“You guessed that right, but you’ll never make it there.” Matthew smirked and held up his hand, and the light beam grew. “When I hit you, it’ll all be over. Your powers will be mine. Any last words? Any magic tricks left up your sleeve?”
“Just one,” Ryan said, and at that exact moment, Timothy slapped Matthew across the head with a chair.
Matthew grunted and tumbled to the floor.
“We have to run!” Ryan pulled open the door and waited for Timothy to run through. Then he followed, racing as fast as his legs could carry him. “Over there!” He gestured toward the tornado.
Timothy halted in front of it, digging his heels into the ground not to be pulled in. “Hurry up!”
Matthew’s fingers dug into Ryan’s back and pulled him backward. “Not so fast, magic boy.”
Ryan waved his arms back and forth and slithered in Matthew’s grip, trying to break free. “Jump!” he yelled at the other boy. “Save yourself!”
Timothy’s gaze darted from one boy to the other.
“Please, do it,” Ryan begged. “At least then it won’t have been for nothing.”
The former bully waited for another moment, as if he couldn’t decide, and then he jumped into the raging tornado.
“Great job,” Matthew said as soon as Timothy disappeared through. “Now he’ll die for sure.”
“What?” Ryan felt the ground disappear under his feet. His knees trembled, as if someone had kicked his shins.
“I told you, only birds can cross the barrier between the real world and the shadow world without getting hurt. Last time I checked, he’s not a bird.”
“No!” The cry roared up from Ryan’s throat. With a strength he barely knew he possessed, he twisted out of Matthew’s grip. The lightning bolt formed in his hand before he realized it, materializing out of nowhere, and he hurled the bolt into Matthew’s chest.
The brute’s face became a pale mask of despair, his smile pulled back into a haunted cry. His eyes drooped and he turned grey as a wax puppet as he let go of Ryan and stumbled backward. “My powers... they’re draining.” He fell on one knee, hand clutched to his chest. His breathing became ragged and haggard.
“That’s what you get for messing with me.” Ryan started transforming into a bird again. He wished it would speed up, but it didn’t. The bird wings tore through the flesh on his back, and he bit back a scream.
“Please....” Matthew reached out for him. By now, he’d crumbled into a mess and looked deadly ill. “Please don’t leave me here. Without my powers, I’ll be stuck here forever.”
“Oh, you mean the fate you had in store for Timothy and I?” Ryan half-said, half-squeaked the sentence as he turned into a bird.
“Please,” Matthew begged again.
Ryan contemplated leaving him behind, even for just a second. That would make me as bad as him, if not worse.
“Climb on my back. Hurry,” he said to the former magician.
Matthew crawled up, pulling himself up on the feathers of Ryan’s back. The tornado swelled, growing stronger and stronger as it pulled the two boys in.
Ryan spread his wings and flew straight into the whirlwind. Then he dove down, out of the school building, through the gaping hole in the floor, and into the void.
Darkness swelled around them, closing in, thick and palpable, pulsing with energy.
“Higher,” Matthew grumbled. Sweat dripped off his brow, and his fingers dug into Ryan’s feathers. “You... need... to... fly up.”
“No!” Ryan yelled, but it came out as a screech. Below them Timothy spiraled down toward total darkness. He seemed the only bright spot in the vast black mass surrounding him, and he kept getting smaller.
Without thinking it through, Ryan dove forward, his wings beating hard, struggling against the dark mass.
“No! Go up!” Matthew cried out.
Ryan ignored him and raced downward, spiraling like a rocket. Yet he didn’t gain on Timothy—the boy remained just a small dot on the black canvas.
The magician reached out and wished with all his powers, with all his heart, to have Timothy here with him, on his back, rather than tumbling down into what looked like an abyss to hell.
A weight plunged down on top of his back, and he came to a screeching halt. Timothy lied down on his back, his face the deadliest shade of pale.
