Chapter 4: The plan

Slappy

I let out a gleeful laugh as I drove the Haunted Car, cars honking at me. "Hahaha! Sorry, folks, I'd slow down, but I can't reach the brake!" I declared. "Hahaha." I let out another laugh, throwing another book out the window, monster plants coming out, destroying the cell tower. "Hey, check out my new best seller," I announced, turning my head away from the road to the window of the passenger seat that had the manuscripts from the bookcase. "It'll grow on you. Muhahaha." I continued laughing, hearing people screaming in different buildings. "I'm driving myself crazy!" I turned the car around, thinking where I should go. "Hmm..." I thought. "I know! The police station. That'll be perfect. And if the cops are there, I'll use the Bug-Eyed Aliens to freeze them." I snickered. "Oh, Slappy, you are such a genius..." I kept on snickering, until my mind went back to that girl that had an anxiety attack when she saw me... Yes, once I freeze the cops, I'll release another monster, and have it get that girl.

"And once I have her... I'll get rid of you, papa!" I vowed, laughing my evil laugh, parking the car in front of the station, getting out, and grabbing two manuscripts. I held one under my arm, as I unlocked the first one. Two Bug-Eyed Aliens came out the book that I had unlocked, burning it. "Wait here for my signal," I instructed them. They nodded, and I entered through the doors. I got one of the chairs, putting the book and key under the seat, lying on my side, not moving, as I began eavesdropping on the cops.

"The town is invaded," I heard the male cop began to announce like a news reporter. "Communications are down. We're talking about mass chaos, and no one knows how to stop it." He paused, and from the corner of my eye, I saw him grin. "What do you think?" he asked the female cop.

"I'm not sure. I... I'm not... I don't know," the female one replied confused, not knowing what he's talking about.

"It's The Blob," he explained, gesturing his hands. "The Blob. The original one with Steve McQueen. Oh, I can't believe you don't know that movie," he said, surprised at his partner. "Come over to my house," he offered. "I got it on Laserdisc. We'll wa…" The lights went out. Perfect. "The power went out... God. All night with this." I heard him walk over to one of those lights that are on the wall, tapping on it with his finger. "These emergency lights should kick on soon." Then he spotted me. Perfect. "Someone left their ventriloquist dummy," he noticed, seeing me on the chair.

Time for action. I slowly sat up. "Who you calling 'dummy'?" I rasped, lowering my eyebrows.

"It's talking!" the female cop exclaimed as they both pulled out their hand guns. "What is that thing?" Fear creeped out of her mouth. They pointed their guns at me.

I raised my hands. "I come in peace. Unharmed. I just wanted to read you a bedtime story..."

"Sir, shut your mouth," the male cop ordered.

"Okay," I spoke through my closed mouth, "because that's not gonna stop me."

"Hands where I can see them." The male cop kept pointing his gun at me.

"Officers! You've been relieved from your duties..." On cue, the Bug-Eyed Aliens came in, and the cops pointed their guns at them. "Haha. Now freeze!" I watched as they froze the cops with their lasers. "Thank you, now go out there, and freeze anyone that you see," I commanded, pointing out the door. They gave me a salute, before marching out the door. I grabbed the book from underneath the seat, unlocked it, and released yet another monster. In fact, two to be exact.

After I burned the book, I looked up at them. "Now..." I began. "There is a girl with hazel eyes that I saw when I was in papa's study," I told them. "Go get her, and once I have her, I'll get rid of papa."

"Yes, sir," the first one obeyed as the other one let out an insane laugh, running out of the building.

Once they had left, I got up off the chair, heading out to the car. "Now I should get the rest of the police frozen..." A smile spread on my wooden lips. "Hmm..." I began thinking. "...since I opened up Invasion Of The Body Squeezers Part 1, I should released more Bug-Eyed Aliens from Invasion Of The Body Squeezers Part 2 so they can freeze them. Yeah! Perfect idea." I went over to the Haunted Car, grabbing the book, unlocking it, and the Bug-Eyed Alien stood right before me as I burned their book. "Aliens, start freezing the rest of the police in this station," I ordered them. "And also, if someone comes in here and calls for help, freeze that person as well, and especially if I get called the D word. Got it?" They nodded. "Good. Now... Get to work!"

