*Open to the MarlinSpike Hall library. Thunder is cracking outside as a storm is coming its way. Inside the estate's library, we see Nestor quietly reading a horror story by candlelight. He notices the audience*

Ah, good evening, children. What a surprise to see you at this time of night. *looks down at the book he is reading, and smiles.*

I see. You're interested in what I have to offer you. I've been doing some light reading tonight. Horror stories are always so intriguing to me. And I seem to think that you're also interested in the stories that I have been meaning to share with you all.

But first, a little warning for the faint of heart...

Some of the following stories that I am about to share with you may shock you. They may disturb you. You could say they may even...horrify you.

May I present to you...

Marlinspike Hall's Tales from the Crypt!

*Thunder rumbles outside, with lightning crackling in the distance and illuminating the library. Nestor sits back down on the armchair and picks up the book he was reading earlier.*

Let us begin with our first tale from Marlinspike Hall's crypts. *opens the book*

Now for a tale that will really send shivers down your spine. We open up here on Marlinspike Hall. It had started as any ordinary evening. The young reporter Tintin and the master of the house, Captain Haddock, invite the children, as well as their friends, over to a slumber party. However, a demonic possession overtakes the estate, which becomes a frightful adventure for the friends. But, to better tell this story, let me set the scene...

Story 1: The Reporter and the Exorcist

It was a normal evening in the lovely estate of Marlinspike Hall. Tintin wanted to do something fun over the weekend, so he decided to plan a sleepover party. Though he was initially not used to staying up late at night, he still wanted to have a little fun. And he wanted to make sure that the Captain would agreed to keep his cool...at least for the little kids.

As the sun set into the horizon, Tintin anxiously paced back and forth. "When are they gonna come?" he asked Haddock. Captain Haddock, who was busy smoking a pipe in one hand and reading a book in the other, huffed and said, "Slow you motor, landlubber. It's not like they're sailing from the other end of the globe just to come." "I've never been to a sleepover before, so I'm curious to see what fun we'll have!" Tintin said. Snow bounced up and down excitedly, yapping like an excited puppy.

Soon, the doorbell rang. "It must be them!" Tintin said, eagerly racing to the door. As he left, the Captain shook his head, muttering, "My, what an excited lad, that boy."

...

Tintin opened the door. Linda and Veerasak were at the door with their daughters, who had their sleeping bags. "Are you sure we can trust you with our little girls while they're here?" Linda asked. "Sure, I can keep a close eye on them while they have fun," Tintin said, taking the little girls inside.

"Should we leave Ming Shen with you as well?" Veerasak asked as he handed the baby to Tintin. "I think you guys should hold on to him for tonight," Tintin said. "'Cause the last time you left the baby with me, the Captain was complaining about his crying." "Okay. Be safe," Linda said. Tintin blushed as he felt her soft lips touch his cheek as the couple went away.

"Captain!" Miwa and Meimei both shouted as they ran to hug the Captain. "Lassies!" Haddock exclaimed as he picked the girls up. "We miss you!" Meimei said. Soon, Nestor appeared before the three and asked, "Anything I can do for you, sir?" "Nestor, be a gentleman and fix these girls a treat, will you?" Haddock said. "Of course, sir," Nestor replied and turned to the girls. "Follow me, children." The girls giggled excitedly as they followed him into the kitchen.

The doorbell rang again. Tintin ran to answer it, and he blushed excitedly. Yan and Alex were at the doorstep, with their satchels in hand. "Hello, my little ginger boy!" Yan exclaimed, picking Tintin up and squeezing him tightly. "Hey, put him down. You'll crush his ribs," Alex said. Yan diligently obeyed and let Tintin down. "Good to see you too, Yan," Tintin said, barely breathing. "Where are those two little sweeties, Miwa and Meimei?" Yan asked. "In the kitchen," Tintin said. As Yan and Alex headed to the kitchen, Tintin called out, "And don't go raiding the ice box again, Alex!"

The bell rang again. Tintin opened to find Heather with little Bellino at the doorstep. "I am highly trusting you that Bellino is left unharmed, okay?" Heather asked sternly. "You've got nothing to worry about," Tintin said. "Snowy!" Bellino said as he ran to hug Snowy. After Heather left, Tintin told Bellino he could go get a treat in the kitchen.

The last people to arrive were Benton and his children. "Tintin!" Matthew and Heidi exclaimed as they hugged Tintin. "Hi!" Tintin said, hugging them both. "You guys want a snack? Nestor's cooking up a real treat in the kitchen! Go and look!" The kids then let go of Tintin and raced to the kitchen.

