Triumph of Evil

Kimmy is dead."

Corky said the words out loud, a triumphant smile spreading across her face.

Raindrops fell gently, a few at a time. Standing on the cliff edge, Corky peered down at the brown, flowing river water.

"Kimmy is dead."

Still smiling, Corky started to leave. But from somewhere deep inside her a muffled voice shouted: "No!"

She hesitated.

I have to leave now. Kimmy is dead. Now I have to take care of Debra.

And again the distant, muffled voice cried out: "No!"

The smile faded on Corky's face, and her eyes narrowed unpleasantly.

The rain fell harder. The gentle ping on the ground became a steady drumroll. I have to finish Debra now.

"No!"

The protesting voice was Corky's. The real Corky trying to make herself heard, struggling to regain control.

"No! I can't let this happen!" The real Corky's voice grew stronger.

" I am in control now!" the evil force cried out. " Stay back! I'm warning you!"

"No!" Corky called out with renewed strength.

"No!" From somewhere deep in her own mind Corky lashed out, pushed her way forward, pressed against the heavy evil.

The horror of Kimmy's death—the horror of what Corky had just done—had reached through the evil, had brought Corky to life. She knew she had no choice. She had to fight it. Now.

" Stay back!" the ancient evil warned. " Stay back where you belong!"

"No!" Corky fought back, struggling within herself, struggling blindly as the ground disappeared, along with the sky, the trees, everything.

She was nowhere. In a gray limbo. Fighting a foe she couldn't see… fighting herself.

"I have to die!" she told herself. "I have to die now!"

And another part of her said, "No. I cannot die! I am too young. I want to live!"

"Die—and force this evil to die with you!"

"No—I can't die! I'm too afraid! I want to live!"

"You cannot live with this ghastly thing inside you! You must die to save your friends, your family!"

" Get back!" growled the evil inside her head. " Get back now!"

"No!" Corky cried.

"Kimmy!" she screamed. "Kimmy—I'm so sorry!"

I am evil, Corky told herself. I am evil, and I must die!

" I must live!" the evil force declared. " Get back or suffer a thousand deaths inside your own body!"

"Nooooo!"

With a final scream Corky spun around—and stepped to the cliff's edge.

She stopped to peer down, her chest heaving, her blood pulsing against her temples.

No! I can't do it!

"I can't!" she screamed. "I'm too young! I can't!"

She felt the evil stir, rising up heavily, triumphantly, inside her. "I can't! I can't!"

She took a step back.

Defeated.

"I can't die! I won't die!"

" Others will die," the evil spirit said inside her. " We will live forever!"

Chapter 23

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20