Quest Chasers: The Screaming Mummy (A Magic Fantasy Adventure Book Series)

by Thomas Lockhaven

  “He wants to kill us...so we don’t expose his world,” added Tommy.

  “And there’s that...,” nodded Eevie.

  “Can’t we pull up the archives in the library? Don’t they have old newspapers at the library or online? Your grandfather left you those articles for a reason. We’ve just got to figure out how all of this ties together.”

  “If we get caught looking up Black Hallow stuff in the library, our parents are going to lock us in our rooms and throw away the keys.”

  “What about Drew? We know he can be trusted. He can search the archives at the library and download the images. I’ll shoot him a text and see if he wants to go with us to the football stadium. We can fill him in there.”

  “OK,” said Eevie. “Sounds great. See you at 5:30.”

  Eevie pulled out the astrolabe and the mysterious book from her backpack and laid them on her desk. She removed the astrolabe from its protective satchel and held it toward her ceiling, imagining stars shining through the openings. “Grandpa,” she said smiling and turning the astrolabe over in her hand, “I think we’re one step closer to figuring out your puzzle.”

  Starlight, Star Bright, First Star I See Tonight

  White skeletal branches stretched skyward, silhouetted against the nighttime sky. Stars sprinkled like glitter across the heavens. They shimmered as if they too were excited about the secret they were about to reveal. Below, a ferocious wind ripped across the parking lot, creating cyclones of snow and ice.

  A lone figure crouched in the shadowed doorway of the stadium. The rope connected to the flagpole clanged noisily with every gust of wind.

  “Drew,” called out Tommy. “Is that you?”

  “Hey, guys,” said Drew through chattering teeth. “Why all the secrecy?”

  “Drew, we need your help...”

  “Wait a minute,” said Drew, raising his gloved hands. “I almost got you guys killed.... I’m not getting involved in anything crazy again.”

  “Are those pink hello kitty gloves?” asked Tommy as he leaned in for a closer look.

  Drew thrust his hands back into his puffy blue winter coat. “They’re my sisters,” he said defensively. “I couldn’t find mine.”

  And oddly they fit you.... “OK,” mouthed Tommy, smiling.

  “Drew,” said Eevie, putting her hand on his shoulder. “What happened to me and Tommy was our decision, our fault. We could really use your help with this.”

  “Yeah,” said Tommy, his teeth chattering. “Just because you decided to tell a fantastical story about a demon-possessed tree almost killing you—and then getting Eevie and I nearly killed—we still…”

  “We still value your friendship,” smiled Eevie.

  Drew stared into Eevie’s eyes. Warmth filled his body. Romantic music filled his soul. He was pretty sure that his heart was now pumping tiny heart-shaped cells throughout his body. All he needed now was Cupid to appear and fulfill his prophecy. “I’m yours,” whispered Drew as if in a trance.

  “What?” asked Eevie, shaking her head.

  “Plus,” interrupted Tommy, “it’s already begun again,” he said, unaware of Drew’s awkward profession of love.

  “Wait.... Wha-what’s begun again?” stammered Drew, this time not from the cold.

  “The break-in at my house. It wasn’t a burglar—it was the ranger. He tried to kill me!”

  Drew’s mouth flew open, but no words came out. Sorry, Eevie, yet again our love will have to wait for the betterment of humanity.

  “Drew, we’re not here to do anything crazy. Relax,” said Eevie calmly. “Remember when I told you the story about my grandfather and how he found pictures and newspaper clippings hidden in his father’s office?”

  “Yes,” said Drew tentatively. “The story of the shoehorn.”

  Tommy snickered. “Shoehorn.”

  Eevie continued, ignoring the two boys. “Well, my grandfather left me a hidden message, and when I solved the message, I found a bunch of strange items that he had left for me.”

  “Why didn’t he just give them to you?” asked Drew.

  “Drew, he didn’t want anyone to know what he was up to. Think about when you told people about the tree, how they reacted. No one believed you. Just as no one believes me and Tommy... My parents blamed my grandfather for filling my head with crazy stories, even though I think my grandfather was the most amazing man I’ve ever known. I think that he did things the way he did them because he wanted me to be ready.”

