The Black Heart Crypt

Azalea’s head bobbed up in the stairwell first.

Zack tossed her the paper wad.

She caught it. Gave him a puzzled look.

Zack did some rapid-fire hand signals he hoped she understood.

Azalea nodded. She quickly unfolded the sheet and read it.

Her eyes bugged out, but she took it all in. Half a second later, she crumpled the paper back up into a ball.

Now the man in the mask appeared.

“Greetings, Zachary.”

Zack just nodded.

“Where is it, boy?”

Now Zack held open his right hand. The miniature black heart from the center of the stone was nestled in his palm. “You mean this?”

“Give it to me!”

Zack retreated half a step. “No way.”

“What? You dare refuse me?”

Zack retreated another half step.

“I need that black heart.”

Zack took another backward step.

Jack the Lantern shoved Azalea aside. Held out his hand. “Give it to me, boy!”

Zack took one last giant step backward.

And was standing directly in the spot hit by the sunbeam streaming through the biggest broken-out hole in the clock face.

He whipped up the signal mirror with his free hand.

A blinding shaft of light streaked across the room and seared a rectangle of white over Jack the Lantern’s triangle eyeholes.

The masked man froze in his tracks.

“Azalea?” shouted Zack. “You’re on!”