After the kids were in the kitchen eating, the talk soon turned to the friends. "So, my boy, tell me," Haddock said, "Why'd you host this sleepover in the first place?" "Are you afraid of the dark?" Alex said, giggling. "No, I am not!" Tintin said. "Really?" Benton asked. "It's not the dark that I'm worried about. It's what's IN THE DARK that I'm worried about," Tintin said. "What do you mean?" Haddock asked.

"Can you keep a secret?" Tintin asked. "Just say it," Alex said. "Okay, here goes," Tintin said. "It all started when I was very young. It happened during a sleepover at the orphanage some many years ago." He paused, swallowing hard. "One night, some boys dared me to play...'Creepy Lucy.' " " 'Creepy Lucy?' " Alex asked. "You mean that stupid baby game that's supposed to summon a scary demon?" "It is not a game!" Tintin exploded. "Gathering my courage, I stood in front of the mirror and chanted the words, 'Creepy Lucy, Creepy Lucy, Creepy Lucy.'" "And then what happened?" Haddock asked. "I ran out crying and screaming," Tintin mumbled.

"Wow. Incredibly lame," Alex said. "A big, tough reporter who's afraid of the dark." "Are you crazy?!" Tintin asked in outrage. "The woman nearly possessed me and ate up my soul!" "You still haven't let that go?" Benton asked. "No!" Tintin said. "And I suggest you guys don't mention a single word about this to the kids!" He sighed. "Speaking of which, I'm starving," Tintin said. "Let's go get something to eat before the sound of a whale's mating call escapes from my stomach."

...

After a deliciously prepared meal of soup and baked roast, it was finally time for the sleepover festivities to begin. To start, Tintin had whacked a pillow at Alex. "Oh, it is on, GINGER BOY!" Alex cried out. She then grabbed her pillow and began whacking Tintin. "Aah! Kids, avenge me!" Tintin cried, pretending to die. The kids saw this as a game and joined in the pillow fight. There was a mess of feathers everywhere in the foyer. Even Benton was certain that a couple angry birds were flying inside the house.

Next, Tintin decided to play a prank on the Captain. Gathering the children, he snuck into the Captain's room, where Haddock was napping. Miwa quietly put chocolate spread on the Captain's hand. Heidi blew on the Captain's face as he raised his hand to rub his face. Giggling quietly, Tintin threw the feathers on the Captain. It only took a minute for the Captain to realize what was on his face before he chased Tintin and the others out of his room.

Alex then got Tintin and the others to do an even more daring prank. Going outside, the gang raced down the streets to Interpol, where the Thompsons were working late. "Let's do this," Yan whispered. "Okay. Follow my lead!" Tintin said. Soon, they began throwing toilet paper all over the trees, bushes, and sidewalk. Yan threw eggs into trees and the pond...with a little help from Benton, who painted, in giant letters, "RASTAPOPOULOS WAS HERE" on the ground. "Ha! This is too much fun!" Benton said. With silent laughs, Tintin and the others appeared before the door. Tintin rang the bell and then, the gang took off in the night. Boy, would the Thompsons be in for a big surprise!

As the gang returned to the estate, Tintin told the kids all about their prank. Then, he decided to put the kids to bed early. As he made it to the main room, where the others were, he told them, "All right. The kids are asleep. You know what that means?" "Yes!" Yan exclaimed. "Tonight, we'll get to play the game of revelation or ambitious challenging!" Everyone was silent. "You mean truth or dare?" Alex asked. "EEEEE! Yes!" Yan said.

Soon, they gathered in a circle, with a lantern at the center. "Truth or dare?" Alex asked the Captain. "Dare, lassie," Haddock answered. "I dare you," Alex said, "to take off your sweater and hat!" "Ugh, I never get any overtime to do this," Haddock muttered as he did the dare.

"Truth or dare?" Benton asked Yan. "Truth," Yan said. "Okay," Benton said. "What type of brownies are your most favorite?" "Ben, that's a dumb question. You asking about brownies is already making me hungry," Tintin said, rubbing his stomach. "Okay. My favorite brownies are the kind with strawberries and nuts," Yan said, cuddling Snowy.

Now it was Tintin's turn to pick. "Truth or dare?" Alex asked. "Dare," Tintin said. "Okay, I got a fun one," Alex muttered evilly. "I dare you...to go to the bedroom...and play Creepy Lucy." Tintin was dumbfounded. "WHAT?!" Tintin asked in outrage. "Oh no. You're not making me go in there and play that game!" "It'll prove to you that Creepy Lucy is all just a myth! It's all in your head!" Alex exploded. But the Captain was lucky enough to shush them, since the kids were asleep.

