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Jamal knew he shouldn’t be talking to this stranger, especially in a dark, isolated alley. But he couldn’t help it. A compassionate look crossed the man’s face.
“Like you’re invisible?” Dr. Facilier said, arching his eyebrow and leaning forward on his cane. “Or more like you’re standing in your brother’s shadow. Am I right?”
He leered at Jamal from under his top hat. Suddenly, his shadow seemed to stretch out over Jamal and envelop him in darkness. How was that possible? It was like it had a mind of its own.
Jamal felt a surge of self-pity. “Yeah, it’s like Malik is standing in the light—and I’m stuck in his shadow.”
“That’s a terri
ble situation.” Dr. Facilier nodded sympathetically. “Just awful. But maybe I can help you out of your bind. I’m a doctor, of sorts.”
“What kind of doctor?” Jamal said, taking in his top hat, purple suit, and crystal-topped cane. “I’ve never seen a doctor that looks like…well…you.”
Dr. Facilier grinned. “A special one. And I have a bargain for you, one you’ll find hard to resist.”
“A bargain?” Jamal said. “What kind of a bargain?”
“What if I could fix your little invisibility problem?” Dr. Facilier said, twirling his cane. “What if I could help you step out of the shadows and stand in the light for once?”
“Wait, you can do that?” Jamal said. “But how?”
“Let’s just say I know things,” the man said. “Special things. Powerful things. Magical things. That’s why they call me the shadow man.”
Jamal froze. His nana—his father’s mother—used to tell him and Malik scary stories about someone called the shadow man when they were small. But he’d always thought that was all they were—stories. If this was really him, then this man had special powers. Hope overpowered his initial trepidation. Maybe I don’t have to stay in the shadows, he thought. Maybe Dr. Facilier can fix things.
But then his necklace flared with red light, snapping him out of his trance. It burned his chest. He remembered his parents warning him not to talk to strangers.
“Look, thanks for the offer,” Jamal said, backing away down the alley. “But I need to get home for dinner soon, or my parents will be worried about me.”
“Don’t disrespect me, little man,” Dr. Facilier said, suddenly sounding far less polite. “Don’t derogate or deride! My time is highly valuable. Besides, you clearly need my help.”
“No, I don’t,” Jamal protested. “I’m fine, I swear—”
“And don’t lie to me, either,” Dr. Facilier said, snapping his cane at Jamal. “What about those big ol’ bullies chasing you down the alley? The ones who pick on you in gym class?”
“How do you know everything about me?” Jamal said, his stomach clenching at the memory. “And why do you care so much about what’s wrong with my life?”
Dr. Facilier leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. “All your life you’ve been pushed around, haven’t you?”
Jamal flinched. Dr. Facilier was right. Even worse, he had to face Colton at school the next day. That meant…bad things were in store for him.
Dr. Facilier reached into the pocket of his purple suit and produced a business card. He walked over and handed it to Jamal. It had a skull wearing a top hat on the front.
DOCTOR FACILIER TAROT READINGS. CHARMS. POTIONS. DREAMS MADE REAL.
As Jamal scanned the back of the card, his skull necklace flared brighter and hotter than ever, like it was warning him to run away. But still he lingered in the alley. He felt torn. The card was tempting. Maybe this strange man could actually help him.
“‘Dreams made real’?” Jamal read, then looked up at the man. “What does that mean?”
Dr. Facilier grinned and pointed toward a narrow purple door in the dark alley. A chill ran through Jamal again. Had the door been there the whole time? He didn’t remember seeing it before. It led into the shop with the creepy dolls. The one he had seen from the bus the day before. They had stared out from the front window. Their eyes had seemed to lock on to him, though that was impossible. They weren’t alive.
They’re just dolls.
Jamal shifted his gaze to the sign over the door. It was shaped like a top hat with a skull and crossbones, the same as Dr. Facilier’s hat. It read:
DR. FACILIER’S VOODOO EMPORIUM
Three skulls sat under the sign. Dr. Facilier tipped his cane at the skulls.
