Mostly Ghostly Freaks and Shrieks

  When I turned back to Aaron, he had a worried look on his face.

  “Uh … Max? I'm in a little trouble here,” he said. He raised his hands. Both hands were stuck inside the water glasses.

  “Take them off. That's not how you do the water trick,” I told him.

  “I … can't get them off,” Aaron said. He held his hands out to me. “Help me, okay? Pull!”

  I tried pulling the glass off his left hand. Then the right. I pulled as hard as I could. But I had to be careful. I didn't want to break the glass.

  I tried twisting them off. Then I tried pushing and pulling.

  No way.

  Those glasses were stuck on tight.

  “I'm not happy about this,” Aaron said, shaking his head. The cell phone on his ear shook too.

  I had to laugh. He had a phone stuck to his ear and two glasses stuck to his hands.

  “I know what we can do,” Aaron said. “My tool kit is under the bed. Get the hammer and smash the glasses.”

  I frowned at him. “I don't think so!” I said. “I need these glasses. They're trick glasses. They make it look like there's water inside. But there's no water in this trick.”

  “Come on, Max. Use the hammer,” Aaron begged. “I'm desperate here.”

  “No way,” I said. “Your hands will be cut. You'll bleed all over the place.”

  That's when Aaron's mom burst into the room. Her mouth dropped open when she saw the glasses stuck on Aaron's hands.

  “I don't believe this!” she screamed. “This isn't happening.”

  Aaron nodded. He had both hands raised in front of him. “Yes it is,” he muttered.

  “I have to take you to the emergency room again?” his mom cried.

  “It's Max's fault!” Aaron exclaimed. “It's his magic trick. He said I should do it.”

  “No, wait—!” I cried. “That's not true. I—”

  “Aaron, you're grounded for another lifetime!” his mom shouted.

  Then she turned to me. “You made Aaron do this? When I get back from the hospital, I'm calling your mom. She should ground you, too!”

  My heart pounded as I watched her drag Aaron to the car. Aaron turned and waved to me, his hands trapped inside the glasses.

  The door shut behind him. The car backed down the driveway.

  I watched until it disappeared down the street.

  “Hey, I can't be grounded!” I called after them. “Saturday is going to be the biggest day of my life!”

  FRIDAY AFTER SCHOOL, TRACI pulled me into the teachers' parking lot. It was a warm, breezy day. The wind kept blowing her blond hair into her face. She kept brushing it back with one hand, glancing around, making sure none of her cool friends saw her talking to me.

  She wore an olive green sweater that matched her eyes. And olive cargo pants that matched the sweater that matched her eyes.

  Keep it together, Max, I told myself. But I realized I was already making that hee-haw sound I've been making lately whenever she comes near me.

  “Remember about the party tomorrow evening?” she asked.

  “Hee-haw,” I said. “You and I—”

  “Remember we're going in separate cars?” she said. “And don't talk to me too much at the party. Just in case someone cool shows up.”

  “Hee-haw,” I said. “No problem.”

  “And promise you won't embarrass me in any way,” Traci said. “These kids are all geeks and freaks. But I still don't want to be embarrassed.”

  “Hee-haw,” I said. “Hee-haw.”

  Traci brushed back her hair. Then she handed me a flashlight.

  “What's this for?” I asked.

  “It's a flashlight party,” she said, rolling her eyes. “My cousin's house is going to be totally dark. And you need a flashlight to get into the party.”

  “Cool!” I said.

  “No, it's totally uncool,” Traci replied. “I told you my cousin Stella is a drip.”

  She hurried away.

  I staggered back against one of the cars. I couldn't believe it! I was going to a flashlight party with Traci Wayne! Of course, we wouldn't talk to each other or anything. But how exciting was this?

  “Hee-haw. Hee-haw.”

  Why did I keep making that sound? Did it mean true love?

  I started to walk home. The wind blew at my back. I felt as if I could lift off the ground and float home.

  I felt a strong puff of air. At first I thought it was just a gust of wind. Then I realized Nicky and Tara were at my sides.

