Author: dadestarmysteries

Posted on

MYSTERY OF THE CAROLMIRE
SECRET SINGER: PART TWO

“THERE’S ALWAYS A WAY THROUGH”

Its time to go back into Carolmire, the kingdom where it’s always Christmas. There’s an intriguing mystery to solve. If you haven’t yet, check out the post, DARKCORNER LAND FEATURE: CAROLMIRE’S SECRET LIGHT to see the list of possible women who could be the secret singer and the prophecy that offers clues as to how to find her. Here is the link:

https://dadestarmysteries.com/darkcorner-land-featurecarolmires-secret-light/

Christmas can be a great time and for many it can be a dark time, but with a distant light, a distant, mysterious hope. You can also check out the author’s facebook page to see more about his mountain climbs and there are weekly bible studies for anyone interested including a special look at the Christmas story in the bible that you probably have never seen before. Check it out here:

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.sanborn.100/

Leave a comment below if you think you know the answer to this mystery. Now let’s get back into the story. Can you figure out who it is?

Dark orange slowly turned to dark purple over the distant snow-covered mountains behind Carolmire while the two kids worked their way up the rocky trail winding up the mountain running back and forth from the west side to the east side across the south side overlooking the endless white plain. Snow fell calmly from the rolling dark blue clouds streaming across the sky. The two kids stopped momentarily, a short distance from the peak.
“We better hurry,” Blake said tensely.
“Why?” asked Cade with a casual shrug.
“Because she’s going to start singing soon,” Blake said, nodding to the creamy dark blue sky.
“We’re only seconds from the top.” Blake gazed up the rocky slope with a doubtful expression. Dark blue shadows fell slowly down the steep slope, blocked at several rocky points.
“We’re still an hour from the top,” Blake answered, nodding toward the trail winding back and forth multiple times up the final slopes. Cade gazed up the steep slope with a brightly intense gaze. Then he turned to Blake and slowly broke a smile. “Oh come on.” Cade smiled brighter. “No, Cade, no way. Look at all that snow?”
“Fastest way to the top is…”
“It’s too steep, with all that snow? You can’t…”
“Okay, here we go,” Cade answered, talking fast. “You take the traaiiel, ch, ch, ch,” Blake watched confused as he made slow waving motions, “and I’ll go straight to the top, woooosshhhhh, and we’ll see who gets there first, cool, awesome, ready?”
“Let’s go.” Blake bit his lips as he sprinted up the trail. As the trail cut back to the right he saw Cade sprinting up the slope, powering through the snow. Blake sprinted harder. Then he saw Cade slide back fast, almost back to where they started. Blake’s eyes lit up as he turned the next corner. He heard Cade yelling something, his voice rising fast up the slope behind him. Blake bit his lips tighter as he drew near to the next turn. He made a sharp turn back to the right. Cade slid fast about 20 feet.
Citizens began singing “Joy to the World” from beyond the mountain top, sounding faint and ghostly. Their voices echoed sharply back and forth as Blake reached the top to watch Cade climb 30 feet, only to slide back 10. Finally, as chilling darkness fell over the mountain, Cade fell across the top, looking almost dead.
“See…I…told…you…like…only way.” Blake just stared at him in disbelief.
“Cade, you’re not even making sense.”
“Well…I am…but you’re…down there…” Blake just shook his head.
“We need to get ready,” Blake said, walking over to the northern edge overlooking the Christmas city glowing like a dream in the cold, dark night. More and more citizens came out of the mines and entered into the singing of Christmas carols on the narrow twisted streets.
“It’s almost time I think,” said Blake glancing back toward Cade who slowly approached.
“We’re not the only ones who think so,” he said quietly, pointing to the mountain left of Carolmire. Several bright lights roamed back and forth from the aliens’ neon green shining tower. A sonic boom shot across the dark rolling sky. The kids ducked down behind several large rocks.
“Be ready,” said Blake.
“I’m ready, won’t need to tell me twice.”
“I’m just saying, you might be tired after all that sliding.”
“No way,” Cade shook his head sharply.
An alien ship lit up in glittering gold lights hovered over the top of the city. Neon green candles glowed in the windows of the general store. Bright blazing blue candles lit up the entire castle. Gold-lit candles glowed in strong flashing lights throughout the grand square windows of the hotel. Gold candles remained still in heavy clusters of various citizens’ balconies. Dark orange candles shined with slow burning lights in the grand windows of the restaurant. The ship’s lights began to grow dim within the dark haze of the night sky.
“Be ready,” said Blake, “should be any time…” He turned to Cade, who was leaning against a rock, asleep. Blake kicked him. Cade woke up to a haunting, but beautiful voice singing Silent Night.
“It’s on, it’s on,” said Cade, clapping a few times. The kids stared out at the dreamy city. The singing came soaring out from the clocktower where dim gold candles shined.
“We know she’s not there though,” Blake said in a low voice. “She’s somewhere else.” Both kids scanned the various homes lit by gold and multi-coloured candles swaying in the chilling song. They looked around at the small shops and prominent places. Then Cade took out the prophecy. Blake lit up a bright sparkling candle.
“What is the two?” Cade asked.
“It’s about a light.”
“Who’s they?” The two kids stared at the lines while the singing swayed over the dreamy lights. The alien ship slowly circled around the city.
“It must be the light and the singer,” said Blake. The ghostly, yet sweet voice kept singing, sounding distant, yet sharp and clear. The music soared over the dream-like lights blending with the towering Devas Evergreens with their spiraling branches rising in high twisted cones. Breaking moonlight fell through the one Devas Evergreen glowing neon green in various points just over the kids, the light spilling down through the branches from the top slowly down to the bottom as the peaceful singing played on.
“Aaaauuuurrrrrggghhhhh,” said Blake, holding his head in agony.
“What happened?”
“I can’t stand trying to figure it out their way, trying to break down every line, every word, it doesn’t work.”
Cade turned to Blake with bright intensity. “Then we figure it out our way.”
Blake slowly looked up, then answered, “Right on.” The kids turned back to the prophecy copy under bright flickering light. Her song swayed, rising and falling over the murky flashing lights. “I think we need to look at the whole picture.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, what does the entire prophecy say?” The kids read over the lines, then looked down at the musical city below, then they read the lines again, then gazed back down at the musical lights.
Her ghostly, yet hopeful singing swayed through the neon green candles glowing in the windows of the general store. The bright blazing blue candles lit up the entire castle. Gold-lit candles glowed in a strong flashing light throughout the grand square windows of the hotel. Gold candles remained still in heavy clusters of various citizens’ balconies. Dark orange candles shined with a slow burning light throughout the grand windows of the restaurant.
“The prophecy’s talking about lights blending, connecting,” said Blake talking quietly. “I think it’s talking about two lights that will meet.” The kids stared more intently at the quiet singing city. Dark orange candle clusters shined brightly through crystal grand windows of the playhouse. Single candles in the simple windows of the grand home across the top hill remained still in the chilling music.
Then Cade started gazing out across the lower mountain slopes. Breaking moonlight cast sleek shadows over the creamy slopes, falling from the top all the way down to the city entrance. Chilling winds whistled across the slopes on all sides.
“I got it,” said Cade with eyes lit, “I got it. It’s an echo. She’s singing from one place but making it sound like it’s coming from another place.”
“So where is she?” asked Blake. Just then several alien ships emerged from the dark rushing clouds.
“She’s at the hotel. The lights are blended together in there just like in the restaurant.”
“Let’s go,” said Blake. He started to turn, but Cade pulled him back as several bright lights lit up in the sky. “What are you doing?”
“I think the aliens figured it out. Look.” The two ships dropped low in the sky close to the hotel. “We have to get her out of there.”
“It’ll take an hour to get down there,” said Blake.
“Not my way,” said Cade gazing down the north slope.
“Oh come on…” Cade slowly broke a smile that looked almost evil, and crazy. “You’ve got to be kidding.” Cade turned to him with a confident smile. “There’s no way.”
“It worked on the way up.”
“How do you know we won’t hit any rocks?”
“I know, trust me, it’s obvious.” Alien lights shot out toward the hotel. “Come on,” Cade urged. “This is our chance.” Blake sighed heavily and started pretend-writing on the prophecy copy. “What are you doing?”
“Just writing my will…”
“Come on, we need to go.” Cade jumped down and began his slide down the slope while Blake closed his eyes before starting his. The kids started to gain speed surfing down the snowy slope toward the quiet, still hotel.
“So how do you know we won’t hit any rocks?” Blake challenged.
“I saw the shadow go all the way down the slope,” Cade answered calmly.
“THAT’S IT?!?”
“We’re almost theeerrrrreeeee.” Cade and Blake turned sideways as they eventually slid into a snow drift at the city park right in front of the hotel. The kids gazed up at the alien lights moving in together over the hotel. Then they drifted apart, searching the grounds. “Now, go, go, go.” The kids sprinted to the entrance while the alien lights moved back toward the entrance.
Slow burning dark orange candles lit the narrow black marble halls with brightly coloured carpets.
“To the top floor windows,” said Blake. Cade nodded while they sprinted up the winding steps of the grand center room. They ducked the roaming alien lights. The ships drew in closer. The floors and walls rattled under the pressure. Just then they heard the singing as the lady turned to see them approaching. It was Annie Carabright.

