Free It's All Downhill from Here by P.J. Night Page B

prints into the wooded area.
    In the pine grove the footprints were even more visible, as the thick trees caught much of the newly fallen snow in their branches, and less snow reached the ground.
    â€œMy parents are totally gonna freak out when they get home and find all three of us gone,” Maggie said, her mind jumping to the second most pressing situation at hand.
    â€œLet’s just find Simon and deal with one thing at a time,” Sophie said, trying to help her friend calm down.
    â€œAnd what if Simon is really hurt? Or worse?” Maggie said. “This is all so bad, so very, very bad. If we find him, and he’s all right, I’m gonna kill him for making us come out here and worry so much!”
    Rounding a bend, the footprints turned onto a narrow path between trees. As they walked single file now,with Maggie in the lead lighting the way, the night seemed to grow darker and more threatening with each step they took. Then she spotted something in the distance.
    â€œLook, Soph, it’s some kind of building! Hurry!”
    The snow was piled high in the narrow path between the trees. Stepping over fallen branches, sinking into mounds of drifted snow, the girls approached the small structure.
    â€œIt’s a shed,” Maggie said as her flashlight reflected in a window. “Out here in the middle of the woods. What’s it doing here?”
    Tromping the last few yards, the girls reached the structure. They peered into the window to discover stacks of books scattered everywhere. Maggie spied an old wooden desk buried under mounds of paper. Worn-out chairs and ancient reading lamps filled the cramped, obviously neglected room.
    â€œIt looks like an office or a study,” Maggie said. “But one that hasn’t been used in years.”
    â€œMaybe it was a secret getaway, or—” Sophie started.
    â€œSimon!” Maggie suddenly shrieked. “It’s Simon!”
    Sophie stared into the shed and saw Maggie’sbrother lying on the floor in the corner.
    Kicking up snow in spraying curtains of white, Maggie ran around to the front door of the shed, only to discover that it was padlocked.
    â€œSomeone locked him inside!” Maggie cried, yanking on the thick metal lock.
    â€œMaggie, he’s not moving!” Sophie called, still peering through the window.
    Desperately looking around, Maggie spotted an old pile of firewood covered in snow. She grabbed the biggest piece she could find and dragged it back to the door.
    â€œHelp me,” she said, getting as good a grip as possible on the snow-covered chunk of wood.
    Sophie wrapped her arm around the log to take some of the weight from Maggie. Together they lifted the wood above their heads.
    â€œReady? One, two, three!”
    With all the strength they could muster, the girls slammed the log down onto the padlock. The wood hit the bottom of the lock, sending it spinning around, but not damaging it in any way. The log flew from their hands and landed with a dull thud in the snow.
    â€œAgain,” Maggie cried, panting from the effort.“This time we have to hit the top of the lock where it’s thinnest.”
    Kneeling down in the snow, Maggie hoisted the log up with both hands. Sophie got a grip too, and once again they lifted the wood high into the air.
    â€œOne, two, three . . . GO!”
    Aiming for the thin loop at the top of the lock, the girls hit their target and smashed the lock open. They let the log fall, then Maggie yanked off the broken lock and threw open the door.
    Rushing inside, she dropped to the floor beside her brother.
    â€œSimon,” she whispered softly into his ear.
    He didn’t stir.
    â€œSimon,” she repeated, shaking him gently. “Please answer me.”
    â€œUrrrrgh,” Simon groaned, rolling awkwardly onto his side.
    Maggie helped him up into a sitting position. He blinked a few times, then rubbed his head and winced.
    â€œWhat happened