Jasper heard the wind howl outside, whipping snow against the window panes. Inside, the room was deathly still. Anyone would think it was empty. But Jasper knew there were no empty rooms at Monstrum House. Jasper waited for the cold chill to run down his spine, the signal that a monster was there, about to attack. But there was no cold chill. Strange, he thought. There mustn’t be a monster. Jasper sighed in relief. I’m safe! But if there’s no monster, what’s in this room? Why did Stenka bring me here? He didn’t have to wonder for long. His elbow was clamped tightly and he was pulled off his feet. Jasper tried to hit out at whatever had him, but his arm was pulled painfully behind his back. ‘One more move and the bone will snap,’ a soft voice warned. OK! OK!’ ‘ ‘No,’ the voice replied. ‘It’s not OK. You assumed you were safe. And you weren’t.’ Jasper’s arm was jerked back again, and he winced in pain. ‘OK, I’ll never assume anything again,’ he moaned.
