Twin Dangers by Megan Atwood Read Free Book Online Page B

Millicent’s spirit. This room is a double whammy. She killed someone in here, here own life ended here, and then we come along, years and years later and go all … dramatic … Well, I guess we sparked something.”
    Emma said quietly, “Yeah, I know. We talked about it. It’s just, this is like our own private horror movie. Why can’t you ever just ask a ghost to stop being mean from the comfort of your own bed?”
    Sophie started to giggle, and the rest of the girls did too. Laughing felt good. Sophie felt some of the tension leave her body.
    The five of them approached a table in the center of the room, placing the spirit board in the middle of the table. Just as Ophelia had coached them, each girl placed her fingers on the planchette. Sophie couldn’t tell whose hands were shaking the most.
    Huge windows lined the far wall, and the trees cast long shadows into the classroom. The full moon didn’t help—the light just seemed to twist things around, rather than illuminating anything.
    Ophelia lit a candle, and the girls’ faces brightened in the warm yellow glow.
    â€œGreat. A candle. In a science room. This’ll end well,” Kayley murmured.
    â€œShush,” said Ophelia. “I’m pretty sure the gas in this room’s pipes hasn’t worked in years.” She rubbed her nose and looked a little uneasy. “I think.”
    Kayley groaned.
    Ophelia flexed her fingers, hoping all the time she’d spent researching would pay off. “OK, what we need is for you, Sophie, to try to get Millicent to come out. But first, we all need to concentrate and be willing to let a spirit come into our presence. When you feel the time is right, Sophie, you start talking. Emma, you stay between people at all times, yes?”
    Everyone nodded her head, and Sophie felt her stomach twist with unease. She wasn’t fond of the idea of talking to a ghost, but if it would save her sister …
    The five girls lapsed into a thick, restless silence. And then, Sophie started to feel something.
    At first, she thought she must just be getting sleepy because of the candlelight and the quiet. But she realized that she was incredibly cold and that her brain felt foggy. She didn’t know how, but she understood that Millicent was there.
    â€œMillicent?”
    The planchette started to tremble. All the girls looked at one another. Emma’s eyes had gotten as big as saucers.
    The planchette moved slowly and landed on the YES space.
    â€œIs anyone moving this?” Kayley hissed. “Don’t lie!”
    They shook their heads no, and even Ophelia looked scared. The planchette had moved on its own. Or had been moved by someone other than the girls.
    Sophie swallowed. This was real.
    She went on: “The person you loved—who was he?”
    The planchette moved more quickly, spelling out T-H-O-M-A-S . There was no doubt in Sophie’s mind now.
    Sophie got up the nerve and asked, “Did you kill Emily?”
    The planchette shot down to YES . All five girls gasped. The force of the movement was scary.
    Ophelia whispered, “You’re doing great. Now tell her that this isn’t the same thing, and she can leave Emma alone.”
    Sophie nodded and swallowed again. When she spoke, there was a small break in her voice. “Millicent,” she said, “I know how you feel. I really liked someone too.”
    The planchette moved a little bit away and then came back to the word YES .
    Sophie continued: “I’m so sorry that happened to you. You must have been so hurt and betrayed.”
    The planchette circled around YES once again.
    â€œI can understand that you’d think this is the same thing happening, but I want to tell you it’s not. I am happy for Trey and Emma, and I want them to be happy. Emma is not the same person who betrayed you. I want you to leave Emma alone.”
    Sophie expected a big reaction, but nothing happened.