RenegadeLegacy reached into her backpack, but, again, it was empty. A realization dawned on her. "You're right. Biz has stolen our author powers."
"Now what do we do?" asked Larania.
"I don't know," Libra said slowly.
Naomi bit her lip. "What about . . ."
The other three perked their ears.
"No, that won't work."
All four sighed.
"I've got it!" RenegadeLegacy exclaimed, motioning for the others to follow her into an empty classroom. Once inside, she shut the door and locked it, then went to the chalkboard and drew two X's. "Now, this is what we'll do . . ."
Larania winced as a shovelful of mud hit her in the face. Libra looked over her shoulder, holding her lantern high. Seeing Larania's soiled face, she giggled. "Sorry, Lar."
"Just whose idea was this, anyway?" asked Larania sarcastically, wiping her nose clean.
RenegadeLegacy's shovel moved, flinging another pocket of dirt, this time at the lantern, putting it out.
All was silent for about twenty seconds.
"It's dark," RenegadeLegacy said.
"What an ingenious observation!" Larania retorted. "Now please tell me the mastermind remembered to bring matches."
"Um . . ."
"You didn't, did you?"
"Well, normally I'd have some in my backpack . . ."
A small flame appeared, casting deep shadows down the tunnel.
"Naomi!" said RenegadeLegacy. "I didn't know you brought anything."
"I'm a Girl Scout," Naomi answered, as if that explained everything.
"Light the lantern, will ya?" said Libra impatiently.
With the lantern lit, the four resumed digging. An hour and ten minutes later, they hit paydirt.
"The Mwahahaha house," whispered RenegadeLegacy.
Libra frowned. "How are we gonna get in?"
With a snap-hiss, a second light appeared.
Libra gasped. "You stole Becker's lightsaber?!"
RenegadeLegacy nodded evilly and began carving through the cement. "Now let's see what Biz is hiding."