Matthew turned toward Timothy for a second, and then looked back up at the crow-like face of Ryan’s bird form. “Go up,” he whispered. “Please, please, go up.”
Ryan didn’t reply. Instead, he spread his wings and started flying through the sky. He flew until he reached pale, grey clouds, and then flew above the clouds.
Another tornado raged above them, larger than the one in the school. “We’re in the world-between,” Matthew explained between ragged breaths. He clutched his hand to his chest. “We need to pass through there, and then we’ll be back in our own world.”
Ryan nodded, and flew straight into the tornado.
Chapter 10
The three of them rolled out of the portal and onto the floor of the boys’ bathroom. They came tumbling out, one on top of the other.
Ryan was the last to appear, and he fell on top of the others. “My head,” he complained. “Where...where are we?” He struggled to his feet so the other boys could get up.
“Back home,” Matthew said without looking at him. “Well, we had quite an adventure, eh?”
“Not so fast.” Timothy grabbed Matthew’s collar and slammed him into the wall. “You don’t think you’re getting away with all this, do you? You wanted to hurt us, kill us! You wanted to steal his....” He looked at Ryan. “Magic?”
Matthew coughed nervously as he gazed back and forth between the two other boys, and pearls of sweat glistened on his forehead. “All one big misunderstanding. Magic, phew. Doesn’t even exist. Who believes that?”
Timothy pushed him into the wall even harder.
“Aww. All right, fine, I admit it. Yes, I was after his powers. But don’t act all high and mighty. You never liked the scrawny kid anyway.”
Timothy blushed. “That’s beside the point. I didn’t try to kill him.”
“What will happen to you now?” Ryan asked, interrupting their conversation. “Now that your powers are gone?”
“I don’t....” Matthew struggled to find the words. “I don’t know.”
“Ah, but I know,” a thundering voice boomed through the bathroom. Timothy and Ryan turned around, facing a forty-something-year-old man dressed in an expensive black suit. He arched an eyebrow at them, as if he thought their staring was rude.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” Ryan asked.
Matthew groaned, looking even paler, as if all the life had been drained from him. “Uncle....”
Timothy’s mouth nearly dropped to the floor. “He’s your uncle?”
“The one and only,” the man responded. He had short, well-kept black hair and a matching beard. He looked professional, as if he’d come here for a business transaction. “Unfortunately Matthew here well, he failed us, so we’ll handle it from here.”
“No.” Ryan squared his shoulders. “I won’t let you take him.”
Matthew’s uncle laughed and snapped his fingers. Matthew disappeared from Timothy’s grip, and reappeared seconds later in the firm grasp of his uncle. “You can’t stop me. Maybe in a few years, but now, you can’t. However....”
“What?”
“If you hand me your powers, then I’ll set him free.”
“Please, uncle Theodorius,” Matthew mumbled. “Please don’t take me to the shadow world.”
“Silence!” The uncle, Theodorius, pinched Matthew’s cheek. “So, boy,” he said to Ryan. “What will it be?”
“All right. Just don’t hurt him.” Ryan had no trouble choosing. Even if Matthew was the bad guy, he didn’t want to see him end up in the shadow world.
“Wise choice.” Theodorius spread his hand and shot a lightning bolt at Ryan’s chest. The bolt h
it him straight on, and then flew right back to the black-haired man.
A chill spread through Ryan’s bones. He shivered all over.
Theodorius laughed. “Thanks, little boy. These powers are sublime. Now I know why my cousin wanted to steal them.” He lifted up Matthew’s head and looked straight at him. “Too bad he didn’t succeed. See you soon, kids.”
“Let him go!” Timothy yelled.
Ryan couldn’t even utter a syllable—the cold had spread all throughout his body, rendering him numb.
Theodorius snapped his fingers again, and another portal appeared, sort of resembling the tornado they’d seen in the school in the shadow world. The portal was black, but lines of silver meandered through it, pulsating with power.
