Page 65 of Shadow Charms

“I’m stuck,” Paige grunted. “I can’t lift them off the ring. I can’t move any higher.”

Sweat beaded on her forehead as her muscles began to protest their current position.

Her hand slipped off the key, and she crashed to the ground with a huff.

“I can’t,” she sobbed.

Dewey’s shoulders slumped and his head fell forward as Paige sucked in breaths.

The keys swayed, scraping against the wall until they settled back into place.

Paige’s gaze fell on the keyring. She narrowed her eyes as she stared at it. She rose to her elbows and pushed herself back up into the awkward position. She stretched her arm, reaching for the keys again. This time, instead of wrapping her fingers around them, she smacked them against the lower portion.

The keyring nudged upward before settling back into place.

“Hit it again,” Dewey said.

Paige banged her fingers into the keys again. They bounced up and down on the nail, inching forward. She tried again. They teetered on the edge of the nail, stuck around the wider head.

With a whispered curse, she batted at them one final time. They tumbled from their perch and splayed on the ground. Paige settled to the floor and reached for them, snagging one key and pulling them toward her.

“Got it,” she shouted triumphantly, waving the keys in the air.

She scurried inside the cell and tried three keys before finding one that fit the shackle. It fell open, and Paige kicked her foot to free herself from the chains. She raced across the small cell, hunched over, and dove out the opening, crawling across the floor and freeing Dewey’s back foot.

He flitted into the air and spun in a circle. “Free!”

“Yeah, now let’s get going,” Paige said as she climbed to her feet.

A new voice entered the conversation, uttering words Paige couldn’t understand.

Paige and Dewey turned to stare at the troll that had captured them earlier.

“Uh-oh. That’s not good,” Dewey murmured.

“Nope,” Paige said.

They stared down the tiny creature that blocked them from escaping.

CHAPTER 14

The creature issued another statement before flashing its white teeth in a malicious grin.

“What’d he say?” Paige asked.

“He said to get back in your cells or else,” Dewey translated.

Paige squeezed her fingers into fists and stamped a foot on the floor. “Or what, troll?”

“Easy, Paige. I’m pretty sure we don’t want to anger him.”

“Seriously?” Paige questioned. “That…thing beat me and then chained me in a cell. If he thinks we’re getting back in those, he’s crazy.”

Dewey raised his paws as the creature spoke again.

“Now what?” Paige asked.

“Pretty sure we should play along. Otherwise, I think he’s going to call his posse.”