"Keep me locked up?"

Eryk could hardly believe what the crow was saying. Out of curiosity, he pressed harder on the doorknob to confirm. Eryk's skin crawled.

Exhausted and annoyed, Eryk looked back at Black. The crow raised its lungs to say, "What did I say?"

Eryk put his ear to the door. The noise from the TV made it hard to hear outside sounds.

"... for the good of all of us..." said Mr. Jarvis. The man's voice rose and fell, and only heard fragments.

However, Alland's voice sounded louder. "But, Eryk has nothing to do with that! I swear!"

Mrs. Jarvis cut in, "You're still a child, Alland. You don't understand what happened. When everything is clear, you will thank us."

"Please, Dad, no!"

"Just this once, Alland. Hear our verdict!" said Mr. Jarvis in a loud voice. "It has been decided. I'm calling detectives. We're going to have a police car brought here!"

"Don't!" Alland shouted. "How can you?"

Eryk began to understand the situation that was happening out there. Eryk's eye