Marcus’s voice came from the top of a tall staircase. “Cal, wait! We need to stick together!”

“What the heck is Cal doing?” asked Nina, taking the steps two by two.

“He’s probably trying to help,” said Rufus, moving more slowly behind her. Lou followed at the rear.

“Well, he’s not helping.” Nina stopped ahead and turned back, as if to address all of the grand hall behind her. “He’s putting the rest of us in danger. We finally have a clue how to get out of this horrid place and he’s ruining it!”

“Shh,” Lou whispered. “We shouldn’t draw attention to ourselves.”

“Don’t shush me,” Nina spat. “I’m not a child.”

Lou kept her voice low and soft as she answered. “Technically, we’re all children. Unless you’re a very young-looking thirty-year-old.”

Nina didn’t think the joke was funny. She scoffed and folded her arms, waiting for them to reach the step on which she stood. “I’ll bet Cal is heading to the first place your brother wrote on the floor. The master bedroom.” She waved for them to follow her up the rest of the stairs. “I think Rufus and I passed it earlier when your brother and that girl were using the mirrors to lead us to the kitchen.” She lowered her voice and added, “I’m sorry for snapping at you guys. Being angry is easier than feeling scared.”

Lou and Rufus made eye contact, but didn’t say a word.

When they reached the landing, they listened for a clue—a footfall, a sneeze, a cry—telling where the other boys had gone. Nina led the way down a hallway with bloodred wallpaper.

“I’m scared too,” Lou said. Nina exhaled through her nose, but didn’t answer. It was clear that she was fighting something inside her head.

Rufus walked slightly behind the two girls. “I have a method to stop myself from getting scared. It’s foolproof actually.”

“Tell us,” said Lou, trying to keep up with Nina.

“Well, it’s sort of embarrassing,” said Rufus. “But back home in Kansas, I created a secret identity.”

Lou chirped out laughter, then covered her mouth, hoping she didn’t offend him. But Rufus only smiled wider.

Even Nina slowed and turned to look back. “A secret identity?”

Rufus shrugged. “Middle school has been a nightmare for me. Sorta like this house. People have called me names. They make fun of my size, of my accent—”

“You don’t have an accent,” said Nina.

“I’ve tried to get rid of it so the jerks quit teasing me. But at home, me and my parents speak Tagalog all the time.”

Nina nodded, as if she understood.