فصل 09

A Night in Terror Tower - Chapter 9

The laughter rose up in front of us, making us both gasp.

“You have entered the king’s dungeon. Abandon all hope,” the man declared.

“Who—who are you?” I cried.

But more laughter was the only reply.

A single beam of pale green light from the low ceiling broke the darkness. Huddled close to Eddie, I squinted in the eerie glow, desperate to find a way to escape.

“Over there! Look!” Eddie whispered, pointing.

Across the room, I could see a barred cell against the wall.

We crept forward a few steps. Then we saw it.

A bony hand reaching out from between the bars.

“No!” I gasped.

Eddie and I jumped back.

The pounding on the door behind us made us both jump again. “You cannot escape!” the caped man raged from the other side of the door.

Eddie grabbed my hand as the man furiously pounded on the door. The sound boomed louder than thunder.

Would the bolt hold?

Ahead of us, two bony hands reached out from another dungeon cell.

“This can’t be happening!” Eddie choked out. “There aren’t any dungeons today!” “Another doorway!” I whispered, trembling with fright as I stared at the hands poking out from the dark cells. “Find another doorway.” My eyes frantically searched the darkness. Off in a distant corner, I glimpsed a slender crack of light.

I started to run toward it—and tripped over something. Something chained to the floor.

It was a body. A body of a man sprawled on the floor. And I landed on his chest with a sickening thud.

The chains rattled loudly as my foot tangled in them.

My knees and elbows hit the stone floor hard. Pain shot through my entire body.

The old man didn’t move.

I scrambled up. Stared down at him.

And realized he was a dummy.

Not real. Just a dummy, chained to the floor.

“Eddie—it’s not real!” I cried.

“Huh?” He stared at me, his face twisted in confusion, in fright.

“It’s not real! None of it!” I repeated. “Look! The hands in the dungeon cells—they’re not moving! It’s all a display, Eddie. Just a display!” Eddie started to reply. But the cruel laughter interrupted him.

“You have entered the king’s dungeon. Abandon all hope,” the voice repeated. Then more evil laughter.

Just a tape. Just a recording.

There wasn’t anyone in the room with us. No dungeon keeper.

I let out a long sigh. My heart was still pounding like a bass drum. But I felt a little better knowing that we weren’t trapped in a real dungeon.

“We’re okay,” I assured Eddie.

And then the door burst open with a loud crack. And the big man roared into the room, his cape fluttering behind him, his dark eyes glowing in victory.