“I’m trying to read it and you’re blocking my light.”
Marty sat down on the couch beside me.
“It says: ‘Caser disappeared in the late hours of the afternoon, between 3.30pm and 4.00pm. It is believed that he was walking home from school before his disappearance. Mrs Dreary was the last person to see little Martin, after noticing him walk past Pine Ridge Ice Creamery at 3.55pm. Having little evidence, one witness and no suspects, detectives had to close the case after twelve months of investigations hit a brick wall.’ That’s bad.”
“What?” Marty asked anxiously. “What does all that mean, Andy?”
I looked at him sitting next to me. Marty’s eyes were as wide as dinner plates, his face was the colour of chalk.
“What it means, is that the police didn’t have enough proof to find him or know what happened to him.” I chose my words carefully. “They had to leave Martin’s case unsolved. There was nothing more the police could do.”
Marty’s eyes went blank for a moment.
“What else does it say?”
I took a deep breath, and with shaky hands, read on.
“‘Private Investigator, Robert Fuller, suspects that Martin’s abductor has travelled to different areas of the country, and taken other children. “We believe that the disappearances of other children in this country are all connected due to the similar circumstances of each case,” he said at a press conference held at Pine Ridge Council Hall this week.’”
“What does that mean? The same person took them?”
“Yeah, Marty. Because all the kids disappeared the same way, the police think that it’s the same person or people taking them.”
Marty leaned back, hugging a cushion to his chest. “Wonder if Mum and Dad have read that,” he whispered.
“They probably have.”
“So Peter and Sarah were right.”
I placed the newspaper on the coffee table. “Yeah, I guess they were.”
“I wanted you to be right, Andy.”
I leaned back next to him, grabbed a cushion and hugged it like my little brother. “I wanted to be right, too.”
Chapter five
When I rolled out of bed the next day, I set about doing what I usually did while half asleep: turned my alarm clock off, put my slippers on, and shuffled over to the calendar behind my bedroom door.
I rubbed my eyes and stared at today’s date.
Thursday the sixth. How could I forget?
After eating breakfast and getting dressed, Marty and I kissed Mum good-bye before leaving for school.
“Have a nice day, boys, and come straight home,” she said.
“Yes, Mum,” we replied in unison.
I decided I would ride my bike today, while Marty opted for his scooter.
Thank goodness it’s not so hot today. You wouldn’t catch me dead riding this! I’d rather a slow walk to school if that were the case.
We waved Dad off as he pulled out of the driveway.
“I was hoping to see Bob out here this morning,” Marty said.
“Why?” I asked, surprised.
“I feel like ice cream.”
I laughed. “You just had breakfast, Marty.”
“I know,” he said, clipping on his helmet. “But ever since my first ice cream from him, I can’t stop thinking of how yummy it was. I’m even dreaming about ice cream.”
I grinned and fastened my own helmet on.
We waited in the driveway for Kalisha to emerge from her house across the road. After a minute, she came out of her garage, dragging her bike out, her helmet on and ready to go.
The journey to Pine Ridge Primary was a quiet one. No one said much and it didn’t take a scientist to work out what we were thinking. The three of us spent the journey to school looking around the streets as we rode, keeping our eyes peeled for anything unusual.
For a day I wasn't looking forward to, it went by pretty fast. The sun was high over our heads on the trek home. The temperature had risen since this morning.
Marty scooted in front of Kalisha and I at the base of a massive hill lined with houses.
This hill is a nightmare to get up!
“Did you realise how steep this was?” I panted.
“You know what they say, Andy: looks can be deceiving,” Kalisha huffed.
Giving up on riding the slope, we hopped off our bikes and walked them up the hill.
Marty was getting further and further away.
“Hey, Marty! Wait up!” I yelled.
The sound of loud music made us turn our heads.
I cringed. Bob’s ice cream van came speeding past us. The sound of the carnival music vibrated in my chest.
“Are you up for some ice cream?” Kalisha asked, grinning at my obvious annoyance about the van. We watched it drive over the hill and out of sight.
I sighed.
“Why not? I haven’t tried any of Bob’s ice cream yet. May as well.”
“I haven’t either,” Kalisha said. “We moved here during winter so there was no need. Mum would just grab some from the supermarket if I wanted any.”
“Marty will certainly be happy.”
I looked ahead and stopped.
“Where is Marty?”
“Maybe he went to meet up with Bob?” Kalisha shrugged.
“But he doesn’t have the money; I do.”
We mounted our bikes and pedalled them up the hill.
Why of all days did you have to sprint ahead and not listen to me!
“And besides,” I puffed, “I told him to never leave my sight today.”
When we made it to the top of the hill, we came down hard on our brakes.
What are you …
“Marty! No!” I called out, powering down on the pedals again.
“What is he doing?” Kalisha screamed, riding right behind me.
Marty didn’t even turn to look at me. Instead, I saw him step up casually into Bob’s van behind a little girl. Then the doors to the back of the van slammed shut. The van began to take off down the street, the music pounding.
In our effort to catch up, we passed Marty’s scooter; it was lying on the footpath along with a skateboard and skipping rope.
