that candy too fast.
“Cool,” Cal said. “But what if he’s home?”
“We’ll see,” I murmured.
A few minutes later, Mr. Benson’s house rose up over us. It stood in
total darkness at the top of a steep hill. It reminded me of an evil
castle, all stone, with tiny windows and a tall, round tower at one end.
I squinted past the house toward the ravine. Too dark to see anything
back there.
“The house is dark,” I said. “Maybe he went out.”
“Maybe he just went to bed,” Cal suggested.
We took a few steps up the front lawn. Then we both gasped as a side
door swung open.
I ducked behind a tall evergreen shrub and pulled Cal beside me. Peering
around the shrub, I saw Mr. Benson lumber out into the driveway. He
tilted his head back, checking out the sky.
Then he disappeared into the stone garage to the right of the house. Cal
and I ducked low behind the evergreen. A few seconds later, we heard a
car engine start up. The teacher’s black minivan backed down the drive
and sped away.
I chuckled. “He needs a van. He doesn’t fit in a car!”
Cal snickered too, his eyes on the old house. “Are we going in?”
33 “Why not?” I replied. “It’s Halloween, isn’t it? Time for a little
Halloween mischief.”
We stepped out from behind the shrub. Took two or three steps up the
sloping lawn toward the house.
And stopped when we heard the angry growls.
“Dogs?” I choked out.
Yes.
Before Cal and I could move, two enormous, red-eyed dogs came charging
at us, snarling furiously, heads lowered in attack.
34 I let out a scream. Spun around. I tried to run - but I froze in fright.
Galloping hard, the dogs snarled in rage.
“We’re … doomed,” I muttered. I raised both hands to protect my face.
And heard a squeal. Two squeals. And a groan.
Lowering my hands, I gaped in surprise. The two attack dogs had stopped.
They shook themselves, legs wobbling, dazed.
“They’re tied up!” Cal cried, pointing. “See? They reached the end of
their chains!”
My heart was pounding so hard, I could barely breathe. My stomach
churned. I kept tasting chocolate.
I stared up the hill at the dogs.
35 They snarled down at us. But their hearts weren’t in it. They knew
they couldn’t reach us. They knew they were defeated.
Cal and I burst out laughing. We slapped each other a few high fives.
Then we made a big circle around the dogs and stepped up to the side
door of the house.
Had Mr. Benson left it unlocked?
Yes.
The door creaked as I pushed it open. I led the way into the house.
“This is so cool,” Cal whispered. “We are actually inside Mr. Benson’s
house!”
I waited for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. We stood in a long,
narrow pantry. It smelled like pepper.
Walking slowly, carefully, we made our way into the kitchen.
Wind rustled the white curtains at the open window. Water dripped -
PLINK … PLINK … - in the kitchen sink.
My stomach lurched, as if a wave crashed against the shore inside me. “I
… I don’t feel so well,” I murmured.
I don’t think Cal heard me. He had opened the refrigerator and was
peering inside. “Wow! Mr. Benson drinks a lot of beer!” he exclaimed. “I
guess that explains why he’s so big!”
Laughing, Cal turned to me. I caught his
36 excited expression in the light from the open refrigerator. “What are
we going to do?” he asked. “Want to take all the food out of the fridge
and throw it all over the house?”
I opened my mouth to answer. But my stomach heaved again.
“I feel sick. I - I’m going to hurl,” I moaned.
I clapped my hand over my mouth.
Got to get to a bathroom, I told myself. Hurry. Get to a bathroom.
I started to the doorway. But then I had a better idea.
I turned and staggered to the kitchen table. Gripping the back of a
chair, I leaned over - and threw up all over the checkered tablecloth.
I heaved up a lot. My whole dinner and all the candy I’d gobbled.
“Oooh, gross! Gross!” Cal groaned from across the kitchen.
When I finally finished, the kitchen table was practically covered. I
had a sour taste in my mouth. But I felt a lot better.
I wiped my mouth with a corner of the tablecloth and stepped back.
Cal had a finger and thumb pressed over his nose. “You finished?” he asked.
I nodded weakly.
“Cool,” he said. “I guess we don’t have to do anything else.”
I swallowed a couple of times, trying to get rid
37 of the bitter taste. “Huh? What do you mean?” I asked. My voice came
out hoarse and scratchy.
“You left Mr. Benson a nice Halloween surprise,” Cal replied, chuckling.
“You redecorated his kitchen for him. I guess we can go now.” He started
to the side door.
“Whoa. Wait,” I said, pulling him back. “Let’s at least turn some
furniture upside down or something.”
Cal hesitated. “Yeah. Okay. That’s cool.”
“Let’s turn the living room couch upside down,” I suggested.
“And his TV set,” Cal added.
“Awesome!” I was starting to feel a lot better.
But it didn’t last.