“We have to get you out of here,” said Cade.
“They’ll find me,” she said, nodding to the searching lights.
“We can get you out,” said Blake. “Right, Cade?” Cade looked around outside as the lights grew stronger. Then his eyes slowly scanned the grand top floor room until stopping on a grand piano in the corner.
Talking fast Cade answered, “I know how we’ll escape, I know how we’ll escape, I’m going to play, just play us out, get ready, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.”
“Woah, slow down…”
“I’ll start playing, you guys get ready, hide by the front entrance, I’ll join you and then we get out when they all rush to here.”
“They figured it out, remember?” said Blake. “They’ll know you’re here playing the piano, they won’t think it’s coming from the restaurant.”
“I know, I have a different plan, trust me, go now, wait for me.”
“This better be good,” Blake whispered as he and Annie made their way for the entrance and hid down behind a large couch. Then the song began, it was Silent Night. The ship descended to the street. Cade played strong and fast, with an added echo to the song as he played the keys. The place vibrated to the fast-paced rhythm of the strong, fast playing. The dark orange lights swayed to the energetic, strong, yet peaceful song.
“Why do you sing secretly?” Blake whispered.
“For them,” she nodded toward the restaurant. “My music brings them together and shines a light on them instead of me. It highlights how special they are, how talented they are, like tonight, the chef and his wife realizing what a great restaurant they have, and for the rest of them over there singing and dancing, they realize how great they are. You see, we all have a great destiny, like the two of you being led here to save me with your bright determination, so my music can continue bringing light to them. Sometimes our destiny may be hard to see in the heavy darkness, but it can still shine if you go deep enough to find the light that only shines in the deepest dark.” The ship reached the ground. Several aliens quickly walked out. They headed down the street for the entrance while the Silent Night played on and on, the bright, hopeful notes rising higher and higher around them.
“He’s out of time,” Blake whispered.
“No I’m not,” Cade whispered behind them.
“How did you…”
“Same way she did,” he answered. “I played it so it would echo long enough for us to escape.” The aliens rushed in, then up the steps. The two kids and Annie snuck out, then hurried down to the restaurant and slipped inside.
All the people were sitting still just listening to the bright keys playing the song echoing out through the city. Cade, Blake, and Annie each smiled as they saw all of the citizens of Carolmire sitting together, listening to the same song, feeling the same peace, singing the same song but in their unique voices, joining in the magic of the Silent Night.

Posted on

DARKCORNER LAND FEATURE:
WHAT CAN’T THE ALIENS SEE?

“THERE’S ALWAYS A WAY THROUGH”

The alien pointed directly at Cade and Blake. He stood there completely still. He stared down at the two kids who exchanged anxious looks. Then the alien turned to another one, slightly shorter with a wider face with the same stretched lines and half moon glowing eyes. Incredibly fast monotone voices in some unknown language went back and forth between them. The other alien turned and walked fast back down the stairs while the first one turned his sharp gaze back to the kids. Then he took out a long, bright fiery light and pointed it at the kids…

In Carolmire we work really hard, long hours in the mines. It’s really dark, barely lit by only a few dark orange lanterns. It’s a tough grind, doing the same thing over and over and the aliens always want more and more from us. Their messengers drive us hard every day, and the work is so boring, but we have our ways of getting through.

The kids sat nervously waiting for the slow footsteps walking up the steps. Finally the alien messenger appeared in the dingy lights, growing colder and darker. In a solemn, elevated voice the messenger began:
“You don’t live here, and this city is not located on the map. What are you doing here?” The two kids exchanged nervous half-glances. Cade shifted on the slick floor before answering…

Sometimes we tell dumb jokes to get through, for example, “Billy Bob committed a crime against grammar, what was his punishment?”

