“Not so fast,” said Nina. “Look.” She pointed at her feet. Lou had thought Nina had been so distraught by what had happened earlier that she’d started to withdraw into her own head. But it wasn’t the case. Staring up from the glossy floor was the reflection of her brother. He was accompanied by a girl in a black dress and white apron whom Lou didn’t recognize.

Lou hopped away, worrying that the boy might reach up through the floor, grab her ankle, and then pull her down. But she looked into his eyes and found that he was looking back. There was no menace in his face as there had been when she’d seen him on the movie screen. The girl smiled sadly and then waved. “It’s him,” Lou whispered. “It’s Jason. He’s really here with me.” Her breath hitched, but she wouldn’t allow herself to cry in front of everyone. Instead, she crouched down and reached out to the glossy reflection.

To her surprise, Jason reached back. Extending his forefinger, they connected. It felt like she could almost feel his heart beating. Through the reflection, Lou watched a tear splash onto the floor below, and she wondered if her brother noticed. Jason dragged his finger along the wood, and Lou mirrored him. He was … writing something. Lou’s finger smudged against the gloss, letter after letter after letter.

Nina read aloud from over Lou’s shoulder. “Camera, cloak, sketchbook … dollhouse.” Her voice rose as she realized what he was doing. “Keep going.”

Rufus rushed back from the curtains to where the group was crouched around the writing.

Jason and Lou continued, marking more letters onto the floor. They moved as one, their shoulders twisting, their spines wavering, their skulls swiveling as if in an awkward dance.

1. Master bedroom
2. Observatory
3. Library

They stared at the message for a moment, trying to figure out what it meant.

“We all arrived in different parts of the house earlier today,” said Rufus once the siblings had slowed. “Does anyone remember seeing any of these places while wandering?”

Lou watched as Jason continued to write out: Lou, Marcus has a book …

“Marcus, you’ve been here the longest,” Nina said. “Any clue?”

Before Marcus could answer, Cal leapt to his feet. Without looking back, he raced toward the ballroom door.

“Cal!” Marcus called out. “It’s not safe out there on your own! Wait for the rest of us!” He was up and running, and within seconds, he too had disappeared into the hallway.

CHAPTER 27

LOU, NINA, AND Rufus glanced at one another, stunned. Then they raced from the ballroom and barreled out into the hall.

Footsteps echoed from their right, so that’s the direction they ran. When they reached a wide part of the hall where the ceiling arched, meeting in sturdy wooden rafters, they paused to gain their bearings.