Race to Witch Mountain Read Online Free Page B

you two, right?” Jack asked as he warily eyed the building.“’Cause it doesn’t look like they’re home.”
    The sun had completely set, and long shadows dominated the landscape. The beautiful desert had suddenly turned ominous and threatening.
    â€œDo not worry, Jack Bruno,” Sara reassured him. “We will soon be reunited with relatives.”
    Jack put the car in park and turned to the kids.
    â€œAll right, the fare comes to $721.80,” he told them. “But after everything that went down today, how about I knock twenty-five percent off ?”
    In response, Seth shoved all of his money into Jack’s hand. Neither of the kids said a word as they hurried out of the cab and toward the cabin.
    â€œOkay, then, good-bye to you, too,” Jack said to himself. It was only fitting that the strangest fare of his life had ended in a decidedly unusual way.
    Looking at his reflection in the rearview mirror, he thought back on the day. He was totally exhausted.
    â€œI’ve got to get another job,” he told himself.
    Sighing, he looked down at the money and began to count it. “I got a fifteen-thousand-dollar tip,” he said when he had finished counting. “That seems reasonable .”
    Part of Jack just wanted to take the money and race back to Vegas. But he knew that wasn’t reasonable . None of this was reasonable. And, for some reason, he felt that he needed to look after Seth and Sara. He got out of the taxi and headed to the cabin, determined to do the right thing.
    â€œHey, you guys overpaid . . . by a lot,” he called out. He looked around, but there was no sign of Seth or Sara. It was as if they had vanished into the night. Just then he heard the sound of glass shattering.
    â€œHello,” he called out, a little louder this time. “Everything okay in there?”
    The closer he got to the cabin, the scarier it seemed. It was very dark, and most of the windows were boarded up. He looked at the porch and saw the cause of the noise. Broken glass lay on the wooden planks. Something was strange about it. It looked as if someone had broken the window from the inside .
    Jack wasn’t easily scared. But nevertheless, he was cautious as he entered. The door was partially open, and he was able to slip in without making a sound.
    The inside of the cabin was spookier than the outside. A light fixture hung from the ceiling and swung back and forth, sweeping the room with a solitary shaft of light.
    With each swing, Jack could make out a little more detail in the ransacked room. Furniture was tipped over in every direction, and there were broken plates and glasses scattered across the floor.
    Jack heard something moving ahead of him, but before he could check it out someone grabbed his jacket and pulled him to the floor. Jack picked up a long piece of wood and swung . . . right through Seth. Jack brought his arm down and stared at Seth. He and Sara were hiding behind a couch.
    â€œWhat’s going—” Jack began to ask.
    Seth signaled him to be quiet and started to fiddle with his compass.
    â€œJack Bruno,” Sara whispered, “you should not have jeopardized your life by following us.”
    Seth’s compass was now emitting a series of lights and beeps.
    â€œWhat sort of trouble are you two in?” Jack asked in a hushed whisper.
    â€œThis is neither your concern nor battle,” Seth said.
    â€œSeth,” Sara observed, “he’s just trying to help.”
    But Seth didn’t want to hear it. Just then, his compass seemed to lock on a heading. He signaled for Sara to follow him into the next room.
    Jack was so focused on the kids, he didn’t notice that when the light swung by, it momentarily illuminated another figure in the room. This figure wore a frightening mask and black armor. What Jack didn’t know was that it was a Siphon—an alien assassin.
    As suddenly as he had arrived, the Siphon