Chapter 31: Jason
We scamper to the closet breathlessly, nervously looking behind us. After what felt like a century, we reach the door and JJ yanks the door handle(quietly, luckily), and we realize the door is LOCKED.
"No! Crap!" JJ grumbles but then looks at the dumbwaiter nearby.
Uh oh. I know that look. It's identical to the look MOM always gives me when she's got a REALLY good idea for my punishment. Must run in the Hannabil family.
She turns, balancing Holly and Noel in her arms. "When I arrived here at the Tower Of No Joy exactly 358 days ago, I remember every night at precisely 10;00 pm, Vulagur would go up to the stairs, not to be seen or bothered till dawn."
"Later on, I heard rumors that he was busy creating new potions in his lab and torture room, which is in his wing, the 14th door in the dragon head hall. The dragon hall was one of the 12 halls, each one a character from the Chinese zodiac. The halls are also in order of the animal years."
She looks at me."If we go there, we can possibly save Holly and Noel, with one of his many potions, before it's too late."
I gulped. I'm a bit claustrophobic and that dumbwaiter doesn't seem that roomy. But anything to save Noel. And Holly. But mostly Noel.
"Okay," I whispered. "Go fast, quick! I think they're coming."
Sure enough, we hear boots stomping and a voice grumbling,'Those darn kids! They got away! Well, don't worry, you little pests, you're gonna be DEAD!'
I think he needs to go to a psychologist. Maybe I should give him my Uncle Finn's psychologist's number. NOT!
Before I can even freaking BREATHE , JJ snatches up my shirt sleeve and drags me toward the dumbwaiter. And dang, she's got an iron grip.
"Nooo! Not now!" I wail.
"Ah ha!-that must be him! Wait, no- the last time I thought that was the prisoner, it turned out I tortured my servant Wails! He's always wailing, after all!"
JJ glares daggers at me. I shrug my shoulders as if,'Hey! At least we're not caught yet!"
She just turned her head and shoved up the sliding door.
And shoved my freakin' butt into the dumbwaiter.