  “Maxie, why are you grinning like that?” Tara asked.

  I stared at her. “Don't know,” I said. “Just grinning.”

  “Are you grinning because you decided to be a nice guy and help Tara and me on Saturday?” Nicky asked.

  I stopped walking. We were at the corner of Powell and Bleek, my street. The wind suddenly picked up. I shivered. It had been warm, but now the breeze felt cold.

  Gray clouds floated close overhead.

  “Listen, guys,” I said quietly. “I know how badly you want me to do that chimp thing for you. I've been thinking and thinking about it all week.”

  “And?” Tara demanded.

  I shook my head. “I can't do it. It's just too scary. And too dangerous.”

  They both groaned. Tara took my arm. “Come on, Max,” she said. “You promised you'd help us, remember? When we first came to your house?”

  “I never promised I'd switch my brain with an animal brain,” I said. “Look, guys, you know I'm your friend. You know I want to help you. But—”

  I didn't finish. The wind howled. A powerful gust shook the trees all around. Darkness fell, as if the clouds had dropped over us.

  The sky was suddenly black as night.

  Another howl. Like a wild, angry animal.

  The tree leaves were all shaking now. The tree limbs, too. It grew even darker. The wind swirled around me.

  “What's up with this?” I cried.

  I staggered back as a creature lurched toward us. Out of the blackness, it shot forward.

  I saw its yellow eyes first. Angry yellow eyes.

  Then I saw its black panther head. Its curved teeth bared. Its angry expression.

  A creature on two legs. Huge and howling. Its eyes fierce as fire.

  “Noooooo!” A shriek of horror escaped my throat.

  We started to run. All three of us. My two ghost friends and me, bent low into the howling, swirling wind. Struggling to run, to fight the wind and the darkness—and to flee this thing!

  I heard the hard thumps and bumps of its heavy paws on the pavement. A gust of hot wind—its breath on the back of my neck!

  What was it?

  Some creature of darkness! Yellow-eyed and angry.

  And loping after us. Taking its time. Howling out its fury.

  The darkness grew deeper. Colder.

  Hard to breathe. My leg muscles cramping. Hard to move.

  And then I saw the creature grab them.

  It grabbed Nicky and Tara in its front paws. Long, curved ivory talons closed around my friends.

  The creature bent low, holding the two ghosts high in front of it—and sprang away. Leaped into the darkness on two powerful legs, still howling, those headlight eyes still prowling.

  “Help us! Max—help us!”

  I heard their terrified cries in the howl of the wind.

  I FROZE.

  The wind blew harder, pushing me back, shoving me away from the creature.

  The huge animal tossed back its head and sent a long howl up to the dark sky. I could see Nicky and Tara gripped in its talons, squirming and thrashing, struggling to free themselves.

  “Help us! Max!”

  “Max! Help!”

  What could I do?

  I gaped at the horrifying creature—like a monstrous black panther, bounding on its hind legs. As it turned away from me, I saw its tail, curled up on its back like a long black snake!

  “Help us! Max—do something!”

 
My whole body trembled, violent shudder after shudder. The flashlight nearly slid from my hand.

  The flashlight!

  An idea burst into my mind. A desperate idea. But maybe … just maybe …

  I gripped the flashlight tightly. I raised it to my waist and pointed it at the howling creature.

  I remembered the evil ghost Phears, who had wanted to destroy Nicky and Tara.

  I remembered the first time Phears came after me.

  Bright car headlights had scared him away.

  Phears couldn't stand bright light. It made him helpless. It burned his ghostly skin like fire.

  Would the light from this flashlight have the same effect on this creature?

  Could I surprise the big animal long enough for Nicky and Tara to escape?

  My hand shook so hard, the flashlight again started to slide out. I gripped it in both hands.

  The creature leaped over a hedge and disappeared into the darkness on the other side.

  “No!” I cried out.

  I couldn't let it get away. Lowering my head, I ran full force into the hedge. Its prickly branches scratched my hands and face. But I pushed straight through to the other side.

  The creature had its back to me. Its snakelike tail curled and uncurled on its furry back.