With a salute, they walked inside the station, looking for any cops to freeze. I went inside the building too, going over into one of the small offices, putting on a cop hat and sunglasses, closing the blinds, waiting for someone to come by and call for help.

No one is going to interfere with my plans.

Lorraine

I was on my phone leaving Zach alone in his room with Hazel helping him study for a test he has on Monday, when I heard scratching at the front door. Getting up, I went to go check it out, putting the phone on my chest. I opened the door to see a small, white poodle. "Oh, hello, cutie," I smiled, seeing how adorable she looks since she has a pink flower in the middle of her white, coiled fur. "You must be lost." I lowered myself to the dog. "Hmm," I observed, "no tags." I stood back up. "Well, let's get you some water. We'll take you around the neighborhood and we'll find your owner." I turned back around, going back on my phone. "Is he handsome?" I walked into the kitchen. "Is he single?" I grabbed a bowl that is the color of light pink out from one of the cabinets, filling it up with water, using my cheek and shoulder to hold the phone against my ear. "Is he thinking about leaving his wife and needs a push?" Afterwards, I shut the faucet off. "Hey, can you hold on a sec?" I asked, then put the phone on hold, setting it on the counter. I grabbed the bowl with both hands, heading back to the front door. "Alright..." I walked carefully. "Trying not to spill..." The water swished inside the bowl as I kept it steady. "Don't be clumsy, Lorraine," I chuckled to myself. "Oh, you must be so thirsty," I said, ready to give the water to the poodle and to see it not there anymore.

That's when I raised my head slowly when I saw its paws, seeing it float in the air, the water dumping onto the floor as I tilted the bowl forward. "Wha...?" The poodle tilted its head at me before it opened its mouth, baring long, white fangs like a vampire, letting out a terrifying growl, eyes turning red. I screamed, dropping the bowl as it broke, getting away from that... thing!

I ran into the kitchen, the monster poodle floating after me, trying to bite me. "Get away!" I shrieked at it, grabbing my phone. "Get away from me!" It began chasing me around the house. I need to call Gale, but my phone went out, and saw that I had no connection.

The poodle kept coming at me. "Go away, you cruel animal!" I ran up the steps. "Zach! Hazel!" I screamed. "Zach!" I opened his bedroom door, seeing him and his friend not there. And the poodle growled at me, baring its sharp teeth at me, before it started to attack me. I landed on the floor in the room with a loud thud. The poodle kept trying to bite me, fur flying everywhere. I manage to shove it off of me, before grabbing my phone again. I tried to call Zach. Still no connection, and I have no choice but to go to my store.

Running out of the house with the poodle close behind me, I opened the car door, getting into the driver's seat, slamming the door shut on the wild dog. It barked, scratching its nails on the window. Quickly, I put on my seatbelt, hit the gas pedal, and drove as fast as I can to my store.

Hazel

"Come on, in the car," Stine told us. We went over to the car, getting in. He started the car up and drove off the driveway, and drove away from the house. "I need to see how much damage that Slappy caused." When I heard Stine say the dummy's name my hand did a small twitch, sending a chill down my spine. I rested my hand on my cheek as I stared out the window. I can still hear the laughing of the dummy, remembering how he had his eyes locked on me. Those mocking eyes reminded me of...

"Are you okay, Hazel?"

"Huh?" I snapped out of my trance, shaking my head, turning towards Champ. "Yeah... Yeah." I nodded. "I'm fine. I was just thinking..."

"About what?" he inquired.

