That night a powerful storm hounded Bordash Manor and the town of Eagle Falls, knocking out all the power in the area. Cleaning was cancelled for Matthew so that he could go to the attic and tend to the many buckets filling up with the water seeping through the roof.

The attic was a dank and cluttered mess. There were broken statues, ripped paintings, rusty tools, old furniture, a suit-of-arms, you name it. It gave Matthew the willies. But at least he had a flashlight. Although, the shadows it cast all looked like hideous creatures ready to pounce.

Fear wasn't the only thing swimming through Matthew's head. The other was the thought of escape. With the security cameras not working, it was a great opportunity. The locked attic door was his first obstacle, but he was positive he could easily find something to pick it.

A bolt of lightning lit up the attic's large circular window, which followed by a loud boom of thunder. Matthew almost jump out of his new socks.

There was then another loud boom, but this time it was the attic door banging open.

'I need half the buckets,' Miss Thorn howled. She pointed her flashlight directly at Matthew. 'Water is getting into the cellars. NOW!!!'

'Yes, ma'am,' said Matthew, and he did so.

'I hope the septic tank doesn't overflow cause that will be a mess. You should be hoping that too because you'll be the one cleaning it all up.'

Not if I escape, Matthew wanted to say.

'How can these doddering fools sleep through this?' said Miss Thorn. 'What am I saying . . . they're all bloody deaf.' She left the attic, again locking Matthew in.

Alone once more, hairs on Matthew's back stood up. He suddenly jerked his flashlight, pointing it to the far end of the attic. He was sure he had seen something move. Then, there was a thud behind him. He swivelled around so fast his flashlight flew out of his hand and skipped across the floor.

Matthew quickly retrieved the flashlight before illuminating the circular window. Something had hit it and it was still stuck to it. The thing was white. It looked like the head of a mop. The wind must be wicked outside, he thought. He went to get a closer look, putting his nose right up to the window. Was it the head of a mop? Or was it a wig?

There was a flash of lightning and, for a second, Matthew thought he had seen something in the manor's driveway.

Again, the sky was lit up, this time for a whole minute. Lighting bolt after lightning bolt came one after the other.

Matthew had indeed seen something and that something were four somethings. Miss Smart, Miss Brock, Mr Xavier and Mr Reed were standing shoulder to shoulder in the manor's driveway.

Why were they out in this crazy storm? Have they come for another nightly visit? Did Miss Thorn know this time?

All of sudden, something unexpected happened that made Matthew's mouth drop. The visitors started to run toward the manor. People who needed canes to walk were running like the wind.

Fear soon shot through his body. 'Are those crossbows?'

The lightning torrent ceased and outside turned dark again.

What in the world, Matthew said to himself, stepping back from the window. What was happening? Did Miss Smart, Miss Brock, Mr Xavier and Mr Reed want to harm him, the residents? He had to warn them.

Using his flashlight, Matthew searched and searched, finally finding a hairpin in an antique vanity, it's many bulbs shattered. He then made easy work of the attic door's lock.

From the attic, Matthew descended a set of stairs to a narrow and bare hallway, doors to supply rooms on either side. He ran as fast as he could to the other end, to a landing, where a red-carpeted staircase led down.

A hand grabbed his wrist.

'What do you think you're doing?' It was Mrs Jacobs. She must have been in one of the supply rooms. 'I said, what do you think you're doing?'

'There are people outside,' Matthew stuttered, for he was being shaken, 'Mr Reed and his friends. They have weapons. I was going to warn everyone.'

'Preposterous. You were trying to escape, weren't you? You're in very big trouble.'

Mrs Jacobs dragged Matthew down three staircases to the first floor and to Miss Thorn's office. The room was lit by several candles. Miss Thorn wasn't there but she appeared soon after, along with the rest of her staff, out from the secret door at the back of the fireplace.

'Mrs Jacobs,' said Miss Thorn, 'the sink down there has started to back up so we can't pour the water —' She had noticed Matthew. 'What is the meaning of this?'

'This little runt was trying to escape,' said Mrs Jacobs.

'No, I wasn't, ma'am,' said Matthew. 'It's Mr Reed and his friends.'

'What about them?' said Miss Thorn.