  Ducking against the onrushing wind, I ran hard to catch up with the monster. Holding my friends tightly in front of itself. Tilting its head back, howling into the rush of wind.

  Well, I'm going to give you something to howl about! I thought.

  I raised the flashlight. Aimed it at the creature's broad back.

  And clicked it on. Clicked it hard.

  Nothing happened.

  Nothing.

  No light. No light at all.

  I SHOOK THE FLASHLIGHT.

  I clicked it again.

  No. The light didn't flash on.

  I clicked it again. Again. My heart pounding each time.

  It was dead. The flashlight was dead.

  The creature was escaping with my friends.

  Their screams had stopped. Had he strangled them with those long, curved talons?

  The wind swirled around me as I chased the monster, squeezing the flashlight in both hands. Clicking it helplessly again and again.

  I didn't see the rock at the side of a driveway. With a loud cry, I stumbled over it and went sprawling onto my stomach on the ground.

  The flashlight hit the pavement. Bounced hard.

  And a beam of bright white light shot out of it.

  Yes! It was working now!

  I dove for it. Grabbed it up. Struggled to my feet.

  Gasping for breath, I ran after the howling creature. I raised the flashlight. Aimed the beam of light into the creature's black, furry back.

  The monster stopped. It raised its head—and opened its mouth in an angry roar.

  I gasped as it whirled around to face me.

  Holding the flashlight in both hands, I raised the beam of light to the panther creature's face.

  It howled in pain. Raised its front paws to shield its eyes from the light.

  Nicky and Tara dropped free. Toppled to the ground.

  The light beam trembled. But I kept it on the monster's face.

  It let out another roar, softer this time. The creature tossed its head back and shook its paws as if trying to wave the light beam away.

  I expected it to turn and run. But instead, it dropped to its knees, uttering low whimpers as it sank to the ground.

  I lowered the light beam. Kept it focused on the creature's head.

  And watched the monster sink into the grass and start to dissolve.

  As I stared in shock, it melted into a lumpy black puddle. A round black stain on the grass.

  Finally, my whole body shaking, I lowered the light beam. I clicked off the flashlight and ran to Nicky and Tara.

  They had climbed to their feet and were gazing around as if in a daze.

  “It… it's gone!” Nicky cried.

  Tara pulled off her red hat and shook out her dark hair. “Whoa … Max … you … you did it!”

  Nicky and Tara were fading in and out of view. I knew that their fright had drained a lot of their energy. I could see right through them!

  The darkness lifted as suddenly as it had come. And the wind stopped howling and swirling. I could see stars in the evening sky and a bright full moon.

  I breathed a long sigh of relief.

  Nicky tapped knuckles with me. “Way to go, dude,” he said.

  Tara was still shaking her head. She brushed tears off her cheeks. “See, Max?” she said in a whisper. “There are so many ghosts and evil creatures out there. So many evil creatures who are our enemies because of the work Mom and Dad did.”

  She grabbed my arm. She was so faint, I could barely feel it. “Nicky and I aren't safe,” she said. “We're never safe. And we won't be safe until we know the truth—until we know what happened to us and how we can return to life.”

  She faded even more. I could barely see the two of them now. They weren't even shadows. They were wisps of faint color.

  “You saw what happened just now. You've got to help us, Max,” Nicky whispered. “You've got to!”

  I pictured the evil panther creature. I pictured Nicky and Tara trapped in its long claws. My friends … my best friends being carried away …

  I swallowed. “Okay,” I said. “I'll do it. I'll switch brains with the monkey.”

  SATURDAY MORNING I WOKE up early. I stared at myself in the dresser mirror. “Max, this could be the best or worst day of your life,” I told my reflection.

  The reflection stared back at me and didn't reply.

  What a day I had planned. First I'd switch brains with a chimpanzee. Then I'd perform magic in front of one of the world's greatest magicians. Then I'd go to a party with Traci Wayne.

  With a day like that, it's no wonder I was talking to myself!

