In the Shadows

terms with dying a natural, if early, death. Another to face it in a

burning building, to watch it threaten the people he cared about

most in the world.

Few things scared him anymore, but Alden filled him with a

terror bigger than he had ever known, because Alden had found

the only remaining things that could hurt Charles: Thom,

Minnie, and Cora.

He leaned to the side and tapped three times against the win-

dow to the library.

Immediately Thom, Minnie, and Cora were outside. “Where

are they headed?” Thom asked.

“Toward town.”

He nodded, and Charles noticed an odd bulge beneath his

vest. “What have you got there?”

Thom avoided his eyes, but Minnie gasped, turning to Cora.

“You didn’t!”

Cora glared at her. “I did, and you’ll keep your mouth shut

about it.”

A movement in the corner of his vision caught Charles’s eye,

and he had just enough time to see Arthur, melting between trees,

already following Alden and the bearded man.

“Arthur’s beaten us!” he said, standing and hurrying down the

steps.

“No, Charles, you stay here.” Thom grabbed his elbow, trying

to turn him back toward the boardinghouse.

“And leave me unprotected and alone? That’s precisely what

they have in mind.” Charles thought no such thing, but he was not

staying here.

“Come on, we’re going to lose him!” Minnie ran ahead, the

ribbons from her hat trailing behind her.