We were in the hall nearly to the living room when I heard a door slam
open.
“We’re caught!” I gasped.
38 I heard a heavy THUD from the front.
“Quick!” I whispered. I grabbed Cal’s sleeve and tugged him back through
the hall.
“If he sees us, we’re history!” Cal whispered, his eyes wide with fear.
We stumbled into the kitchen.
Behind us, I heard heavy breathing. The scrape of metal against the floor.
Metal?
Chains?
I jumped at the sound of a shrill bark.
“The dogs!” I cried.
I spun around in time to see the two attack dogs burst into the kitchen.
Their chains scraped the floor behind them.
They both barked furiously now, lowering their heads menacingly, their
eyes glowing red.
39 “They broke loose!” I cried.
My last words before both dogs leaped.
I ducked away. Then spun in panic.
Dove blindly for the open kitchen window - and shot headfirst … out
… out into the cold night.
Gasping in deep breaths of fresh air, my chest heaving, I ran on
trembling legs. I could hear the angry growls and cries of the dogs
behind me from the kitchen.
Halfway across the backyard, halfway to the dark ravine up ahead, I
turned back.
And saw Cal’s head out the window. One arm stuck out. Flailing wildly.
“Hurry!” I cried.
But then I realized the big guy was stuck. Stuck in the narrow window.
“Help me!” His desperate shout was nearly drowned out by the fierce
snarls of the attack dogs.
“Brandon - help!”
I took a step back toward the house - but stopped.
How could I help? What could I do for Cal now?
Run for it, Brandon, a
voice inside my head urged.
You can’t save Cal. Save yourself.
“Brandon - please!” Cal wailed. And then he let out a horrifying scream.
I swallowed hard. The dogs are chewing him to pieces, I realized.
40 And then I saw one of the dogs come running around the side of the
house. Barking ferociously, it galloped across the yard toward me.
“Ohhh.” I uttered a terrified moan. And spun away from the house - so
hard I nearly fell.
And took off.
Running … running toward Raven’s Ravine.
Panting, my heart thudding, I reached the edge of the ravine. The deep
black hole opened in front of me.
I glanced back.
The barking dog was charging furiously, eyes blazing, teeth bared, its
head lowered to the attack.
Only one way to escape. Jump the ravine!
I had only seconds.
I could see the other side of the ravine, only about ten feet away. And
beneath me, a steep, steep drop - and then jagged, black rocks.
Could I jump it without a running start?
I had to try.
I glanced back to see the dog tilt back on its haunches. It uttered a
howl as it prepared to attack.
I forced myself forward … bent my knees …
Tensed my leg muscles …
And jumped.
“Nooooo!” A terrified scream burst from my throat.
I missed.
42 Not far enough.
Not far enough …
My hands clawed the air. Nothing but air.
And then I was falling … falling so fast … Falling to my death.
41
10
I landed hard. Pain shot through my body. I shut my eyes, trying to
squeeze away the pain.
When I opened my eyes, I gazed into heavy darkness. “Where am I?” I
murmured, feeling dazed.
I couldn’t see. Couldn’t see a thing.
And then I realized my hands were clinging to the side of the ravine. My
fingers dug into the dirt.
I made it.
Yes. I made it to the other side.
“Cal?” I murmured, still feeling dazed.
Did he make it out? Did he jump too?
“Ohhhhh,” I moaned as the cold dirt crumbled. My fingers slid out.
43 I started to slide down the steep side of the ravine.
With a furious cry, I grasped the dirt. Dug my fingers in. Pulled myself
up, my legs kicking and churning, my shoes scraping the side.
When I made it to the top, I dropped onto my stomach, arms outstretched
on the cool dirt, hugging the ground.
It took a long time to catch my breath.
And then I pulled myself to my feet. And walked on trembling legs back
to the edge of the ravine.
“Cal?” I called, cupping my hands around my mouth. “Cal? Are you there?”
I couldn’t see him. Couldn’t see the dog, either. Or the house beyond
the backyard.
Too dark, I realized.
I brushed myself off and glanced around. I was beginning to feel a
little more normal.
How do I get home from over here? I wondered. I realized I’d never been
on this side of the ravine.
I turned and found myself facing a dark woods. Tall black trees rose up
to the purple sky. The trees tilted in on each other, forming a fence.
Walking quickly, whistling to myself, I began following a twisting path
through the woods.
I’m sure there are neighborhoods on the other side of the woods, I told
myself. It’s still pretty early. Probably lots of trick-or-treaters out.
44 The air grew colder as I stepped out of the woods. Zipping my coat up
to my chin, I gazed around. I found myself on a narrow street with
small, dark houses, very close together, on both sides.
No one on the street. No cars moving.
Where are the trick-or-treaters? I wondered.
I was starting to feel hungry. I’ll scare the first kid I find and take
his candy, I decided.
