A black mist seemed to be moving around inside the creature’s body, seeping out of cracks and fissures every few seconds, twisting into little curls before disappearing. Lou understood suddenly that this was the shadow thing that always chased the five kids through the dollhouse in her dreams. It had stolen away her brother’s face, and now it would chase her too.

“Don’t be scared,” Cal said to Lou. “It’s only a movie. It can’t hurt you.”

As if to prove him wrong, an amber glow lit inside the eyes of the little plaster cherubs that decorated the room. Their chubby faces turned and glared at Lou and Sadie and Cal, who looked back in awe. All at once, the sculptures leapt out from their bas-reliefs, off the walls, crawling away from the carved armrests of the theater seats.

They darted about near the ceiling—their eyes like lightning bugs on a hot summer night—beating their angelic wings furiously. Then the little beasts bolted down, swiping at the kids’ faces.

Cal ducked and screamed, as if finally understanding that this wasn’t a game.

Pain scratched across Lou’s forehead. One of the cherubs was hovering before her. It furrowed its brow and drew back its lips, revealing needle-sharp fangs.

Without thinking, Lou punched it. The cherub went flying. It hit against a wall, breaking off its plaster wings and falling lifeless to the floor. Sadie swung out her arms as the creatures swooped at her, bashing several at a time. With each hit, the lights went out of their eyes. A couple of cherubs grabbed at Lou’s hair, yanking her head back and forth so fiercely that she couldn’t get a sense of where they were. Several more came at her face, raking their nails across her cheeks. Cal hopped up and leapt over a couple of seats toward the girls. Lightning fast, he gripped the cherubs that were attacking Lou and threw them to the ground, stomping their plaster bodies until they were dust. Lou knocked a few more away and then stomped on them too. “Thank you,” she cried.

“I’m so sorry,” Cal choked out. “I didn’t realize—”

The bone-thing on the movie screen spat out what might have been laughter. Black mist oozed from its snout and swirled out into the light from the projector, mixing with the galaxies of dust particles.

“You can apologize later,” yelled Sadie. “Let’s get out of here now!” She bolted up the aisle that rose toward the door at the back of the room.

But Lou couldn’t tear her gaze away from the movie screen. The creature leaned out toward the camera. Then it reached for her. Broken talons met the fourth wall. The screen stretched outward like plastic wrap, and its arms emerged into the screening room. They came quickly, fingers wriggling with excitement as they careened toward Lou and Cal.