She looked out the window, picturing an imaginary trail leading from the tree to where they were now. She noticed for the first time that there was a little section of roof that protruded out from beneath the attic window. And, farther down that same section of roof, the spray-painted tree in question’s tallest branches reached over to touch down on it.

“We could climb on to the tree from the roof,” she whispered, looking at the attic window. Without saying another word, she reached her hand forward to push on the window—it opened! The only unlocked window in the entire house!

“You found a way out!” Miguel nearly yelled. “Yes!”

“It’s not like we can just climb out the window,” Matt blurted, his face suddenly a little redder in the cheeks. “That’s not safe at all.”

“No less safe than crawling our way into this attic in the first place,” Becca said, pushing the window farther out until there was enough space for each kid to easily climb through. “All we really have to do is walk on the roof over to the tree branches, then climb over and onto it. We’re all tree climbing masters already. Think of the time we wanted to paint the outside of the clubhouse! That was way more intense than this will be.”

Once the window was open all the way, Becca was able to spot a note tucked into the frame. More word from the Game Master! She grabbed the note and unfolded it, reading it out loud to everybody else.

What is Matt Darey afraid of?

“No.” Matt groaned, covering his still-red face with his hands. “I’d somehow convinced myself that I’d be able to avoid having to face my fear. But of course, I was wrong. The Game Master just saved me for last, I guess.”

“What’s your fear?” Miguel asked, but based on how Matt had sounded at the suggestion of climbing out the window, Becca thought she probably already knew the answer to that. Uh-oh, she thought. This isn’t going to be easy for him—at all.

“Heights,” Matt said, hanging his head down. Becca had guessed right. She looked out the open window again and had to admit that the attic over the second floor was really high up. How would they be able to convince Matt to come with them?

A breeze came through the open window, gently blowing her hair out of her face. She inhaled the fresh air, desperate to get out of the stuffy house and leave it behind, cursed clown box and all.

“What if you just make sure not to look down?” Frankie suggested.

“We can even surround you if you want,” Kylie offered. “So you don’t even have to see the edge of the roof. It’ll be just like walking on the ground, until we get to the tree.”