...

Soon, the friends began to push Tintin all the way to the upstairs bathroom. "Please please please, don't make me go in there!" Tintin pleaded. "You picked the dare, you have to go with it," Benton reminded him. Haddock then thrust Tintin into his bedroom. "Are you seriously making me do this?!" Tintin cried out. "This is for your own good," Haddock said. Then, he shut the door.

"Okay, okay, you can do this," Tintin mumbled. Grabbing a candlestick, he faced the mirror. Swallowing hard, he told himself, "Here it goes." He shut his eyes tight and clenched his teeth. "Creepy Lucy, Creepy Lucy, Creepy Lucy!" he said hurriedly. Then, he peeped at the mirror. "Huh. Nothing happened," Tintin said. "I guess Alex..." Suddenly...

CRASH!

"Aaugh!" Tintin screamed aloud. He was sent hurling toward the door and crashing into his friends. "What did I tell you?!" he asked them. Suddenly, the friends saw a deadly apparition before them. It was the ghostly image of a girl, probably Tintin's age, huffing and panting angrily. "She's so...creepy!" Benton whispered in fear. "Ugh, her raggedy clothes!" Haddock exclaimed. The girl looked at her dress and sighed. "But I just bought these," Lucy said sadly.

"Her ratty, unkempt hair!" Alex said in disgust. "I can't even look at it!" "I really didn't have time to wash it this morning," Lucy said, fingering her hair. "That's why there are bugs crawling around it." "And that wrinkly face!" Yan said, covering her eyes. "This is just how I look," Lucy replied. She slowly turned away. "You're right. I should probably take better care of myself."

As she started to drift away, the friends watched in confusion. Suddenly, Lucy turned around...and morphed into a hideously frightening demon! "RIGHT AFTER I CONSUME ALL YOUR MORTAL SOULS!" she exploded. As she inspected them to find her victim, she paused. "STARTING WITH YOU!" she shouted, pointing...at Tintin! "Me?!" Tintin asked.

But before he could say anything else, Lucy darted right into Tintin's mouth! His body began to glow with green light. By now, Tintin was writhing and moaning as he struggled to wrestle the spirit out of him It took the Captain's bedroom. "What's happening?!" Yan asked in fear. "Lucy's taking control of Tintin's body!" Alex shrieked. As Tintin was pinned down to the bed, Lucy was completely gaining control of Tintin's body.

Soon, Tintin opened his eyes, which glowed a bright yellow. His pupils glowed a deep red. With Lucy's voice, he said, "Excellent! Now that I have a body, I can finally seek my revenge and consume every mortal soul in this miserable city for all eternity!" He then uttered a high-pitched, maniacal laugh.

...

Outside the bedroom, the friends were already panicking. "What'll we do?" Yan asked. "I don't want Tintin to eat my soul!" "There has to be a way to undo the curse!" Alex said. "Benton! How do we get the demon out of Tintin?" "Wow, that sure is a nice way to say, 'Hey Tintin, I'm sorry I forced you into playing that dumb Creepy Lucy game just so you could forget all about your childhood trauma!'" Benton exploded. Of course, it was clearly Alex's idea to force Tintin into it. Feeling calm, he added, "I've seen people do this before, so we'll need a mirror. We just have to distract Lucy long enough while we hold up the mirror. And we have to chant the reverse incantation." "I think there was one in my room," Haddock said. "But Tintin's in that place!" Alex said. "And with that ghost girl inside of him, there's no chance of making it out alive. "Then I'll go there myself!" Benton said. "Be careful!"

As Benton peeped in the room, he found the spirit forcibly slamming Tintin against the pillows as she gained control of his body. "Shh," Benton told Snowy as they crawled across the floor to grab the mirror. After getting his hands on the mirror, Benton tried to crawl his way out the door. But Snowy was in front of him, and his tail was tickling Benton's nose! "Achoo!" Benton sneezed.

Hearing the noise, Tintin sat rigid in his bed. Benton stood, frozen in his place. Using Lucy's powers, Tintin levitated the bedspread as it twisted into a snakelike form. He then sent it forward to entangle Benton. Luckily, Benton was able to dodge it.