  A few hours later, Dr. Smollet met Nicky, Tara, and me at the place where we'd first met and drove us to his lab. He seemed very cheerful. He kept talking about what a great day this would be for Nicky and Tara.

  I slumped in the backseat and hardly said a word. I wanted to shove open the car door and run as far as I could.

  But I'd made a promise to my friends. And I was going to grit my teeth and keep my promise.

  This will all be over soon, I told myself. I forced myself to think about Ballantine and the magic tricks I had planned to show him.

  As we walked through the long white halls of the lab, I heard the distant shrieks and wails of animals again. Their cages were hidden away.

  Dr. Smollet led us to the same room as before. On the long table, a row of computer monitors blinked and glowed. Machines hummed against the wall.

  Two tall stools had been set near the computer table. Dr. Smollet motioned for me to sit on one of them.

  My legs were trembling so hard, I had trouble climbing onto the stool.

  Dr. Smollet put his hand on my shoulder. “Don't worry, Max,” he said softly. “You'll be fine. You'll see.”

  He typed for a few moments on the nearest keyboard. Then he hurried away to bring in Mr. Harvey.

  Nicky and Tara had been admiring all the computers. When Dr. Smollet left the room, they rushed over to me.

  “This is so awesome of you,” Tara said. “I can't believe you're doing this for us.”

  “I can't either,” I muttered.

  “We're gonna owe you—big-time,” Nicky said.

  “Tell you the first thing we're gonna do for you,” Tara said. “We're gonna stay away from the magic store. Nicky and I are not going to help you with your act.”

  “Oh, thank you!” I cried. “That's the best news I've heard all day. And what else are you going to do for me?”

  They didn't have a chance to answer. Dr. Smollet returned, leading the chimpanzee. “Mr. Harvey is ready to go,” he said. He gave the chimp a gentle head rub.

  A big, toothy grin spread over Mr. Harve
y's face.

  Dr. Smollet sat Mr. Harvey on the stool next to me. The chimp started to chatter and hop up and down. He reached out a big hand and mussed my hair.

  “Settle down, Mr. Harvey,” Dr. Smollet scolded. “I mean it. Settle down.”

  The chimp seemed to understand. He stopped chattering and dropped limply onto the stool.

  “Mr. Harvey was here the day Phears did his dirty work,” Dr. Smollet said to Nicky and Tara. “Once the chimp's brain waves are inside Max, he'll be able to tell us everything he saw.”

  He turned to me. “It won't take long,” he said. “As soon as we learn what Mr. Harvey knows, I'll switch the brain waves back. And you'll be back to normal, Max.”

  I shoved my hands in my pockets to stop them from shaking. I don't think I'd ever been this terrified in my life.

  The chimp grinned at me, stuck out his tongue, and made a spitting noise.

  “Uh … I'm sorry,” I said. “I can't do this. I just remembered something I forgot to do.”

  “Max, what did you forget?” Tara asked.

  “I forgot to leave!”

  Dr. Smollet smiled. “Funny,” he muttered. He slipped a pair of headphones over my head. I saw that they were attached to a maze of wires that ran into the computers.

  “Max, don't be so nervous,” he said. “I'm a doctor, remember?”

  He turned and put another pair of headphones on the chimp's head. Mr. Harvey made a spitting noise at Dr. Smollet.

  “If I start spitting like that, just smack me!” I said.

  I was trying to make a joke. But everyone was too tense to laugh.

  “Ready for the brain waves transfer,” Dr. Smollet said.

  He patted me on the shoulder. “Don't look so worried, Max,” he said. “You won't feel a thing….”

  MY MOUTH SUDDENLY FELT dry as cotton. I couldn't swallow. I realized I was breathing hard, gasping for breath even though I was sitting still.

  Mr. Harvey sat on the stool beside me. He held on to the headphones and bounced gently up and down.

  Dr. Smollet began typing frantically on a computer keyboard. “Max, watch the monitor!” he shouted.

  His voice was muffled because of the headphones I was wearing.

  Nicky and Tara stepped up beside me. “This is totally awesome of you,” Tara said. “I repeat. We'll owe you big-time.”