Page 67 of Ghost in the Night

“You guys are in some serious trouble!” Britney shouts, her voice cracking. “Come out right now!”

She throws a chair across the room next door. She’s crashing out and it’s only a matter of time before she walks in here. Robby whimpers. I don’t see Myah. And where’s Jabari? This is like a giant game of hide-and-seek we’re never gonna win.

My phone has to be in that first room. And there’s open windows. Ghost tours have to be walking around by now. I can make a run for it, find help, save everyone.

I point to the ground, mouthingStay hereto Robby. He tries to stop me, but I pull away. Crawling low to the floor, I squeeze myself against the wall, making my way down the hall, creeping slow, listening to Britney’s tantrum. The room is only a few steps away. But I trip on a raised floorboard, the noise echoing.

Britney runs into the hall, covered in blue paint, waving the knife.

“Gotcha!”

I scream, squeezing into a ball, closing my eyes tight, bracing for whatever is going to come. Maybe it won’t be so bad, the dying part. I’ll see Grandma again, maybe even meet my mom. But then I think of Dad. Us singing in the car, eating cheesesteaks in Philly, barbecue in Memphis, clam chowder in Boston … Can’t believe I’m gonna die alone in this house.

But you’re not alone.

Suddenly the tense knot in my stomach eases, and a calm wave washes over me. I’m not scared. It’s not over …

And I’m not alone.

I look down and grab my camera, snapping with another bright flash. It only slows down Britney’s steps. Just then, Jabari jumps out of the room behind Britney, swinging Myah’s stick against the back of  her head. The knife knocks out of her hand and clatters across the floor. She falls on her knees, cursing, but it’s still not enough to stop her. I grab Jabari’s arm and we break for the front room. Maybe we can jump out the window and run for help.

But the front door bursts open, wood flying, and a giant shadow takes up the frame.

“Dad!” I scream.

There’s Dad, dressed in a tux, mouth open in shock. And right behind him is Lena in her high heels. Her eyes land on Britney and she storms in, charging toward her.

Britney shouts, holding her hands out, pleading. “Wait! No, hang on! No—”

But her next words are cut off, replaced by gurgling sounds. Lena pins her up against the wall by her neck without even a struggle, eyes flaring in rage. Blue, red, and white lights flicker through the front windows, sirens blaring.

Myah runs inside through the back door, breathing hard like she’d raced around the entire city.

“I got help as fast as I could!”

Police pour in after her, heading straight for Britney and Lena. I run to Robby’s hiding spot. He’s frantically stretching to see what’s going on.

“Robby, they got her! They got Britney. We’re safe.”

Robby winces, giving me a thumbs-up. “Hero. Please.”

Dad shoves the table out of the way, spots us on the floor, and does a big exhale. “You two okay?”

“I think his leg is broken. But we’re okay. Right, Robby?”

Robby is too busy staring at Lena. It takes three huge officers to pull her off Britney, who’s still screaming and begging for help.

“Mom?”

Dad chuckles and takes out his phone, holding up the two faces waiting on the screen.

“Girls,” he says. “I got her!”

Kiki and Truth scream with joy.

TWENTY-ONE

Thatwas so cool, Mama!” Robby says for the millionth time, after recounting every detail of the night. Lena holds his hand as the doors of the ambulance shut and they speed off.