Shadow Snatcher by Lou Kuenzler

Chapter 4

Hide and Seek
    Eva ran up the stairs.
    â€œNot that way!” I yelled. “We’ve got to escape.”
    But it was too late. Eva was already at the top of the stairs. I had to follow her.
    We hid behind her toy basket. I could hear Death coming up the stairs after us. I thought about jumping out the window. But Eva’s room is too high up.
    â€œI’m coming! Ready or not,” called Death.
    For him this was just a horrible game!
    â€œI’m going to throw something at him,” I said to Eva.

    I looked in the toy basket, but it was full of soft toys. I found a bright pink plastic box.

    â€œMy Max Sounds Singing Machine,” cried Eva. “You can’t throw that!” Her big brown eyes were full of tears. She grabbed the toy and wouldn’t let go.
    Instead, I picked up a doll from the floor.
    â€œNo! Not Baby Polly!” yelled Eva.
    Death was right outside.
    â€œWhen he comes in,” I said, “I am going to throw the doll at him. You have to run, Eva. Run downstairs. Get help. Understand?”
    Eva nodded her head. She was too scared to speak.
    The door swung open.
    â€œHide and seek?” said Death. “I’ll count to ten.”

    He turned away from us. His hooded head was hidden in his hands. He really was counting.
    â€œOne …” he said.
    â€œTwo …”
    Eva grabbed me tightly. Her fingers dug into my skin.
    â€œThree … Four …”
    I let go of Eva’s hand.
    â€œFive …”
    â€œGo!” I hissed.
    With one hand I pushed Eva towards the open door. With the other hand I threw the doll. I aimed right at Death’s head.
    WHAM!
    A bolt of light shot across the room.
    Eva hadn’t taken a step. She was still right beside me.
    â€œBaby Polly!” screamed Eva.
    The doll lay on the floor.
    Her plastic head was on one side of the room. Her body was on the other.
    Death laughed.

    â€œThat could have been Eva,” I thought. “She could have been torn in half as easily as a doll.”
    â€œDid you think you could hurt me?” asked Death.
    â€œMaybe I can’t hurt you,” I said. “But I bet I can beat you!”
    â€œReally?” Death sounded interested.
    I was thinking fast.

    I thought about how Death had laughed as he came up the stairs. This was all just a game to him. Maybe Death was a bit like Uncle Tony after all. Uncle Tony can never say no to a bet or a dare.
    â€œYes!” I said to Death again. “I bet I can beat you in a game!”
    â€œI will take the bet,” said Death. “If you win, Eva will live a long life. But if I win, she will die today.”
    Eva sobbed.
    â€œShe hasn’t even got a shadow,” said Death. “She has nothing to protect herself from me.”

Chapter 5

The Contest
    Death looked down at the pink plastic microphone in my hand.
    It belonged to Eva’s Max Sounds Singing Machine.
    â€œI bet I can beat you at singing,” I said.
    â€œSinging?” Death hissed. “You want me to sing?”
    â€œYes!” I nodded. “That’s the game. You have to win a singing contest.”
    â€œBut,” growled Death. “I can’t …”
    â€œCan’t what?” I asked. “What can’t you do?”
    Death’s voice was quieter than ever. “I can’t sing!” he hissed.
    â€œToo bad!” I handed him the microphone and looked through the list of songs on the Max Sounds Singing Machine.

    At last, I found the perfect song. Minnie Pink! Eva’s favourite.
    I looked at the screen on the machine. This is where the scores flash up. Eva has made me play this game with her a million times. She always wins.

    â€œIt’s easy,” I told Death. “You sing the song and the machine judges you. If it shows hearts, it means you’re good. Skulls mean you are bad.”
    I closed the curtains and turned off all the lights. For a moment it was horribly