He sat up, ignoring the warm wetness that was dripping from his scraped knees and elbows and his chin. His whole body ached. What felt most damaged was his mind; he couldn’t escape the look on his sister’s face when he’d appeared on the movie screen. She’d been terrified. He’d heard her say that she didn’t trust what she’d seen in that house, which meant that she didn’t trust him. Maybe Connie would have a better idea how to get through.

Connie.

Jason sighed. He’d messed up. Shouting, screaming, bringing attention to himself. To his sister! Even if he were able to locate her, would Connie even want to help anymore? The only way to find out was to make his way back to the dollhouse and ask her.

He looked around, but the pinpoint of light that had previously been his beacon was nowhere to be seen. His lungs clenched at the thought of being lost out here, and he fought for breath. Was it possible to feel dizzy when there wasn’t even enough light available to see the earth slope beneath you? He tried to stand, but he stumbled forward. Yes. It was possible.

His bare foot crunched on something that felt like a dry stick. But when the stick screeched and scrambled away, Jason remembered how not alone he was out here. He pricked up his ears and inched his feet forward, hoping that his path was clear. He couldn’t imagine stepping on something that might wish to crush him in return.

Which way? Which way? Which way?

“I don’t know what to do,” he whispered. “I’m sorry, Louise. I’m so, so sorry.”

Something in the distance caught his eye. It wasn’t the glow from inside the dollhouse, but another kind of light. Dim and pale and stretching along a line that cut through the void like silver pen on black paper. Someone was standing within this light—a dark figure—staring in his direction. Jason crouched down, hoping the shadows were like a dark cloak and that whoever it was hadn’t spotted him.

CHAPTER 11

CLAMORING DOWN THE hallway, Lou, Sadie, and Cal had almost made it back to the rotunda alcove when they realized that the thing from the movie screen wasn’t following them.

“Is everyone okay?” Cal asked, his chest heaving.

Lou’s scalp ached where the plaster cherubs had yanked her hair, and her cheeks stung were they’d scratched her. Other than that—

“Fine,” she whispered. Sadie just nodded, as if she were only partially present.

“What just happened?” Cal went on. “That creature …”

“It’s what I told you was after us,” said Lou. “Remember? The growling. The trembling floors and walls. The thing from my nightmares.”

“You said something earlier about floor plans,” Sadie managed to whisper. Shaking away her fear, she added, “And a chimney?”