Chapter 16:
They slid down the moldy tube, slowly at first because of the slimy mold, but gradually it became cleaner and brighter. Hannah was hanging on to Gwen’s hand very tight; obviously she dreaded what might be at the end of this gigantic slide. Gwen had to admit that she was, too. It seemed like hours, or maybe days, depending on which girl you asked, to get to the bottom. They passed crawling spiders, ants with crumbs, plump little white mice, and even snakes on the way. Hannah was especially glad when the slide finally came to an end. They slid very fast onto a slick blue pad. Apparently they were in a hall lit with torches. They picked themselves up, brushing off the dirt from their long journey.
“What is this place?” whispered Gwen, finally gaining her voice.
“Maybe it’s a castle floor,” Hannah said uncertainly. The scary part was that there was no way back up to the little cottage. Gwen was glad and worried.
“C’mon. Let’s see where this hall leads to. Take my hand,” Gwen motioned. The girls walked, slowly and steadily past torches and pictures of people with elephant trunks and squids with eight human feet.
This is going to be interesting. Thought Gwen. Then she stopped abruptly.
“What is it?” Hannah asked. Gwen ignored her. She was too busy digging in the inside of her red jacket to notice.
“Ah ha!” she declared. Gwen pulled out a little blue beaded purse. She opened the clasp and pulled out a pair of shoes. (The folding kind, so it would fit in the purse.)
“What size do you wear?”
“Sevens.”
“Try these on,” demanded Gwen. Hannah took off her broken heels and put on the zip up shoes.
“Perfect! Thanks, Gwen!” But Gwen was again digging in her purse. She dug up a wallet, a hair band, and a little phone.
“For emergencies. I totally forgot about it! Maybe it’ll help us!”
She dialed nine-one-one. But sadly, down hear in this dark hallway there wasn’t any signal. Gwen sighed.
“Well, at least we can still use the little light on it to see through this place,” whispered Gwen. They continued walking, until they came to a medieval wooden door.
“What should we do?” Hannah cowered. (If I was in their situation I would too!) Before Hannah could prevent it, Gwen had reached out and opened the dusty door. But what was behind that door, waiting for them, was something that the two girls to this very day will give them nightmares forever.
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