“This isn’t bad,” said Cal. “This is amazing! I have no clue how it’s happening, but I know for sure that I’ll be able to work it into my movie eventually.”

“We tried looking for an exit,” said Lou. “But the door was locked. And I think the windows are un-smashable.”

“Why would you want to leave yet?”

“Because there’s something here. Something evil. It growls and shakes the floor and the walls and the ceiling. And it’s been chasing us. Haven’t you noticed?”

“Nope.” Cal shook his head, amused. “I’ve been in this room. Enjoying the dark. Seeing my movie on a big screen is amazing.”

The puzzle of this day kept rearranging inside Lou’s head. She was desperate to figure out what was going on. Cal had just provided a bunch more pieces, which made the picture even bigger, more complex. If they could learn what was happening, there was a better chance that they could stop it. “What if we’re inside the ghost of Larkspur House?”

Sadie crossed her arms, as if Lou’s theory had made her chilly. “Do houses have ghosts? I don’t mean just other people’s ghosts. Like, ghosts of themselves?”

“Doesn’t it seem like something that could happen in a horror movie?” Lou asked. “A mysterious force lures some kids into a creepy old house?”

Cal’s face lit up. “Ooh,” he said, his voice low. “Maybe that’s what this is: We’re in a horror movie!”

Lou raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t mean literally. Do you think that sounds more likely than what I suggested about the ghost of the house?”

“We need to find out what’s going on,” said Sadie. “How’d we get here? I hate the not knowing.”

“What’s it matter?” asked Cal. “Whenever you’re ready, we’ll just walk out the front door.”

Lou squinted at him. She didn’t like how he felt he knew all the answers. “I told you we already tried that,” she said, thinking of the five kids trapped in her dreams. “Besides, if this is like a horror movie, as you seem to wish, do you really think the villain would let us go so easily?”

Cal rolled his eyes.

“So then what do we do?” Sadie asked.

“I still remember parts of my dollhouse’s floor plan. Granted, these halls aren’t exactly the same, but they’re close enough. If the doors are locked and the windows are unbreakable, we head for an exit where there aren’t any doors or windows.”

“Such as?”

Lou cleared her throat. “A chimney.” The smile that appeared on Sadie’s face made Lou feel like she was onto something.

“You want us to crawl up a chimney?” said Cal. “Like Santa Claus? Do you know how difficult that is?”

“Not really,” Lou answered. Half joking, she added, “My family doesn’t celebrate Christmas.”