  Drew’s round face paled with uncertainty. “Eevie, what the heck did you find?”

  Eevie pointed to her backpack. “It’s all in here. Let’s get into the stadium, and out of this wind, and I’ll show you.”

  The trio traversed the icy sidewalk to the front of the stadium. Eevie and Tommy were extremely familiar with Swift Creek Middle School’s pride and joy, the Northwood Sports Complex.

  Tommy played football and track here, and Eevie played soccer. Drew was familiar with another part of the stadium...the bleachers. Tommy walked up to the main gate and gave his friends the thumbs down gesture. There was no way they were getting in through the gates. A huge chain and padlock the size of New Hampshire made sure no one was getting in without a key...a really big key.

  “Worth a try,” smiled Tommy. “Drew, I hope you’re not afraid of heights,” said Tommy, looking up at the ten-foot chain-link fence that surrounded the stadium.

  Eevie looked at Drew apprehensively. She was about to ask if he was cool with climbing the fence. As if reading her mind, Drew attacked the fence and began ascending. He turned to Tommy and yelled out, “You coming?”

  Eevie laughed at Tommy. Even in the darkness, she could see Tommy’s face redden. “Come on, champ,” she said, punching him in the shoulder.

  “Champ.... I get it.... Funny.”

  Clambering over the fence in gloves and boots while pummeled by thirty-miles-per-hour winds was not the easiest or most enjoyable thing in the world. However, Drew seemed to have watched every single episode of American Ninja Warrior as he leapt off the fence from about ten feet up, landing a perfect snow belly flop.

  Tommy cringed. He heard and felt the impact as Drew slammed into the snow. He expected Drew to sit up and half of his teeth would be missing. However, Drew flipped over and stared into Eevie’s eyes while making a perfect snow angel. He then sat up and drew little hearts at the tip of each wing.

  “Whoa, cool,” said Eevie, laughing at Drew. “That was awesome!”

  Tommy clung to the top of the fence and shook his head. No way Drew Morris was gonna steal his thunder. This was the kid who normally tripped over his own shadow. Without looking, Tommy leapt into the air. Oh no, was the only thought that entered Tommy’s head as his body smashed into the ground.

  Tommy rolled over, gasping for air. As he slowly sat up, he looked like someone had hit him in the face with a snow pie.

  “You OK?” asked Eevie, trying not to laugh.

  “You OK, bud?” asked Drew, a little too smugly. Tommy could see a little glistening of happiness in Drew’s eyes.

  “I’m fine, I’m fine—I just landed wrong. Come on,” said Tommy, getting to his feet, “let’s go to the concession stand and get out of this wind.” Suddenly, Tommy was blinded by a flash of light.

  “What the...?”

  “Sorry,” laughed Drew, holding up his phone. “I had to get a picture of you with the snow beard. You know you look a lot like a young Colonel Sanders.”

  “Seriously?” asked Tommy. “Unbelievable.”

  “Um, I’ll delete it,” said Drew, seeing the look of impending doom in Tommy’s eyes.

  Eevie smiled and playfully brushed the snow beard from Tommy’s face. “Come on, guys. Let’s concentrate on what we came here for.”

  Eevie, Tommy, and Drew huddled under the shelter of the concession stand. Eevie cleaned the snow away and placed her backpack on the counter, and unzipped it.

  “Eevie
,” said Tommy as she began removing the items from the backpack. “Do you think that Drew should read the letter your grandfather wrote you first? It kind of puts things in context.”

  “Yeah, good idea,” nodded Eevie.

  She handed the note to Drew, while Tommy watched Drew’s expressions.

  “Eevie, watch. Drew moves his lips when he reads,” whispered Tommy just loud enough for Drew to hear.

  Eevie gave Tommy the seriously look that every girl has mastered when they feel the need to make their male friend aware that they are being trifling.

  “So...,” said Drew, pausing, “your grandfather is asking you to solve some riddles, so you can take over his quest? Not trying to be rude, but from what I’ve seen and read, quests...,” he fought back the impulse to do air quotes, “...by their very nature don’t tend to be safe.”

