I held my breath and waited till the scarecrows were right across from us. Then I grabbed Chris by the arm and pulled with all my strength.
I pulled him into the middle of the group, where we were hidden. I heard the other girl shouting after us. But I didn’t look back.
As soon as it was safe, I tugged Chris behind a store.
Chris pulled his arm free. “What are you doing?” he demanded.
“Trying to lose her,” I said. “I have to talk to you. I’m not sure exactly what’s going on here. But I need you to help me win this weird game.”
Chris studied me. Like he’d never seen me before. “Okay, she’s gone,” he said. “So?”
“So, you have to believe that I am your sister,” I said.
He scrunched up his face again. “Can you prove it?” he demanded.
“Of course,” I said. I grabbed his big ears and tugged them, the way I always do. “Who else would know about pulling your ears?” I asked.
He shrugged. “That doesn’t really prove anything.”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “Okay. Okay. I’ll prove I’m the real Meg Oliver. Go ahead, Chris. Ask me anything about our life. Quiz me.”
He nodded. “Okay.” He thought for a few seconds. “Tell me what street we live on.”
“An easy one,” I said. “We live on Rosemont Avenue.”
“No. That’s wrong,” Chris said.
“Huh?” I uttered a gasp. I grabbed Chris by both shoulders. “Chris, you know we live on Rosemont, a block away from Kelly.”
He stared hard into my eyes. “Kelly?” he said. “Am I supposed to know someone named Kelly?”
“Of course you know Kelly,” I said. “Why are you acting so weird? I don’t get it, Chris.”
He pushed my hands off his shoulders. “Let’s try another question,” he said. “One more chance.”
One more chance?
The words sent a chill down my back.
Chris raised my hand. “How did you get this cut on your hand?” he asked.
“It’s a paper cut,” I answered. “I got it opening my science notebook. Remember?”
He shook his head. “No. That’s not right,” he said. “I was there. Meg cut her hand slicing an apple.”
“I’m Meg!” I screamed. “I’m telling the truth! Why are you doing this? Why are you lying?”
I tried to grab him again. I wanted to pull his ears hard. Or shake him till he told the truth.
But he took a step back. His eyes burned into mine. “You’re lying,” he said softly. “You’re not my real sister. You couldn’t answer one question.”
“Okay, Chris, what about this week? Bim? The crazy Weirdo? And the Floig?”
“Are you making those words up?” he asked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Ohhh!” I let out a cry. “You liar! You liar!”
Then suddenly I realized what was happening.
“Chiller told you to lie — didn’t he!” I cried. “I get it. This is part of his game.”
Chris didn’t answer. He stood staring at me with his eyes narrowed, as if he was thinking hard.
“Tell me!” I shouted. “He told you what to say — didn’t he! You are playing his game, too.”
“You’ve already lost,” Chris said. “Whoever you are — you’ve already lost.”
“No!” I cried. “No!”
But he spun away from me and took off into the crowd. I watched him push his way through a group of kids. Then he lowered his head and ran hard back toward the haunted house.
“Chris — please!” I shouted. I started after him. But a food cart rolled in front of me, and I nearly ran right into it.
When I caught my balance, I couldn’t see him.
“Chris!” I shouted. “Come back! I have to win this game! We have to go home!”
My voice cracked. People turned to stare at me. But I didn’t care.
I ran after him, screaming. “Chris — please! You’re my only hope!”
I lost Chris for a moment. Then I saw him running along the high wall behind the haunted house.
I didn’t see the other girl in the lizard costume, the girl pretending to be me. Was Chris running to her?
I called to my brother again and again. But my cries were drowned out by the shouts and laughter of trick-or-treaters.
I saw Chris turn a corner and head down a crowded road. Then a big costumed Horror stepped in my way.
I tried to dodge around him. But I had to stop and stare. His head … his head was a big jack-o’-lantern. And flames danced behind the cut-out eyes and mouth. Fire from inside his head!
