The Third Horror by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online

but firm hand pulling her away from the open refrigerator, out of the harsh yellow light.
    "Kody—what?" he demanded softly. "What frightened you?"
    A young red-haired woman—one of Bo's assistants —lifted the head out of the refrigerator. Holding it carefully in both hands, she held it up in front of her. "Is this what frightened you?"

     
    Kody nodded, turning her head so that she wouldn't have to stare into the blue eyes.
    "We put it in there to harden,'* Bo told her, still holding on to her trembling shoulders. "It's a model, Kody. The prop department brought it in this morn-mg.
    "What is her problem?" Kody heard someone whisper near the door.
    "Did she think it was a real head?" someone else asked in a hushed voice.
    "You've had a very upsetting morning," Bo told Kody. He signaled for the others to leave. The assistant replaced the head on the shelf and closed the refrigerator.
    When everyone had left the room. Bo turned back to Kody. "We're all totally freaked by—by what happened. We all feel edgy. We all feel terrible about this morning. But we can't go over the edge," he said, eyeing her sternly. "I have a movie to make, and I'm going to make it, Kody. No matter what, I'm going to get this picture made."
    "But it—it just looked so real," Kody murmured weakly. "I came back here to see my sister. And— there she was. And—"
    Bo studied Kody for a moment. "Kody, I want you to go lie down in your trailer."
    "But, Bo—!" Kody started to protest.
    He raised a hand to silence her. "I'm afraid that coming back to this house has shaken you badly," he said, continuing to speak in a low, soothing tone. "That and the accident this morning . . ."

     
    He turned and opened the refrigerator door. He reached onto the shelf and pulled out the head, smoothing the blond hair behind the face.
    Kody stared once again at the sickening green lips, the lifeless blue eyes.
    "It's not a real head. It's a model, Kody," Bo said, speaking very slowly, as if instructing a two-year-old. He raised it higher. "See?"
    Kody nodded.
    "Please," Bo said, sliding the head back into the refrigerator. "Go to your trailer. Okay? Rest. You'll be fine. Really."
    "Okay," Kody replied uncertainly.
    "We need you on this picture," Bo said, his eyes still studying her. "I need you. And I need you alert and in good shape. So, try real hard to get it together— okay?"
    "I'll try," Kody told him.
    She followed him out the kitchen door. Bo headed toward the crew members, who were working intently on the boom camera. Kody began to follow the driveway down to the street.
    She had taken only a few steps when she heard Persia's scornful words, deliberately spoken loudly enough for Kody to hear. "I guess Kody just can't take all the stress," Persia was gloating to one of her assistants. "She isn't a pro, after all."
    Well, well, Kody—so freaked out?
    Did that little head frighten you, poor thing?
    From the living room window, Cally's ghost

     
    watched Kody trudge down the driveway to the long, tan trailer parked across the street.
    My poor sister is terribly upset, Cally thought gleefully.
    Kody, did it really upset you to see my head in the fridge?
    I should be dead, right? Dead and gone. I shouldn't be popping up in the kitchen like that—should I!
    Cally tilted her head back in a scornful laugh.
    You said you came back to find me, Kody. You said you came back to keep your promise.
    But when you did find me, what happened?
    You totally freaked—didn't you, kid!
    That's because you're a liar, Kody. That's because you didn't really come back to find your dead, dead sister.
    You came back to become a movie star.
    Only things aren't off to a good start, are they?
    Someone got her pretty face bashed in, and—guess what, Kody? A lot of people out there think you were responsible.
    That's because no one would suspect a ghost could loosen a few bolts. Am I right? No one would ever suspect a ghost.
    Well, dear sister, the bad news is that this morning was just