Following him, we headed towards the patio doors.
“Wait.” I pulled the vial of green liquid from my pocket and placed a drop in
front of the exit. The green liquid sizzled as I held my breath, praying silently in
my head. Slowly, the liquid turned red and spread into a large circle that slipped
under the doorway.
“We can't go out through here, Miles,” I said with frustration. “She’s put a protection spell at this entrance. Is there another way?”
Scrunching his face as if he was deep in thought, he announced, “I got it! I
think I know a way.”
Once again, we climbed back into the walls of the house.,
As Miles led us through the corridors, I wasn’t sure what direction we were
facing. Is he leading us closer to Eliza's room? My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest.
“Let me check this way. Can I have your green stuff?” Miles asked. He
looked like a little man with the serious expression he wore.
“Just put one small drop in the center of the area that we will cross.” I gave
him the potion.
“Don't worry, Mara,” Meg whispered, “Miles will get us out of here. He is really smart for being just a kid.”
I squeezed her hand. “I have no doubt he will find a way.”
With those words, Miles dashed out. When he returned, a big smile was
plastered on his face. “She would never think anyone would go this way. Let's go.”
Our little brother brought us out of the walls and into a hallway. I felt exposed in
the wide corridor, but after a quick walk, we entered a small storeroom. The space was full of cleaning supplies and other housework equipment. Miles
opened a door to an empty cupboard. Peering over his shoulder, I saw it was a
laundry chute. I had read about them in books, but I had never seen one before.
“Where does this lead?” I asked him while thinking, this doesn’t look safe.
“Right to the laundry pile. It is usually full of sheets, since Grandmother Blanche has all the beds changed, every day.” He wore a sad look on his face.
Why would clean sheets upset him?
“Even if no one has slept in the bed, she makes Hazel take everything off and
remake it with clean sheets. She makes her do it for all fifteen of the rooms in
the house! We never had those many visitors.” Shaking off his gloomy thoughts,
he forced a smile and pointed at the chute. “You should go first, Mara, since
you’re the biggest.”
Miles spread his legs and arms out, and then crouched a bit. “You will need
to hold your arms and legs out like this, and you want to slowly move down the
tube. If you go very slowly, it isn't as scary.”
“Great demonstration,” I praised. I held out my hand. “Can I have my green
stuff back? I'll check the area when I get to the bottom.”
Reluctantly, he returned the vial to me. “Remember, go slow.”
I climbed into the chute. Before I started down, I looked at Meg and Miles.
Both were watching me with mischievous grins. “Come on, you two. We don't
