27 - A Night in Terror Tower Read Free Page B

said, Eddie doesn’t always bring out the best in me.
    I led the way to the twisting stairs. As I peered down, they seemed even
darker and steeper.
    “Why didn’t we hear them leave?” Eddie demanded. “Why did they leave so
fast?”
    “It’s late,” I told him. “I think Mr. Starkes was eager to get everyone on
the bus and back to their hotels. The Tower closes at five, I think.” I glanced at my watch. It was
five-twenty.
    “Hurry,” Eddie pleaded. “I don’t want to be locked in. This place gives me
the creeps.”
    “Me, too,” I confessed.
    Squinting into the darkness, I started down the steps. My sneakers slid on
the smooth stone. Once again, I pressed one hand against the wall. It helped me
keep my balance on the curving stairs.
    “Where are they?” Eddie demanded nervously. “Why can’t we hear the
others on the stairs?”
    The air grew cooler as we climbed lower. A pale yellow light washed over the
landing just below us.
    My hand swept through something soft and sticky. Cobwebs.
    Yuck.
    I could hear Eddie’s rapid breathing behind me. “The bus will wait for us,” I
told him. “Just stay calm. Mr. Starkes won’t drive off without us.”
    “Is anybody down there?” Eddie screamed. “Can anybody hear me?”
    His shrill voice echoed down the narrow stone stairwell.
    No reply.
    “Where are the guards?” Eddie demanded.
    “Eddie—please don’t get worked up,” I pleaded. “It’s late. The guards are
probably closing up. Mr. Starkes will be waiting for us down there. I promise
you.”
    We stepped into the pale light of the landing.
    The small cell we had seen before stood against the wall.
    “Don’t stop,” Eddie pleaded, breathing hard. “Keep going, Sue. Hurry!”
    I put my hand on his shoulder to calm him. “Eddie, we’ll be fine,” I said
soothingly. “We’re almost down to the ground.”
    “But, look—” Eddie protested. He pointed frantically.
    I saw at once what was troubling him. There were two stairways leading
down—one to the left of the cell, and one to the right.
    “That’s strange,” I uttered, glancing from one to the other. “I don’t
remember a second stairway.”
    “Wh-which one is the right one?” he stammered.
    I hesitated. “I’m not sure,” I replied. I stepped over to the one on the
right and peered down. I couldn’t see very far because it curved so sharply.
    “Which one? Which one?” Eddie repeated.
    “I don’t think it matters,” I told him. “I mean, they both lead down —right?”
    I motioned for him to follow me. “Come on. I think this is the one we took
when we were climbing up.”
    I took one step down.
    Then stopped.
    I heard footsteps. Heavy footsteps. Coming up the stairs.
    Eddie grabbed my hand. “Who’s that?” he whispered.
    “Probably Mr. Starkes,” I told him. “He must be coming back up to get us.”
    Eddie breathed a long sigh of relief.
    “Mr. Starkes—is that you?” I called down.
    Silence. Except for the approaching footsteps.
    “Mr. Starkes?” I called in a tiny voice.
    When the dark figure appeared on the stairway below, I could see at once that
it wasn’t our tour guide.
    “Oh!” I uttered a startled cry as the huge man in the black cape stepped into
view.
    His face was still hidden in darkness. But his eyes glowed like burning coals
as he glared up at Eddie and me from under the black, wide-brimmed hat.
    “Is—is this the way down?” I stammered.
    He didn’t reply.
    He didn’t move. His eyes burned into mine.
    I struggled to see his face. But he kept it hidden in the shadow of the hat,
pulled low over his forehead.
    I took a deep breath and tried again. “We got separated from our group,” I
said. “They must be waiting for us. Is—is this the way down?”
    Again, he didn’t reply. He glared up at us menacingly.
    He’s so big, I realized. He blocks the entire stairway.
    “Sir—?” I started. “My brother and I—”
    He raised a hand. A huge hand, covered in a black