'They're outside and they have weapons. I was —'

'Do you think I'm stupid?' yelled Miss Thorn, handing her bucket off to Mr Jacobs. She sprang over her desk like a crazed gorilla and over to Matthew. 'Do you think I'm stupid?' Spit was flying from her mouth.

Just then, a vase somewhere in the manor smashed to the floor, making everyone dart their eyes toward the office door.

'I wasn't lying, ma'am,' said Matthew. 'That could be them. They could be inside.'

'Everyone, with me,' said Miss Thorn, and she and her staff left the office to investigate.

It was too late to warn the old residents now, thought Matthew, and so it was time for him to get out of Bordash Manor and save himself. However, as he was about to go over to a window and unlock it, he heard screams, followed by running. Moments later, Miss Thorn and Mrs Jacobs burst back into the office, looking terrified.

'I knew there was something not right with them,' puffed Miss Thorn, closing the door and leaning against it.

'What do we do?' shrieked Mrs Jacobs. 'What do we do?'

'Shut up and let me think.'

'I don't know about you two,' said Matthew, 'but I'm going to jump out the wind —'

The office door flew open, knocking Miss Thorn to the ground. Matthew then watched Miss Smart (now with dark hair), Miss Brock, Mr Xavier and Mr Reed shuffle into the office, crossbows raised.

'Nobody move,' said Miss Smart, and in a very different voice. 'And hands up.'

Already frozen to the ground, Matthew and Mrs Jacobs stuck up their hands. Miss Thorn did not. She instead got up and staggered backwards to her desk.

Miss Smart pointed her crossbow at Miss Thorn, 'I said, nobody move.'

Again, Miss Thorn took no notice, and crept slowly around to the other side of her desk, where she reached for a drawer. Did she have a weapon?

'Don't you dare,' Miss Smart said, but Miss Thorn opened the drawer.

Seeing Miss Smart put her finger on her crossbow's trigger, Matthew closed his eyes. He knew what she was going to do.

A sharp twanging noise filled the air. Next, there was a thump.

Matthew couldn't believe it. Miss Smart had just killed Miss Thorn. As Mrs Jacobs began to wail, he wondered if he was going to be next.

'Be quiet, Mrs Jacobs,' snapped Miss Smart.

Mrs Jacobs stopped crying immediately and in its place came a soft low moaning. It was Miss Thorn. She was still alive. Matthew opened his eyes and saw Miss Thorn bent over her desk with some sort of netting wrapped around her.

Mr Xavier hurried across the office and looked out of the window. 'Look at that.' His voice was completely different too (Miss Brock and Mr Reed's voices would follow the trend). 'Bunch of cowards. Your staff are a bunch of cowards, Miss Thorn.'

Matthew took a glance out of the window. The storm had blown through and moonlight was shining down on the rest of Miss Thorn's staff. They were running away. Seemed like Mr Jacobs didn't care much for his wife.

'Shame they got away,' said Miss Brock. She was looking straight at Mr Reed and shaking her head.

'I said I was sorry,' said Mr Reed. His voice sounded strangely familiar to Matthew. 'I didn't mean to trip you and give us away, okay. Seriously, give it a rest. How many times does someone have to say sorry in one day? Sorry for tripping you. Sorry I smashed the vase. Sorry I accidentally kicked you in the head this morning.'

'Enough, you two,' said Miss Smart. 'We're in the middle of something important here.'

Miss Thorn began to laugh. 'Right now my staff will be heading to the police station in town. You lot are in big trouble. In a bit, this place will be swarming with police.'

Miss Smart, Miss Brock, Mr Xavier and Mr Reed began to laugh with Miss Thorn.

'They won't go to the police,' said Miss Brock.

'Why not?' said Miss Thorn.

'Unless they want to get themselves in trouble. You in trouble,' said Mr Xavier. 'We know what you do here. We know everything.'

Miss Thorn stopped laughing.

Were Mr Reed and his friends thieves, here to steal the counterfeit money?

'Do you know who I work for?' said Miss Thorn. 'They are someone who will find you and make you pay.'

'We know who you work for,' said Mr Reed. 'You can tell him, if you ever get the chance, that we dare him.'

'Who are you people?' asked Miss Thorn.

'We,' said Mr Xavier, 'we are your worst nightmare.'

Mr Reed stifled a giggle.

