Charleston Past Midnight by Christine Edwards Page B

We have some really fun games to play today. Come with us!”
    I try not to gape at how pretty and clean everything is as we all race down a hallway with floors that are so shiny I can see my reflection in them. Maybe I should have taken my boots off, especially because their glossy shoes aren’t all dirty like mine. Oh well, I’m too excited to care.
    Marlene and Dana are twins, but it’s not hard to tell them apart because Marline has darker brown hair. They stop running once we reach a glass room that looks out over a garden filled with brightly colored flowers. I wonder if we can go out there to play.
    I would love to see the happy flowers up close. Nothing grows in our trailer park but dandelions, and I don’t even think you can really call those flowers.
    “Here, have some.” Dana points to a round table with a cutwork tablecloth on it.
    My mouth waters at the delicate plate of pastel colored cookies sitting beside a full glass pitcher of what looks like pink lemonade. I start to reach for a cookie and pull my hand back hesitantly, asking, “Are you sure?”
    My cheeks flush as they start giggling. “Um, yeah. Don’t be silly Calla. That’s what they’re out for. It’s snack time.”
    I sink my teeth into the delicious cookie that tastes like it’s filled with raspberry jam, thinking to myself, Momma never has snack time for us.
    I take a long drink of the yummy lemonade and see that they are all watching me.
    “These are delicious, don’t you want some?”
    Marlene laughs and says excitedly, “No, we already had some, Calla, before you came. Are you ready to play now? We made up a new game and we’re gonna be on teams.”
    Sounds fun! I wonder if someone will want to be my teammate.
    I shove the rest of the cookie into my mouth, not wanting to waste a crumb. I really want to put some in my pockets to share with Brant but I think that might be wrong. I always feel bad when we have to take food that isn’t ours. I hope that one day we won’t be punished for it.
    Dana speaks up, “Marlene and Calla are team one and I’m with Jeannie. It’s team hide and seek. When it’s your turn you’ll hide but always in a separate place from your partner. If we don’t find both of you in five minutes then you win. We have a kitchen timer and everything, look.”
    I love games! I tighten my ponytail as she asks, “Ready?”
    I grin at my partner, but she is looking at the other girls. I watch her wink at them before grabbing my hand and calling out, “We’re ready!”
    My heart races as Dana twists the white timer and calls out, “Go!”
    I run along beside Marlene, so glad to have a partner to help me find a good place to hide. We make several twists and turns through the beautiful house and I’m panting with excitement when she comes to a stop in front of a set of tall, solid white doors.
    My partner turns and grabs hold of my shoulders as she whispers to me, “You go in here, Calla. It’s the perfect place. I’m going up to the next floor. They’ll never have enough time to find us both.”
    I don’t hear the last part of her sentence because I’m getting really dizzy and can’t see straight. My brain isn’t working right because even though I can still feel her holding my shoulders, I see myself inside of the large dark blue room. There is a long, glossy black box against the far wall and tall white vases filled with flowers. I’m scared but want to know what’s in the strange box that looks like part of the top is split in two and propped open. I cross slowly to it, wondering if I’m even tall enough to see into it. What’s in there? My steps quicken as I come closer. Taking the final two steps, I peer over the edge and my eyes pop open. Can’t breathe! There is a scary man inside, I think he’s dead. He’s gray and his lips look sewn together. Oh God! Gotta get outta here!
    “Calla, did you hear a word I said? Now get in there!” Marlene is shaking me and trying to shove me into the