It's All Downhill from Here Read Free Page B

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    â€œOkay, everybody,” Mr. Kim announced, rubbing his palms together. “Dig in!”
    Maggie hadn’t realized just how hungry she was. Even though the Chinese food was getting cold, it tasted pretty good. The room was silent as everyone shoved forkfuls of food into their mouths.
    Mr. Kim raised his soda can. “To our first meal in the Piney Hill Ski Resort,” he announced, offering a toast. “May we look back on this weekend in years to come and remember how this great adventure began.”
    Everybody raised their own can and sipped their soda.
    â€œCan we look back on how it ended instead?” Maggie asked and then a forced smile.
    â€œAll right, Maggie. Time for a little positivity,” Mrs. Kim said. “I’m hoping that you will come to think of this place as home.”
    â€œWell, maybe,” Maggie said. “Once the intruders and the animals all leave.”
    â€œWith the alarm system and the fact that we have the only key, I’m a hundred percent sure the house is empty, but why don’t you check it out?” Mr. Kim suggested.
    Sophie smiled. “Come on, Mags. We can make it an adventure.”
    Maggie finished chewing her bite of lo mein and then reluctantly slid her chair back and got up.
    â€œHave fun exploring,” Mrs. Kim said. “I think once you get to know it, you’ll love this place, Maggie. And be careful. No one has been in this house for a while.”
    â€œYeah, except Maggie’s man in the window might be lurking in the shadows! Mwa-aaaa!” Simon teased, curling his hands into claws and making a scary face.
    â€œThat’s not what I meant, Simon,” Mrs. Kim said quickly. “Just be sure there aren’t any holes in the floor or falling plaster or other dangerous things. Now go have a good time.”
    Maggie said nothing as she followed Sophie out of the dining room.
    â€œBut be careful!” Mrs. Kim repeated.
    The two friends entered a long hallway.
    â€œIt sure is a big old house,” Sophie said. “You could get lost in here.”
    â€œJust what I want to do,” Maggie said, turning to look at the peeling old wallpaper that covered the hallway. “Get lost in my own house.”
    Then she stopped in her tracks.
    â€œDid I just say that? ‘My own house.’”
    â€œI won’t tell a soul,” Sophie said, smiling.
    Maggie started walking again to see where the hallway led and got a face full of cobwebs that had been hanging from the ceiling, waiting for a victim.
    â€œNot again!” Maggie cried, clawing at her face to pull the sticky, filthy strands from her eyes and nose.
    â€œGotta watch where you’re going, Mags,” Sophie offered.
    â€œYeah, thanks.”
    They followed the hallway as it curved to the left. The light from the one working bulb in the ceiling grew dimmer as they walked. At the end of the hallway, they came to a door. Maggie stopped short.
    â€œWell, go ahead and open it,” said Sophie. “It’s not going to bite you.”
    â€œWhat if the old man I saw is inside?” Maggie asked, genuinely afraid.
    â€œGo ahead, Mags. It’ll be okay. I promise.”
    Maggie turned the knob and pushed the door open, its rusty hinges complaining as it swung inward.
    Stepping into the room, she flipped the light switch, but nothing happened.
    â€œI’ll go back and get the flashlight,” said Sophie. Sheturned and headed back down the hallway.
    Maggie stepped farther into the room and noticed a dull light flickering. It was coming from a far corner in the back of the room.
    What’s that? she wondered.
    Crossing the room slowly, squinting in the soft light, she saw floor-to-ceiling bookcases stacked with musty old volumes. A round woven rug sat in the middle of the room, surrounded by chairs and standing floor lamps. All this was difficult to see by the weak light that played around the room.
    Then she stopped and