She wasyoung and kind of plain, Corky saw. She had straight black hair that hung down over the turned-up collar of her trench coat.
She raised her hands to shield her eyes from the light. âYou scared me,â she called out. âI didnât know anyone else was here.â
Chip lowered the light to the ground and stood waiting for Corky to catch up. Reluctantly she followed.
âYou scared us too,â Chip said as he and Corky joined the young woman.
âI thought you were a ghost or something,â Corky said, trying to make it sound light.
The young woman didnât smile. âIâm just doing a gravestone rubbing,â she said. She had a scratchy voice, a voice that sounded older than she looked. âDid you two come here to be alone?â
Without waiting for an answer, she knelt in front of Sarah Fearâs gravestone, then lay down on her stomach to work.
âOh!â Corky couldnât help but utter a cry. The young woman was lying in the exact same place over the grave where Jennifer Daly had died.
Stop! Stop! Stop! Corky cried silently to herself. Stop thinking about it!
But how could she not be reminded when this woman was lying in the exact place?
âWhat are