Inside the Shadow City Read Free Page A

disguised as Harlequin romances. But the day has finally come to open them up and share what I’ve learned with a few worthy students.
    However, before I can teach you how to perform complex tasks, such as caring for a friend who’s been attacked by wild animals, you should first learn to use the powers you already possess. These include:
    The Element of Surprise
    No one takes you seriously? Let people believe what they want to believe, and the element of surprise will always work in your favor. If they think you’re weak, you can surprise them with strength, and if they assume you’re stupid, you’ll out-think them every time. Remember, low expectations can be a blessing in disguise.
    Invisibility
    I’ve always found it amusing that many people will say just about anything in front of a girl—as if she couldn’t possibly understand. Before the age of fifteen, you will see things that no one else will see, and hear things that no one else will hear. Keep your ears open at all times, and use the information you gather to your advantage.
    The Benefit of the Doubt
    Most people are willing to give young girls the benefit of the doubt. Girls are too sweet and innocent, they think, to be up to no good. A clever story—generally one involving a search for a missing kitten—can get you out of trouble in nine out of ten situations. Remember, a tear or two will make any tale more believable.
    The Art of Disguise
    A girl’s biggest advantage is her ability to change her appearance at will. If you’re handy with a brush and have more than one change of clothing in your closet, you can easily assume the appearance of at least five different people. Eventually, the prudent use of hair color and makeup can make your disguise repertoire limitless.
    Size
    So what if you’re not tall enough to see above a steering wheel? Being small in stature does come with its benefits. You can hide almost anywhere. Disappear into any crowd. Fit into spaces that no adult could cram herself into and go places adults could never go. Make use of your size before it’s too late!

CHAPTER TWO
The Devil in the Details
    My first adventure with Kiki Strike is now part of her legend. In fact, you may already be familiar with the story. Over the past six years, I’ve heard it told time and time again—at parties, on airplanes, even once in the ladies’ room at Bergdorf’s. Whenever people shake their heads in disbelief and refuse to acknowledge a grain of truth, I have to laugh. Because I was
there
. And even though this particular story has been making the rounds for years, it’s remained more fact than fiction. I’m just here to supply you with the details.
    The story begins at the Atalanta School for Girls on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, not long after my discovery of the Shadow City. It was ten minutes to three. Ten minutes until winter break and two weeks of freedom. With so little time left on the clock, all hell was breaking loose. What had begun as a few cautious whispers between friends had turned into an ear-shatteringfree-for-all that was beginning to threaten the peace and quiet of the other classrooms on our hall.
    Our teacher Ms. Jessel—who bore a striking resemblance to Snow White and possessed an unfortunate fashion sense to match—had made several attempts to restore order. However, it took the appearance of the principal, a rather stern, wizened old woman whose age we estimated at about 105, to shut our mouths and return us to our seats.
    â€œGirls,” said the principal with a disapproving glance at Ms. Jessel. “We haven’t much time left. Why don’t we try something a little more productive than screeching like a bunch of banshees? For the next ten minutes, I’d like to go around the room and have each of you tell me what you intend to be when you grow up.”
    If I remember correctly, most of our responses were either incredibly