People gathered around him, oohing and ahhing. How did he do it?
To my shock, he turned his flaming head to me. “Who are you?” he cried. Flames shot out of his jagged mouth with each word. “Who are you really?”
I backed away from him. “I know who I am!” I shouted.
“What if you’re WRONG?” His words were a hiss of fire.
I swerved around him and cut through the crowd. I searched in one direction, then the other. And I saw Chris.
He was running through a doorway jammed with kids. A big orange neon sign above the door read: THE HALLOWEEN HOPPER.
I was panting hard by the time I reached the door. I cut through the crowd and entered.
“Whoa.” An enormous trampoline filled the large room. The trampoline was as big as my living room! Kids were leaping and bouncing, tumbling and laughing.
Music blared all around. I couldn’t make out the words to the song. Something like, “Hop hop hop. Do the hop hop hop …”
Some kids were bouncing in time to the music. Others were trying to leap as high as they could. It was so crowded, kids fell and bounced into each other.
I saw Chris climb onto the trampoline. He moved toward the center and started to jump.
Why was he doing this?
I couldn’t guess.
But I grabbed the edge of the trampoline. And hoisted myself onto the net.
I lost my balance. Landed headfirst — and rolled into two kids wearing monster costumes. They went tumbling to the net.
I thought they might be angry. But they just laughed.
I climbed to my feet and struggled to stand as the net bounced beneath me. It took a while to get the rhythm. But soon I was bouncing with everyone else.
As I bounced, I searched for Chris. Finally, I spotted him jumping next to a girl in a princess costume and a Harry Potter look-alike. The girl was holding her tiara down on her head as she jumped. She kept bumping into Chris, nearly knocking him over.
“Chris!” I shouted as I jumped. “We have to talk!”
He couldn’t hear me.
I tried to edge closer. I had to get to him. I had to convince him that I was his real sister. But the trampoline was too jammed with kids. I couldn’t move.
Suddenly, I heard a loud buzz, like an engine starting up. I felt a powerful vibration beneath my feet.
Kids screamed as they began to bounce harder.
My feet hit the net and I felt myself shoot into the air. Another jump, and the vibrating net sent me flying even higher.
Higher. Harder. The black starry sky came down to meet me. It was almost like flying.
It would have been fun to jump so high. Except that I felt totally out of control. I couldn’t stop jumping. I couldn’t move off the net. Couldn’t get to Chris.
Faster. The trampoline began to whip us up and down, tossing us high into the air.
Kids screamed. A few jumped off the edge and tumbled onto the ground.
“Somebody stop this thing!” I shouted. My legs ached with each jump. My knees throbbed. I couldn’t catch my breath.
The buzz grew louder, and the trampoline whipped us higher.
I’m going to break my neck! I thought.
I looked for Chris. I saw him jumping next to a girl in a green costume. The girl who claimed to be me.
“Chris!” I shouted. “Chri
s!” And then my knees gave way. I fell on top of some costumed kids.
“Oof!” I landed hard on my back. My breath shot out in a whoosh.
My chest flared with pain. I struggled to breathe. I was choking, sputtering.
The trampoline tossed me up again.
As I came down, I heard a deafening POP.
I landed on my back. The net gave way beneath me.
I tensed my muscles, waiting to be shot up high again.
But no. The net sank beneath me. I could feel it collapsing.
I heard a loud hiss. Like air going out of a balloon.
The trampoline net collapsed in on itself. I sank to the ground in a heap.
All around me, kids were scrambling to their feet. Everyone was stampeding out of The Halloween Hopper. Some costumes were torn. Masks were left in the net.
I gripped my mask in one hand and straightened the lizard costume over me. Sweat poured down my forehead. I pushed my hair out of my eyes and searched for my brother.
“Chris? Hey — Chris?”
Peering into the crowd of kids, I spotted him on the other side of the trampoline. He was making his way out a back exit. Walking with the other girl in the lizard costume.