I pulled the rubber mask from my coat pocket and tugged it down over my
head.
Now I just have to find someone to scare, I told myself. Where is everyone?
I walked along the sidewalk, peering over low bushes and hedges into
dark front yards. I stopped at the first corner and squinted up at the
street sign:
FIRST STREET.
“Never heard of it,” I muttered.
The houses on the next block were even smaller, and very close together.
Dim circles of yellow light from the street lamps made my shadow stretch
across the sidewalk. I couldn’t see any other lights.
Still no people. No cars.
No dogs barking. No babies crying.
Nothing moved.
I whistled louder and scraped my shoes on the pavement, just to make a
sound.
45 “Weird neighborhood,” I muttered. The next street sign read:
SECOND STREET.
I glanced around, trying to figure out in what direction I was heading.
I knew I had to walk around the ravine and then back the way I’d come.
But which way was that?
Which way?
Peering into the darkness, I could no longer see the tall trees of the
woods.
I’ll try Second Street, I decided. I’ll follow it until I come to some
people. And then I’ll ask directions.
Someone will know how I can get across the ravine and back to my
neighborhood.
But Second Street was as empty and silent as the other street.
I tried humming a song, humming really loud, just to keep myself from
totally losing it.
No wonder no one ever comes to this side of the ravine, I told myself.
Everyone on this side must go to bed at eight o’clock!
And then I saw someone.
Down the street, about half a block away. Moving toward me on the sidewalk.
“Hey!” I called. “Hi!”
No reply.
I stopped walking and squinted into the dim yellow light. Was it a boy?
47 “Hi - I’m lost!” I called. “Can you help me?” I took a few steps
toward him. He kept walking, steadily, arms down at his sides.
And as he stepped under a street lamp, I saw him clearly.
And gasped in shock.
46
11
The kid wore a mask. The same ugly monster mask I had on.
Where did he get it? I wondered. I thought I had the only one like it.
He walked up to me, staring at me through the eye holes. He was about my
height. Beneath the mask, he wore a faded denim jacket and baggy black
jeans.
“Where did you get that mask?” I demanded.
He shrugged. “I don’t remember.”
“But it’s the same as mine!” I exclaimed.
“Yeah.” He stared at me, as if trying to recognize me.
“I - I’m lost,” I stammered. “Where am I? I don’t know this neighborhood.”
“Well, how did you get here?” he asked.
48 “I … jumped the ravine,” I told him. I laughed, a tense laugh. “A
dog was chasing me. Do you believe it? So I jumped the ravine.”
“Wow. That’s really dangerous,” he replied softly, his voice muffled
behind the ugly mask.
“I guess,” I murmured.
“Did you hear about the boy who tried to jump it and missed? He was
crushed to death on the rock
s.”
“Yuck,” I replied, feeling a chill. “I was lucky. I just made it to the
other side.”
“Yeah. Lucky,” he repeated, still staring at me.
“You got any candy or anything?” I asked. “I’m really hungry.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t trick-or-treat. I’m going to a Halloween
party. Over there.” He pointed to a long, ranch-style house on the corner.
“How come it’s so quiet over here?” I asked. “Where is everybody?”
“It’s a quiet neighborhood,” he replied. “Not many kids.”
“And it’s so dark,” I added.
He snickered. “You’re not afraid of the dark, are you?”
“No way,” I replied quickly. “But I don’t like being lost. Which
direction is Main Street?”
“Over there, I think.” He motioned with his head. “Want to come to the
party?”
“A Halloween party?” I glanced at the house on
50 the corner. “How old are you? Halloween parties are kind of geeky,
aren’t they?”
“This one won’t be,” he replied softly. He turned and started walking
toward the house.
I hurried after him. “Will there be food?”
“Yeah. Food. It’s a party.”
I trotted beside him. I thought we must look strange, both of us wearing
the same creature mask. “What’s your name?” I asked.
“Norband,” he replied.
“Weird name,” I muttered.
“Everyone calls me Norb,” he said, walking faster.
“I’m Brandon,” I said.
He stopped at the front steps and turned to me. “So are you coming to
the party?”
“I guess,” I replied. “For a little while. Then will you tell me how to
get home?”
He didn’t reply. Instead, he pushed open the front door and stepped into
the house.
I followed him in. “Hey - it’s totally dark in here!” I cried. “What’s
going on?”
49
12
Norb turned and stared at me through the mask “What’s your problem,
Brandon?” he asked. “The party is downstairs, in the basement.”
I felt like a jerk. As we moved through the house, I could hear music
and voices from downstairs. Norb opened a door to the basement stairs,
and the noise exploded over us.
“That better?” he asked.
“Yeah. Great,” I replied. “Is this your house?”
Again, he didn’t answer my question. He started down the steep stairs,