Book 4: New terrors
Chapter 13: Hiding from the witch
Thunder and lightning boomed over the house as Calico and Marimba sat on the porch swing in each other's company. Marimba saw a flash of lightning near the porch and screamed. Calico started and took her in his arms.
"What is it? It's just a storm." He soothed as she wrenched away and rushed inside with him behind her.
"What's going on?" Skyler asked as Marimba found paper and pencil and began to draw.
"There was a flash of lightning and she screamed and rushed away." Calico explained as Marimba showed Skyler a picture of the Wicked Witch.
"That's not possible." He said staring as Calico held his breath.
"Marimba, why did you draw my mother?"
"I saw her in the lightning! I saw her." Marimba said as Calico put a reassuring arm around her.
"Yonnivah, can you come out here?" Skyler asked as he showed her the picture when she'd arrived.
"What do we do about this?"
"Only one thing to do. Take Calico and Marimba to the safe room and I'll be there shortly. I need to check on Mauluke and the horses."
"Ok then. Follow me." Yonnivah said as she rolled a corner of the carpet up to show a hidden trapdoor.
"Down there?" Marimba shuddered still holding Calico's hand.
"We're all going." Calico said pulling her by the hand as all three of them descended below before the door shut and locked.
"You'll be safe there. Time to check the stables." Skyler thought aloud, putting on a rain slicker before venturing into the downpour.
"There's fun things down here. We'll be fine for awhile." Yonnivah said settling Marimba and Calico down to paper folding and paper doll clipping as Skyler entered the stables cautiously.
"Mauluke! Mauluke, where are you?" Skyler stopped seeing a pair of booted feet behind a bag of feed. Skyler pulled the body out by the ankles and saw what he knew to be true. Mauluke had been shot in the chest. Skyler bowed his head in respect before covering the body with a blanket. He then made his way back to the house and down to the place where the other three were.
"Mauluke?" Yonnivah whispered seeing Skyler join them.
"He was shot. He's dead. We'll be safe here for now. I called the police and they're coming to take Mauluke away. I don't know about Porscha." He said as Calico and Marimba paid no attention.
"I thought it would be best if they were occupied."
"That was a good idea. Maybe some hot chocolate would be welcomed." Skyler suggested as Yonnivah smiled before going to a small, nearby kitchen to obey.