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We pushed past the second set of curtains and entered the corridor with the table, the one covered by the long black cloth The people ahead of us had their backs to us Steve looked over his shoulder, to make sure nobody could see, then dived underneath the table and hid behind the cloth!

"Steve!" I hissed, worried he was going to get us into trouble

"Go on!" he hissed back

"But you can’t," I began

"Do what I say!" he snapped "Go, quick, before we’re caught"

I didn’t like it but what else could I do? Steve sounded like he’d go crazy if I didn’t obey hies before and he wasn’t sory

I started walking, turned the corner, and began down the long corridor leading to the front door I alking slowly, thinking, and the people in front got farther ahead I glanced over my shoulder and saw there was still nobody behind me

And then I spotted the door

It was the one we’d stopped by on our way in, the one leading up to the balcony I paused when I reached it and checked behind one last ti! I don’t knohat Steve’s up to, but he’s ets into trouble, I want to be there to help hie h, shut it quickly behindas fast as awhile the last of the audience filed out I could hear their htened, but excited tones Then they were gone and the place was quiet I thought I’d be able to hear noises fro the chairs back in place, but the whole building was as silent as a graveyard

I cliotten used to the dark and I could see pretty well The stairs were old and creaky and I was half-afraid they would snap underto my death, but they held

When I reached the top I discovered I was standing in the middle of the balcony It was very dusty and dirty up there, and cold, too I shivered as I crept doard the front

I had a great view of the stage The lights were still on and I could see everything in perfect detail Nobody was around, not the freaks, not the pretty ladies, not the blue-hoods not Steve I sat back and waited

About fiveslowly toward the stage It pulled itself up, then stood and walked to the center, where it stopped and turned around

It was Steve

He started toward the left wing, then stopped and set off toward the right He stopped again I could see hio

Then a voice ca for e, its ar behind it like a pair of wings

Steve ale and rolled into a ball I toppled backward, terrified When I rose toand I was able to e scar

Mr Crepsley!

Steve tried speaking, but his teeth were chattering too asped aloud when you first saw me Why?"

"B-b-b-because I kn-kn-knoho you a-are," Steve stuttered, finding his voice

"I a man said

"No," Steve replied "I knoho you really are"

"Oh?" Mr Crepsley smiled, but there was no humor in it "Tell me, little boy," he sneered, "who am I, really?"

"Your real name is Vur Horston," Steve said, and Mr Crepsley’s jaw dropped in astonish else, and my jaw dropped, too

"You’re a va as it was terrifying