"Hello, good sir," Tintin said, through Lucy's voice. "Going somewhere?" Benton kept his mouth shut. Tintin took that as an insult. Suddenly, with extraordinary flexibility, Tintin reached out and grabbed Benton by his shirt collar! Pulling Benton up to his now pale, blotchy face, Tintin whispered, "Do you want to be my friend? There's no need to run away." Benton gulped. "I...I was just leaving," he whimpered. "No need to worry," Tintin whispered, his breath coming out like fog. "We can be best friends...forever and ever and ever and ever and ever." As he let go of Benton, Tintin uttered an evil cackle...and his head began to rotate creepily! Benton almost had the urge to vomit. "If you don't want to be my friend," Tintin said, suddenly rising from the bed, "THEN I'LL EAT YOUR SOUL AND MAKE YOU MY ETERNAL PLAYMATE FOR ALL ETERNITY!" Benton screamed as Tintin's face morphed into a hideously grotesque monster and ran out the room.

...

"AAAAAAAHHHHH! MOMMY!" Benton was shrieking as he raced down the hall and met with the others. "What happened?" Alex asked. "Did you get the mirror?" Yan asked. "Yea, but there's no way we're gonna get that demon out of Tintin!" Benton said. "Then what are we gonna do?!" Haddock asked in outrage.

"I think I know a solution," a voice said. The friends turned and saw Nestor standing by the walls. "Nestor? How long have you been standing there?" Benton asked. "Long enough to hear that the master's comrade has been under the influence of a spiritual disturbance," Nestor replied. "And I know the only cure to this problem." "What is it?" Alex asked. "One of us has to perform an exorcism," Nestor said grimly. "What's an exorcism?" Yan asked.

A little while later, in the estate library, Benton pulled out a book entitled, "The Encyclopedia of Supernatural Disturbances in the Spiritual World." After reading, Benton found the steps to exorcism. "It says here," he said, "that to perform an exorcism, participant must wear loose-fitting robe, hold book, and chant, 'The power of faith compels you.' Do this while dangling an amulet over possessed victim." But will all this help Tintin?" "There's only one way to find out," Alex said.

Moments later, the friends had emerged from the library, wearing their blankets over their pajamas as togas. They went upstairs to the bedroom, where they saw pale green light from under. "I sure hope this works," Benton said. "I don't want to see my little brother like this."

...

As they stepped inside, they were shocked to find thin layers of ice covering the walls and ceiling. They found Tintin outstretched across the bed, breathing so deeply that the cold air turned it into fog. "Uhh...hello," Haddock said calmly. Tintin sat upright, rigid in his seat. "Back so soon?" Tintin said maniacally. "I was wondering when you'd return." "We're here to help you," Yan said. "Thank you," Tintin said, "but I crave sustenance. Would you be a dear and find me a suitable meal?" "Ew, no way," Yan said. Tintin frowned. "Then you'd better leave. Or else your souls...ARE GOING IN MY MOUTH!" His face morphed into a lizard's face as it hissed. "What have you done with Tintin?!" Alex exploded. "Don't worry. He's safe here, with me," Tintin said in Lucy's voice.

Suddenly, his face began distorting and mutating into Tintin's normal, human face. "Guys! Help me!" he shouted. After a short second, he mutated back into Lucy's spirit. "Excuse me," Tintin said. "That one just slipped out." "Arg, you won't get away with this!" Alex growled. "Oh yeah?" Tintin asked. "Captain! Do the chant!" Yan exclaimed. "All right, no demon's going to devour the soul of my best friend!" Haddock said. Pointing his amulet at Tintin, he shouted, "Demon! Be gone!" Tintin then fell back on the bed, frozen in place. The amulet glowing, Tintin began to rise slowly from the bed. "The power of faith compels you!" Haddock kept chanting. That seemed to work...for only six seconds.

"Oh does it?" Tintin asked, lifting his head. "Does it compel me?" "The power of faith compels you!" Haddock shouted once again. "Sure it does. It's funny how dumb you are," Tintin sneered. "But your power does not compel me or anyone else!" Tintin then plopped back on the bed. "Aw, come on! I spent half the night practicing that!" Haddock said. "Want a tip?" Tintin asked. As the Captain leaned closer, Tintin opened his mouth...and large globs of slimy blue liquid began shooting out of his mouth! The Captain was drenched from head to toe. "Well, this stinks," Haddock said, sniffing a little.

...

Benton and Alex raced out the room, leaving Yan and the Captain with the demon-ridden Tintin. "Okay okay, Benton! I admit it!" Alex said, bursting into tears. "This was all my fault! I should've never let Tintin play that game! Now we can't figure out how to turn him back to normal!" She buried her face in her arms, crying.

"Calm down!" Benton said. "We caused this mess, now we're gonna clean it right up!" "But how?" Alex asked. "We'll lose Tintin forever! It'll be like night without day, sunflowers without sun, and Tintin without those addicting brownies...!"

