The Field Guide: Chapters 1–3

There were several chimneys, and the whole thing was topped off by a strip of iron fence sitting on the roof like a particularly garish hat.

The doors were a faded gray, worn with age. The only traces of paint were an indeterminate cream, stuck deep in crevices and around the hinges.

The doors were a faded gray, worn with age. The only traces of paint were an indeterminate cream, stuck deep in crevices and around the hinges.

The only window was halfway up the stairs, and its stained glass panes gave the walls an eerie, reddish glow.

Jared nodded grudgingly.

He took a tentative step and then another, until the creak of a board under his feet stopped him.

Just as he paused, something inside the wall rustled. He could hear it scrabbling upward, until the sound disappeared past the ceiling.

Mallory was right behind him, scowling.

Simon looked at the wall with interest. Brocaded gold wallpaper hung limply, peeling and pocking in places.

Jared tossed and turned on the lumpy mattress, pressing the pillow down over his head like he was smothering himself, but he couldn’t sleep.

“Simon.” Jared leaned in close, making his voice deliberately urgent. “Squirrel! Squirrel!”

Simon opened his eyes and glared at them. “I was sleeping.”

The scuttling grew louder as they neared the kitchen.

As she snapped off more pieces, other things were revealed. The remains of curtains. Bits of tattered silk and lace.

A doll’s head lolled in one corner.

“Simon?" Jared asked. “Have you ever heard of an animal like this? I mean, some of this stuff is really odd, you know? Like this squirrel must be as demented as Aunt Lucy.”

Simon looked at her skeptically. “I don’t know. What if the ropes aren’t that good anymore?”

Mallory winched the dumbwaiter back down.

Instead, he
 let himself be raised into the darkness, holding the makeshift lantern.

The light from the candle was a small halo, reflecting things erratically.

The ascent was slow. Jared felt like he couldn’t breathe.

The dim glow illuminated one title at a time as he scanned the shelves.

They were all strange: A Historie of Scottish Dwarves, A Compendium of Brownie Visitations from Around the World, and Anatomy of Insects and Other Flying Creatures.

They were all strange: A Historie of Scottish Dwarves, A Compendium of Brownie Visitations from Around the World, and Anatomy of Insects and Other Flying Creatures.

As he held up the makeshift lamp, Jared saw that something had been scrawled in the dust of the desk.