Pendragon - The Reality Bug by D.J. MacHale

Author:D.J. MacHale
Language: eng
Format: epub

(CONTINUED)

Mark led Courtney around to the side of the property and the tree that was their ladder. Courtney gave Mark a leg up, then Mark reached down and gave Courtney a helping hand. Seconds later the two of them jumped off the wall and landed back inside the property.

"Wait," Mark said. He looked back at the wall, scanning both left and right.

"What are you looking for?" Courtney asked.

"There!" Mark pointed to an old, wooden tool shed. "If we gotta get back over fast, head for that shed. We can climb up the side."

He wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. This time he wanted to be ready. Courtney nodded and headed for the house. Neither was nervous, since they had just done a thorough inspection and knew the quigs were gone.

"I say we start inside the house," Courtney said. "There are a lot of rooms we may have missed."

They climbed up onto the porch and stopped at the broken window.

"That's our door," Mark announced. He made a move to go in, but Courtney stopped him.

"Mark, I'm in," she said.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I want to be an acolyte."

Mark couldn't help but smile. "You sure?"

"Yeah, it just took some time to get my head around it," Courtney said sincerely. "I think it's an important thing to do. And I don't want to let you down. Or Bobby."

Mark smiled. "I never thought you would," he said as he lifted one leg through the broken window.

Mark's confidence in her made Courtney feel better than she had in weeks. Maybe Mark was right. Maybe she had a more important role to play than sports superstar. She knew one thing for certain: She wanted the chance to find out. But there was no time to feel warm and fuzzy. They had work to do. So Courtney followed Mark inside.

The two of them stood in the grand entryway, once again taking it all in.

"Where to first?" Courtney asked.

Mark lifted his ring and saw that the symbol was still glowing brightly.

"Let's start in the attic and work our way-" Mark stopped talking. He had heard something. Courtney heard it too.

"What was that?" Courtney asked.

"Sounded like something scratching across wood."

"There it is again!" Courtney exclaimed. "It's outside, on the porch."

They both turned to the broken window they had just come through.

"It could be squirrels," Mark said hopefully.

More scratching. Whatever it was, it was moving quickly back and forth on the porch.

"Or birds," Courtney offered.

"Or… quigs."

Courtney laughed nervously. "Don't even joke-" Smash! Smash! Smash!

Three windows shattered as black quig dogs came crashing into the house.

"C'mon!" Courtney grabbed Mark's hand and they ran up the stairs. The quigs were slightly dazed by the hammering their heads just took, and it gave Mark and Courtney enough time to make it to the top. But a second later the quigs had their wits back, sniffed the air, and charged up the stairs after them.

Mark and Courtney sprinted along the hallway, not sure where to go.

"The window at the end!" Mark shouted.

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