There were three loud bangs and then there was the sound of breaking glass followed immediately by more thuds. "They are burning the houses. We need to go now!" May did not try to whisper this time. She grabbed Ella and started to pull her to the bedroom. Ella paused and reached down and pulled the duffle bag up into her arms. She was already wearing the backpack, having swung it up into place while waiting for May to take a look around upstairs.
Ella got to the closet as May had thrown the carpet off the trap door and turned the lock to unlock the door. Ella stopped, "Do we have flashlights?" She asked, thinking of how dark those tunnels will be for a long way. May froze from her bustle to think. "Try the bedside table drawer. There may be some there." She pointed for Ella
