Free Hexes and X's (Z&C Mysteries, #3) by Zoey Kane, Claire Kane
Authors: Zoey Kane, Claire Kane
even with death as a consequence.” The two stood looking over the piece of wood leaning against the tunnel wall.
“It looks like a walking stick, since it actually has some carving at the top ,” surmised Zo.
“Yes, that is what I would think—ordinarily. I trust nothing. In fact this tunnel can change at any place.”
“Keep your eyes open for movement and be ready to leap in any direction. This object was placed here for a reason—for the game.” Zo reached forward a hand ready to take hold. Then she looked at Claire in the eyes to determine readiness. Claire nodded. Zo grabbed the five-foot, tapered pole, then they both looked around wildly. Nothing happened.
“Here’s your flashlight , keep us lighted up ahead with as much floor to ceiling light that is possible.”
They walked carefully along, looking everything over and shortly reached an opening. They stopped and shined the light all around. “Up there!” Claire pointed. “It looks like a switch of some kind.” It seemed to be a switch plate high above the door. “Too high to reach.”
“Not if you have a tall walking stick.” Zo pushed the head of the pole under the switch and up. Lights blinked on. “Well, there is our reward and we have made it through one level. I’m pretty sure we are about to enter another, going through that opening.” The two of them stared at it wishing they didn’t have to.
“Okay, off we go. Me first,” Zo said.
Having walked through, with Claire close behind, Zo continued down the tunnel until it took a sharp turn to the left. They walked several more feet, and it sharply turned to the right where a cave-like opening gaped open at them.
“Point your flashlight right in there,” Zo said. “Watch the floor on your way over. I don’t know if there is a booby-trap there. Still, in a true game, there will always be some sort of clue for a warning or it would be no fun for the good or the wicked perpetrator. That is my theory anyway.”
“My theory is, anything goes, Mom.”
“Yeah, and then there’s that.”
Zo used the walking stick to test the floor all the way over to the dark cavern. When Claire flashed the light in, they were shocked to see three forms, two behind bars. One stood headless just outside the prison. The other two were lying on the cell floor, looking like square-headed rag dolls.
One of the dolls moved its raggy head. At that Zo called in, “What goes here?!”
Claire added, “And what is Millicent doing here?”
“Claire?” a man’s voice trembled, as the doll raised its squared head.
Claire looked around to see if anyone threatening was coming up behind them, afraid she and her mom could end up in a like situation. “Jack? Is that you?”
“Yes!” The weak voice continued, “I’d say run for your life but… everything is a trap.”
“Help!” the other voice whimpered.
“Can you roll this way to the bars? I will untie you and remove those gunnysack bags off your heads.” Zo wondered how they could breathe with those things tied at their necks.
Jack didn’t move, but the other prisoner rocked into a roll until the bars were reached.
Zo bent down and reached through the bars and tried to untie the rope around the neck to pull the bag off. It wasn’t easy. After wrenching it a while side to side to loosen the knot, it finally gave. “What do you want to bet this is Matilda,” she said as she pulled the burlap off over the face and hair.
Matilda’s face was dirty and marked by tear trails. “It was dreadful. I was grabbed from behind. This sack was forced over my head and then I was lifted by two people, feet and shoulders up the attic stairs, and then thrown down into a hole.”
She spoke urgently . “I stood up eventually when I thought I was alone. I felt my way around with my hands tied behind my back and discovered Jack when I fell over him. I felt around some more and fingers found a chain. I sat down and pulled my bound hands under my rear and over
“It looks like a walking stick, since it actually has some carving at the top ,” surmised Zo.
“Yes, that is what I would think—ordinarily. I trust nothing. In fact this tunnel can change at any place.”
“Keep your eyes open for movement and be ready to leap in any direction. This object was placed here for a reason—for the game.” Zo reached forward a hand ready to take hold. Then she looked at Claire in the eyes to determine readiness. Claire nodded. Zo grabbed the five-foot, tapered pole, then they both looked around wildly. Nothing happened.
“Here’s your flashlight , keep us lighted up ahead with as much floor to ceiling light that is possible.”
They walked carefully along, looking everything over and shortly reached an opening. They stopped and shined the light all around. “Up there!” Claire pointed. “It looks like a switch of some kind.” It seemed to be a switch plate high above the door. “Too high to reach.”
“Not if you have a tall walking stick.” Zo pushed the head of the pole under the switch and up. Lights blinked on. “Well, there is our reward and we have made it through one level. I’m pretty sure we are about to enter another, going through that opening.” The two of them stared at it wishing they didn’t have to.
“Okay, off we go. Me first,” Zo said.
Having walked through, with Claire close behind, Zo continued down the tunnel until it took a sharp turn to the left. They walked several more feet, and it sharply turned to the right where a cave-like opening gaped open at them.
“Point your flashlight right in there,” Zo said. “Watch the floor on your way over. I don’t know if there is a booby-trap there. Still, in a true game, there will always be some sort of clue for a warning or it would be no fun for the good or the wicked perpetrator. That is my theory anyway.”
“My theory is, anything goes, Mom.”
“Yeah, and then there’s that.”
Zo used the walking stick to test the floor all the way over to the dark cavern. When Claire flashed the light in, they were shocked to see three forms, two behind bars. One stood headless just outside the prison. The other two were lying on the cell floor, looking like square-headed rag dolls.
One of the dolls moved its raggy head. At that Zo called in, “What goes here?!”
Claire added, “And what is Millicent doing here?”
“Claire?” a man’s voice trembled, as the doll raised its squared head.
Claire looked around to see if anyone threatening was coming up behind them, afraid she and her mom could end up in a like situation. “Jack? Is that you?”
“Yes!” The weak voice continued, “I’d say run for your life but… everything is a trap.”
“Help!” the other voice whimpered.
“Can you roll this way to the bars? I will untie you and remove those gunnysack bags off your heads.” Zo wondered how they could breathe with those things tied at their necks.
Jack didn’t move, but the other prisoner rocked into a roll until the bars were reached.
Zo bent down and reached through the bars and tried to untie the rope around the neck to pull the bag off. It wasn’t easy. After wrenching it a while side to side to loosen the knot, it finally gave. “What do you want to bet this is Matilda,” she said as she pulled the burlap off over the face and hair.
Matilda’s face was dirty and marked by tear trails. “It was dreadful. I was grabbed from behind. This sack was forced over my head and then I was lifted by two people, feet and shoulders up the attic stairs, and then thrown down into a hole.”
She spoke urgently . “I stood up eventually when I thought I was alone. I felt my way around with my hands tied behind my back and discovered Jack when I fell over him. I felt around some more and fingers found a chain. I sat down and pulled my bound hands under my rear and over