I looked away from him. "...nothing... Just...forget about." I rested my cheek on my hand again. For now, I just want some quiet time, trying not to think of the dummy's mocking eyes, which reminded me of my childhood.

I felt him staring at me. "Okay..." He turned away from me, which is a good thing cause a tear slid down my face, and I quickly flicked it off of me. I don't want to start getting upset in front of anyone.

You know. If you think that these people are your friends... which they aren't... you can just, oh, I don't know, run away once he stops the car, the voice began speaking.

Why? How do you know if they are pretending?

Because I DO know! Don't you remember when you were younger? it demanded.

I didn't answer it.

Do you? the voice forced out again.

I want to be left alone...

Hmph. Suit yourself.

When the voice vanished away, I closed my eyes, resting them, the sadness still in my head.

I walked through the woods, entering into the abandoned amusement park. The morning sun shone down on me with no clouds in the sky, the leaves brushing against each other. I continued walking, looking at all the broken rides and empty booths, when I spotted someone.

"Hey there." It was Hannah, and she was waving me over. I hesitated, shaking my head. "Aw... come on," she encouraged, smiling a friendly smile at me. "I'm your friend... remember?" Her smile didn't disappear from her face.

I slowly walk up to her, my feet dragging on the dirt, slowly going up to her as she kept maintaining that nice smile.

Once I got close enough to her, she held out her arms. "Can I have a hug?" she asked.

I shook my head real fast.

She pouted. "Aw... why not? I know you don't like to be touched, but maybe one hug will help you start getting used to it again." She kept her arms out at me. "Please?" she said, her eyes begging me to do so. "Just one hug. I promise."

Seeing her still smiling her happy smile, I slowly got closer to her. She promised one hug... just one... and said that it'll start helping me get used to physical contact again.

I scooted closer. I shut my eyes tightly, and slowly, very slowly, I brought my arms up to her.

And that's when I was pushed to the ground. I fell flat on my back, dirt getting into my hair. I glanced up to see her glaring at me with deadly eyes, looking down at me.

"Ew! Why would I touch YOU?" she cried. My mouth dropped open as I can only stare at her in shock. "I'm not going to hug a worthless girl!" she screamed, eyes still glaring into mine. "Get away from me, you loser!"

I stayed on the floor, afraid to move an inch.

"Don't you know English? I said, get away from me!" She kept on screaming. "Get away, you disgusting thing!"

"Hannah!" I looked over my right shoulder to see someone coming over to us. "Hannah! What's wrong?"

"That!" She pointed her finger at me. "That ugly thing tried to touch me!" she shrieked in a high, shrill voice. "Zach, it-it-it tried to touch ME!"

What? But you said-

"Were you trying to touch her?" It was now Zach's turn to give me deadly eyes of his own. "Were you?!"

I opened my mouth. "But... she said she wanted a hug..."

"Liar!" Hannah screamed. "Zach, she's lying. Don't listen to her."

Zach grabbed me by the hair, forcing me to my feet.

"Ow! Let go of my hair!" I began to panic, my heart racing inside of my chest. "I'm not lying! Please, let go," I begged. "Ow!" He yanked my hair hard, almost pulling the roots out of my head, tears streaming down my face. "Let go..." I wailed.

"Why should I?" he spat in my face. "You ARE ugly! And you ARE worthless!"

He then threw me back onto the ground. "This is what you get for trying to touch my girl," he snarled, raising his foot back.

"NO!" I cried. "No! No! Don't do it!"

But it was too late, and I felt the force of his kick in my face.

Suddenly, I woke up, and heard voices outside the car. I sighed with relief. Just a dream... I'm not at that abandoned amusement park.

I felt tears on my face, quickly wiping them away as I got out of the car, and went over to the group. Zach noticed me when I shut the door tight.

"Hey. We weren't sure if we should wake you up or not," he said, and I kept my distance from him. "What's wrong?" he asked, furrowing his brows.