It was then that I realised the truth.
“Come on!” I breathed heavily. “We have to follow that van!”
And then what? What’s going on? Where is Bob taking my brother?
Chapter six
The sun was beginning to set when the van came to a halt, and the music finally stopped.
Tired, shaken and soaked in sweat, I think Kalisha was as relieved as I was to stop.
We hid, with our bikes behind a tree, across the road and waited.
The van was in front of a warehouse, opposite its huge roller door. Above the warehouse door was a sign: KEEP OUT. DO NOT TRESPASS.
“What do you think he’s up to?” Kalisha whispered.
“I’m not sure,” I replied, keeping my eyes firmly on the van. “But I’m positive that Bob has something to do with the missing kids over the last thirteen years. There’s no doubt in my mind about that.”
The door to the garage rolled up.
“We have to get inside.” I grabbed Kalisha’s hand.
“What! Can’t we find the police? Or a phone to call them on?”
“And what if we’re too late waiting for them!” I said urgently. “I don’t know what he’s going to do to Marty. If you don’t want to help me, that’s fine. I’ll go in there alone.”
Kalisha looked undecided for a moment, then nodded.
“Let’s do it.”
We watched the van make its way into the building, and we dashed inside after it. The roller door slid down.
In the dim light, we could just make out large, steel drums that lined the left wall of the warehouse.
I held firmly to Kalisha’s hand. We ducked and hid behind one of the drums. The smell of the room made me gag. It reminded me of the butchers where Mum used to buy her meat. And it was cold
. It was worse than the walk-in freezer at the supermarket. I covered my nose with my hand.
“This place reeks,” Kalisha whispered, miming my reaction.
“Shh.”
Bob stepped out of the van. His large belly was now visible without a counter for it to hide behind.
My eyes narrowed on him.
You traitor! I’ll fix you up, just you wait!
Bob sniffed the air a few times and let out a satisfied sigh. He put both hands on top of his forehead and began to peel his face off.
I covered Kalisha’s mouth before she could scream and watched in horrified fascination, as strips of skin and clumps of hair fell to the ground. I closed my eyes tightly.
This isn’t happening! It’s just a nightmare, and I’ll wake up any minute now. Who can take off their face? It’s impossible!
When I heard Bob’s moving footsteps, and then the sound of a door slamming, I unwillingly opened one eye.
On the floor was a mountain of skin, hair and clothing. I searched the room; no one was anywhere in sight. I took my hand away from Kalisha’s mouth and shivered.
“This is my chance. I’m going to get Marty out,” I said.
Scanning the room once more, I slowly stood up, helping Kalisha to her feet. So far, no sound had come from inside the van. Even though the horrible music had stopped once the van pulled up, I could still faintly hear it.
It must be playing through speakers somewhere.
As I took a step towards the vehicle, Kalisha grabbed my arm and pulled me down again. The door at the other end of the room burst open.
Keeping out of sight behind the drum, I couldn’t see Bob – or whatever it was. I could only hear him.
The sound of metal clanging together, and something wet being dragged around.
After seeing Bob pull off his skin, I wasn’t brave enough to get a better look. Kalisha tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to the label facing us on the drum.
I stared at the words in front of me: AGES SEVEN TO TEN.
I gulped.
“What does it mean?” she asked in a cracked whisper.
Without answering her, I turned to look at the steel drum on my right.
It also had a label: AGES ELEVEN TO THIRTEEN.
I pushed us back against the freezing wall.
“I … I think,” I tried to get out. “I think there are kids inside these.” I pointed to the drum.
Chapter seven
“No.” Kalisha sobbed softly into her hands.
The van’s doors opened. Taking a deep breath, I peered around the drum.
One by one, kids stepped out of the van: a little girl and then a younger boy. They were both silent, their expressions blank.
Why aren’t they crying? Screaming? Don’t they realise what’s happened to them? What’s got them?
Another boy stepped out of the vehicle. My brother finally emerged last and I almost let out a relieved cry.
He’s alive!
I craned my head further out of hiding, risking the chance of exposure.
The three kids stood together, and from what I could make out, not one of them appeared scared. Not even Marty.
I don’t understand. They must be in some sort of a trance. Something is doing this to them. But what?
Bright light flooded the room, sending me reeling back behind the drum out of Bob’s sight. Kalisha gripped my arm.
I put a hand over my mouth to stop the sounds of my heavy breathing.
“Welcome,” said a low, husky voice.
Was that Bob?
I could hear a noise similar to my bike chain when I drop it on the ground, and a clicking like a lock being used.
I peered carefully back around the drum just in time to see … a monster walking towards the door across the room. The kids marched behind him, their hands in cuffs attached to a chain, linking them together. He held open the steel door as they continued to march into the next room. There was a loud bang as the heavy door slammed shut. Kalisha and I were now alone.
“What did you see?” Kalisha asked tearfully.
“I saw someone … something. The kids … Marty…”
“And Bob?” Her eyes were wide and glassy.
“Bob is a monster, Kalisha. His … his skin is dripping. Just dripping. Like it’s melting. We have to save those kids. The smart thing to do is get out of here and find help. But I don’t want to leave Marty.”
