It's All Downhill from Here Read Free

this house for a year, and we have the only key. Besides, the alarm system has been on the entire year, and it was never deactivated or set off. The realtor made a point of assuring us of that this morning.”
    Maggie felt a chill race through her body. What if there is someone hiding in the house? she wondered. Someone waiting to get us in the middle of the night? A wave of fear washed over her, and she sank back into her seat.
    Mr. Kim pulled the car up to the front door and shut off the engine.
    â€œWelcome to the Wharton Mansion, everybody,” he said. “Or should I call it the future Piney Hill Ski Resort?”
    â€œDon’t . . . please,” Maggie said as she stepped from the car and threw her backpack over her shoulder. Her sneakers sank into a snowdrift, soaking her feet. Snow continued to fall as she looked up at the mansion and wiggled her cold, wet toes.
    Many windows were cracked. Ancient shutters twisted in the wind, making a squealing, creaking sound that penetrated the stillness of the night.
    â€œJust a few repairs and this place will look like new,” Mr. Kim said, looking up. “Well, let’s get inside. The real estate agent said that we should probably be able to get the furnace running. The place is going to be chilly after being empty for so long.”
    Mr. Kim led his family to the front door. “This is it,” he said to his wife, kissing her gently on the cheek. “The beginning of a dream come true.”
    He punched in the code for the alarm that was next to the doorbell and then put the key in the lock. He grabbed the knob on the front door and turned it. The knob snapped off in his hand with a metallic crunch. He pushed the door and it swung open, creaking and moaning as it moved.
    â€œWell, we’ll have to get that fixed,” Mr. Kim said, looking down at the doorknob in his hand. “Come on in, everyone.”
    And with that, he entered the house. He walked down the hallway and flipped a light switch. A dusty crystal chandelier blazed to life. The bulbs illuminatedlong, stringy cobwebs dangling from the crystals.
    â€œAt least the power works,” he said as the others followed him into the dining room. “Simon, girls, just put your bags down over there. We’ll check out the bedrooms after we eat. Now, who’s hungry?”
    Mr. Kim rubbed his hands together excitedly, then carried the bag of takeout over to a long table covered by a sheet.
    â€œLet me get that,” Mrs. Kim said, grabbing a corner of the sheet and pulling it off. A cloud of dust filled the dining room.
    â€œGross!” Simon choked out between coughs.
    â€œI brought some cleaning supplies, since we didn’t know what shape the place would be in,” Mrs. Kim said, pulling furniture polish and some rags from a bag she had brought along. “I’ll have that table ready in no time.”
    â€œI’ll see if I can get the furnace running while you put out our delicious Chinese feast,” Mr. Kim said.
    â€œMade by my new friend, Clem,” said Maggie.
    â€œMags, Sophie, why don’t you give me a hand downstairs with the furnace?” Mr. Kim continued. “Simon, help your mother set the table.”
    â€œYou’re kidding, right?” Simon asked.
    â€œWhat?” Mr. Kim asked, spreading his arms wide. “Only boys should help with the furnace and only girls should set the table? This is the twenty-first century, Simon.”
    Maggie and Sophie followed Mr. Kim to the staircase leading down to the cellar. He paused at the top of the stairs.
    â€œLet me just flip this light on,” he said, hitting a switch.
    Nothing happened.
    Mr. Kim flipped the switch up and down a few more times, but had no luck. “Maggie, can you go get a flashlight from my bag of tools?” he asked.
    â€œSure,” Maggie replied. She headed back into the dining room, where all the bags had been dropped.
    â€œDone