“He was sentenced to death!” We tell all kinds of awesome jokes like that, but the real game is trying to make each other laugh but see who can last long enough without laughing, especially when our supervisors are close by. We also get through by singing, back and forth, sometimes really loud so it echoes through the narrow dark tunnels and confuses people, even the aliens…

“We just really like Christmas,” Cade answered.
“Why are you trying to find the secret singer?”
“We just want to know who it is, don’t you?” asked Cade. Blake flashed him a look that said, “What are you doing?” Cade flashed back a twisted, sideways expression.
“You must never interfere with our business,” the messenger said sternly. “Two BlackStar ranked students like you should be focusing on your studies instead of exploring places you don’t belong. You know if you don’t raise your grades soon you will be sent to the Dathmore to perform the work we assign you. The fact that you believe you can find her reveals your poor level of intellect. Students like you cannot solve a mystery like this. You don’t have the intelligence or the work ethic. But more importantly, if you interfere with our business, there will be severe penalties…

Posted on

CHARACTER FUN FACTS:
BLAKE’S CHRISTMAS NIGHTMARE

“THERE’S ALWAYS A WAY THROUGH”

Blake walked into Cade’s room, a few nights before Christmas, and was hit…with a soccer ball.
“What was that for?”
“You weren’t supposed to open the door right then,” Cade answered with a shrug.
“So you hit me with a soccer ball?”
“No, I was trying a new trick shot.”
“What kind of…” Blake stopped for a moment, gazing around at the numerous coloured candles lit up in Cade’s room taking up literally every space in his room.
“Seriously Cade? What is with all the lights in here?”
“It’s Christmas,” he answered with a half-smile.
“So? You’ll go blind.”
“I’m trying to see something.”
“Do you realize how hot it is in here?” Blake asked, wiping the sweat off his forehead. Cade just shrugged, gestured for Blake to move to the right, then kicked the ball at the door.
It hit the door hard, then bounced off the corner bookshelf, knocking several candles to the floor, before sliding past the goal on the right. Cade sighed heavily, turning away dejected while the a small fire started among the candles on the floor.
“Uh, Cade?”
“I can’t believe it.”
“Cade?”
“Should have gone in.”
“Hey Cade, you might want…”
“I think I need more speed on it.”
“CADE, YOUR FLOOR IS ON FIRE!”

Blake still has dreams about that day, several weeks before Christmas, when he came home to an empty house. At least, most of his house was empty, except his room. All that he had was still there, but with something else that wasn’t there before. On his desk, which was covered with various folders, papers, and textbooks that he planned on studying at some point…later…maybe. Then he saw it, placed on top of the mess, was a note…

Blake is not as into decorating for Christmas as Cade. He kind of prefers darkness, but Cade gets after him a lot, and I mean a lot, about decorating his room. So as a joke, Blake sets up two candles with a pile of tinsel between them. But it’s not just the simple set up. These are candles you have to see to believe. The colour is best described as pale yellow. They are moldy, crusty, and old, burning with a really dim orange light. They also lean a lot to the right, yet somehow don’t fall over. The wax seems to be melting all around making the candles look like they are tired of standing.

In their new home, Cade and Blake have a new tradition of decorating the tree by making it kind of a race. They each get a box with the same decorations. When the clock starts, they have to get all of their decorations on their side of the tree. Whoever gets theirs up first wins, but they have to stay on the tree. It gets pretty intense. Cade tries to shake the branches while Blake tries putting his decorations on. Blake plucks needles off the tree and throws them at Cade to distract him. But I can’t tell you how many times each of them has won, they won’t let me reveal that to you for some reason. They’re really secretive about this competition.

I’m not kidding about how secretive they are about this. Both kids circle their home several times making sure no one is hiding outside, getting ready to spy on their competition because of course lots of people must be dying to watch Blake and Cade decorate their Christmas tree, right? They then put up dark curtains, or blankets over the windows to make sure no one can see. They struggle to get the curtains or blankets to stay up. They keep falling. Finally they figure out to just temporarily tape them to the walls around the windows. You would think they would remember to do this first every time now, but they never do. They still struggle until finally realizing that they won’t hold up without tape. Then, the competition begins.

Blake walked slower than he ever had before across his room toward the note. He didn’t know what was written on it, and he hadn’t really thought about it yet, but somehow deep down he knew what it was. He felt an anxiety he had never felt before or since. But he had to read it. His house never felt as silent as it did when he read that note…

Cade casually spun around, walked slowly over to where Blake was standing, watching the small fire spread in his room. Then Cade took a bucket of water barely visible behind ten colourful candle lights and put out the fire. Blake just shook his head while Cade smiled brightly.
“You do realize you have like every candle in the world in here, right?” Cade’s smile faded.
“I still don’t have the two I’m looking for…”

Posted on

MYSTERY OF THE CAROLMIRE
SECRET SINGER: PART ONE

“THERE’S ALWAYS A WAY THROUGH”

Get ready to enter the far north Kingdom of Carolmire, where it’s always Christmas. This is a two-part mystery giving a hint of what’s to come in the next story of this mystery series called:
MYSTERY OF THE BLOODY FRIDAY SPY
This is a mystery about who is the lady secretly singing? No one can figure out where the music is coming from to find her, can you? Check out the previous post called:
DARKCORNER LAND FEATURE:
CAROLMIRE’S SECRET LIGHT
On this post you can check out the five suspects and their descriptions, then read the prophecy carefully to find clues about who it is. Check it out by clicking on this link:

