A Place So Wicked Patrick Reuman (children's ebooks free online TXT) 📖

couple minutes, the slams finally stopped. She heard them talking amongst themselves on the other side but couldn’t make out what they were saying. This was her chance. She had come up with an idea during the chaos but didn’t think she would get a chance to try it, but given this brief moment of calm, she had to try.

She hurried for the bedroom window and opened it. Looking out, it was a straight drop. Her stomach sank. But she didn’t have the time to second guess this. She climbed out and dangled herself from the ledge. The windowsill’s ledge bit at the palms of her hands, and she tried to lower herself as far as possible, hoping to soften the fall even a little.

All almost simultaneously, she heard a thud from inside the room, the sound of the door pushing open, and the bed legs scraping against the floor. She released her grip, letting herself fall. She landed with a thud. A surge of pain rushed up her legs. She rolled and came to stop, looking straight up into the passing clouds. The pain had come quickly but, to her surprise, had subsided just as fast.

She sprung to her feet and hurried dazedly toward the vehicle, only to realize the keys were still inside. She had been able to access the car because they left the doors unlocked. But she wouldn’t be able to go anywhere without the keys.

She was about to crumble to her knees in defeat when she spotted Addy crossing the street toward her. A burst of life came, and she hurried toward the girl, the tears back in her eyes, but for a different reason this time.

This time, she had hope.

“Please, Addy, help. They’re inside. I need help to get Robbie.”

But Addison was only smiling as she approached the crying Paisley. And before Paisley could get out another word, there was a thump, and Paisley dropped to the ground, pain scorching her head.

37

Toby walked as fast as he could, breaking into a jog every so often, a strange feeling running through him, one so strong it had him feeling nearly dizzy. He knew something was terribly wrong. No longer did he care if people were giving him strange looks or recognizing him. He knew he needed to get back to the house.

Eli had met up with him a couple blocks over and handed him the key quickly and discretely before heading off his own way. Eli had been in just as much of a hurry to get away from there as he was. He didn’t blame the kid. Toby’s family was in danger; that was a fact. But Eli knew personally how ruthless this town could be. They had come to his house. They had come after him. And people had disappeared while he lived here, all while he was forced to sit back and do nothing.

Eli helped how he could. He didn’t blame the kid for splitting while it was still the option. Bumps surfaced on his skin, gooseflesh formed by a sort of sixth sense, the same one that had the hairs on his neck at attention and the palms of his hands starting to sweat. He hurried around the corner, onto his street. Far up ahead was a scene that didn’t quite make sense to him. As he drew closer, he realized that it wasn’t just one car parked in front of his house. No, it was three, maybe even four, he couldn’t quite tell yet.

He slowed, his brisk walk becoming sluggish as he tried to figure out what was happening. He didn’t want to jump to conclusions but given the fact that they didn’t really know anybody in town, there could be no other explanation as to why people were there other than that someone had found out that they knew. They are sacrifices.

He was about to bolt for the house, terrified of whatever may be going on inside, terrified for her parents, his uncle and brother, but above all, his sister, whom he had left all alone to fend for not only herself but for them all. But someone grabbed his shoulder, not firmly but hard enough to startle him. He swung around, ready to throw his poorly trained fists at whoever it was. It was Eli. Toby’s chest deflated with relief.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I—I had to come back. I had to help.”

“It’s okay,” Toby said. “I just thought—never mind. We have to help Paisley.”

They turned to face back at the house. The cars were parked in a line, blocking what looked like their entire front yard, but Toby didn’t see anybody, no signs of movement at all. It was weird. Whoever was there, all of them must have been inside.

“They must have found out somehow,” Eli said.

Toby just nodded. He was trying so hard to come up with a plan, but nothing useful was coming to him.

“I’m going to go in and get her,” Toby said, starting forward.

“Wait!” Eli hurried to slow Toby down, grabbing at his arm again. “We need a plan. I think I have one.”

Seconds were wasting away, and Toby was beginning to get frustrated, not specifically at Eli but at everything, and it was starting to boil over. He whirled around. “What? What is it? We have to hurry.”

“I can pretend I caught you.”

Toby’s eyebrow lifted with curiosity.

“If you just waltz on in, they’re going to grab you as soon as they see you. Then you’ll be just as stuck as Paisley. But if I come in with you, your hands tied up or something, that might throw them off just enough.”

“Enough for what?” Toby asked.

“Enough to get Paisley out of there. To get them all out. I don’t know. But it has to be a better plan than walking in and simply