Summary

In Chapters 20 and 21, Christopher recruits his new friends, Matt, Mike and Eddie, to help him build a tree house like the Nice Man instructed (though Christopher still doesn't know why.) They conspire to steal tools from Eddie's parents and wooden planks from Collins' Construction scrap piles. They agree to rendezvous on Saturday after lying to their parents about their true intentions. Under the guise of a sleepover, they sneak into the woods.

Christopher leads the way into the trees after the others express wariness about entering. Christopher notices their steps aren't leaving footprints, and has a strong sense of deja vu that he has seen footprints on this path before, belonging to another child.

A deer appears in front of them, watching Christopher. It walks off the path and Christopher leads his friends after it. The deer takes them to the mouth of...