https://dadestarmysteries.com/darkcorner-land-featurecarolmires-secret-light/

Now, enter the place where winter never ends…

Dazzling snow fell in slow waves over the small blackstone complexes set in three circles through the snow covered hills. Cade and Blake sat on a pile of snowy rocks at the top of a small mountain overlooking the Christmas city of Carolmire. Cade squinted up at the icy blue sky when the singing began. The kids slowly scanned the city. A lady sang the song Silent Night in a hopeful, yet haunting voice ringing out from the high frozen water falls between several homes with triangular roofs.
“It’s coming from there,” said Blake.
“The lady singing?” asked Cade.
“No, the sonic avalanche,” answered Blake, rolling his eyes.
“What?”
“The sonic avalanche.”
“What is that?”
“How do you not know what that is?”
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“It’s when an avalanche is so strong and fast when it hits bottom you hear the sonic boom.”
“Like the alien ships sometimes, when they…you know…” Cade just made a waving motion with one hand, then clapped hard.
“Something like that, anyway, what I was saying…” Cade held his hand, wincing in pain. “You hurt your hand?”
“I clapped too hard I guess.” Blake sighed heavily. “It must have been a sonic clap.” Blake stared intently at the icy waterfalls remaining still and serene. Blue and red candle lights shined in the simple square dark blue glass windows. They bounced rhythmically to the slow swaying song.
“She’s almost always singing from higher up, and usually when it’s getting dark.”
“We never see any of them,” said Cade talking fast. “The five ladies we narrowed it down to, the ones who can sing like that. If we saw four of them out while the lady sings we could figure out who it is easily. Yet they don’t, and we just watch while the birds fly over and the avalanches fall. Isn’t that bizarre?” Blake kept watching the still falls intently. “Blake?”
“What?”
“Did you hear me?”
“I lost you about halfway through that.”
“I was saying, we never see any of the five ladies. Why is that?” Blake turned to him momentarily, then several bright lights shot out from the sleek green shimmering alien tower at the top of the broad mountain to the left of Carolmire. Eerie groaning sounded from the mountain peak. Blake turned back to the waterfalls.
Two aliens in dark blue suits walked fast up the narrow snow covered street toward the falls. The sky to the west turned dark blue and purple. The tall aliens gazed strongly with their crescent moon shaped eyes shining white in the darkening sky. The singing continued as they entered one of the tunnels going behind the falls.
“Tomorrow we need to be in place,” said Blake.
“We’ll find her,” answered Cade.
The next day, snow fell calmly in the still cold air as evening fell over Carolmire. Cade and Blake hid in the low tower of the castle looking down over the quiet city.
“You really think she’ll be here?” whispered Cade.
“No, I think she’ll be in candyland, I decided I don’t want to find her after all.”
“Do you always have to do that?”
“When you set me up, yeah,” Blake answered with a smile. Silent Night cut through the wintry evening in a chilling, peaceful voice coming from behind them. The kids spun around and hurried to the other side of the circular room. Her singing rang out from near the top of the blackstone castle where soft candles glowed through five grand blue windows.
“It’s on,” said Cade, with eyes lit. The kids sprinted down a long, dark tunnel. The lady’s sweet singing echoed back and forth. They hurried up a long, winding staircase lit by dark golden candles bouncing to the rhythm of the song. Her singing began to come in clearer.
“We did it,” whispered Blake excitedly, “we found the exact place.”
“Let’s get there.” Cade sped up. “Race you to the top.” Blake powered ahead up the staircase, winding further right. The steps grew steeper. The serene city lights flashed past them through the open windows. Then the alien lights appeared. The kids stopped.
“Listen, listen,” whispered Blake.
“She’s still singing,” said Cade. “I don’t hear her moving anywhere.” A sonic rush knocked them back. The bright alien light beams swept across the windows. The kids slowly crept up to the edge of the window. Several sleek, triangular blue crafts hovered over the city. Two alien lights roamed through the castle.
“They’re trying to find her,” Blake whispered. The lady’s singing continued, ringing out through the glittering city. Bright waves swept through the gold-lit candles in the windows of the people’s homes. Several people walked out on the balcony of the candy shop. Rhythmic lights glowed behind them.
“Let’s go,” whispered Cade.
“What about the aliens?”
“We just won’t let them see us,” said Cade with a shrug.
“Well, I suppose…” Blake turned to see Cade hurrying up the steps. With a casual shrug he flew up the steps after him. The lady’s singing began to drift to the right. They reached a large entrance. Three wide staircases shot up in different directions to the top room. The kids strained to see the large balcony lit by blue, green, and gold candles set along the rail. Dark shadows flickered in a dreamy rhythm. Dark orange candles lit the first staircase, bright gold candles lit the second, and dim candles lit the third.
“Let’s go,” said Cade. Just then, they heard sharp footsteps coming fast up the stairs behind them.
“Hide, hide,” whispered Blake. “It’s them.”
“Over there,” said Cade pointing to a large table by a window. The kids hurried over and hid behind it. A dim light began to spill into the half-circular room. Steps grew louder. Gold glowing candles in the windows of the mining shop flickered to the pace of the lady’s song. Bright candle lights swayed in clusters of the balconies over the general store where citizens sang with her. The colours blended together from the high balcony when the alien light slowly lit up the bright curtains behind.
The two aliens stood at the foot of the steps searching the upper balcony with their lights sweeping back and forth. In the windows behind them dark shadows clashing together flickered in a dreamy rhythm from the candle lights shining in the windows of the produce shop. The kids watched in dead silence as the two aliens started up the center staircase. Then they stopped. One of them turned around, and turned his light directly on the kids…

Posted on

DARKCORNER LAND FEATURE:
CAROLMIRE’S SECRET LIGHT

“THERE’S ALWAYS A WAY THROUGH”

Have you ever wished you could live in a place where it’s always Christmas? That’s what it’s like for the country of Carolmire far up north. For them, every month is Christmas season. They work really hard to get all the work done the aliens demand of them so in the last week of every month they stay mostly in their homes and celebrate Christmas all week long. But the people don’t live in this place by choice…

Have you ever been told you’re too loud or too energetic or too positive? That’s why these people were sent to the coldest place in DarkCorner Land. The aliens watch them, so they don’t escape, because they want them punished and separated from the rest of the world, but is that the real reason? There’s an intriguing mystery to be solved in this land. There is a mysterious lady singing, but no one can figure out where the music is coming from, and no one knows who’s singing. The aliens are trying to find the music, but it’s bizarre that they’re not using all the resources they have to find it. Can you solve the mystery? Check out the post coming up called:
MYSTERY OF THE SECRET SINGER OF CAROLMIRE:
PART ONE
The aliens and dark spirits aren’t the only ones looking for her. Cade and Blake will be working in the shadows trying to track her down and figure out how her music is so elusive. But they are in danger of getting captured and suffering the same fate as the people of Carolmire, having to work long, tough nights in the dark, cold mines. They’re determined to outsmart them and find the singer. Get ready for an adventure. Can you figure out who the singer is?

Carolmire has a secret light that shines even in the deepest, coldest dark of the far north. No one understands how this light still shines, including the aliens. There is a prophecy that offers some clues to the mystery of who the secret singer is. Here is a description of the five ladies who could possibly be the one. One of them is definitely the secret singer. Check out their descriptions, then read the prophecy for clues. But you’ll probably have to go to Carolmire with Cade and Blake to see the clues really come to light…

Amy Carashine:
She has long, shiny gold hair, with a bright face. She built a twisting slide with various lights that flash different colours as you pass through. It’s really fast. She’s always cheerful, whistling various Christmas songs at a really fast pace.

