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Riley burst into the clearing, clutching her staff. “You can’t trust him. My grandma told me. He’ll just trick you again.”
She blew her dust at Dr. Facilier’s shadow.
The shadow contorted in pain—and released Malik! Then Riley ran at Dr. Facilier with her staff raised, but before she could get to him, the dolls burst into the clearing.
They seized Riley, overpowering her this time.
“No, let me go!” she yelled, struggling against the dolls, but there were too many of them. They jumped on her and held her down, restraining her.
“Seize the shadow brother,” Dr. Facilier said, flicking his wrist. His shadow responded by grabbing Malik. It started to devour him.
“Stop!” Jamal yelled. “They’re my friends…my only real friends.”
It was the shadow man’s enchantment that had made Colton and the others at school like him. But Riley had liked him before he made that deal with Dr. Facilier, and his brother had always had his back, protecting him from the bullies. They were his real friends.
He had to save them.
“Little man, don’t waste my time,” Dr. Facilier ordered, peering from under the brim of his top hat. “Your grandmother’s necklace…now.”
Jamal glanced at the dolls. They were latched on to Riley, holding her down. She struggled against them, but they were too strong. Their button eyes followed the necklace hungrily. Jamal moved his hand right, then left. Anywhere he moved the necklace, their eyes followed it.
Suddenly, he had an idea. “Wait, what happens if you don’t get this necklace?” Jamal asked, holding it up over his head. The doll’s eyes followed it. “What if I break it?”
Fear flashed over Dr. Facilier’s face. The doll’s eyes darted to him now.
Suddenly, Jamal understood: Dr. Facilier had asked his friends on the other side for help, and they had sent these things to do their bidding, but he had to get the necklace as payment or his “friends”—and the dolls—would turn on him.
“They’ll come after you, won’t they?” Jamal said. “The dolls. You have to get this for your friends—or else!”
“That’s right,” Riley yelled from the ground. “If he doesn’t provide the necklace, he’s doomed. They’ll take his soul.”
Jamal raised the necklace to smash it.
Dr. Facilier held up his hands, trying to stop him.
“Little man, don’t act so hastily,” he pleaded. “Let’s talk about this. I’m a wheeling, dealing man. I’m sure we can work something out—”
The dolls released Riley and started toward Dr. Facilier. The dolls surrounded him, staring up at him with their button eyes.
“If they take my soul,” he snarled at Jamal, “then you’ll never get your brother back. I’m the only one who can reverse the shadow curse.”
Jamal flinched. This was the terrible choice he had to make. He remembered what Grandma DeSeroux had said. It was either Malik or the entire city of New Orleans.
“Little J, don’t do it,” Malik rasped in a strangled voice. The shadow monster had almost fully devoured him now. “I’m not worth it. Save our city…. Don’t do it!”
Jamal watched him start to disappear and felt his heart lurch painfully. The truth hit him all at once. He couldn’t stand to live in a world where his brother didn’t exist anymore. They were twins, and Malik was like a part of him.
He lowered his hand.
“Here…take the necklace,” Jamal said in defeat, holding it out.
Dr. Facilier grinned. His hand closed around the thick chain. Smoothly, he fastened it around his neck. The eye sockets lit up with reddish light—and Dr. Facilier’s eyes glowed red, too. He started to grow taller and taller, his form enveloping the bayou.
“Okay, reverse the curse,” Jamal said, turning toward his brother.
But Malik remained a shadow. Suddenly, Jamal felt like something strange was happening to him.
He glanced down at his hands, but they had turned dark and transparent…like a shadow.
