Chapter One, Spirit of the Stairway Summary

Mad Hettie, a Haruspex, or kind of witch, waits in an alley for three girls. Dana, Joy Barlow and Prudence Mockford deliver a white dove to the old woman who has been waiting impatiently. Mad Hettie pays them, but the girls threaten her, wanting to search her bag and see if she has more money. Hettie picks up a twig and snaps it, breaking the leg of Joy. The others run, realizing that they are dealing with something not quite normal. Hettie takes the dove to the rooftop, killing it to see into the future. Hettie is waiting for someone, and is intent on not missing her this time.

Sexton Furnival, a sixteen-year-old boy, is writing a suicide note on his computer. Fed up with life, Sexton sees no reason to go on...