Annie Carabright:
She has somewhat curly, brown hair with a mysterious, but hopeful face. She works at the music shop, always playing the piano and singing like an angel. She is always cleaning the lights, making them each shine with the same dazzling brightness.

Carol Coreshine:
She has short dark hair and is quite stern. She can be pretty moody, you just never quite know what you’re going to get with her. She is crazy about lights. She makes all kinds of candles of all types, colours, and smells, and she is always adding more and more to the center park of Carolmire.

Cadie Corayhope:
She has curly, dark hair and has a hopeful face. She pretty much sings as she talks. She works at the candy shop, and is always coming up with new, creative kinds of candy that she reveals by hiding them in the store and slowly lighting various parts of the store until people see it.

Mary Coralight:
She has slick, black hair. She is really quiet and calm, but sings really strong. She works at the library. She’s either reading at her desk, or singing quietly in a high balcony, or just quietly walking up and down the rows.

CAROLMIRE LIGHTS PROPHECY

There is a dark secret, revealed by the two
Look to the light that shines to see who
The key will be to watch for when they meet
Then you will see who’s singing, from the street
The colours blend together in the dark night
Only in the stillness can you take in the sight
Lights blur past you in a brilliant haze
They remind us of the glorious days
We hear mysterious music coming from inside
The lights shine so bright for them to hide
A dark secret is hiding in the corner on the floor
Follow the rhythmic lights to find the door
Secrets hide deep in the pages of our dreams
But the way through is by the reflection streams
Deep in the pool the light shows bright
Look up to see the one shining in the night

Posted on

CHARACTER FUN FACTS:
CADE’S CHRISTMAS REGRET

“THERE’S ALWAYS A WAY THROUGH”

The last Christmas Cade spent with his parents, something mysterious happened. The night before Christmas he noticed two of the three bright gold candles they always placed at the top of the tree (by him finding some way to climb up and put them there) were missing. He didn’t think much about it at the time, and he’s regretted it ever since. Was it a warning? Did the two missing candles represent his two parents leaving him? Was it a test? Did he fail? Was he supposed to figure out the meaning? Was he supposed to ask them about it? Are they missing somewhere in his home? Do they hold some secret? What do you think? Do you think they were leaving some kind of clue for him? Leave a comment below. This is why Cade hates seeing Christmas trees, because he wonders, what did he miss?

You have to be careful if you are going to enter Cade’s home during the Christmas season. Cade doesn’t do well with fire, and he goes way overboard every Christmas setting up Christmas lights around the home and especially in his room. They don’t have electricity so they don’t have Christmas lights like we do, and oddly enough he would probably be better off with that because it wouldn’t involve fire, but they use different kinds of candles to light up for Christmas. Cade likes using green, blue, and red candles to give off bright glowing lights everywhere. The problem is, he puts them everywhere; on the shelves, windows, hanging from the ceiling, on the floor, even on his bed. Cade is pretty shaky when lighting them up, and usually drops the match every tenth candle or so. The good news is he does carry a spray can of water with him so he can put out the small fires he starts everywhere.

When Cade’s parents were still around they didn’t get into Christmas that much, but they let him put up the candles around the home as long as it didn’t get too crazy. He realized his mom didn’t like the lights too much because he kept seeing her blowing out a few candles in the midst of the bright colourful glow.

Cade likes Christmas and Christmas songs, but for some reason, and no one knows why, he hates any Christmas song with bells in it. He does the same thing every time. When the song starts, and bells start, he lets out a really long sigh, closes his eyes, and shakes his head. Then he kind of whispers to himself for awhile. It’s a mystery why he hates these songs. He just hates the sound of the bells, but no one knows why.

Every Christmas Eve Cade’s favorite tradition was climbing a small mountain outside the City of Dayces Cameron. From the top he could see the way the Christmas lights flicker and dance in the bright, hopeful music the citizens sing from their boats along the water channels reflecting the dancing lights that seem to form shapes of dancing citizens. It’s a tough climb, usually under heavy snow. Cade has a really complicated technique for climbing under such slippery conditions, this will be hard to understand, but here it is, in his own words: “Just go fast.” He then basically slides down the long twisted slope on the way down. He won’t be climbing this mountain this Christmas, because if he did, he would not see any lights or hear any music. All he would see is his city and home in complete ruins under silent darkness.

When Cade’s mom and dad were still around, they would take a walk into the city a week before Christmas for Cashes Dade’s early Christmas celebration. They have a bunch of small shops set up in the center of the city, which is set up with many small, narrow water channels cutting through the center court, as the people go through on small boats. The people sell all kinds of Christmas candy, cookies, and other Christmas themed gifts, and they sing Christmas songs which sometimes involve bells. Cade usually plays a game of hide and seek with the other kids, hopping from boat to boat, trying to hide in the craziest places.
Usually his parents didn’t seem to pay much attention to it, but one time when he decided to hide on the roof of one of the shops, while lighting all the candles on the rooftop with an extra powder that made them really bright, and more likely to start a fire, his parents scolded him about hiding there. They told him, “Those lights were too bright…”

Posted on

CADE’S STORY CONTINUES…

“THERE’S ALWAYS A WAY THROUGH”

The fight continues. If you haven’t already, check out the mystery series:
THE CASHES DADE GHOST STRIKERS
Click on the page BUY THE BOOKS to find more information about the books and how to get them. It’s time to really begin the fight. It’s time for the aliens to hear from the students like Cade who have been ignored for so long. It’s time for their arrogance to come crashing down. The mysteries continue in the next book called:
MYSTERY OF THE BLOODY FRIDAY SPY
The time is now to get involved in the DadeStar Revolution against the aliens. It’s about to get really intense as Cade, Blake, and Drew are about to get involved in a much more dangerous mission. Check out the page THE DADESTAR REVOLUTION to join the fight and see if you can find the clues in the Canndaze Prophecy for how to defeat the aliens. It will take great creativity and determination to win this fight. Do you have what it takes?

