The Impossible Race: Cragbridge Hall, Volume 3 by Chad Morris

use your mind, and follow your heart and your instincts. But once you’ve made a choice,” he pointed his cane at the objects, “make the most of it.”
    And then he was gone.
    “I totally knew he was going to end all cryptically,” Carol said. “And we would have no idea what to do next.”
    “I guess he’s a bit predictable that way,” Abby said. “But we need to see the future. We need to know if what we are doing is on track to stop Muns or not.”
    “Yeah,” Derick said. “I think he taught some good stuff there, but I can’t just choose not to die.”

 
    The Announcement
     
    The marble hall, the gentlemen in doublets, the ladies in elaborate gowns, and the small orchestra all faded away. Several hundred students at Cragbridge Hall clapped and awaited the next number. Tonight the dance committee was putting the Bridge to very creative use. Abby’s favorites had been dancing to Miles Davis playing jazz on his trumpet, watching and hearing a group of Ghanaians chant and dance together, and seeing the Beatles play at Shea Stadium.
    Three-dimensional images of Polynesian men twirling torches appeared in the gym. The flames spun into what looked like full circles and the crowd gasped and cheered. A drumbeat pounded in the background and the students began to move to the rhythm.
    Carol flung her hair and bounced up and down. “Best dance everrrrrrrr!” she yelled over the music then threw her hands in the air and let out a scream of sheer delight. Guitar and bass entered into the song and the fire spinners whirled, threw, and caught their burning torches.
    Abby was very glad she had used extra deodorant—not that girls sweat or anything. She bounced and shook next to Carol and a few other girls. They could only sit and think about her grandfather’s message for so long. They needed a break, and the school always had a dance to announce the Race. Of course, knowing the announcement was coming made Abby nervous. Was Muns about to do something? Rafa’s mother had been assured that security had it all under control.
    Soon the fire twirlers faded and another scene came into view. It was a band on a beach. “Let’s slow things down a bit,” the long-haired singer called into his microphone, the guitarist beginning to pick out a melody.
    Oh, no. A slow song. Abby had no idea who the band was, or the name of the song, but she knew it was a ballad.
    “Um . . . do you want to dance?” It was a boy’s voice, coming from somewhere behind her. Abby’s heart beat faster. The music had only been playing for a few seconds. She didn’t know whether to be scared that she was actually about to slow-dance with a boy or relieved that a boy had asked. At least she wasn’t going to have to worry about awkwardly standing against the wall, watching all of her friends have a good time.
    She turned around to see a boy with dark hair wearing a bright orange button-up shirt. And of course he had blue eyes. But he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking at a brunette standing next to Abby.
    “Sure,” the brunette answered and followed him a few steps away from the group.
    “I’m so excited to awkwardly waddle with a boy,” Carol said and began peering into the crowd. “Oh, no.” She palmed her forehead. “Looks like some girl snatched up Derick before he could get to me.” Abby found Derick in the sea of dancing students, swaying side to side with a girl with curly black hair and a red dress. Abby knew it was possible that Derick kind of liked the girl. She also knew it was possible that in near-panic he had asked whatever girl was closest to him to prevent Carol from snagging him.
    “Um.” Another boy had approached, a little shorter than the last, this one with an olive complexion.
    “Did you come over here to ask me to dance?” Carol asked. “My answer is definitely yes! Let’s boogie!” Abby wasn’t sure if the boy had intended to ask Carol or not, but caught up in the whirlwind of her excitement, he