Book Six: Chapter 31

“Keep going!” he cried. “Don’t let anything happen to Holly!”

The elevator door reached their floor, then buzzed loudly when the door wouldn’t open. Something hit it from the inside, causing the doors to split apart and release a cloud of smoke.

Kisa looked back to see a long dark arm burst forth from the doors and grab Alabaster by the head. Long fingers easily palmed Alabaster’s skull and dragged him toward the elevator.

“Mother of Kris Kringle!” Holly’s eyes were wide with terror as the doors opened further. Inside the darkness and the smoke, something laughed as Alabaster was pulled inside. “Run faster!”

Alabaster screamed, then went silent. The elevator doors groaned as they were forced apart by a pair of those dark, sinister hands. Kisa let out a shriek as the doors burst open, and then she slammed into a wall and fell. Everything went abruptly quiet, the air stinking of magic and sulfur.

“Ow, dammit!” She scrambled to her feet and tried to run, b