That afternoon when I get home, my scalp prickles with unease. It wasn’t the day I’d expected, but like Amelia said, I need to have patience. I tell myself that after the ceremony, things will be different.
“Hey Buddy,” I drop my stuff on the kitchen counter and lift him so we’re eye level. “Is Stacy here yet?” Dark curls play with his eyelashes, and I brush them away.
“Yeah, on da phone.” He rolls his eyes. “When can we play in da snow?”
I put a finger to my lips. “Um, I don’t know. I kind of have a tummy ache.”
He drops his head. “Okay.”
“You’re home.” Mom glides into the room. She’s still in her bathrobe, but from the neck up, she looks like Cinderella.
“Your hair looks amazing!” Why can’t mine look like that?
“Wait until you see my new dress.” She opens the oven door, turning the dish a quarter turn. “This casserole should be ready in about ten minutes. Dad’s on his way.” Her words come fast as she moves around the room, setting out three dishes and filling glasses with ice. “Once we’re ready, we’ve gotta head out. It’s a long drive.” She scans the room. “Where’s Stacy?”
“Right here, Dr. Reynolds.” Stacy steps into the kitchen, shoving her phone into her back pocket. “Wow. Love the hair.” Then, picking up Andrew, she lifts him onto the counter. “We’ve got some fun things planned, haven’t we, Buddy?”
Andrew covers his mouth with both hands and giggles.
Mom tickles him. “What’s so funny, Pipsqueak?”
He laughs harder.
I wave a hand toward the stairs. “Go. Get ready. We’re fine.”
Stacy, Andrew and I are eating chicken and noodles when Mom and Dad step into the kitchen looking like Hollywood stars—Dad in a tux, and Mom in a light blue gown.
“Wow,” we all say at once.
Dad wraps an arm around Mom’s waist. “I’ll be with the prettiest girl there—no doubt about it—so don’t wait up, kids.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “We may just dance the night away.” He kisses Mom, dipping her backward like they do in the old movies. She laughs like a girl with a crush.
“You guys look amazing!” I swallow down the tightness growing in my throat and move toward them, knocking over Andrew’s milk. It spills across the counter.
Stacy jumps to her feet, and Mom grabs a dishtowel, but I hold up a hand. “You guys go on. I got this.” My hands shake like an old man with a tremor as I mop up the mess.
They hug us, telling us to lock the door behind them, but they’re stalling, like they’re waiting for me to fess up. And If they don’t leave in the next thirty seconds, I just might.
“Oh! I almost forgot.” Dad moves to the dining room table and pulls a file from his bag. “I found some old pictures of that abandoned cabin at the forestry office. I thought they might be useful for your project.” He hands me the file, and as my fingers close around it, static snaps, causing us both to let go. Pictures flutter to the floor in slow motion.
I laugh nervously. “That was shocking.” Bending to pick up the photographs, I avert my eyes. I do not need to look at these right now.
“Have fun!” Stacy calls as Mom and Dad exit the house. “What should we do first, you guys?” She leans over and wipes Andrew’s face. “You are one messy eater, dude.”
Andrew throws his head back and laughs with his mouth full. She has no idea.
Holding my hand to my stomach, I plaster on a pitiful face. “Actually, if you don’t mind, I might just go lie down for a while in my room. I didn’t want to worry Mom and Dad, but my stomach doesn’t feel so hot.” It isn’t a total lie.
She glances at my plate of chicken and noodles, “You didn’t eat much. Do you want some tea or something? Need some Pepto Bismol?”
“No, I’m good. Just…”
“Okay. I’ll check on you later.”
“No!” The word comes out way too fast. “I mean…I uh…I’ll be fine.”
“If you’re sure. Feel better!” She tickles Andrew. “What do you want to do, little buddy?”
“Play in da snow!” He throws up his arms like a referee. “I love snow.”
Their conversation fades as I round the corner and take the stairs two at a time. It’s going to take some careful maneuvering to get around Stacy and Andrew. Especially Andrew, that kid notices everything. By the time I’m dressed and bundled up for my hike to the woods, I can hear them near the front door.
“Alright, mister snowman, let’s get you zipped up…”
The floorboards creak as I step into the dining room, but the hallway is silent. I freeze, mid step. Is it silent because they heard me? But then Andrew speaks.
“Can we make snow angels?”
It’s now or never. I bolt toward the glass doors, cold air swirling through the gap as I ease it open, squeeze through, and shove it closed. Then I run. If all goes as planned, I should reach the trailhead just as the sun is setting.
Wind whips at my face, and I wrap my arms around myself and push forward. Being late to a ceremony in my honor wouldn’t just look bad—it would be a disaster. And based on my experience this morning—there’s a right way and a wrong way to do things.
An owl hoots somewhere off in the distance, sending invisible spiders crawling down my neck. “Turn around," it says, and with every step, questions pound through my head. Why would they hold the ceremony in the abandoned cabin? Our research connects the Shadow Man to it, but how are the Peaks connected?
Turning onto the trail, I head toward the cabin. Snow crunches under my boots, making me think I’m walking on piles of tiny bones—skeletons of victims who’ve walked this path before me.
As the cottage comes into view, dim lights flicker through the windows, and that same creeping crawls over me—like someone’s watching. A shadow flickers through the trees, and something scurries behind me. I turn, “Who’s there?“
The last thing I expect is my little brother. “Hi Ozzie!” He runs forward, grabbing me around my knees.