  “Yes, I know. I guess I’m just gonna have to trust that my grandfather saw something in me, or knows something that I don’t know. Look, he also knew that I have the best friends in the world, and that they always have my back.” She paused and smiled at each of them. “Let’s at least see if we can figure out my grandfather’s clues and find out where it takes us.”

  “I’m in,” said Drew, smiling. “I’ll help however I can.”

  Eevie looked at Tommy, her eyebrows raised questioningly.

  “I don’t know. It sounds dangerous. Maybe you should ask Champ. I’m sure he’d volunteer to take my place.”

  “Champ?” inquired Drew, jealousy creeping in.

  “Champ is Eevie’s new boyfriend. He’s taking her to homecoming.”

  “Boyfriend,” whispered Drew, crestfallen. It was as if Cupid had drawn back his bow only to have the string snap right when he was about to let his arrow of love fly.

  Tommy couldn’t take it. Drew’s mournful expression was heart-wrenching. “Yeah, Eevie and Champ are pretty close,” he teased. “Oh, here’s a picture of Champ,” said Tommy, holding out his iPhone.

  “Champ’s a dog...?” asked Drew, confused and relieved.

  “Woah, that’s harsh. I mean I agree he’s no Chris Hemsworth, but as they say, love is blind,” laughed Tommy.

  “Drew, I am not going to homecoming with Champ. However...I may or may not have a poster of Chris Hemsworth in his Thor costume on my wall...”

  “Or two,” interjected Tommy.

  “Or two,” added Eevie, “but for now, can we please remember why we are here?”

  “Sorry, Eevie,” smiled Drew meekly.

  Eevie gave Tommy the stink-eye, followed by the infamous two-finger I’m watching you exchange.

  Eevie pulled out the cloth satchel from her backpack. The concession stand shook and groaned with each gust of wind. The first item she removed was the instrument that Tommy had identified as an astrolabe.

  “It’s an astrolabe,” said Tommy, seeing Drew’s puzzled expression. “Explorers used it for navigation. You see the holes?” He turned the astrolabe toward Drew. “We think that if we align it with the stars correctly it will help us solve the code.”

  Eevie slowly unwrapped the cloth protective covering from the ancient book, and then placed the book on the counter. “Here’s the book my grandfather left me.”

  Drew gently opened the cover. “Your grandfather wrote this?” asked a confused Drew. “Because...”

  “I know, because it’s written with a quill or a nib,” said Eevie, “and not an ink pen. I don’t think my grandfather wrote this. I think it was given to him, or he found it. We’re not sure how old it is, but we hope to find out once we decipher the code.”

  “Which we better do quickly,” said Tommy, “before our parents begin getting worried. I’d like to stay off their radar as long as possible.”

  Eevie, Tommy, and Drew trudged through the snow to the middle of the stadium, as ice crystals glistened like diamonds beneath the moonlight. The night sky was perfectly clear.

  “OK, Eevie,” Tommy said, “according to what I read, we are supposed to align the holes in the middle circle with three groups of stars. The inner circle should then be rotated to match the zodiac representation of the constellation that appears in the hole.”

  “Wow, Tommy,” said Eevie, through chattering teeth, “I’m impressed.”

  “Thank you, Eevie, as you should be. Drew,” said Tommy, smiling, “you need to step up your game.” Tommy expected Drew to have some type of retort. However, he was concentrating on whatever he was doing on his phone.

  “If you pull out a selfie stick, I’m going to vomit,” said Tommy.

  “OK,” said Eevie, staring at the sky, “it looks absolutely chaotic up there. Beautiful, but chaotic. How am I supposed to know which zodiac symbol matches the constellation? Or, how to even find a constellation...?”

  “I just downloaded the Star Chart app,” said Drew smugly. “I figured instead of standing here all night aimlessly pointing that thing at the sky, I thought I’d use this app to identify the constellations. Then we can use the astrolabe and see if any of them align in the openings.”

  “Dang, looks like someone brought their ‘A’ game, Tommy,” Eevie said.

  “Actually, that was a good idea,” said Tommy, surprised at Drew’s ingenuity. “I take back everything I ever said about you.”

  “All right, Drew, you’re up!” said Eevie.