Ryan stumbled forward at the same time as Timothy, but he hadn’t even moved a step before Matthew’s uncle threw him into the portal. Matthew fell backward, his arms outstretched, his mouth wide open—forever locked in a scream.
Then his uncle jumped into the portal after him, laughing like a madman.
“No!” Ryan’s scream echoed through the room. “No!” He stumbled toward the portal, but by the time he reached it, it had closed.
Matthew had vanished to the shadow world.
Both boys stood quietly, their mouths hanging open, both unable to come up with any words.
Ryan swallowed hard. His teeth clattered, and the cold continued spreading like a disease.
Timothy turned to him. “Do you know of a way to save him?”
“Without powers, we can’t... I can’t....”
They didn’t say another word for over half an hour. They just stared at the spot where Matthew had disappeared, along with his crazy uncle.
Ryan said, “Matthew said something to me once.”
Timothy sighed. “What?”
“Magic always comes with a price.”
---THE END---
About the Author
Majanka Verstraete begged her Mom to teach her how to read while she was still in kindergarten. By the time she finished fifth grade, she had read through the entire children’s section of her hometown library.
She wrote her first story when she was seven years old, and hasn’t stopped writing since. With an imagination that never sleeps, and hundreds of possible book characters screaming for her attention, writing is more than a passion for her.
She writes about all things supernatural for children of all ages. She’s tried to write contemporary novels before, but something paranormal always manages to crawl in.
Majanka is currently studying for her Master of Laws degree, and hopes one day to be able to combine her passions for law and writing. When she’s not writing, reading or studying, she likes watching “The Vampire Diaries” and “Game of Thrones,” spending time with her friends, or playing “World of Warcraft.”
Find Majanka online at:
Website: http://majankaverstraete.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Majanka-Verstraete/398570476832115
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iheartreads
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/eternalised
What’s Next?
GRAVE ERROR
(A Weirdville Book – #6)
This spooky (in a fun way) lower grade adventure, perfect for kids 7-10 years old, is coming in late December 2014. For more information about this book, please visit the Evolved Publishing website.
~~~~~
Tess and her dog walk through the forest that stretches from their back yard, and run into a strange girl wearing old-fashioned clothes—and the girl is transparent in the sunlight. This strange girl has no memories of her life, her family, her identity—nothing.
When they meander into a nearby graveyard, the girl starts to recall details of herself... and Tess starts to worry. She wants to help the girl, but at what price?
More from Majanka Verstraete
THE DOLL MAKER
(A Weirdville Book – #1)
This spooky (in a fun way) lower grade adventure, perfect for kids 7-10 years old, is now available. For more information about this book, please visit the Evolved Publishing website.
~~~~~
The strange new doll shop has been around for a month or so, but Derek never paid much attention to it before. Now his little sister wants one of those dolls staring at him from the window, the ones that look so human they give him the creeps. Well, what Derek’s sister wants, she gets.
When he tells his friends, Martin and Jamie, about the new doll shop, they want to see for themselves. Although that has ‘bad idea’ written all over it, he takes his friends there. They meet the mysterious doll maker, who reminds Derek of Dr. Frankenstein, and who brainwashes Martin into buying one of those scary dolls.
Derek and Jamie push and pull Martin out of the shop, but something isn’t right with their friend. He’s shivering all over, and he has no memory of what happened in the shop.
With Martin’s condition worsening every day, and Derek’s sister growing more and more obsessed with her new doll, Derek and Jamie have to find out what’s going on, and fast. The doll maker appears to be linked to a bunch of mysterious disappearances, and the last thing Derek wants is his sister, or his friend, being next on the doll maker’s list.
