Horror of Horrors!
You grip the shiny new black wand and point it at the masked intruder.
"Not a step closer!" you order.
The intruder stands inside the living room. His mocking laughter fills the room. Will cowers behind the couch.
"GO!" you shout. Desperate, you raise the wand and bring it down again with a sharp flick.
A dozen brightly colored paper flowers burst out of the top of the wand.
It's a trick wand! Terrified, you fling the flowers at the masked man's head. He ducks and gives you a moment to escape.
You grab the suitcase and drag it into the front hall. Will is right behind you. He slams the living room door.
"Quick! The table!" he cries.
The two of you shove a heavy table against the door.
"Whew!" you gasp, leaning against the table. "That was close!"
A pounding on the front door makes you jump. "Open up! Police!" a voice shouts.
Will peers through the peephole. "It's a cop," he reports.
Relief floods through you. "Quick," you cry. "Let him in."
Will unlocks the door and pulls it open.
The officer studies you and Will. "Were you kids at the magic show this evening?"
"Uh...yes," Will replies.
"I thought so." The officer nods. "You match the description on the radio. You're going to have to come with me. MagnifiCAT says you stole his stuff."
"We're not thieves!" Will protests. "It was an accident!"
"We didn't mean to take anything. We just wanted to get away from that creepy magician. Besides," you add, "he was mistreating a little puppy. That's a crime, isn't it?"
The officer narrows his eyes at you. He scratches his chin. "Hmmm...you don't look like bad kids. Tell you what --- get that suitcase and come with me. I'll have a talk with the magician. Maybe I can get him to drop charges."
"Really?" Will says. "Thanks, Officer."
You hurry over to get the bag of tricks. You and Will follow the officer toward the street. Wait a minute. Something's wrong here. The porch light is shining directly on the officer's back...but he doesn't cast any shadow on the walk!
"Will..." you whisper. But before you can warn him, a hand grips your shoulder.
"Don't get in that car," a voice whispers behind you. "He's not a real police officer. He's one of THEM!"
Out of the corner of your eye, you glimpse a woman with long dark hair.
"Give me MagnifiCAT's bag of tricks and run back inside the house," she tells you. "It's your only hope of safety."
"Hey, you, get away from them!" the officer yells. "You kids, get in the car, quick. Did you hear me? Move!"
Whose orders do you take?
"Not a step closer!" you order.
The intruder stands inside the living room. His mocking laughter fills the room. Will cowers behind the couch.
"GO!" you shout. Desperate, you raise the wand and bring it down again with a sharp flick.
A dozen brightly colored paper flowers burst out of the top of the wand.
It's a trick wand! Terrified, you fling the flowers at the masked man's head. He ducks and gives you a moment to escape.
You grab the suitcase and drag it into the front hall. Will is right behind you. He slams the living room door.
"Quick! The table!" he cries.
The two of you shove a heavy table against the door.
"Whew!" you gasp, leaning against the table. "That was close!"
A pounding on the front door makes you jump. "Open up! Police!" a voice shouts.
Will peers through the peephole. "It's a cop," he reports.
Relief floods through you. "Quick," you cry. "Let him in."
Will unlocks the door and pulls it open.
The officer studies you and Will. "Were you kids at the magic show this evening?"
"Uh...yes," Will replies.
"I thought so." The officer nods. "You match the description on the radio. You're going to have to come with me. MagnifiCAT says you stole his stuff."
"We're not thieves!" Will protests. "It was an accident!"
"We didn't mean to take anything. We just wanted to get away from that creepy magician. Besides," you add, "he was mistreating a little puppy. That's a crime, isn't it?"
The officer narrows his eyes at you. He scratches his chin. "Hmmm...you don't look like bad kids. Tell you what --- get that suitcase and come with me. I'll have a talk with the magician. Maybe I can get him to drop charges."
"Really?" Will says. "Thanks, Officer."
You hurry over to get the bag of tricks. You and Will follow the officer toward the street. Wait a minute. Something's wrong here. The porch light is shining directly on the officer's back...but he doesn't cast any shadow on the walk!
"Will..." you whisper. But before you can warn him, a hand grips your shoulder.
"Don't get in that car," a voice whispers behind you. "He's not a real police officer. He's one of THEM!"
Out of the corner of your eye, you glimpse a woman with long dark hair.
"Give me MagnifiCAT's bag of tricks and run back inside the house," she tells you. "It's your only hope of safety."
"Hey, you, get away from them!" the officer yells. "You kids, get in the car, quick. Did you hear me? Move!"
Whose orders do you take?