"Wait a minute, say that again!" Benton said. "Tintin without addicting brownies?" Alex asked. Benton's eyebrows furrowed, which meant that he had an idea. "That's it!" he exclaimed. "Brownies! Those were what always used to snap Tintin out of something! And if he got demon, we'll need to add the secret ingredient!" The two huddled together and began the plan.

...

A few hours later, the two friends returned upstairs to the bedroom, where they found Yan and the Captain being forced into torture by Lucy. "Hahaha! This was worth three hundred years of torture back in the orphanage!" Tintin laughed as he forced Haddock to dance a sailor jig...for thirty-six minutes straight. "Thunderin' typhoons, I'll never escape this!" Haddock said, his legs growing sore.

"Captain, we have the cure!" Benton said. "What is it, my friend?" Haddock said, stopping his dancing and staggering a little. "Here's the cure to Tintin's possession!" Alex exclaimed. Haddock's joy fell into outrage when he saw the brownies before him. "Brownies?!" Haddock asked, outraged. "This is a life or death situation, and you brought brownies?! How are those going to save Tintin's life?" "If it's enough to snap Tintin, it should work!" Yan said.

"Ugh, now what sort of garbage have you brought this time?" Tintin groanedas Alexa approached him bravely. "Look Tintin! I brought brownies!" Alex said waving the plate before him. Tintin's face began distorting between his and Lucy's face. "Augh! Can't...help it! The brownies!" Tintin said. Lucy fought back, saying, "Silence! I'm in control! I will not settle for trash like this!" "You're missing out, Tintin!" Alex said. "And it's your favorite: double chocolate with nuts!" "I can't...!" Tintin said. "Don't fall for this temptation! I will destroy you if you do!" Lucy cried. Tintin fought with all his might to wrestle with Lucy. "You can do it, bud!" Alex exclaimed. "The power of brownies compels you! The power of brownies compels you!"

"Arg, I can't take it anymore!" Tintin exclaimed. Alex gave him the plate, and Tintin began scarfing down as many brownies as he could. After he finished, his face turned back to Lucy. "Now then! Where were we?" Lucy said. Her tongue suddenly tasted something odd. "Hmm, that's a peculiar flavor," Lucy said. "What is th...?" Suddenly, she began to writhe around in Tintin's body, choking and gagging. "Oh, what were the ingredients you ask?" Alex asked. "I just added the usual. You know, flour, eggs, sugar, water, milk, chocolate, chopped walnuts, and..." She saw Lucy suddenly choking even more and gasping for breath. "Oh yeah, I must have forgotten the secret ingredient!" Alex revealed. "One hundred pounds of raw, minced, cloves of garlic!"

Suddenly, Lucy's spirit floated out of Tintin's mouth, screaming and writhing in pain as she was trying to scrape the taste of garlic off her tongue. Holding up a mirror, Alex began to shout, "Creepy Lucy isn't creepy! Creepy Lucy isn't creepy! Creepy Lucy isn't creepy!" Soon, Lucy's ghost was instantly suckered into the mirror. The spirit was gone.

"Yea! I finally got you, you nasty little witch!" Alex shouted at the mirror. "Woo hoo!" The friends cheered loudly. They paused, noticing that Tintin was still asleep. Quietly, Haddock draped a blanket over Tintin, whispering, "Good night, lad." Then, everyone tiptoed out the door.

...

"Achoo! Achoo!"

On the next morning, Tintin woke up, feeling sick with a cold. Apparently, getting a demon cleansed from your body was enough to take you out. "Morning, Tintin!" Miwa and Meimei both shouted. Tintin didn't hear them and simply grabbed a cup of hot coffee from Nestor. "Morning, Uncle Tintin!" Bellino said. But Tintin kept on walking to the foyer. "Tintin? Are you okay?" Heidi asked. Matthew just looked on.

"How's my adorable reporter today?" Yan said, arriving with a bowl of soup. Tintin could only moan. "What happened?" Tintin asked. "Well, brother. It's a long story," Benton said. "Oh-h," Tintin groaned. "I just had the weirdest dream ever. And you were all in it." "Haha! At least our secret's safe in the mirror!" Alex said. She turned to the Captain. "And by the way, Captain," Alex asked, "what did you do with that mirror anyway?" "Threw it out in the well," Haddock replied. "Good to see my little brother back to his normal, human self again!" Benton ssid, embracing Tintin. And there was only one thing Tintin could say right now.

"Achoo!"

Le fin!