The aliens have Cashes Dade surrounded in the mountains. Coming up in this post will be a prophecy that offers a clue for how Cashes Dade can win this current fight against the aliens and break out of their trap to find a secret place where they can build an army to drive the aliens off the planet. Can you find the clue? The answer will be where the aliens don’t want you to look. Leave a comment below if you think you know which line offers the clue. The answer will be revealed in the next Character Fun Facts post. Get ready for another two-part short story featuring another mystery in the Christmas city of Carolmire. Can you figure it out? The aliens have gone far enough. They’ve taken so much from Cade already, and they haven’t allowed students like him to share how they feel about what the aliens have done, but soon enough they’re going to hear from him, and they have no idea what they’re in for…

DAYERCRAY PROPHECY

At first only one will challenge the enemy from the sky
They tell us they’re here to help us reach so high
They will point to the sky and show us their lights
This will be their claim that they’re reached great heights
There is a dark secret yet to be revealed
Look to the ones who can’t be healed
The kids’ enemies will not just be the alien elite
They must find the one who wants the seat
The real fight will come from within
He must not seek the grand vision
The rebel students are in for a fight from all sides
They will need great stealth to find where he hides
The aliens’ star rises high and fast in this age
But their light only shines behind the curtain on stage
There is a darkness that lurks in the far hallway
But you won’t know who they are in the day
The answer will be revealed in their face
They can’t seem to find enough space…

Posted on

DARKCORNER LAND FEATURE:
BLOODY, BLOODY FRIDAY PLAYS

“THERE’S ALWAYS A WAY THROUGH”

The kingdom of Cashes Dade has gone underground. Their City of Dayces Cameron has been completely destroyed by the aliens, but the people of Cashes Dade had an elaborate underground network of tunnels and caverns throughout the mountains ready for them to escape to when the time came. They knew it would happen sooner or later. On a chilly blood-red night, in a massive underground cavern lit by dark orange lanterns and stacked gold candles behind the stage, all the people have gathered. They’re tired, worn out, and struggling. They’ve been fighting an impossible war against an elite alien force. They don’t know if they can beat them, but the Cashes Dade Ghost Strikers are with them, and they’re about to discover a key secret…

The aliens have power over all the kingdoms and all the schools. They believe they are superior, and people have to go along with their ways whether they agree or not. But when seven protestors were shot dead because they wanted to stop the aliens from making everyone sick, the people of Cashes Dade had enough. They didn’t care what would happen to them. It was time to become free. It was time for the aliens to hear their voices. It is time, time for change…

Now they have declared war on the aliens. They believe it’s time to take back their countries. They believe it’s time to take back their schools. No more long, boring lessons about subjects no one cares about. No more destroying creativity and fun in school. No more telling kids they need to sit still and be silent all the time. No more silence and no more lies. It’s time, time for the students with new ideas to rise up. It’s time, time for the students who have determination and toughness, who want to explore new places to rise up. The DadeStar Revolution is about showing kids the value they truly have despite what others in power may say about them. But they need this message to go out to the world and that’s why Cashes Dade has begun the underground newspaper…

The people of Cashes Dade have now started the underground newspaper called: The Cashes Dade Beacon. You can check out the page on this website called THE CASHES DADE BEACON to read every newspaper article they secretly send out to the other kingdoms to try to gain support for their movement to kick the aliens off the planet. It’s time, time for revolution. The latest article describes the song that will rock the world, a song that has a key secret about how to win this impossible fight…

Posted on

CHARACTER FUN FACTS:
WHAT IS CADE’S SECRET?

“THERE’S ALWAYS A WAY THROUGH”

Something happened the night the aliens attacked Cashes Dade that Cade doesn’t talk about. He saw something that he refuses to tell others. Can you figure it out? Cade’s parents left him to join the aliens. His parents were ranked as WhiteStar by the aliens which meant they had the privilege to live in the alien City of Arapreshday and hold a high position. They would get a great home with many other benefits and rewards, but they didn’t take Cade with him. They didn’t even tell him they were leaving. Cade’s best friend Blake’s parents also left him behind several years before, but not to join the aliens. Blake began living with another couple from Cashes Dade and when they found out what happened to Cade, they invited him to live with them as well. Cade is a great guest to have in your home, but it can get pretty interesting…

Cade is really energetic in the mornings. He’s a morning person even though he swears he isn’t. In fact, he gets upset if you call him a morning person and no one really knows why. He tends to wake up pretty early, but he’s really quiet, strangely quiet in fact. There are many times Blake has woken up early, gotten breakfast thinking Cade must still be asleep, only to get a rude shock turning around to suddenly see Cade just standing there, usually with a wry smile on his face.

It’s not just how quiet Cade is in the morning that’s mysterious, but how energetic he is, well, that is until you find out what he does for breakfast. He drinks coffee, and pours sugar, a lot of sugar, into his coffee. He also pours sugar on whatever he’s having for breakfast as well. You would think this means he’d be pretty early to school every morning, but he isn’t. Blake isn’t because usually he rolls out of bed at the last minute and barely has time to get ready, but Cade just seems to space off a lot and suddenly realizes it’s time to go. Then he and Blake race to school, trying different crazy routes to see who could find the craziest routes to school.

Cade does the same bizarre routine every night. When the four of them are hanging out in the living room in the late evening, reading different books, Cade starts to drift off. Then he’ll stand up and say, “I can’t stay awake. I’m off to sleep. See you all tomorrow.” But it doesn’t end there. Moments later you will hear sounds coming from his room, those sounds would be him kicking a mini soccer ball into his mini soccer goal in his room; trying crazy trick shots, or trying to beat his previous records of how many goals he can score in a row. Then he comes back out to re-join them. He does the same thing every time; he walks in shaking his head acting shocked that he couldn’t fall asleep. Then he starts to drift off again. Then he says he’s going to sleep, again, but he doesn’t leave. He stays and suddenly starts asking them about some random topic, talking fast and usually branching off into different things they really need to talk about like what they’re doing for dinner tomorrow, what they’re doing for the weekend, and do ghosts sleep? Eventually Cade does go back to his room to go to sleep, but he usually gets up about five more times for some random reason. Some people wonder if he ever does in fact go to sleep…

Cade seems to wander a lot, and stare, a lot, especially when he’s supposed to be studying. He’ll just stop and start thinking about something, sometimes getting this crazy intense look in his face while closing his eyes and whispering rapidly to himself. He might “study” for several hours but only have read a few lines in his notes. Then he’ll go through the rest of them crazy fast. He has a way of re-writing his notes in a way that makes sense to him so he can look at for a long time and visualize it. It seems to work pretty well for him, but many wonder why he doesn’t just do that from the beginning instead of wasting so many hours staring out the window. It’s a mystery that may never be solved…

