"How are we going to break this to Master Gracey?" Myrriah whispered. "What are we going to do? Where are we going to go? We finally fit in someplace, and it's going to be destroyed!" She sighed. "And everyone else… Master Gracey, Emily, Victoria, Ezra, Phineas, Gus, Dustin, and all the others, this is their home!"

Courtney grabbed her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Calm down, okay. The worst thing we can do is lose it. Now," she let go of her, "we need to tell Master Gracey. Maybe he can come up with a plan. And you," she turned to Paul, "please, try to make your dad reconsider this."

"I don't even know how he was able to do this," cried Paul. Courtney glared at him. "But, I'll try." He tried to give her a reassuring smile as he hopped onto his bike, which was leaning against the porch.

"The first thing we need to do is tell G.G., right?" asked Myrriah.

"Yeah, before the others find out."

"Wow, I didn't even think of what a mass panic that would be."

Just then the clomping of horse's hooves echoed in the side yard, signaling the approach of-

"Dustin," Myrriah muttered.

"Driver," snapped a snooty voice, "go a little faster. I'm bored. Wait slow down! Are you trying to make me sick?"

"And Emily," Courtney added. "The last thing we need is that little drama queen screaming at us." The hoof beats grew louder. "Quick! Hide the sign!" The two friends jumped in front of it.

Myrriah looked down at her transparent stomach and could see the notice through it. "I fail to see the genius behind your plan."

"Just shut up and act natural."

"Isn't that an oxymoron?"

"Shh!"

Both girls wore the biggest grins they could muster as the buggy crept around the corner of the house and into the front yard. Rolly the horse was, as usual, invisible. Behind him was the hearse with Dustin and Emily sitting on the driver's bench. Poor Dustin had the look of a man who wanted to commit suicide, but couldn't.

"That was the most dull tour I've ever been on!" said Emily. "How could George ever hire you as a driver?"

"For you're information, I was taking Rolly for a walk to calm his nerves, I wasn't taking you on a tour! And I didn't invite you along! Not every carriage that pulls up to the house is for you, you-you spoiled, thespian wannabe!" He immediately clamped his mouth shut and slapped his hand over it. His eyes grew wide behind his rectangular spectacles.

"You just wait until I tell George how you treated me!" she shouted as she stepped down from the buggy. "Everyone knows I'm the star here! Do you ever hear children whisper stories about the dead coachman? No, they usually tell stories about me, the poor, lonely bride!" She stamped one high heel clad foot and stormed into the house.

"Oh dear," muttered Dustin. "Me and my big mouth."

"Don't worry about her," said Myrriah, leaving her post in front of the sign. She patted Rolly's head. "With that ego of hers it was bound to happen sooner or later."

"But she is right though. She's got to be the most popular ghost haunting the Manor."

Myrriah scowled. "That doesn't give her any right to be so mean." She noticed that parts of the buggy seemed to be held together by large strips of duct tape. "I'm really sorry about wrecking it last night."

"Don't worry about it," said Dustin. "I'm the one who should be apologizing. I overreacted and I'm sorry." He looked at the sign curiously. Courtney was floating in the air, on her back in front of the letters, causing them to look distorted. "What's that?" he asked.

"Nothing," said Myrriah nervously. "Just my friend… hovering in front of a sign… for no reason."

Dustin arched an eyebrow skeptically and hopped down from the hearse. He approached the sign and had to peer through Courtney, who obstinately refused to move. "What's all this then? Liberty Square Mega Mall? What the bloody hell is that!"

"It's what's going to happen to Gracey Manor," Myrriah explained sadly. Courtney floated down and stood beside her.

"And furthermore," screamed Emily as she stomped out of the front doors. Apparently she had come up with more insults for Dustin. "You have a funny accent, and…" She trailed off when she noticed that no one was paying any attention to her. They were all standing in front of a board of some sort with very serious expressions. "Why aren't you listening to me?" She marched over to them. "What's so great about this stupid sign?" She glared at it. Her jaw dropped. "Oh."

"George! GEORGE!" screamed Emily as she raced down the hall and into his office. She ran right in, without even bothering to knock on the door. She finally stopped in front of his desk. "I have very important news… What are you doing?"

He was holding a black, boxlike object with an antenna in one hand and a screwdriver in the other. "Oh, um, a guest left this behind today and I just wanted to see how it worked and- Didn't I tell you to always knock?"

"I've got urgent news!" She took in a deep, useless breath and swallowed loudly, as if to hold back a sob. "The mansion-"

"Is gonna be demolished!" yelled Courtney as she Myrriah, and Dustin rushed into the room.

"I had this under control, thank you very much," snapped Emily.

"What?" cried George, dropping his gadget and the tool. "Where did you hear this?"

"There is a notice in the front yard, sir," said Dustin. "It's going to be replaced by a…" He furrowed his brow. "What was it called again?"

"A shopping mall," said Myrriah.

"It could be worse," said Courtney.

"How?" demanded Myrriah.

"They could be making it into an overpriced tourist attraction."

"Well, sir, what do we do?" asked Dustin. "Should we warn the others?"

"Not yet. There's no need to put everyone into a hysterical panic. I need to think about this." He pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at it. "It's past six already. Let me sleep on it, and I'll call a meeting tomorrow morning. Until then, don't tell anyone. Understood?"

The others nodded and grumbled agreement.

"Very good, well, out of my office. Shoo." He slammed the door behind them.

"I guess we just keep quiet about this for now," said Dustin.

"Well, I'm off to get some beauty sleep," said Emily, making her way to the attic.

"Yes, well, Lord knows you need it," Dustin murmured.

"I heard that, Dustbin!"

Dustin cleared his throat sheepishly. "I've got to lead Rolly back to the cemetery before something makes him run away. Have a pleasant evening, ladies." He smiled and tipped his top hat to them and walked away.

"Chances are, with that sign up, not too many people are going to be stopping by anymore," said Myrriah. She sighed sadly. "I wish we could do something."

"Me too," agreed Courtney.

Later that evening, after Myrriah said she was going to bed, Courtney snuck back into the music room. She lifted up the key cover on the piano and took out the red book.

Maybe Leota could bring us back to life now so we don't have to worry about this whole mess. She groaned softly. No, that would be selfish. And Myrriah wouldn't go along with it. She wouldn't agree to do anything until she knows the mansion is going to be okay. Darn her ethics. She put the book back, and slowly shut the cover. Tomorrow. She smiled to herself. Tomorrow we'll live again!