31

“Over there!” cried Steve. “She disappeared behind those boxes!”

Steve lunged after the witch, dragging Lucy and me with him. He started prodding boxes with his bat, a frown of furious concentration on his face.

I kept my flashlight aimed over his shoulder, searching the darkness.

“Maybe this isn’t such a good idea,” said Lucy, hanging back.

“I know she’s there,” said Steve. “Unless she got on her broomstick and flew away, she’s back there somewhere.”

“Yes, but—” began Lucy.

She didn’t get a chance to finish because a large box came shooting off the top of a tall stack, aimed right for Steve’s head.

I gave him a shove but not quick enough. The box hit him and Steve went down with a painful OOOMF!

The witch cackled with triumph.

Something about that laughter made my blood boil. I saw her black form melt into the shadows and suddenly I couldn’t stand to let her get away.

I fumbled at the knotted rope around my waist. I had to get free so I could go after her.

“Jason, don’t!” cried Lucy, helping Steve up. “She’ll get you. We have to stay together!”

I didn’t answer. The knot slipped free and the rope dropped to the floor. I aimed my flashlight into the shadows and moved slowly toward the spot where I had last seen her.

There! A black form detached from the wall and darted sideways.

“No, you don’t!” I shouted, and brought up the nozzle of the fire extinguisher. I pressed the trigger and foam jetted out.

Yes! Right on target!

“AAAAAEEEEEEEEEEE!”

The witch writhed and howled and seemed to shrivel under the black cape.

I dropped the fire extinguisher and, without thinking, I leaped right on her.

I expected her bones to dissolve under my fingers, the ghost to slip away and leave me holding air. But my hands gripped bony shoulders. Real shoulders. Solid bones.

I was so surprised I almost jerked away. But I held on tight.

Slowly her head turned toward me. She hissed through her broken teeth like a snake. “SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.”

Her awful smell filled my nostrils.

“Unhand me, brat, or I’ll turn your innards to soup and eat them myself,” she rasped from inside the black cape, sending stink waves over me with every word.

She writhed and squirmed. I clenched my teeth and held on.

Black spots began to appear before my eyes. The putrid fumes of her breath were getting to me. I was growing weaker.

I tried to call out to Steve and Lucy but the words gurgled in my throat.

The witch chuckled softly in my ear. “Now I’ve got you, boy,” she hissed.

I felt one of her sharp claws pierce my side.