Read Online Ready for a Scare? by P.J. Night - Free Book Online Page B

and colorful tank tops stood in a row. They squatted in unison. Together they kicked their legs and counted the repetitions. Was Ryan really watching an exercise show?
    She examined the women for another minute. They weren’t even young or cool-looking. They looked like her grandmother’s friends.
    â€œHey, you, why are you watching this?” she asked.
    Ryan didn’t answer. His eyes never left the screen. He appeared mesmerized by the middle-aged women, who were now jogging in place. Retro eighties music played in the background, but the women were hopelessly off the beat. There was absolutely nothing interesting in this show. And it wasn’t bad enough to be funny. It was just bad.
    Kelly narrowed her gaze at her brother. She was so not in the mood for his tricks. “Answer me,” she demanded.
    He stayed mute. Unmoving.
    She studied him. Was this a joke?
    â€œStop it, Ryan.” She waved her hands in front of hisunblinking brown eyes. He didn’t flinch.
    â€œCan you hear me?” she cried. Her heart began to beat rapidly. From anger. From confusion. “Move!” she screamed, her face centimeters from his. “Move!”
    He remained frozen. She could hear him breathing. The air slowly traveling in and out of his nostrils. She grabbed his shoulders with both her hands and shook him hard. Again and again. “Answer me!” she screamed frantically.
    His body felt limp in her hands. He gave no resistance. His glassy eyes focused vacantly on the TV. The three women crossed their arms and legs, counting out the fifteenth jumping jack. Their perky voices filled the silence of the room.
    Her heart beat all over her body. Her thoughts jumbled around her brain. Nothing was making sense. Why was Ryan like this? It was almost as if he was . . . as if he was . . .
    She hesitated, not wanting to complete the horrible thought. Fearful that if she thought it, it would be true. For the only thing she could come up with was that Ryan was . . . possessed.
    She stared suspiciously at his zombielike figure.He had never acted like this before. “Ryan.” Her voice came out as a whisper. “Ryan, please.” She could no longer disguise her fear. “You’re freaking me out. Please.”
    He didn’t respond to her pleas. Immobile, he stared into nothingness. Vacant.
    She needed help. Now. She knew that.
    She pulled her phone out of her pocket. Her fingers automatically dialed her mom’s cell.
    â€œHi, sweetie.” Her mom’s voice, so near yet so far, made her legs weak.
    â€œHi, Mom.” Her voice caught, and she swallowed hard.
    â€œIs everything okay? What are you doing?” The line crackled.
    â€œWell, you see—” Static filled the airwaves, then disappeared. It disguised the terror in her voice.
    Kelly hesitated. She started to tell her mother that everything wasn’t okay. That their babysitter was depressed. That her friends weren’t texting her. That the house smelled weird. That her brother had become a zombie.
    No. She couldn’t tell her all that. She was the one who would sound crazy. Besides, what did she expecther mother to do so far away? She’d totally freak out and insist on driving home in this weather.
    â€œFine,” she answered instead. “Everything’s fine. Just watching TV.”
    â€œGood. Stay inside. The weather’s bad.” Her mom went on to tell her about the motel room and the lack of little shampoo bottles, soap, and shower caps in the bathroom. She hated motels without amenities. “Does Chrissie want to talk to me?”
    Her mother’s voice faded in and out. The line buzzed with static.
    That was it! Chrissie would help, Kelly realized. She might be acting a little strange but she was older. She’d know what to do. She would confide in Chrissie. She didn’t have to worry her mother.
    â€œCan you hear me? Kelly, are you