Shadow Wrack by Kim Thompson

seemed to move farther and farther away. For weeks she had longed for Miss Trang to come back. She didn’t want the responsibility any more; she wanted to be rid of it, and rid of all of them, actually. She had to be honest about it. She was tired of the whole show, the whole weird, creepy show.
    Willa found she was super-hungry , and the lasagna was fantastic. When she went to her room the black stain was gone. Absolutely, totally gone. Willa ran her hand over the surface of the desk. She was relieved, certainly, but uneasy. Could everything be solved so suddenly? Having Miss Trang around — was that all it took for problems to vanish? Willa felt a twinge of resentment. Your work is done . That’s what she said. Willa knew she was only supposed to be in charge temporarily, but she couldn’t help feeling like she’d been fired. And she couldn’t shake the nagging suspicion that she could have done a much better job. She could have looked after them all a little better. She could have been more patient and less grumpy. She stared at the desk, frowning. I could have figured out how to help the phoenix instead of just trying to shut her up. I could have maybe not driven Belle away.
    At this her eyes teared up. She didn’t want to think about it any more. She lay on the bed and closed her eyes. Belle was gone somewhere else, but she’d be all right. And the others would be all right too, just like Miss Trang said.
    Her eyes flicked open.
    Miss Trang didn’t mention Horace.
    Willa sat up, casting her mind back. When she’d told Miss Trang about Horace in the beginning, what had she said? That she would “take him in hand.”
    Willa jumped to her feet and grabbed her sweater. Her work was not done. Not by a long shot.

Chapter Nine
    Into the dark
    I t was getting dark as Willa rushed down the street. She took a longer route to avoid passing Eldritch Manor. She didn’t want to run into Miss Trang, because she’d probably just order her to go home. Funny how she’d wanted a grownup to show up and tell her what to do, and now that one had come, she really, really didn’t want to be bossed around. Not any more.
    She wondered what she was going to find at the hill. What if Horace wasn’t there? What if Miss Trang had moved him somewhere? What if she had “taken him in hand”? Willa wasn’t sure what that meant, but she had a strong feeling it wasn’t good. But why should she be so suspicious of what Miss Trang might do to Horace? She remembered how she used to be scared of her, before she found out Miss Trang was one of the “good guys.” So who were the good guys now? She wasn’t sure about anything anymore, except that Horace needed help — help that would not come from Miss Trang.
    The fog was rolling in thick waves around her, and she didn’t see the goblin until he had run right into her. A horrible, green, warty face looked up at Willa, mumbled “sorry,” and the little figure scurried off into the night, followed by a three-foot -tall butterfly and an even smaller pumpkin with legs. Willa relaxed with a smile. It’s Hallowe’en! She’d forgotten all about it. In the darkness she could make out hazy, costumed figures in all shapes and sizes, and along the street windows glowed red with jack o’ lantern light. She watched the ghosts and ghouls tripping up porch steps with their bags of candy, chirping “Trick or treat” and then dashing back to their parents waiting on the sidewalk. Willa shook her head. Trick-or -treating felt a million miles away to her. I feel like I’m living Hallowe’en every day.
    She hurried along. Ahead she could see three children staring at her and whispering to each other. They were all wearing owl masks, very good ones — the white disks of their faces glowed in the dark, and their black eyes glittered. They were joined by two more kids in owl masks, then