The Whispering Pines (EXIT 13, Book 1) by James Preller

Author:James Preller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Ash had no idea what that word liminal even meant. Was it a real word? He’d have to look it up later. He flipped through the pages, noting chapters that read: “Passageways and Thresholds,” “Transitions,” “Visitors from Beyond,” “Susurrations and Whispers,” and “Unanticipated Dangers.”

A scrap of paper fell out of the book and onto the floor. Ash bent to pick it up. Someone had hastily scribbled in ancient cursive, THE KEY: WHAT SENSES DO WE LACK??!!

Ash set the book back down. He returned to the carving of the wolf. It felt significant somehow. Meaningful. He ran his fingers over it, touching the wolf’s snout, sharp upturned ears, long limbs, powerful paws—when, click, the wardrobe door opened behind him.

Ash froze in fear. He stared at the door, half expecting someone to step through it. Nothing stirred. Finally Ash pulled the door all the way open. The closet was transformed. No shelves, no rod, no water bowl. It had all vanished. But on the floor, there was a thick metal ring. A nylon cord was attached to it, knotted at the end. A secret hatch built into the floor!

Footsteps sounded from outside, heavy boots on cement.

Ash scanned the room, heart hammering. Where to hide?

At that instant, perhaps in response to Ash’s question, the book’s pages began to flutter. But there was no wind in the room, no ceiling fan, no breeze. Still the pages fluttered and flicked and finally flew open to a new spread. Ash stepped to the book, craning his neck to read. There was so little time. The footsteps drew closer. The chapter read, “The Art of Camouflage.”

The footsteps stopped. A key entered a lock.

Ash closed his eyes, tilted his head up, and felt his tongue roll back into his throat.

His heart slowed.

He breathed through the pores of his skin.

It felt as if he were reptilian, a desert creature disappearing into itself.

The door opened.

Kristoff stood at the entranceway. His eyes searched the empty room. A finger went to his tooth. “Mother?” he whispered. “Mother? Are you in here? Answer me, please.”

He frowned at the freestanding lamp. Kristoff strode to it and abruptly turned off the light with a sharp tug on the pull string. The room plunged into full dark. Kristoff sighed with weariness. Ash could hear the tiniest sound, and he felt the ripples of air swirl around him. Kristoff hissed, stepped back outside, and yanked the door shut.

Ash was alone again.

And somehow, amazingly, he was also invisible.

Camouflaged like a chameleon.

Once again he smelled it. The near, musky odor of wolf.

Minutes later, after he returned to his normal self, Ash fled the room. He felt frightened and disoriented. What had happened to him? What was this place? In his haste, Ash left the book behind. I won’t tell Willow, he told himself. Not yet. No, I won’t tell anyone … for now.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.