I looked down. "...nothing..." I answered, and notice people everywhere in town, not moving. "What's wrong with them?" I pointed at one of the people. "Why do they look... blue?"

"They got frozen," Hannah informed me. "And Champ thought one of the men is his dad."

"Hey!" He raised his hand in defense. "That man looks like my dad, okay?" he replied.

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes, then look up at her father. "What are we going to do?" she asked him.

"Without those manuscripts, there's nothing I can do..." Stine responded to Hannah's question, looking at all the smashed cars and frozen people. There were books on the road that Slappy unlocked... I shivered... and an electric pole was lying on one of the vehicles, sparks coming out of it.

"If... If you wrote the monsters off the page, maybe there's away you could write them back on," Zach brought up.

"Wait... Yeah, yeah, yeah!" Champ agreed, nodding his head. "Why don't you do that?" he suggested.

I crossed my arms. "You have any idea how many stories he has to write to capture every monster that he has ever created?" I scoffed. "I mean, there's like a million of his books that he had written."

Stine agreed with me. "She's right," he nodded. "And I already carpal tunnel in both hands."

"Dad, just listen to him. It's a great idea," Hannah insisted.

"Just one. One story to capture them all," Zach insisted as well.

"Hmm. Simple," Stine smiled sarcastically. "Just one, one story, with every monster I've ever created," he voiced out as Zach rolled eyes a bit. "Brilliant. Really good idea." He looked at his daughter. "He's a keeper." He pointed at Zach, and Hannah tilted her head to the side a little.

Zach gave him a slight smile. "You have a better idea?" he challenged.

"Mm-hm. Mm-hm. I much better idea..." We waited for what Stine's idea is, but he came out empty. "No, not now I don't, but..."

"Okay, then we just have to get you to a computer store so you can start writing. There..." Zach looked around. "...there's a computer store. Just break in..."

"No, no, no," he interrupted, stopping Zach. "I need my typewriter," he told him.

Zach gave him a confused look. "...what?"

"Every story I've written was on that Smith Corona," Stine explained. "It's not just me. The typewriter is... special. It has a soul of its own... If I write on anything else, it won't work," he stated.

"Then where's the typewriter?" I asked.

A smile spread over Stine's face. "Oh don't worry... it's somewhere safe..."

"But... where is it at?" Zach said.

"At the high school," he answered. "I donated when I finished my final book, which makes sense since I don't want it anymore until now." He cast a glare at Zach when we all heard insane laughing.

"Sense?" a voice questioned. "Oh, what's more fun than making sense?" The laughing continued.

"Dr. Maniac, show yourself," Stine commanded, looking around.

"Up hear, Stine Boy." We all looked up to see a big man with crazy black hair, a maniacal expression, wearing a silver amour over blue and green tights, a leopard-skin cape, and tall white boots with feathers. "Did you miss me, Stine Boy?" He flew over to one of the broken down cars, landing on it. "I missed you." His eyes glowed red.

Stine tightened his fist. "If you're here, then that means Purple Rage is here too."

"Oh, yes he is..." Dr. Maniac began to fly again. "And he isn't too happy, either..."

"That's right." A figure wearing a tight, purple outfit and ridiculous boots came from behind the ice cream truck. "...I am not happy." I notice that his face is red. "When you lock someone up in a book they get very ANGRY!" His face turned bright purple. "And Slappy has a mission for us to do."

"Like what?" Stine replied.

Dr. Maniac laughed, pointing at me. "He wants to have her... and get rid of you, Stine Boy," he sneered, and I backed away from him, almost hiding behind the author.

"Why does he want Hazel for?" Zach asked, standing his ground.

"He didn't tell us why. Maybe just to... scare her." He let out another insane laugh.

"You're crazy," Hannah exclaimed.

"I'm not crazy. I'm a MANIAC!" the super villain declared, doing his catchphrase.

"So hand her over to us. Or else..." Purple Rage clenched his fist together, shaking it. "Slappy doesn't like waiting."

