Page 87 of Shadow Witch

“Just a minute, Paige,” Raggy said as he burst into the room with his crew.

Ruby pawed at a wall panel across the room.

“I’ll bet it’s connected to this sconce,” a glasses-clad woman said as she tugged on it.

The panel opened, and a mummy rolled out. Raggy hauled it to its feet as his blond friend wandered closer. “Now, let’s find out who really is haunting this place.”

He grabbed at the top of the mummy’s head and tugged off a mask. Eyes went wide at the sight and everyone exclaimed, “Dewey?”

Paige’s lips pulled into a deep frown. “Seriously? We’ve been worried sick about you and you’ve been here in Scooby-Doo playing a mummy?”

“And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it wasn’t for you kids and your meddling dog,” Dewey growled.

“Oh, come on,” Paige said with a slap on her thigh. “You could have at least come up with a better line than that.”

“Just a second,” the blond man said, holding up a hand. “Something seems fishy to me.”

Paige shook her head. “Doesn’t seem fishy to me. Come on, Dewey, get out of that suit, and let’s go. I have a wedding to attend…to someone.”

The man’s blonde partner stepped forward and grabbed onto Dewey’s horns. Paige’s jaw unhinged as the woman ripped another mask away and tossed it down. “Just as I suspected.”

“Mr. Jenkins?” the others said in unison.

Paige puffed out her cheeks as she blew out a breath. “Who is Mr. Jenkins?”

The blond man twisted to face Paige. “The property owner. He’s been the one lurking around playing mummy. And all for the insurance money.”

“And I would have gotten away with it, too–“

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. We get it,” Paige said with a sigh. “Dewey’s not here. Let’s go to the next location. We’re wasting time.”

“Right,” Drucinda said with a nod. “We’ll–“

Winds swirled around them and the haunted manor began to fall away in pieces. Within seconds, Paige found herself plunged into warm water.

It surrounded her, shooting up her nose and burning as she fought to find the surface. She clawed and scraped at the water, but never reached the top.

Her lungs burned as she continued to hold her breath, her eyes wide. If she couldn’t find a way to get air soon, she’d die.

CHAPTER 20

Paige struggled to prevent herself from taking a breath, her panic building as she sought to find air but failed. A hand reached for her, lacing its fingers with hers.

“Paige,” a muffled voice called.

She shot a frightened glance toward Drucinda.

“Breathe.”

She shook her head. She couldn’t breathe underwater. She’d drown.

“Take a breath!” Drucinda shouted, bubbles pouring from her mouth.

Paige pressed her lips together, shaking her head again. She couldn’t breathe, but soon, her lungs would force her to gulp in water. Then she’d drown. Fear twisted her insides as she struggled until she could no longer stand the pain.

She finally gulped in a breath, feeling instant relief. Her brows pinched together as she tried again, sucking in another tentative breath. A grin spread across her features.

“I can breathe!” she shouted.

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