Had he made up his mind? Did he really think she was me? How could I prove to him that he was wrong?
My head spun with questions. If only I could get to him. If only he would listen to me.
I’m his sister, I thought. Why isn’t he on my side?
Chris and the other girl were walking fast, moving quickly through the crowd. I stepped out of the exit. Most kids were hurrying along the side of The Halloween Hopper on their way back to the main street.
But Chris and the girl didn’t follow them. They turned left and disappeared into the darkness.
“Chris?” I shouted. I started to run after him. I found myself in another dark and narrow alley. Wooden fences rose up on both sides. My shoes scraped the gravel as I ran to catch up to my brother.
A pale glimmer of moonlight fell over the alley. I could see the two of them up ahead, walking fast.
I started to jog. “Hey — stop!” I called. “Stop!”
I knew they could hear me. But they kept walking. Again, they disappeared into total darkness.
I turned a corner. I saw them again. Chris glanced back. He saw me. But he kept walking.
I knew what they were doing. They were leading me down this dark alley. Leading me where?
Another sharp turn. And I suddenly blinked into bright light. A bonfire.
Tall flames licked the black sky. Blown by the wind, red embers floated up from the fire.
I could hear the crackling of the fire over the low chanting of the people who circled it. People dancing in slow motion around the tall bonfire.
I took a few steps closer. Close enough to feel the heat of the flames on my face.
And as I drew near, I had to stop again. And stare at the ugly decomposing faces, the empty eye sockets, the missing arms and legs, the skeletal, grinning faces.
Zombies!
I realized I was holding my breath. I let it out in a long whoosh.
I had to remind myself this was Halloween.
These zombies weren’t real. They weren’t humans back from the dead. They were people in costumes.
But why were they all dressed as zombies? And why were they chanting and dancing so slowly around this crackling, blazing fire?
They uttered moans and groans as they danced in their circle. They moved so stiffly, as if their arms and legs wouldn’t bend.
I gazed past the fire. I thought I saw Chris on the other side. I didn’t see the other girl.
I started to make my way around the fire toward Chris. But one of the costumed zombies caught my eye.
She stopped her dance and turned to look at me. Her whole face was nearly eaten away. Just a few chunks of flesh left on her forehead and cheeks.
She grinned at me. Such an ugly, skeletal grin.
She had something in her hand. She raised it to me. Her sleeves were ragged and torn and stained with dirt.
I stared at the object in her hand. Stepped closer. Unable to take my eyes off it.
She held it out to me. She moved it up and down so I could see it clearly.
“No!” A scream escaped my throat. “No! It can’t be! No way!”
It was a rag doll. A voodoo doll. And it looked exactly like ME!
As I stared in shock, the zombie woman raised the doll high — and tossed it into the flames.
“Nooooo!” A scream of horror burst from my throat.
I didn’t think. I just dove forward. Into the flames. Shot my hand into the fire — and yanked out the doll.
Its hair smoked and sizzled. A single flame flickered on its back.
I hugged it to me. Pressed it against the front of my T-shirt.
I felt a stab of heat. The flame died quickly. The smoke sizzled out.
I held the doll in both hands. I saved it from burning. Did I also save myself ?
The zombies continued their slow, stiff dance. They chanted in low voices as they circled the fire. Their faces were red and charred, as if they’d stepped too close to the flames.
Madame Doom!
That strange fortune-teller flashed into my mind from my first visit to HorrorLand. And I pictured the voodoo doll she handed me. The rag doll that looked exactly like me!
Was it the same voodoo doll that Madame Doom had handed me? Did Madame Doom know that I’d be returning to HorrorLand? Did she know about Jonathan Chiller?
Beyond the crackling fire, I saw a figure move down the alley. Chris!
I took a deep breath and forced my trembling legs to move. I had to talk to him. Why was he leading me on such a long, frightening chase?
