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EARLY MORNING WOULD BE THE best tiht, most meht or nine I’d sneak into carab her, and run If that wasn’t possible if the caet about it

The difficult part was picking a day Wednesday ht before, so the circus would in all likelihood have pulled out before midday and moved on to its next venue before the vampire could awake and discover the theft But what if they left town directly after the show, in thechance

It had to be tomorrow Tuesday That ht to search for his spider for me but that was a risk I’d just have to take

I went to bed earlier than usual I was tired and ready to fall asleep, but was so excited, I thought I wouldn’t be able to I kissed Mo to winhappened to ain

I have a radio that is also an alarm clock, and I set the alar, then stuck ed them into the radio That way, I could wake up nice and early without waking anyone else

I fell asleep quicker than I expected and slept straight through tillIf I had any drea I knew, the alarroaned, turned over, then sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes I wasn’t sure where I was for a few seconds, or why I ake so early Then I rerin didn’t last long, because I realized the alarh my headphones I must have rolled over in my sleep and pulled the cord out! I leaped across my bed and sla darkness, heart pounding, listening for noises

When I was sure ot dressed as quietly as I could I went to the bathrooht of the noise it would make I yanked my hand away from the lever and wiped the sweat from my brow They would surely have heard that! A narrow escape I’d have to be ot to the theater

I slipped downstairs and letup and it looked like it would be a bright day

I walked quickly and sang songs to pep myself up I was a bundle of nerves and almost turned back a dozen ti ho from Mr Crepsley’s jaw, and the tricks she had perforain

I can’t explain why Madaback, I’er sure what drove nore

The cru looked even creepier by day I could see cracks running down the front, holes nibbled by rats and mice, spiderwebs in the s I shivered and hurried around to the rear It was deserted Empty old houses, junkyards, scrap heaps There would be people ht then it looked like a ghost town I didn’t even see a cat or a dog

As I’d thought, there were plenty of ways to get into the theater There were two doors and tons of s to choose fro I didn’t spot any signs or pictures on theed to the Cirque Du Freak It suddenly struck me that the freaks probably slept in the vans If Mr Crepsley had a home in one of them, my plan was sunk

I snuck into the theater, which felt even colder than it had on Saturday night, and tiptoed down a long corridor, then another, then another! It was like a, so I could mark my way and

No! It was too late for that If I left, I’d never have the guts to return I’d just have to remember my steps as best I could and say a little prayer when it caan to think I was on a fool’s errand, that they were all in the vans or in nearby hotels I’d been searching for twentyMaybe I should quit and forget the crazy plan