Chapter 1 In the Dark I never thought it would end this way As I stared down the barrel of a dripping water pistol I saw my reflection in every chilled drop Why Why did you do it I asked the big shadow in front of me I could barely see in the dark room The bright light from the morning announcement camera was glaring in my eyes It was like looking at the sun without wearing sunglasses Mom always said never to do that This is how it’s going to end Gummyshoes There’s no stopping it now hissed the shadow 8
I tried to slip my hands out of the jump rope that bound me It was tied in a double knot Why didn’t I join the Cub Scouts instead of the after school baking club Hey Pay attention the shadow barked The water pistol moved closer to my face If I were you I would be taking this more seriously the shadow hissed If you were me you’d be in a worse position than an ice cream cone left outside on a July night I replied Listen Gummyshoes you’re going to look into this camera when that clock strikes nine a m You will read exactly what I have written here The shadowy figure pointed at a chalkboard I tried to make out the words written on it in the dim light The water pistol lowered from my face to the front of my cargo shorts Or the whole school will see that you had a very unfortunate accident the dark shadow said This was serious I had to find a way to stall for time I noticed the chalk on the board 9
I like the different colors you used for each word I said distracting my captor I got a multipack of chalk for my birthday It’s nice when I have a reason to use them he said letting his guard down You’re always running a risk using them outside when it’s a rainy season like this one I said trying to wiggle out of the impossible knot behind my back The bell sounded wildly sealing my fate It was nine a m It’s showtime the shadow said The light on the camera switched to a flashing red Every room in the school could hear and see me I begin to read aloud My name is Jon Gummyshoes And I am the one who stole the Warlock Rule video game from Principal Links’s office I took the prize for the raffle to repair the soccer field And I am the one who made it so the Tri-County Soccer Regionals cannot be played I could hear the whole school gasp The only thing I could think about was all of this the light the water gun the shadow was all for a game 11
