One moment eleven-year-old Shirley Brown is playing the game, Disappearing Footprints, in Los Angeles, California with her best friend Phyllis Johnson. Suddenly, she finds herself underground in a sunken room gasping for air. "STAND UP," someone shouts into her ear. She ignores them wanting to take a little rest. "STAND UP NOW," they yell again. This time, she dared not ignore them. She stands up pressing her head against the ceiling of the small room. It gives way and fresh air comes flooding into her lungs

Gasping for air, Shirley jerks awake, sweating, as a flash of...