  Drew held his phone to the sky. His phone’s screen jumped to life, analyzing and separating stars into grids. His phone locked onto a series of stars and drew a line connecting them. “It found Gemini,” said Drew excitedly.

  Tommy looked at Drew’s screen, and then at the sky. “I would never have found that without those lines connecting the stars.”

  Eevie held the astrolabe up to the sky. She rotated the circle with the holes in it until she could see Gemini through the hole. “OK, I have Gemini lined up. Is there another constellation close to Gemini? It would have to be to the right of Gemini.”

  Drew held his phone to the sky. A few moments later his phone locked onto another cluster of stars.

  “Got it. It looks like something called Auriga, and...it seems to be connected to Taurus.”

  Drew held his phone up beside the astrolabe so Eevie could align it into the correct position. She tried to align the stars, but they did not line up with the holes.

  “Am I looking at the right set of stars?” she asked. “It’s not lining up at all, no matter how I twist this thing.”

  “Eevie, what if Gemini is supposed to be in the right hole, and the other constellation should be to the left?” asked Tommy.

  He turned to Drew. “Is there another constellation to the left of the astrolabe?

  Drew slowly panned his phone to the left. Stars and grids intersected and then a pattern began to emerge. “Cancer!” said Drew excitedly. “Eevie, it’s almost directly across from Gemini.” Drew held his phone to the left of the astrolabe so Eevie could see.

  Eevie rotated the circle with the holes, and then stopped. She could now see Cancer and Gemini in the opening. Two brilliant stars appeared in the third smallest window.

  “It lines up!” shouted Eevie. “Drew,” said Eevie excitedly, “can you point your app at these two stars?” She pointed to the stars beaming through the third hole.

  “Don’t point your phone at me, Drew, unless you want to see the Hercules constellation,” said Tommy as he arched his eyebrows upward.

  Drew aligned his phone directly under the astrolabe. “It’s a constellation called Canis Minor; it’s right under Gemini. The app says it means ‘lesser dog.’ I think that would be more befitting of Tommy...”

  “Hey, wait, so it’s a legit constellation then?” said Tommy excitedly.

  “Yes,” said Eevie, “and everything lines up!”

  “Don’t move a thing on the astrolabe!” said Tommy. “I’m going to take pictures of it.” Tommy’s phone flashed. “In fact, I’m going to take a few pictures just in case they aren’t perfectly clear.”<
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  “Guys, I’m thinking—Eevie you probably don’t want to leave the astrolabe where it’s showing the answer. You know, in case someone were to find it.”

  Eevie paused, turning to Drew. “That’s a good idea.”

  “Tommy’s got pictures now. Why not upload them to a password-protected folder that we can all access? We can figure out the code from the pictures.”

  Tommy nodded. “I’ll get them uploaded as soon as I get home.” He turned to Eevie. “In the meantime, I would hide the astrolabe someplace separate from the book. That way they are never together.”

  “Will do,” smiled Eevie. “I know just the place. For now, I’ll keep the book hidden, and I’ll put another book cover over the book, so it looks like a different book.”

  Drew’s phone beeped, and the screen flashed 7:00. “FYI, I only have until about 8:30,” said Drew, looking up.

  “Then we better get moving!” said Tommy.

  The three friends raced to the concession stand. Eevie’s backpack had blown over. The book was teetering on the edge of the counter, the pages flipping wildly in the wind.

  “Ugh,” said Eevie, “that wasn’t bright.”

  “It’s OK,” said Drew. “We were all excited, and the book is fine.”

  Eevie went to wrap the book, but the covering was nowhere to be found. She checked in her backpack, and under her backpack, but it wasn’t anywhere.

  “What’s wrong, Eevie?”

  “The covering for the book, it’s gone. It must have blown away.”

  “In this wind, you’ll never find it,” said Tommy. “It was just a covering, right?”

  “Yeah, I guess...” Inside, Eevie struggled with losing anything that belonged to her grandfather. It was like losing yet another part of their connection.

  The three looked for another couple minutes and then agreed that they needed to go.

  Tommy knew Eevie better than anyone else in the world. He could see the sadness flash in her eyes. “Don’t worry,” said Tommy, putting his arm around Eevie. “I have a feeling that we are going to learn a lot more about your grandfather.”