“Chris! Hey — Chris! Give me a break! Wait up!”
I followed him into a crowded street. I saw where he was heading. Toward a small hamburger restaurant called The Slurp ’n’ Burp. A loudspeaker on the restaurant roof sent out long, disgusting burps.
Not very appetizing.
A girl stepped out of the restaurant. The girl who looked exactly like me. She held her lizard mask in one hand and rested her other hand against the storefront.
“There you are, Meg,” I heard Chris call to her. “I lost you at the zombie bonfire!”
“Noooo!” A shout burst from my throat. My heart started to pound in my chest.
I held my breath as I watched them from a distance. Chiller said he wouldn’t send me home until I proved I was me. If Chris decided the other girl was Meg, how would I ever get home?
I suddenly realized I was in even worse trouble. Chiller never told me what would happen if I lost his game!
Chris isn’t going to help me, I told myself. For some reason, he’s trying to make me lose. I’ve got to get out of here on my own.
My hand trembled as I reached under the costume and grabbed my cell phone. I had to try to call my parents one more time. Maybe Chiller wouldn’t be there this time.
I watched Chris and the other girl talking at the side of the restaurant. The long burps from the loudspeaker were sickening. I pressed a finger into one ear, punched in my dad’s number, and raised the phone to my other ear.
Please be there. Please …
The phone rang twice. Then a voice said, “Aren’t you enjoying my game?”
Jonathan Chiller.
“No. No, I’m not!” I cried. My voice cracked on the words. “I don’t like this game. I … I want to go home!”
Silence for a moment. Then Chiller said softly, “You’re making me sad. Very sad. I made up the game especially for you.”
“It’s not a game!” I cried. “I don’t understand it. It doesn’t make any sense! I … don’t stand a chance. I —”
“Keep trying,” Chiller said. “You’re a clever girl. I know you can win.”
“I don’t care,” I started. “Listen to me —”
“If you win, I promise I won’t keep you,” Chiller sa
id. “I won’t keep you or your brother here in HorrorLand one minute longer.”
“But that’s the problem,” I said. “My brother is acting weird. He —”
I heard a click. “Are you there?” I cried. “Are you still there?”
No. The line was dead.
I let out an angry cry. I stared at the phone in my hand.
And suddenly I realized I had won!
I gazed at my phone. A smile crossed my face.
How could I prove to Jonathan Chiller I was Meg Oliver?
Simple. My cell phone would prove it. My phone has all my contacts in it. That’s as good as an I.D.
I’d won the game. Now I just had to let everyone know it.
I wanted to tell Chris and the other girl that the game was over. But I didn’t see them in front of The Slurp ’n’ Burp anymore.
They must have wandered away while I was on the phone with Chiller.
Okay. No problem. I’d catch up with them later.
I suddenly felt so much better. So much calmer and happier.
I heaved the lizard mask into the air. I left it on the ground where it fell. I pulled off the green costume, crinkled it into a ball, and tossed it into a trash can. Then I smoothed down my jeans and shirt.
A group of laughing kids came out of the restaurant. I felt like laughing, too.
I knew I had won. I had beat Chiller at his own game.
The kids took turns burping really loud along with the loudspeaker burps. They thought it was a riot.
I raised my phone and punched REDIAL. I knew Chiller would pick up again. I couldn’t wait to tell him how I’d won. How I could prove that I’m me.
The phone rang twice.
“Hi, it’s me again,” I said.
“Who is this?” a girl’s voice demanded. I recognized the whispery voice. The other girl!
“Get off!” I cried. “Get off the phone!”
“This is Meg Oliver,” she said. “Who are you? Who are you really?”
“NOOOO! GET OFFFFF!”
I shrieked into the phone at the top of my voice.
“Sorry. You have the wrong number,” the girl said. “This is Meg Oliver.”
“No. No way.” My heart pounding, I clicked the phone shut. Then I opened it again and pushed CONTACTS.