Charlie stood at the beginning of Filbert Street. It was almost midnight and the wind was howling. Charlie had gained a nice tan from his ten days of travelling. The past few days had been extremely painful since his entire body had been sunburned even his bottom. His shirt was gone and his pants were close to falling apart. His feet remained injured had Charlie had used the bottom half of his shirt to wrap them since his pant bandages had worn out from nonstop walking.

Charlie gave a sigh of relief as his house came into view. "Finally no more walking, and no more bears." He gave a shudder of horror from the images that popped back into his head.

He reached into his pocket as he approached the front door of number 9 failing to notice the familiar black car with smoked windows parked near the large chestnut tree.

Charlie had found the key in his pocket a couple days ago. He had given a whoop of joy. Now he wouldn't have to worry about running into Grandma Bone when he returned.

Charlie used his key and turned the door knob. The door creaked up and Charlie slipped in. He could hear voices in the kitchen. Who'd be up at this hour other than Uncle Paton? If it is Uncle Paton why would he be talking to himself? Who's with him? Even with his increased hearing from his experience in the wild he couldn't hear what they were saying. He crept closer being careful not to make a sound. He didn't want to accidently embarrass his uncle he just wanted to know who it was before he went to bed.

Charlie was standing against the doorframe that led to the kitchen when he recognized the voice of Ezekiel Bloor. "What's he doing here?" Charlie asked himself quietly leaning against the frame a little harder to try and hear him clearly.

Charlie was about to dare to move even closer when he made out what was being said. "The two weeks are almost up grandpa what are we going to do about his parents? Do we wait until tomorrow is over or do we just kill them now?" Charlie's eyes widened in shock what was Manfred doing here? He wondered.

Charlie heard a scrap of a chair and footsteps. Coming towards HIM! I have to get out of here. But I have to find out what they're planning. I need to find a place to hide and quick. Charlie looked quickly around him. The living room! It'll have to do. Charlie dove into the living room right as the door came open. Luckily it was Dr. Bloor and he was talking back to someone and he hadn't noticed Charlie.

Charlie squeezed himself in between the back of the couch and a wall with a window above the couch. Charlie tried to get comfortable as quietly as he could while the footsteps followed him into the living room.

"There's a strange smell in here." Grizelda stated as she sat on armchair closest to the couch. Charlie froze in horror.

"Ignore it. The window's open. It's probably from outside." Ezekiel mumbled. Grizelda gave a shrug as she gave up. Charlie relaxed slightly as he remembered that he had found a river that he had washed in the day before and he had been able to get most of the stink and dirt off of him.

"The smell may come from outside but why is there blood on the carpet near the lamp stand?" Manfred asked as he pointed to a smear of blood that had seeped through Charlie's hasty made bandages. Charlie turned his head back sharply to stare in horror at the blood but in his anxiousness he had smacked his against the edge of the couch. Charlie saw stars flash before his eyes and he held his head without hitting anything else.

"What was that?" Everyone said in unison. Charlie was able to figure out who was in with him old Ezekiel, Dr. Bloor, his grandma, his three great-aunts and Manfred. If I get caught I'll die. Charlie shuddered at the thought.

"Weedon check behind the couch it may be an injured mouse." Dr. Bloor ordered. Charlie froze as thoughts spun through his head. He's going to look over here and find me then enjoy smashing me into bits. I'll have to move or die. Move or Die. MOVE OR DIE! Charlie screamed for his brain to find a place to hide without being seen. The end of the couch closest to Charlie feet was being lifted when Charlie decided that he couldn't do anything but this.

Weedon lifted the couch so the others could see behind but there was nothing there. "Must have run away sir." Weedon said as he lowered the couch back down.

Charlie gave a silent sigh of relief from behind the armchair that Grandma Bone was sitting in. He was so grateful that everyone had been intent on watching Mr. Weedon lift the couch that they had failed to notice Charlie's dashing figure disappear behind his grandma.

I'd better get out of here before they find me. But….HOW? ……………………………. I know the chestnut tree. I can climb down it from my window. Now all I have to do is sneak past them up the stairs and into my room without being noticed. Charlie's confidence was restored now that he had a plan other than hide.