On the final morning Cade saw his parents, he did his usual routine. He was on his third cup of sugar with coffee when his dad quietly left to go to their Furniture Store. He’ll never forget the last thing his mom ever said to him. He thinks maybe it means something, but he can’t figure out how, because it seemed like a routine statement about how he should get to school that day. His mom looked out the window at the sleek blue clouds slowly streaming across the hazy morning sky over the dazzling blue towers of Dayces Cameron arranged in a massive stadium shape. Then she told him, “You should take the bridge…”

Posted on

MYSTERY OF THE LUSTARAY
CLOCK GHOST: PART TWO

“THERE’S ALWAYS A WAY THROUGH”

A ghost sang out a slow flowing melody with no words. His song was tragic, slowly rising, rising, then falling hard every time. Cade and Blake stared intently at the massive dark orange clock set high on the empty black wall.
“We found it,” said Blake high-fiving Cade.
“Yeah we did,” Cade answered, nodding rhythmically.
“You seriously think we’re carrying that clock out of here?”
“Not anymore,” Cade answered. “I didn’t know it was this big.”
“You saw the picture?”
“Well yeah, but, but, I’ve never seen a clock like this before. Clocks are supposed to be small.” The kids stood right under it, gazing up at the slow ticking clock with the second hand dragging around, making the only sound in the empty room. The distant ghostly singing echoed out in hidden halls.
“How we going to reach it?” Cade looked around at the dusty desks spread across the gloomy classroom, then smiled. “Cool, let’s build.” The kids dragged all the desks to the front of the class. Then they began stacking them on top in the center, then another layer on top of that, followed by a final desk in the center making a castle of desks. The tragic singing grew more clear. They worked to lift the old, worn out desk in the center up to the top of the stack.

“You think it will…” Cade jumped up on the top desk. “Hold?”
“What’s the worst that could happen?” Blake asked, before giving a shaky nod to the distant floor. Cade pulled at the clock hand slowly dragging by, but couldn’t hold it back. Then he touched the different numbers he could reach. Blake started looking behind it. “Look, the hour hand isn’t moving.”
“The hour hand never moves, what you talking about?” asked Blake.
“Yeah it does, you just can’t see it.”
“Then how you know it’s not moving?”
“I can tell,” said Cade, pulling at the hour hand. It began to turn. A loud, eerie whining started up, knocking the kids back. The tragic ghostly singing suddenly stopped cold.
“What is that?”
“I think this must be it, the key, the hour hand is the key,” Cade said excitedly, “the key to the treasure.”
“There’s no treasure,” a quiet, solemn voice answered. The kids spun around to see a frail ghost lit up in a soft green haze.
“I’ve been stuck here in this cold, empty underground classroom for years.” Cade and Blake exchanged anxious looks. “You see, when you become a ghost, you can find yourself in a cold, dark empty place that you can’t escape. Every day I just sit on the bare floor and stare at the cracks in the walls. I try to picture something cool happening, something I can remember, but I can’t see anything. All I see is the dark orange clock ticking, hour after hour goes by, and nothing changes, no one visits, and I have nowhere to go.”
“We’re here now,” said Cade.
“That’s right,” said Blake with an energetic smile.
“There is a mystery,” the ghost continued, “some way out to a better place for me where I can be free, but I can’t figure it out.”
“We can,” Cade answered confidently.
“That’s why you invited us,” Blake added.
“What are you talking about?” the ghost asked.
“You invited us here,” said Cade, “that’s what the other ghost said, the one with the mop.” Eerie whining grew louder from the slow ticking clock.
“I haven’t seen him in years. He never talks to me. How would I have invited you?” Cade pulled out a small black book and opened the page to the picture of the dark orange clock. Then the ghost pointed to a blacked out section in the center of the page. “See this? The one who invited you didn’t want you to see this.”
“See what?” asked Blake. Then the ghost pointed to the old, worn out desk where writing in soft green glowing letters appeared:

Someday the students will be called by the clock
To find the dingy classroom closed by a heavy lock
The young student failed in the art school
He tried too much, to make everyone else a fool
But one day he will return, to finish what he begun
He cannot escape, nor can anyone else, until it’s done
The way through is revealed by the name Lustaray
Fight through the heavy confusion to see one way
If you try to see the light all at once, you will fail
Go through the center and you will prevail
They all want to shine like a brilliant light
This is where you will find the way that’s right
But lights only shine in the dark night…