Kalisha put her hand on my shoulder. “We are in way over our heads, Andy. I can go look for help. You need to keep an eye on Bob and Marty; find out what that freak is going to do to those kids.”
I nodded.
If Kalisha can find help, we’ll all be safe. I don’t care about me; I just want my brother out of here!
We stepped out quietly from behind the drum. I pointed to the thick oozy trail, which outlined Bob's path.
Exactly like a snail's.
Kalisha bent down and reached out to touch it.
“Are you crazy?” I grabbed her hand. “Look. This thing is dangerous. I didn’t even get to see its face.”
Kalisha shuddered. “Let’s open that garage door,” she said, sprinting towards it. “Help me to lift this thing,” she panted, using all her strength to pull it up from the bottom.
I bent down and tried lift the solid door. My arms started to ache.
We gave up, too exhausted, and obviously too weak to open it.
“There must be a switch or something to open this,” I said, looking around.
Nothing.
“We have to go to the police,” she said tearfully, rubbing her eyes.
I put my hand on her shoulder. “Well, we’re not going anywhere; this door has made sure of that. I should have let you go for help when we had the chance. I’m sorry.”
Kalisha nodded and crossed her arms. She sobbed.
“Look,” I said softly. “I know this is scary, but let’s just free Marty and the other kids, and get out of here. We’ll find a way.”
She nodded.
We crept to the door that Bob and the kids went through just moments ago. I turned the handle slowly, trying not to make a sound. In front of us was a set of stairs. Treading lightly, we made our way down to what looked like a huge building site in a basement.
The carnival music was louder here. The steel platform we were standing on shook slightly to its beat.
I could barely hear Bob and the kids. Their footsteps and chains shuffled quietly throughout the room. The music was too noisy for most sounds to be heard. I looked through the small holes in the platform, and could see the kids walking down below us.
I leaned over the rail. I could just make out a sleeve from someone’s shirt two floors down. I looked toward the ground below.
This room is huge!
In the centre of the basement was a huge cauldron. The thick, cream-coloured liquid in the drum bubbled and swirled in a circular motion.
What in the world is in that? Actually, I don’t think I want to know.
Kalisha and I tiptoed down to platform two. We stood just above Bob. I could read the label glowing on the side of the enormous drum: MARTIN CASER.
Oh, no, Martin! What did he do to you? What’s he going to do to Marty?
Surrounding the cauldron, were three little drums. They were the same size as those Kalisha and I had hidden behind earlier.
We watched from above, as Bob lined up all the children.
I could hear a slurping, licking sound. The type of noise Marty makes when he eats spaghetti.
I leaned over the rail again and looked down at the platform below us. I could see Bob’s snout, clear fluid gushing from the nostrils. His clawed hands moved flawlessly, unlocking each handcuff with ease. His skin was the colour of dirty mop water. Its slime-covering streamed off his body like water.
He looks like a runny nose that never stops running! Gross!
“Why do you think he hasn’t hurt them?” Kalisha whispered.
“Maybe they’re worth something
to him,” I whispered back. “Come, on, let’s get closer.”
We silently walked across to a flight of stairs at the other end of the platform. My mind was filled with questions and explanations.
So this is what he does. He kills them and stores them at his ice cream factory. But why?
“You,” Bob snarled at a boy who looked about my age. “You shall be Raspberry Delight.”
Kalisha and I stopped in our tracks halfway down the stairs, shocked. We didn’t dare move in case he heard us over the awful melody coming from the speakers.
Bob walked over to the next kid, a girl.
“You will be Chocolate-Orange.”
My heart began to race and I held my breath as Bob reached Marty.
“And you, Marty, shall join your name brother in the sugar-milk cauldron.” Bob pointed down at the open drum. Then he laughed. It was deep and boomed around us, blocking the sound of the music.
My heart pounded in my ears. I grabbed onto the rail for support.
So that’s what the rat-bag is up to! He’s –
“He’s turning them into ice cream,” Kalisha let out breathlessly.
I nodded.
And melts them in the drums.
“We have to stop him,” she whispered
”I know,” I whispered back, my voice strained.
I can’t let him get Marty!
We continued down the stairs, until we stood on the same platform as Bob. We ducked around behind another drum and waited. Waited for our chance to take him down.
But how? We’re just kids! How are we supposed to fight off that thing?
Time was running out. Any second we could be caught. I glanced in all directions.
There has to be something we can use to distract him or fight him off. Think Andy, think!
Just then Bob walked over to the opposite end of the platform and down the stairs leading to the ground.
I have to act now!
Chapter eight
“Wait here and keep a look out,” I murmured.
“Where are you going?” Kalisha hissed, grabbing my sleeve.
I pulled my arm out of her grip. “Just trust me.”
I crept over to Marty. His eyes were still blank, his expression vacant.
I hope this works.
“Marty?” I whispered, grabbing him by his shoulders. “Marty?” I shook him. No response. Marty didn’t even blink.
It must be the music! Why else would Bob still have it playing? It must keep the kids in a trance. Marty needs a distraction from the noise, a new sound!