Chapter 10—The Dream

Jesse's asleep in a darkened room.

His eyes fly open. He sees the moon through a high window.

He stands, and a rotten smell flies up his nose. He coughs.

Like a sleepwalker, Jesse feels his way around, bumping into something.

A crate cover shifts, and he coughs again, this time nearly gagging.

His ears fix on a sound, a low, fierce growling.

Panic sends him back to the cot, and he remembers his flashlight.

The light reveals a dungeon cellar and a fierce dog guarding the door.

Not a dog—a wolfhound showing sharp teeth. It growls louder under the glare.

Moving the light away, Jesse sees the twins and Daniel.

He looks up as something moves at the window—a dark robed figure, spying on them.

Jesse sneezes and the others wake up. The twins screech. Daniel stutters, "We are in M-Madame Villars' d-dungeon."

The twins open their mouths, but Jesse motions be quiet and looks up—the spy is gone.

He removes his bottle marked "POISON." Daniel grabs it, and the stopper comes off.

A vapor pours out and flows around the wolfhound; the growling stops.

He shines the light to see the hounds' lips close over sharp teeth and its claws retreat.

The hound whines and falls on its side. Its chest still moves—not dead.

A sound in the distance calls...wake up, wake up.