everyone thought. So...what did it mean, if anything? He squinted, trying to decipher the paper.
Another sound from upstairs. Footsteps.
And they were moving...
Jimmy was nearly hysterical, and he went towards one of the windows, messing with the latch, but Rusty continued to read, the glimmer of an explanation forming in his mind.
"This mentions the Brocken Mountain back in the old country. Germany."
Jimmy ignored him, prying open the window and starting to scramble up. "Come on â¦"
"This rock is supposedly a piece of an old ring of stones from there. I know the history. The locals say the place is home to witches. The Hartz Witches. And Berger brought it back with him...wait a second. That's it. This thing holds some power, and he taps into it. It makes sense, I mean, I don't understand how, butâ¦"
He stopped as the footsteps were in the kitchen now.
Near the doorway.
Jimmy was already outside, his feet kicking madly for purchase, and Rusty knew it seemed the smart thing for him to be doing as well. But his skin grew cold as Jimmy shouted in surprise.
And Rusty now knew they had definitely walked into a trap.
~ * ~
Jimmy fell backwards with a crash, knocking over a crate he'd used to climb through the window. Rusty moved over to help him, but his friend quickly recovered.
"The dwarf is out thereâ¦"
But Rusty's instincts had already told him this. And the footsteps upstairs could only mean one thing -- the chase was finally up. There was no escape this time. They would have to confront Berger. Rusty understood it would be the last time as well. The stairs creaked as someone slowly came down. Next to him Jimmy was shaking, all his earlier bravery melted away. Rusty's mind scrambled madly as he tried to come up with a plan. The items. The stone. Berger. The Hartz Witches.
Low chuckling drifted down from the shadows, the sound full of malice and confidence.
"Rusty, he's got us. I don't want to be hypnotized again."
Or worse, Rusty thought.
"Yes, it's your turn now."
October is here and Halloween is coming,
Monsters will be coming after you.
Black and mean sneaks the witches' cat, gleaming eyes, a big dead rat.
Skeletons jump in a bony dance, goblins scream in an ugly prance.
Don't look now,
They're coming after you!
The song danced in Rusty's head, the childhood Halloween tune. He remembered sitting with a few of his friends on the carpet, the kindergarten teacher clapping and laughing, encouraging the youngsters to participate and sing along. Back then, he avoided singing, his head downcast. He didn't like the song, either the melody or the words. It had scared him. And years later, he came to the realization that some of the stories they told children were true....
"The game is over. It's time to join your friends and family, yes?"
No, not while he could still fight. Rusty looked at the rock, an idea coming to him. If only there was something...
"The night is growing long, we have things to do. Beyond the ocean in the old country, your family knew me then. You didn't know this, of course. But they served me well, just like you will do now."
That really hurt. Rusty was frightened, but angry too. He scanned the floor for something he'd seen a few minutes ago. It was up to him to take action. Jimmy cowered against the wall, his eyes glassy. Maybe Berger was attempting to make the connection once more, bring the boy under his control. Desperately, Rusty flashed the beam across the room. Berger was nearly down the steps, and a small figure wriggled through the window.
Their old nemesis, Berger's evil companion.
Wait...there it was! A hammer lay partially concealed beneath some cardboard. It was twisted and rusted, but would have to do. He grabbed it, then hurried back to the trapdoor. Raising the tool over his head, he breathed a silent prayer that his idea would work, ignoring the possibility that something unexpected -- and considerably worse -- might happen. He needed to take that
Another sound from upstairs. Footsteps.
And they were moving...
Jimmy was nearly hysterical, and he went towards one of the windows, messing with the latch, but Rusty continued to read, the glimmer of an explanation forming in his mind.
"This mentions the Brocken Mountain back in the old country. Germany."
Jimmy ignored him, prying open the window and starting to scramble up. "Come on â¦"
"This rock is supposedly a piece of an old ring of stones from there. I know the history. The locals say the place is home to witches. The Hartz Witches. And Berger brought it back with him...wait a second. That's it. This thing holds some power, and he taps into it. It makes sense, I mean, I don't understand how, butâ¦"
He stopped as the footsteps were in the kitchen now.
Near the doorway.
Jimmy was already outside, his feet kicking madly for purchase, and Rusty knew it seemed the smart thing for him to be doing as well. But his skin grew cold as Jimmy shouted in surprise.
And Rusty now knew they had definitely walked into a trap.
~ * ~
Jimmy fell backwards with a crash, knocking over a crate he'd used to climb through the window. Rusty moved over to help him, but his friend quickly recovered.
"The dwarf is out thereâ¦"
But Rusty's instincts had already told him this. And the footsteps upstairs could only mean one thing -- the chase was finally up. There was no escape this time. They would have to confront Berger. Rusty understood it would be the last time as well. The stairs creaked as someone slowly came down. Next to him Jimmy was shaking, all his earlier bravery melted away. Rusty's mind scrambled madly as he tried to come up with a plan. The items. The stone. Berger. The Hartz Witches.
Low chuckling drifted down from the shadows, the sound full of malice and confidence.
"Rusty, he's got us. I don't want to be hypnotized again."
Or worse, Rusty thought.
"Yes, it's your turn now."
October is here and Halloween is coming,
Monsters will be coming after you.
Black and mean sneaks the witches' cat, gleaming eyes, a big dead rat.
Skeletons jump in a bony dance, goblins scream in an ugly prance.
Don't look now,
They're coming after you!
The song danced in Rusty's head, the childhood Halloween tune. He remembered sitting with a few of his friends on the carpet, the kindergarten teacher clapping and laughing, encouraging the youngsters to participate and sing along. Back then, he avoided singing, his head downcast. He didn't like the song, either the melody or the words. It had scared him. And years later, he came to the realization that some of the stories they told children were true....
"The game is over. It's time to join your friends and family, yes?"
No, not while he could still fight. Rusty looked at the rock, an idea coming to him. If only there was something...
"The night is growing long, we have things to do. Beyond the ocean in the old country, your family knew me then. You didn't know this, of course. But they served me well, just like you will do now."
That really hurt. Rusty was frightened, but angry too. He scanned the floor for something he'd seen a few minutes ago. It was up to him to take action. Jimmy cowered against the wall, his eyes glassy. Maybe Berger was attempting to make the connection once more, bring the boy under his control. Desperately, Rusty flashed the beam across the room. Berger was nearly down the steps, and a small figure wriggled through the window.
Their old nemesis, Berger's evil companion.
Wait...there it was! A hammer lay partially concealed beneath some cardboard. It was twisted and rusted, but would have to do. He grabbed it, then hurried back to the trapdoor. Raising the tool over his head, he breathed a silent prayer that his idea would work, ignoring the possibility that something unexpected -- and considerably worse -- might happen. He needed to take that
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