Estelle looked at him sharply. “What do you mean, that’s not entirely true?”
Tiff brightened. “So there is a ghost! I knew it!”
A variety of expressions crossed Finley’s face as he listened to his friend’s mental voice. “Rufus says it’s… complicated. But thereissomething in the woods. He’s certain of it. That’s what Shan and Leonie have been investigating. Not our ghost story. He says—wait, really?”
“What?” Archie asked, looking between them.
Finley gulped. “Rufus says Shan can detect lies. He knew right from the start that we weren’t telling the truth.”
“Atwo-year-oldcould have spotted that,” Ignatius said.
“Hang on,” Archie said, eyes wide. “Are you saying there’sactuallya ghost in the woods?”
“Of course there isn’t,” Spencer said. He folded his arms. “Ghosts aren’t real.”
Finley’s expression also conveyed distinct doubts. “Well, Rufus thinks there’s something out there.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Tiff exclaimed. “Let’s go find it! Right now!”
“Thatwouldsolve everything,” Beth said slowly. “If we could honestly say we’d seen something strange, Shan wouldn’t leave.”
Archie nodded eagerly. “Plus, it would beawesome.”
“Oh, come on,” Ignatius said. “Even if thereissome unknown paranormal entity lurking in the woods—which I highly doubt—how do you idiots plan to prove it before sunrise? What are you going to do, randomly wander into the forest in the hope of bumping into it?”
“Yes,” said Estelle. She exchanged a meaningful look with Beth. “I think that’sexactlywhat we should do.”
“You know this is a set-up, right?” Spencer muttered to Tiff as they pushed their way through the forest.
Tiff gave him a puzzled glance over her backpack. “What do you mean?”
“Come on. Even you can’t be this gullible.” Spencer scowled suspiciously around at the trees. “Why do you think the others insisted on splitting up into pairs? And sending us off on our own?”
Tiff shrugged, ducking under a low branch. “Because thatway, we can cover more ground. They’re really worried about our counselors. If we don’t find the ghost tonight, Shan’s out of here.”
“Oh, I certain we’re going to findsomething. It’s just not going to be a ghost. I wish I could figure out how Estelle’s planning to get round Shan’s ability. He’s going to know that she’s lying.”
“Unless she isn’t,” Tiff said cheerfully. “Come on, hurry up. We need to get as far away from the camp as we can.”
Spencer sighed. “I really should have listened to Ignatius.”
Nonetheless, he followed. Tiff chose the route, taking care to steer clear of the established trails. The two kids scrambled over fallen trees and wriggled through undergrowth, always heading deeper into the wild.
“Okay,” Tiff said at last. She shrugged off her backpack. “This looks like a good place. Help me move these leaves.”
Spencer sighed again, but started dragging a foot through the leaf litter, exposing bare earth. “How can you possibly think you’re going to find anything out here? Shan didn’t, and he’s an actual special agent. Apparently.”
“BecauseIhave skills he doesn’t,” Tiff said, busy rummaging in her backpack. She pulled out a large container of cooking salt. “I’m an expert in the occult. Besides, it’s midnight, we’re in the middle of nowhere without any adults, and you’re a skeptic who doesn’t believe in ghosts.Of coursesomething is going to leap out and eat your face.”
“My face? What about your face?”
“I’m the sassy blonde everyone underestimates.” Tiff started pouring out a trail of salt, making a wide circle on the ground. “Obviously I’m going to survive. It would be a terrible cliche otherwise. Besides, weasel, remember? Here, take these.”
Spencer looked at what she’d handed him. “Glow sticks?”
“Well, we can’t usecandles. Didn’t you listen to any ofBuck’s lectures about forest fires? Space them out around the edge of the summoning circle.” Tiff stepped back, regarding her handiwork with satisfaction. “Perfect. Now all we need is the sacrifice.”
Spencer froze in the middle of shaking a glow stick. “What kind of sacrifice?”
