I am not the kind of person who pulls cruel pranks, let alone pranks. But Stine deserved it. I could let go of his rules. His attitude and accusation. I was used to people like him. But what he did during the last chapter broke the camel's back. I could not let Stine get away with his crimes. Somebody had to stop him.

"It seems that we have to take this matter into our own hands," I said to Frankie.

School had let out, and I was happy about that. I would not see Stine's hideous face again - until the next day. I was walking home with Frankie and explaining how he lied to Ms. Bennet about slapping me. How he accused me of smashing his glasses. How he was my...my tutor. I gagged when I told her that. At least that she stuck by me. She also wanted to take Stine down.

"You mean my brother?" Frankie asked.

"Let us hope so because my plan is for him."

"So what is your brilliant plan?"

"I will tell you when we are in my room."

She grasped her backpack straps. "Why did you not tell me at school?"

I scanned our surroundings in case that Stine was near and strolled close to Frankie. I was not scared of him. I wanted to protect her. She wanted to have a life like us. No longer would she be his puppet. She would be truly free. I never liked the idea of siblings. I am happy with being an only child. But I would rather have Frankie as my sister than watch her suffer with that psycho.

Another idea came to mind. I do not know how I never thought of it until now. I was about to tell Frankie. But instead, a cry escaped my throat. I fell on my back with my legs in the air. I blinked rapidly and gazed up at my friend. It took me a couple seconds to realize that I had fallen. I grunted as pain built up in my chest.

"Nikki. You okay?" Frankie asked with a hint of worry. She bent down and wrapped her arms around mine. "I was going to mention the case on the sidewalk."

I laid a hand on my chest. "'The case on the sidewalk'?" I hissed in pain. "W-what are you talking about?"

She helped me to my feet and dusted off my clothes. "A suitcase is lying on the sidewalk. It is right behind us. I was going to warn you, but I was a little too late."

I put the pieces together. "So...I tripped on it?"

"Yes. Sorry for not warning you in time. I just assumed that it was a shadow at first."

I looked behind me and saw a black suitcase. "The only one who needs to apologize is whoever left the suitcase here."

We turned around and stared at it.

"Why would someone leave a perfectly good case in the middle of the sidewalk?"

"Technically, it is not in the middle, Nikki. It is close to the street. It is on the edge."

I picked up the suitcase. "Gosh. This is heavy."

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like? I am picking it up."

She motioned for me to put it down. "Put it back down. Put it back down now."

I caught a glimpse of fear in her eyes. "Why?"

"What if the owner returns for it? I do not want him or her to believe that we are stealing. We are too young to go to jail."

"We are not going to jail, Frankie." I put said case back on the sidewalk and got on my knees. "We are going to crack open this baby and see who it belongs to."

Frankie paced back and forth. "We will not head to jail. We will not head to jail."

I noticed the lock and slammed my fist on the suitcase. "Crub!"

"What is wrong, Nikki?"

"I cannot open the blasted case without a combination. And the combination is nowhere on it."

"Maybe it is a good thing. Now the owner will not send us to jail."

I got back on my feet and huffed. "If the owner finds it. It might be a small town, but it will take a while for her or him to locate this case."

We suddenly heard heavy footsteps. I was afraid that it was Stine. I was right. I pushed Frankie behind a bush. The pain in my chest was long gone. I hid with her and told her to keep quiet. Goosebumps covered my skin as my heart skipped a beat. I would defend us if needed. I looked at the case and scolded myself for not getting it.

But it was a good thing that I left it - because it was his. The black suitcase belonged to Stine.

"Did you know that is your brother's?" I whispered.

Frankie shook her head. "I had no idea. I swear."

"I believe you. I cannot see you lying."

What I discovered changed my life forever.

Stine was strolling down said sidewalk and whistling a catchy tune when he halted in front of the suitcase. He scooped it up, and a disturbing smile spread across his face. He stated how thrilled he was to see him - him? - and fiddled with the lock.

I leaned close to Frankie. "Am I hearing things? Or did he just call his suitcase a him?"

She covered her mouth. "I believe that I know what the case is for."

"Tell me."

Before she could, we heard a click! sound. He unlocked the case. He opened it and peered in.

Frankie uncovered her mouth and gripped my wrist. "I begged him to get rid of him. But he would not listen."

Now I was concerned. "What are you talking about?"

"What are you doing on the sidewalk?" Stine asked.

A hand shot up from the suitcase.