realized.
These are Jada’s, and she’s six inches taller than me, and so skinny.
I tugged them up. They were twisted, and I had to turn them as I pulled. To my surprise, they fit perfectly.
I grabbed the cloak and slid it over my shoulders. My hands were trembling so hard, it took me four tries to fasten the laces around my throat.
Hurry. Hurry .
The oval pendant was heavier than I’d imagined. I slid the chain over my head and pulled the pendant into place.
The silky black mask slid from my hands. I picked it up and turned it until I found the front.
The eye holes were cut so narrow, shaped like cat eyes. Would I be able to see?
I tugged the mask down over my face. I struggled to adjust it over my hair. Then I twisted it until the eye holes were in front of my eyes.
The long black gloves were still on the shelf. I pulled them down and started to slide one on.
They’re probably way too small, I thought. Jada has such tiny, slender hands.
But to my surprise, the gloves also fit perfectly.
Done. The costume was complete.
There was no mirror in the little room. So I couldn’t see how I looked. But it didn’t matter. Jada’s whispered words repeated in my ear.
“ Just walk into the house, Selena. When they see you in the costume, they’ll run .”
I pushed the long cape behind me and ran out of the hidden room. I pressed the lever, sliding the bookcase back into place.
I tore through the hall, then down the stairs. TheTV was still on in the living room. I pulled open the front door and leaped out.
A dark, moonless night. The cold air hit my face as I started to run to the street. Trees swayed in the strong gusts. A few doors down, I heard a baby crying. The lights went off in the house across the street.
Dead leaves crackled under my thudding boots. I stayed along the hedges, in the shadows, away from the street. I didn’t want anyone to see me in this weird costume.
What would they think?
I was breathing noisily, wheezing as I ran. I struggled to force back my panic. But I’d never been so terrified in all my life.
Who was holding Jada prisoner? Why did Jada think this costume would scare them away?
A thousand questions flew through my head, all of them frightening. I knew I wouldn’t have answers to any of them until Jada was rescued.
Rescued…
Rescued…
What if I didn’t get there in time?
The address Jada had whispered was a few blocks from the ice-skating pond.
I reached the house and stopped at the curb. I grabbed onto the mailbox. Held on to it with both hands as if it were a life preserver.
Leaning on it, I struggled to catch my breath. Struggled to slow my racing heartbeats. And waitedfor my legs to stop throbbing.
Finally, I let go and stared across the small front lawn at the house. A low, ranch-style house. Completely dark. No lights anywhere.
No car in the driveway. No sign of life.
Could this be the right house? I squinted at the address on the mailbox.
Yes.
I started up the lawn. My long cape swirled behind me in the wind. It tangled around my legs, and I had to pull it loose.
My face was sweating under the mask. The mask made my cheeks itch. It stuck to my forehead.
I sucked in deep breaths, one after another. Forced my legs to move.
I stepped up to the front door.
Silence inside. The wind whispered behind me. Trees creaked and groaned.
My hand went up to push the bell. But I stopped myself in time.
I grabbed the doorknob. Inside the glove, my hand was wet and colder than the metal.
Was the door locked? I turned the knob. And pushed.
The door slid open silently.
I stared into more darkness. Blacker than the night.
Still not a sound.
I held my breath. Forced one leg forward. Then the other.
I stepped into the dark house. Warm inside.
I waited for my eyes to adjust. But I couldn’t see a thing.
Pulling the cloak around me, I took a trembling step. Another.
Another.
Into a dark hallway. My boots thudded heavily on the wooden floor. The only other sound
These are Jada’s, and she’s six inches taller than me, and so skinny.
I tugged them up. They were twisted, and I had to turn them as I pulled. To my surprise, they fit perfectly.
I grabbed the cloak and slid it over my shoulders. My hands were trembling so hard, it took me four tries to fasten the laces around my throat.
Hurry. Hurry .
The oval pendant was heavier than I’d imagined. I slid the chain over my head and pulled the pendant into place.
The silky black mask slid from my hands. I picked it up and turned it until I found the front.
The eye holes were cut so narrow, shaped like cat eyes. Would I be able to see?
I tugged the mask down over my face. I struggled to adjust it over my hair. Then I twisted it until the eye holes were in front of my eyes.
The long black gloves were still on the shelf. I pulled them down and started to slide one on.
They’re probably way too small, I thought. Jada has such tiny, slender hands.
But to my surprise, the gloves also fit perfectly.
Done. The costume was complete.
There was no mirror in the little room. So I couldn’t see how I looked. But it didn’t matter. Jada’s whispered words repeated in my ear.
“ Just walk into the house, Selena. When they see you in the costume, they’ll run .”
I pushed the long cape behind me and ran out of the hidden room. I pressed the lever, sliding the bookcase back into place.
I tore through the hall, then down the stairs. TheTV was still on in the living room. I pulled open the front door and leaped out.
A dark, moonless night. The cold air hit my face as I started to run to the street. Trees swayed in the strong gusts. A few doors down, I heard a baby crying. The lights went off in the house across the street.
Dead leaves crackled under my thudding boots. I stayed along the hedges, in the shadows, away from the street. I didn’t want anyone to see me in this weird costume.
What would they think?
I was breathing noisily, wheezing as I ran. I struggled to force back my panic. But I’d never been so terrified in all my life.
Who was holding Jada prisoner? Why did Jada think this costume would scare them away?
A thousand questions flew through my head, all of them frightening. I knew I wouldn’t have answers to any of them until Jada was rescued.
Rescued…
Rescued…
What if I didn’t get there in time?
The address Jada had whispered was a few blocks from the ice-skating pond.
I reached the house and stopped at the curb. I grabbed onto the mailbox. Held on to it with both hands as if it were a life preserver.
Leaning on it, I struggled to catch my breath. Struggled to slow my racing heartbeats. And waitedfor my legs to stop throbbing.
Finally, I let go and stared across the small front lawn at the house. A low, ranch-style house. Completely dark. No lights anywhere.
No car in the driveway. No sign of life.
Could this be the right house? I squinted at the address on the mailbox.
Yes.
I started up the lawn. My long cape swirled behind me in the wind. It tangled around my legs, and I had to pull it loose.
My face was sweating under the mask. The mask made my cheeks itch. It stuck to my forehead.
I sucked in deep breaths, one after another. Forced my legs to move.
I stepped up to the front door.
Silence inside. The wind whispered behind me. Trees creaked and groaned.
My hand went up to push the bell. But I stopped myself in time.
I grabbed the doorknob. Inside the glove, my hand was wet and colder than the metal.
Was the door locked? I turned the knob. And pushed.
The door slid open silently.
I stared into more darkness. Blacker than the night.
Still not a sound.
I held my breath. Forced one leg forward. Then the other.
I stepped into the dark house. Warm inside.
I waited for my eyes to adjust. But I couldn’t see a thing.
Pulling the cloak around me, I took a trembling step. Another.
Another.
Into a dark hallway. My boots thudded heavily on the wooden floor. The only other sound
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