~~~~~
Praise for The Doll Maker:
“I have read The Doll Maker for myself, but am currently reading it for my (almost) 7-year-old son. As an adult, this book wasn’t scary, but an amazingly good read. The plot was different, the building of the story, using the small boys POV to tell the story, the villain... everything was masterly done for me. To my son? He loves it. This book holds many of the things he likes; it’s scary, there are BOYS in it, they have a mystery to solve (yes, he loves Scooby Doo -so does my daughter, and she’s turning 3), and he is so hooked into the story, he’s begging me to keep reading, because he wants to know what happens!” – Sabina’s Adventures in Reading
“This book was like stepping back into my childhood and reading Goosebumps under my blanket with a flashlight. A little bit twisted Pinocchio, a little bit Chucky for young kids (I hate to use that analogy but it’s the only one aside from The Doll House movie that I can think that describes that so much!) it was a fun read and a relief in a good way to figure out what happens in the end. I loved that Verstraete captured that R.L. Stine feel with out being too scary and still very enjoyable.” – Lydia “Yay Books!!”
HOUSE OF HORRORS
(A Weirdville Book – #2)
This spooky (in a fun way) lower grade adventure, perfect for kids 7-10 years old, is now available. For more information about this book, please visit the Evolved Publishing website.
~~~~~
When her parents allow her to go to the fair, Jacky is over the moon. The fair is most famous for its haunted mansion, the House of Horrors, and her friend Ben can’t wait to try it out. Her best friend, Cass, is a little more reluctant, but then again, Cass has always been a chicken when it comes to getting scared.
Jacky and Cass are determined to act tough, so when Ben suggests they try out the House of Horrors, the girls tag along, even though the place gives them the chills.
As soon as the three of them enter the spooky monstrosity, the ride comes to a screeching halt, and the horror begins.
The lights fade, and a hooded figure appears and tells them they’re stuck in a twisted game of cat and mouse. He will show them their worst fears, and if the kids manage to face down those fears, they’ll have a chance of getting out of the House of Horrors alive. If they don’t, well....
Thirty minutes to go. Thirty minutes to face their nightmares... and the clock is ticking.
~~~~~
Praise for House of Horrors:
“House of Horrors is my favorite Weirdville book to date. There is always the perfect amount of age appropriate scary going on, but this one I found myself holding my breath a couple times or taking a big sigh. Then I laughed at myself... but it is a very good story about facing y
our own fears and finding out what Cass, Jacky and Ben will do when they are scared to death... leave their friends behind or stay true to them.” – Tracy Haidle
“This is the 2nd installment in the Weirdville Series. House of Horrors is a carnival haunted house gone wrong. This was a great scary story for youngsters with just the right amount of spooky to keep your child interested but not up all night. My 12-year-old daughter and I read this one together and we both enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend this series.” – A. LeBlanc
FRIGHT TRAIN
(A Weirdville Book – #3)
This spooky (in a fun way) lower grade adventure, perfect for kids 7-10 years old, is now available. For more information about this book, please visit the Evolved Publishing website.
~~~~~
Charlie’s parents drop him off at the train station so he can visit his grandma in Weirdville. It’s a cold winter evening, so when his usual train is cancelled at the last second, Charlie wishes he’d stayed home.
An hour later, shivering from the cold, he climbs onboard the next train to Weirdville, even though he’d rather not. It looks like something straight out of the nineteenth century, as if it used a time machine to arrive at the station.
His shivering doesn’t stop, for soon after Charlie boards, he realizes just how right he was to be wary of this strange train. Something is seriously wrong with all the people onboard. If only he could figure out what was going on. If only he could get off the train.
~~~~~
Praise for Fright Train:
“Fright Train was the 3rd Weirdville book that I have read and it just reminds me of a less scary version of the Fear Street books I read growing up. By less scary I mean more age appropriate scary. The characters that Charlie meets on the train make for a great story. As an adult, I read it right through, never growing bored or concerned that I was reading a book for younger kids. I won’t give away the ending but as in all the Weirdville books, it’s never what you expect!” – Tracy Haidle
Weirdville: The Clumsy Magician (Lower Grade Spooky Fun Adventure) Page 5