Charlie kept close against the wall as he slid intelligently while someone talked. Charlie was actually able to reach to the stairs and since they hadn't turned on all of the lights he was covered in darkness the instant he hit the stairs. Charlie crept up the stairs while cheerfully thinking I should probably try spying after this apparently I'm good at getting around without being noticed. Charlie grabbed a clean shirt from his dresser and switched his torn up shorts for ones that were made that way. For some reason nothing had changed since he had been in here last. He made bandages for his feet out of a few silk scarves from the costumes his aunts used to give him. He wrapped a tan light jacket around his body (which went well with his tan shorts and white shirt). He also switched his underwear and grabbed an extra pair which he stuck in his pocket. He might as well be prepared to wait out the Bloors he reasoned as he climbed out the window.

Finally I feel clean. Charlie was shining as he climbed down the chestnut tree. Well other than the facts that I'm tan and my hair went straight I look exactly the same. Charlie glanced down at himself. When Charlie stood in a foot away from the front door of number nine it swung open. Charlie turned his head slowly with his foot stopped in midstep.

Both groups froze as the clock struck twelve. As it struck a change came over Charlie. He set his foot down and turned towards the Bloors who were watching in astonishment. Charlie found his body moving towards the light. He seemed to have lost control of his body. With each stroke of the clock the closer he came into the light from the porch. When the last chime had been struck Charlie's entire body was in the light with his face turned up towards the Bloors. The Bloors stared at the tanned, chapped face of Charlie Bone.

After about three seconds sense came back to Charlie. "Wha- What was I-?" He asked himself before he pulled back into the shadow. Charlie ran across the empty street.

"Catch him Weedon!" Ezekiel screeched from his wheelchair.

Weedon ran around the wheelchair and after the newly tanned twelve year old boy. Even with his new muscles that had formed on Charlie's arms and legs he was still no match for the handyman. Soon Charlie was being dragged to the porch of number nine. They were halfway there when Charlie slipped out of his jacket and ran away with adrenaline increasing his speed.

There was at least twenty feet between the two running figures and the gap was increasing. Weedon was ready to give up when a gray cloth shot out and busied itself by engulfing Charlie in worm like strings. They seemed to be growing in size and strength as the seconds went by.

Charlie's entire torso was now covered. He was lying in the middle of the road, rolling over and over, trying to get the rope thick strings off. "Venetia!" Charlie growled as he pushed his arms away from his body.

"Nice shot." Dr. Bloor and Manfred appraised Venetia who had indeed been the one who threw the strangling grey cloth.

"Caught the little twerp!" Lucretia boasted evilly.

Weedon had stopped running after a gray thing had flown at the boy. Now he was walking slowly as if to drive the boy to insanity through fear as each step became closer and closer. Charlie turned his face to the handyman and glared as he forced his arms several inches away from his body.

The gap between Charlie and a murderer had been cut in half. Charlie closed his eyes and brought the most outraging thought to his head. With a loud yell Charlie broke the grey strings off his torso. All of the onlookers widened their eyes in shock except Venetia who was angry that the precious enchanted cloth, that she had spent two days of her spare time on, had just been torn to pieces.

Charlie scrambled to his feet and with a genius amount of timing. Charlie was able to swerve and zigzag away from Weedon. He was hidden in the middle an alleyway trying to catch his breath over a block away from Filbert Street.

Charlie didn't dare breathe as the handyman walked past the alleyway he was hiding in. After ten minutes Weedon turned back to Filbert Street. Charlie could hear him with his newly high tuned senses. "I'm sorry sir. I seem to have lost him."

"Don't worry. I have a strong feeling he'll be back." Ezekiel whispered so quietly that Charlie couldn't hear it.

"Let's go back for now." Dr. Bloor ordered. The Bloors walked slowly to their car as if they were disappointed.

Charlie waited for the sound of the car leaving the driveway then he made his way out of the alleyway. "I can't go home tonight. They may come back. Guess I'll have to sleep in the forest tonight." Charlie said to himself. "Again." He sighed as he made his way back to the trees.