Eerie whining grew louder as Cade quickly wrote down the prophecy. Just then the ghostly singing started up again, echoing in a slow driving rhythm with a steady booming around the room. The kids turned to see the dark orange clock flashing to the rhythm.
“You moved the hour hand,” the ghost answered quietly. “That’s why he invited you. He knew you would look for the secret in the clock.”
“What is the secret?” asked Cade.
“There’s a way to lock down the entire school. It was put in place so a dark enemy wouldn’t be able to enter, but no one can leave either, not even the ghosts. The ghost with the mop is the one who invited you here, because he doesn’t want to find a way out. The way the lockdown begins is by moving the hour hand.”
A twisted-confused look came across Cade’s face. “It’s locked down now?” he asked.
“It’s in the process, but it takes time,” the ghost answered.
“Why did he need us?” asked Blake.
“Because he’s a ghost, too weak to move it, but you can, and he knew kids like you would try it, to find the secret.”
“He’s going to do everything he can to block your way.”
“We need to get moving,” said Blake.
“How much time until the lockdown is final?” asked Cade.
“You have one hour.” The kids turned back to the prophecy, reading it over as the ghostly singing grew stronger around them.
“There’s a way out in this room,” said Cade, talking fast. “What have…” He turned to the ghost but he was gone. Blake looked around at the empty dark room lit by the flashing dark orange. Then he moved over to the walls feeling the cracks. Cade started looking around the floor. Tragic singing rocked the walls. Blake glanced at the clock showing 11:10.
“We have until midnight.” Cade started shaking.
“What if we get trapped here? We’ll never…”
“Cade, we’ll figure it out. Trust me.” Cade shook his head. With an intense gaze, Blake repeated, “Trust me. It’s us. We can find our way out of anything.” Cade slowly nodded.
“Let’s go then.” The ghostly voice sang slower and slower, his voice slurring, the tragic flowing melody blurring together. Cade walked up and down the floor, staring close at the dark marble. Long dark shadows stretched right down the center from the dark orange light from the Lustaray Clock, flickering to the ghost song. He began crawling across the cold floor feeling the numerous cracks and scratches throughout.
Blake started pounding at various points on the wall. Then he began launching himself at the wall. Cade turned and watched with a perplexed gaze.
“This may be a dumb question, but…”
“I’m just trying to find the trap door or whatever.”
“Who says there’s a trap door?”
“I didn’t say there was one…”
“There probably isn’t.”
“Well we have to try something.” Cade shrugged, then started crawling up the floor to the left of the long dark shadows stretching across the rugged crack in the floor, bouncing to the tragic song. Just then the lights went out. The ticking stopped, and the singing went quiet.
“Blake, you there?”
“Yeah.” Just then the sky appeared as flickering dark orange moonlight spilled through the rushing clouds. The kids looked around at the narrow valley between the mountains where the School of the Arts set nudged in the corner. The air remained completely still in the silence over the valley.
“We did it!” said Cade, walking over to Blake. “We made it out.”
“I don’t know what we did,” said Blake with a shrug. “I guess we’re that good.”
“We made it out like that,” said Cade making a fast clapping motion. The kids started walking up the valley, celebrating.
“I still don’t know what we did,” said Blake.
“Yeah, that was easy.”
“Too easy.”
“Blake, hold up, hold up,” said Cade, taking the prophecy out of his pocket. He held it up under the passing moonlight. “Fight through the heavy confusion,” he added quietly.
“We’re not out.” The kids looked around at the dreamy scene. “Get back to where we were standing.” Blake pulled out his pocketwatch as they made their way back to the field: 11:23.
“What’s the clue about Lustaray?” asked Cade.
“It’s in the center,” said Blake. “Look, look, there’s the word, star, in the center.”
“That must be the key. So we have it, look for the star. But there was no star, so…” Cade knelt down with eyes closed tight, whispering to himself. Blake read through the lines over and over again in the silent night. After several long minutes, Cade jumped back up. Blake looked at him with a questioning look.
“I got nothing,” said Cade.
“Look at this,” said Blake pointing to the last three lines. “I think this is it.”
“The dark way.”
“What does that have to do with a star?”
“Stars only shine at night,” said Cade with a shrug.
“What would be the dark way in the classroom?”
“Down the center? I don’t know. It would have to be, well, down the center I guess.”
“How we going to find it out here?” asked Blake.
“Look for clues, things that look like the classroom,” said Cade. They looked around at the field under tall, wild grass. Flickering dark orange moonlight splashed through the rough dark clouds. The kids started pacing around the slow building slope. Long, flickering rays of moonlight stretched out across the field. “Blake, you remember the grass being this tall out here?”
“No. Why?”
“There has to be a reason, to confuse us…”
“To hide the ground,” Blake said excitedly. He started crawling along the cold ground.
Cade got down then said, “It looks and feels like the floor,” he said, moving his hand over the cold ground with various cracks running through.
“It has to be in the floor then,” said Blake. “In the darkest part, down the center.” Cade looked around at the passing shadows stretching past the long flickering moonlight rays. Then he glanced back up at the dark orange flashing moon before a smile slowly crept across his face.
With eyes lit he said, “Let’s get out of here.” The kids worked their way into the long flickering moonlight rays. They crawled along until they felt a large crack in the ground.
Darkness fell over them. Tragic, ghostly singing began from the heavy dark center of the dark waves flowing out to the left and the right. A grand auditorium appeared, dimly lit by dark orange lantern lights from high balconies. Dark ghosts sit waiting in the shadows. Cade shot a mixed-half anxious expression at the seats each displaying a different green glowing ghostly face.
“What we do now?” Blake whispered.
“We find the way out of here,” answered Cade. Blake glanced at his pocketwatch: 11:41. “It better be fast.” Just then the ghost with the mop appeared in a high balcony over the stage, singing the tragic song ringing out across the entire auditorium. He reached up and turned one of the lights. Cade watched as suddenly every light momentarily went out from the top, one by one, to the bottom. Just then blood red curtains flew in from both sides, flowing out to the left and the right across the stage, clashing at the center.
“So what’s the way out?” asked Blake.
Cade turned to him with eyes lit bright under the dark orange lights. “You already know. Let’s get there.” Just then green ghosts appeared at the ends of every aisle and across the stage.
“They’re blocking our way to the stage,” said Cade. Blake crawled over the seat to the row below, with the back folding down over the chair. “How are we getting past them?” Cade asked, crawling over the seat to where Blake was. He shook his head. “Why aren’t they coming after us?”
“They don’t want to close in too much and leave a space we can break through.” Cade started playing with the seats, flopping the back up and down. “Cade, this is no time for playing.” He sighed, looking at his pocketwatch: 11:47. Cade pushed it down, it came back up fast. He pushed it down harder, it came back up faster. Blake sighed again, shaking his head. Just then the ghosts began singing out the slow, tragic song, the eerie, twisted notes bouncing up and down, then falling swiftly in the dark orange flickering auditorium. Suddenly, the auditorium began slowly stretching out, further and further away. The kids turned to each other with panicked expressions.
“What we do now?” asked Blake. “How we getting to the stage in time?” Cade started pushing the seat back up and down again. “Come on, Cade.” Cade looked up at the flickering dark orange lights, then smiled.
“Ready to go surfing?”
“What?” Then Cade whispered to Blake. Blake smiled brightly. “Let’s move.” He glanced at his pocketwatch: 11:54. The ghosts sang louder and faster around them.
“On three, one, two, THREE!” Cade turned the two seats in front of them, then they jumped down on the backs, sliding down as every chair down the row fell forward. The kids surfed fast down the slowly expanding rows toward the distant stage. Ghosts rushed down the side aisles toward the stage, gathering in a crowd. The sad ghost began singing in a really slow, slurred deep voice;
“I’m never going home again.”
“I’m never going home again.”
“I’m never going home again.”
“I’m never going home again.”
“I’m never going home again.”
“I’m never going home again.”
“I’m never going home again.”
Blake checked his pocketwatch: 11:57. The stage drew closer and closer. Just then ghosts rushed in from both sides down the final aisles. The kids jumped off.
“Follow my lead,” said Cade who then dove down into the next aisle. He pushed several chairs down ahead, then waited. Blurry green ghosts closed in on all sides. Blake looked at him with raised eyes. Cade motioned for them to hold. Blake pointed to the time: 11:59. Cade silently counted; one, two, three. “NOW!” Cade and Blake exploded out to the left, pushing past the stunned ghosts. They circled around them, jumped up on stage, then sprinted for the break between the two red curtains.
Darkness fell over them, then the valley appeared under dark orange moonlight, lighting up the old School of the Arts.
“Are we really out?” asked Blake. Cade looked down at the short dark green grassy field and smiled.
“We’re free.”