Vinnie slammed the album shut. "Did you see that?" he asked, his voice shaking. "That pyramid was glowing!"
Mandy nodded slowly. "Should we tell Mom and Dad?"
Vinnie shook his head. "No, this is our little secret."
"There was something written below the picture," Mandy said. "Maybe we should read it."
Vinnie nodded and opened the album. The handwriting was small and neat. "‘August 24, my first photo travels,’" Mandy read aloud.
"Photo travels? What’s that?" Vinnie interrupted.
Mandy continued to read. "‘I found this photo album in my uncle’s attic. It didn’t look special on the outside. But once I opened it, it changed my life forever.’"
"So he found the album in an attic too," said Vinnie.
Nodding, Mandy continued to read. "‘People say I’m crazy. Maybe I am. But I have traveled to the past. I even have proof—this photo album.’"
"Travel to the past? Like in a time machine?" Vinnie asked excitedly. "Go on reading!"
"'My first travel—to Egypt . . .'" Mandy held her breath. "'A glowing pyramid called to me.'"
"Mandy, do you think it’s calling to us too?" Vinnie asked. He pulled the photo out of the album.
Mandy continued, "’When I looked into the light, my adventures began.’"
"But how did he go back in time? And why do the pictures glow?" Vinnie stared at the photo.
"Vinnie, maybe we should forget all this." Mandy looked at her watch. It was almost noon.
"Let’s just go and have lunch."
But Vinnie did not hear her. His eyes were fixed on the photograph.
"Vinnie, you’re scaring me! Stop it!" she cried.
"But what if it’s real? What if we really could go back in time?" Vinnie said in a dreamy voice.
"I’m going downstairs," Mandy insisted.
Vinnie grabbed her arm. "Don’t you want an adventure, Mandy?" he said excitedly.
"I do, but I’m also scared," she said honestly. "How do we travel to the past? And I’m worried about how we’d get back home again."
"Mandy," her brother suddenly shouted. "The pyramid is getting brighter!"
Sure enough, the pyramid was glowing with a bright yellow light.
Now the children really couldn’t take their eyes off the light.
"’When I looked into the light, my adventures began.’" Vinnie repeated the words written in the album.
The heat from the light felt hot against their faces. It forced them to close their eyes. Now they could see the pyramid in their minds. It seemed to be coming closer.
"Vinnie, I’m scared," cried Mandy.
Suddenly, the children felt their feet lift off the ground. Vinnie grabbed his sister’s hand and shouted, "Hang on, Mandy!"
He held her hand tightly. "I’ve changed my mind! I don’t want to do this!" Vinnie cried. He tried to open his eyes, but couldn’t. It was too bright.
"Mandy!"
"Vinnie!"
Still holding on to each other, the children screamed. They began to fall down a deep dark tunnel.