Star League 7 by H.J. Harper Page A

something? Some clue about where they are?’
    He shakes his head and my hopes come crashing down. ‘Sorry, Jay, there were no new leads in the files. But this was taken as evidence from the place where they were last seen.’
    He hands me a heavy gold object. ‘It’s a compass. It belonged to your parents and I think you should have it. Even if they can’t be here tonight, at least a piece of them is.’
    Speechless, I click the compass open. On one side is a photograph of the three of us, taken when I was just a baby. I can see I inherited my mother’sblonde hair and my father’s blue eyes. I imagine my parents using this compass to navigate the icy mountains where they disappeared.
    â€˜Thanks, Ben,’ I say, trying not to let my voice waver. With the compass in my hands I somehow feel stronger. I take a deep breath and slip it into my pocket.
    â€˜So what are we waiting for?’ I ask with a grin. ‘Let’s go and get a seat before the movie starts, or there won’t be any left!’

As the others greet their families I quietly slip away. Since I’ve never had a family I don’t feel like I’m missing out, but I do feel a bit strange hanging around so I decide to go check out the technology in the projection booth. I’ve heard that it’s some of the most advanced movie-screening technology in the world and I’m pretty excited to see it.
    I climb up a set of stairs towards the projection booth. There’s nobody around, so I let myself in. On one wall is a large window that has a perfect view of the whole cinema beneath me. I can see the Star League with their families. They’ve started to take their seats and are waiting for our movie to start. I should get back soon, but I can’t resisttrying out the controls first.
    There are so many flashing lights and buttons. As I reach towards a glowing purple lever I hear footsteps outside the door. It must be someone coming to start the film! I wonder what will happen if I’m discovered somewhere I’m not supposed to be. Can I get thrown out of my own film? I quickly step into a cupboard and pull the door closed after me.
    I peer through a gap in the door as two people shuffle into the room. I’m wondering if I’ll be able to sneak past them and get back to the cinema when a voice makes me freeze.
    â€˜Is the trap set?’
    Trap? What trap?
    â€˜Sure is,’ answers the second voice. ‘They won’t know what hit ’em.’ They both laugh, but something tells me that whatever they’re laughing at isn’t very funny.
    â€˜So we just have to hit this green button?’ asks the first voice.
    â€˜No, no, no!’ scolds the second voice. ‘How many more times do I have to explain this? You hit the red button and the sleeping gas comes out of the air ducts. Then it puts them all to sleep and we grab what we came for before they can wake up!’
    â€˜Not if I can help it!’ I leap out of the cupboard and deliver an electric shock to the first guy. His eyes roll back in his head as he’s knocked out cold. ‘What’s the matter, shocked to see me?’ The other guy is much faster to act. He lunges for the red button before I can stop him.
    â€˜No!’ I grab him and deliver another shock. He slumps to the floor, but the damage is done – he’s already pressed the button!
    I open the control panel and try to rewire the current. ‘Come on, come on!’ I mutter under my breath. I picture the sleeping gas seeping into the cinema and knocking everyone out, which makes me work even faster. Just when it seems like it’s too late, I finally divert the signal so it won’t releasethe gas. ‘Phew, that was close!’
    â€˜You think it’s that easy to stop us?’ I spin around and spot someone in the doorway holding a walkie-talkie. ‘Control room has been breached,’ he says into it.