Miss Thorn stood up straight and tried desperately to free herself. She almost succeeded. Matthew didn't see who had shot it but he saw something whip through the air. And as it closed in on Miss Thorn, a net sprang from it.

Miss Thorn groaned as she was ensnared a second time.

'Now,' said Miss Smart, 'down to business. Where are the rest of the kids? The printing presses? The counterfeit money?'

'I don't know what you mean?' said Miss Thorn, breathless.

Mrs Jacobs began to cry again and fell to her knees. 'Please don't hurt me. Please.'

Mr Xavier walked over to Mrs Jacobs and pulled her back up to her feet. 'We won't hurt you if you tell us where the rest of the kids, the printing presses and the counterfeit money are?'

'Don't you even think about it.' Miss Thorn grumbled at Mrs Jacobs.

Mrs Jacobs looked at Miss Thorn and said, 'Sorry.' She then said, 'I can show you where the printing presses and the money are, but I can't show you where the rest of the children are.'

'Why's that?' asked Miss Brock.

'Except for him,' said Mrs Jacobs, nodding at Matthew, 'all the children are gone.'

'Gone?!' Miss Smart, Miss Brock, Mr Xavier and Mr Reed said in unison. They did not look pleased.

Did they want to steal the children along with the counterfeit money?

'Is that the truth?' Miss Smart asked Matthew.

Matthew nodded his response. He was too nervous to speak.

'Where are they?' Mr Xavier demanded.

'I don't know where they went, I swear,' said Mrs Jacobs.

'I don't either,' said Miss Thorn. She began to laugh through her nose.

Angry, Mr Xavier ran over to her. He was about to do something when Miss Smart yanked him back and whispered in his ear. This calmed him down somewhat.

Miss Smart turned to Mrs Jacobs. 'Where are the printing presses?'

Mrs Jacobs walked over to the fireplace and pressed the nose of the dragon. 'Through there,' she said as the secret door opened.

'Isn't that funny,' said Mr Reed. 'The fireplace of all places.'

Miss Smart and Mr Reed went down to the cellar, but weren't there for long.

'It's all clear,' said Miss Smart. 'It's pretty flooded, though.'

'Printing presses?' asked Mr Xavier.

Mr Reed nodded. 'There are several.'

From a bag he was carrying on his back, a bag covered in pictures of robots and which Matthew had just noticed, Mr Xavier took out two hammers. He handed one to Miss Brock before both of them went down to the cellar.

'Now the money,' said Miss Smart.

'It's over here,' said Mrs Jacobs.

Miss Thorn growled. 'I'm going to get you.' She was glaring at Mrs Jacobs.

Mrs Jacobs walked over to a wood panel behind Miss Thorn's rocking chair and gave it a nudge. The panel popped out, revealing a hole with a large safe.

'What's the combination?' asked Miss Smart.

'I don't know,' said Mrs Jacobs.

'I do,' said Miss Thorn, 'but I'm not going to tell you. Do whatever you want? I won't give it up.'

'This night's getting better and better,' Mr Reed said sarcastically. 'Only one kid and we can't get the money.'

'We can take the safe with us,' said Miss Smart.

'It looks pretty heavy,' said Mr Reed as the sound of banging came through the secret door. It sounded as if Miss Brock and Mr Xavier were smashing the printing presses.

'We'll manage.'

Mr Reed whispered something to Miss Smart, which she replied with a nod.

'Now, Mrs Jacobs,' said Mr Reed, 'I'm going to take you into the next room and tie you up. I'm not going to hurt you, okay.'

Mr Reed took the still sobbing Mrs Jacobs from the office. He then came back for Miss Thorn a short time later, taking her to the next room too.

'Both secured,' Mr Reed said when he returned.

'Well done,' said Miss Smart. 'We'll wait for the others to come up.'

Then what, thought Matthew? Why wasn't he being taken into the next room with the others? He didn't like this one bit.

After a minute of Miss Smart and Mr Reed just staring at Matthew, the banging downstairs stopped. Miss Brock and Miss Xavier were soon back standing in the office.

'All done,' said Mr Xavier. 'Those machines won't work again.'

'Where are the hags?' asked Miss Brock.

'Next room,' replied Miss Smart. 'All right. It's time.'

Matthew gulped. Time for what?