“Andrew? What are you doing here? Where’s Stacy?” My voice is high-pitched and panicked.
His lip quivers, “You mad?”
“No…I…You scared me, that’s all. Where’s Stacy?” I sink to my knees, pulling him into me.
“On da phone." He drops his head. "I want to play in da snow.”
I glance toward the road, then up at the cabin. I should take Andrew home, but then I'd risk losing my chance with the Peaks.
My eyes drop to his sweet little face. Everyone loves him. Maybe this—maybe he—can win them over, even if I can’t. The little men on my shoulders do a heck of a job arguing their case. I could take him inside. But what if that’s not how this works? What if I mess this up like I did this morning? The Peaks don’t forgive mistakes. I should take him home. It's too risky.
“We need to go inside the cabin for a minute—to see some friends. It won’t take long. Then we’ll play in the snow. Would that be okay?” I pull his hood tighter around his face, kissing his cheeks.
“Okay, Ozzie.” He hugs my neck, “Then can we make a snowman?”
“Definitely. As soon as we’re finished.”
“Is Stuart in dere?”
“No. These are new friends.” I say, holding onto his hand.
“Yay! I love new friends. Can they help us make a snowman?”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Stomping snow from our boots, we step into the cabin. I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t this. Outside, the air is crisp, but the cabin smells weirdly sweet and gross all at the same time, like old boots and coconut body spray. A black tablecloth covers the wooden table. On it sits a glowing skull, like the one they sell at Halloween stores. The bed also, is draped in black, and dim lanterns sit along one wall. This is no welcome ceremony.
The room is silent. Only the creak of floorboards and the whistle of wind through the cracks break the stillness. Twelve pairs of eyes move from my face to Andrew’s. I tighten my grip on his hand.
“So glad you could make it, Darla,” Amelia says, stepping forward and twirling a red scarf in her hand. I don’t bother correcting her this time. She knows my name; always has.
“You brought a kid?” someone says. “Who does that?”
A chair scrapes loudly across the floor as Crystal drags it into the center of the room. “Kid or not, we stick to the plan.”
Dust swirls through the lantern beams, and I fight the impulse to cough.
“He’s cute. Hey there little guy.” Another girl moves forward.
I push Andrew behind me, but he thinks it’s a game.
“Peek boo!” he says, giggling.
“OMG! He’s adorable. Come here.” She holds out her arms, and he runs over.
“No! Andrew, come back!” I call, but the others circle around me, blocking Andrew from my view.
“Welcome to your initiation ceremony,” Amelia announces, that sugar-sweet smile plastered on her face. “Every Peak must prove she can handle the Shadow Man cabin—alone.”
The girls oooh dramatically.
“Very funny.” I say, turning to leave. “Let’s go, Andrew.”
“Oh, we’re serious,” she says, nodding to two girls I’ve never seen before. "You don't have a choice."
They steer me into the chair before I can back away. Someone slips the red scarf over my eyes.
“Hey—cut it out!” I twist out of their grasp. “Andrew—”
“Your brother can’t help you, and it’s only for an hour.” Amelia’s voice comes closer as she leans down to whisper, “Unless you’re scared.”
“I’m not scared,” I snap.
“Good.” A drum pounds, not quite in sync with their steps as they circle me, chanting barely above a whisper. “Shadow Man, Shadow Man, will he appear? If he don’t, there is nothing to fear.”
Two girls hold me tight as another one wraps my wrists behind my back. “But if he do, then fear you might, ‘cause the Shadow Man will take you into the night.”
High-pitched laughter fills the room, and footsteps pound the floor. Cold air whistles through the cracks as the door opens, then slams shut.
“Hey! Wait!” The bindings aren’t tight and I wriggle free in no time, then rip off the blindfold. The room is empty. At least I think it is. Only a tiny ray of moonlight filters through the window. Otherwise, it’s completely dark.
“Okay. This is not funny anymore.” I yell. Then, feeling my way to the front door, I twist the knob. It’s locked. “No.” I rattle it harder. “I need to get out of here!” My fists pound the door. “Where’s my brother?”
Maybe they’re just outside. Stumbling in the dark, I rush toward the window, but my toe snags on something and I crash to the floor, smacking my head—hard. While I try to sit up, the room spins like that house in the Wizard of Oz. I have to get to Andrew! Bracing my hands against the wall, I slowly push myself up and stagger to the window.
Frost covers the glass, and I try wiping it away. Only the faint outline of the porch steps is visible; there’s no sign of Andrew. There’s no sign of anyone. I slam my palm against the window, “Stupid!”
Suddenly, the front door clicks and I whirl around. Big mistake. Pain shoots through my head like an arrow on fire.
Amelia leans against the doorway, grinning.
“Where is he?” I rush toward her, holding a hand to my head to keep it from spinning. “Where’s Andrew?”
Strolling past me, she blows out a sigh. Andrew toddles in behind her, carrying a lopsided snowball. “Hi Ozzie.” The snowball slides from his mittens and lands with a splat.
I drop to my knees. “Oh, thank God!”
“You mean thank me,” she says. “I’m the one who came back for him. The others just ran away. I'm sure you'll think of something nice you can do for me.”