The Silhouette's Prisoner

By Sherry Zeng and Katherine Chou

Twelve-year-old Sharon was kidnapped by a crazy woman and was locked in an elegant prison room. Her clueless little brother ran off to find her, and Sharon's twin chased after. They both ended up in the middle of nowhere. Meanwhile, Sharon finally thought of a risky escape plan, having no idea what her siblings were going through...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sherry Zeng and Katherine Chou
• Release date: Sep 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301761982

Book preview

Chapter 1 - Sharon-Running Away From a Large Silhouette

Here I go again. I mumbled quietly to myself. I took a deep breath as I stepped into the alleyway between my apartment house and my friends. Every night for a week, I had to cross this dirty, slender path between the two tall buildings to work on a group project. Even though my warm jacket protected me from the snow crushing beneath my weight, I shivered and quickened my pace.

I wished Catie, my twin, were here. She was the brave one of the family. But then, she would just argue or tease me. Again, that disturbing dream came back to me as I reached the midpoint of the alleyway. As usual when I was crossing this alleyway, my heart started to jump faster than normal. I suddenly felt that someone was watching me, so I looked back just in time to hear an unusual footstep trailing behind me.

Oh, no! I thought. This was what I was afraid would happen. Without another thought, I broke into a run.

You’re almost there, only five more yards. I encouraged myself as my heart became uncontrollable and my lungs burst open. Behind me, the footsteps got louder and louder. I glanced back only long enough to make out the blurry silhouette of a large person.

Now that person was so close that I could feel the hot breath pounding against my neck. I was getting closer from escaping this alleyway and the stranger. Four feet away, three feet, two feet…

Suddenly, the mysterious stranger grabbed my hoodie and pulled me back. I let out a shrill scream and managed to head butt my stalker before breaking free. Preparing to run, I slipped on a patch of ice and tried in vain to get back up. The stranger grabbed me again this time, and wrapped a thick smelly cloth around my mouth. I was thrown in a nearby convertible, my left leg bumping into the door. The last thing I remembered before the car took off was me thinking, The nightmare became real.

Chapter 2 - Catie-So the Door Slammed…

Bye, Sharon! Good luck with your science project. Don’t get an F on that stupid Endangered Animals topic of yours! I waved goodbye to my twin sister as she grabbed her coat and her 11 by 11 poster board. Sharon glared at me, hurt. I glared at her back. Well, her friends would only need her to help on the writing part of the project. After all, she won a writing contest! However, I’m the one who is good at researching.

On the way out the door, she hesitated.

Um…are you sure you can’t, well, come with me? she asked hopefully, avoiding my eye.

Well, no. You know that very well. I replied glancing at our seven year old brother who was focusing on a puzzle. Then I looked at the essay I was working on for Social Studies. I have to watch over Andy, and you know how much he hates leaving in middle of Sudoku. Besides, the dream you had last night about getting kidnapped in the alleyway was only a nightmare. Seriously, you don’t have to be a scaredy-cat all the time!

Well, fine. I’ll try to be brave. You would have been scared if it were you. You probably don’t want to come with me because you are scared too!!! Sharon snapped, slowly walking out, Bye!

Bye! I angrily echoed, Make sure to call when you get there. If you ever do. I snickered.

She stared at me with her eyes narrowed and a frown on her face.

You looked funny with your face all red. Are you a tomato? Andy naively said to Sharon while he looked up from his Sudoku.

She turned around. The door slammed shut loudly.

He innocently commented, Where is Sharon going, and why does she sound scared? Why are you guys even twins?? You don’t act or look alike. He ruffled his dirty blonde hair thoughtfully.

I groaned. I hate it when you ask so many random questions at once. One, Sharon is going to her friend’s house to work on a project, and she is going through a scary, dark alleyway. Two, we are fraternal twins. That means we don- I replied, or tried to.

I know what that is, Andy responded, acting like a brat, Now I need to concentrate. Please go away. I want Big Sissy, not you.

Then why did you ask in the first place? I spat at him, narrowing my eyes and flipping my dark brown hair. I always loved my beautiful long waves. Sharon had the same type of hair, but she had ugly reddish hair. Of course, she thought my hair was ugly.

Sissy 2 (Andy calls me that). Andy looked at me again. Why are you so mean? I wish Sissy 1 (He calls Sharon that) was here.

Though it hurt my feelings, I knew it was true. Sharon was the shy, caring one that Andy wanted. Not me.

Chapter 3 - Andy-I LOVE Ice cream!!!!

Hi! I am Andy Walker. I am seven. I love ice cream and puzzles. I am very smart! My IQ is 156! My sissies said that I had the worst pronunciation and grammar skills ever. Well, I am so sad. Sissy 1 isn’t here anymore. I want her to tease me about my immatureness and bad grammar now.

My sister got taken away by mean people for two weeks now. I remember my two sissies talking. Then the conversation became heated, whatever that means. Sissy1 walked out with her poster board. I looked up from a hard Sudoku. I asked Sissy 2 a question or two. She answered them. Then, I turned back to my Sudoku. After a long time, Sissy1 had not called. Next thing I knew, Sissy 2 was calling the Smiths. That was where Sissy 1 was heading. My sister sounded very worried even though they were enemies. I think that deep down in her heart, she is a caring older twin. Turns out, Sissy 1 never ever made it. Sissy 2 frantically called everyone. Sissy 1 wasn’t anywhere!! Mommy and Daddy