The thirteenth floor was even darker and creepier than it had been earlier that day.

Demonic laughter filled the hallway. The floors creaked, even when no one was walking. Every so often, up ahead or just out of sight, something would flicker across, like a shadowy figure.

“More of Theopolis’s tricks,” Charlie said. “Don’t let them frighten you.”

“Who-who-who’s frightened?” stammered Bingham.

“You are, for one,” said Ty. “Here’s his room.”

The three of them stopped in front of room 1305. Charlie knocked. “Mr. Theopolis?” he said.

The door swung open. “What do you two want?” Theopolis said. “Haven’t you bothered me enough?”

“The reporter is with us this time,” Charlie said.

Theopolis’s eyes lit up. “Then enter if you dare!” he shouted.

Charlie and Ty rolled their eyes, and the three visitors walked in.

“Okay, Ty,” said Charlie as Bingham began filming. “If this were a regular two-bedroom suite, where would the second bedroom be?”

Ty looked around, and his face wrinkled with the strain. “I think,” he said, turning slowly in the living room, “right there.”

He stopped and pointed at the closet doors. They were tall and black, like the polished top keys of a piano. In fact, much of the room was decorated with the same black finish.

Charlie strode to the closet and pulled open the doors. The inside of the closet was very familiar. Bright blond wood.

“It looks exactly like the wardrobe,” Ty said.

“Except for one thing that’s missing,” Charlie said. “The stamp.”

“Do not go into that closet!” Theopolis bellowed. He ran and got between the boys and the closet. “There is great and terrible power in there! I can’t be held responsible for what might happen!”

“Wait,” Ty said. “Do you hear that? It sounds like another movie. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s Alien Cyborg Attack Part Eight.”

Charlie smiled. Then he walked right into the closet. He tapped the back wall, and it instantly sprung open.

“A false back,” Charlie said. “Just as I thought. And the TV we heard was coming from through here, not room 1307 at all.”

Charlie stepped through the opening, right into the second bedroom. It had been hidden behind the wardrobe, and the wardrobe had been disguised as a simple closet.

“It is done,” said Charlie. “Behold!”

A young boy sat on the bed. He had a bowl of popcorn in his lap, and was staring at the TV. Sure enough, it was showing Alien Cyborg Attack Part Eight.

“Oh, hi,” the boy said, sitting up. He looked over Charlie’s shoulder to see Ty and Bingham climbing into the bedroom too.

“Paul Juke!” exclaimed Ty.

“Hi, Ty. Um, is it over?” Paul asked.

“Is what over?” Bingham said.

“Well,” said Paul. “The magic trick, of course.”

“You’re in on it?” Ty said.

“Well, yeah,” said Paul. “I’m saving up for a bike, and Uncle Theo said he’d pay me.”