"We're not handing her over to you," Stine argued, stepping in front of me. "You guys are gonna be gone for good!"

"How are you going to stop us?" the Purple Rage challenged. "Our manuscript has been burned by Slappy."

"I am going to stop you and all the monsters," Stine vowed. "All of you are gonna be locked up for good."

"Speaking of locked up..." Dr. Maniac put his finger to his lips. "Stine Boy, tell me, what's soaking wet and clueless?" he quizzed him.

"Maniac, I just about enough-"

A splash of water came pouring down on Stine, cutting him off.

"Your face!" Dr. Maniac threw the metal bucket over Stine's head with a loud bang.

"Dad!" Hannah shrieked as Stine took the bucket off of his head, his hair dripping wet, casting a glare at him and then at Purple Rage.

"Slappy wants her." That name that Purple Rage mention made my arm shake violently, and the air seemed to get thinner with each breath I took that I had to sit down, crossing my legs, closing my eyes, doing my best to get rid of my anxious feeling away... doing my best not to think or picture that creepy puppet. "However... we can ask him to wait for awhile... She isn't doing so good."

I opened my eyes up to see everyone staring down at me.

"Hazel... are you okay?" Hannah asked, kneeling down next to me.

All eyes were on me, and I began to feel claustrophobic. My breathing began to get faster. "I...I..." I began stuttering, slowly getting up. My arm stopped shaking, but I can feel the panic inside me. "I..." I gasped. "I need air!" With that, I ran away from the scene, and I can hear Dr. Maniac laughing a mocking laugh... A mocking laugh.

"Hazel, come back!" Champ hollered out.

I didn't stop, I kept on going, zipping behind one of the buildings and sat down, regaining my breathing. Once it came back, I put my hands on top of my head, biting my bottom lip. The laughing... It reminds me of everything...

"Hazel...?"

I jumped, raising my head to see Stine in front of me. "Oh... Hey, Stine." I looked away.

"Are you okay...?" he asked in general concern. He seems to act differently around me then around with Zach.

"...Yeah..." I kept looking away and felt Stine sitting next to me. "I'm fine... Sorry to scare you guys..." I picked some blades of grass off the ground, letting them go between my fingers.

"That's alright... Mind if I ask you something?" He waited for my answer, and so I nodded, giving him permission. "Does Slappy... freak you out?"

"...yes," I answered softly. "It... actually happened when we were at your place," I confessed. "I started panicking in your study room..." I sighed. "I know I should've told you guys sooner but... I didn't. Let's just say I'm the type of person who doesn't like to speak up..." I plucked some more grass of the ground. "Also," I added. "Both Slappy's mocking eyes along with Dr. Maniac's mocking laugh reminded of... things..."

Stine raised a brow. "Like what?" he replied.

I shrugged my shoulders. "...I don't want to talk about it. At least... not today. It's too... traumatizing." I shuddered. "I'll tell my story only when I'm ready, but for now... I don't want to."

"Hey, you can tell me or your friends anytime you want," he assured me. "Plus, I won't let Slappy have his wooden hands on you. Me and your friends will keep you safe from that wooden gremlin."

I gave him a disbelief look. "Are they really my friends?"

"What?" Now he gave me a disbelief look. "Why would you think that they are not?"

I shrugged again. "I don't know..." I mumbled. I wanted to tell him the dream that I had in the car, but... I don't want him to think I was crazy. "Shouldn't we get to the high school?" I asked.

"Oh. Oh, sure," Stine answered quickly, nodding his head up and down, his hair still wet from the water. "I already brought the car over."

"Good." I stood up. "Let's go." I began to walk to the car with Stine right behind me. We both got in the car with the others waiting for us. I got in my seat, shutting the door, and leaned back.

"You okay?" I looked over at Zach and nodded. "That's good," he smiled. I nodded again, looking out the window, glancing at the night, cloudy sky as we drove off to the high school.