Officer Rawls is from Dr. Maniac vs Robby Schwartz.

"Why do I always have to take a girl's body?" Martin complained.

Oswald looked at his brother. He had a feminine face, with dark hair and eyes. He was wearing bright colors.

"Sorry, brother," he said with a smirk. "But at least you're an attractive girl, like last time."

"Andy!" Oswald heard the Ross boy scream. "Andy, it's me, Evan!"

"Idiot," Oswald spat. "Can't you see it isn't your friend?"

"I know that!" Evan snapped. "I was talking to Andy!"

"Yes, he is," Martin confirmed.

"Oh. So the girl's here as well?" asked Oswald.

"She's not so bad, actually," said Martin. "She's quite funny." He smirked. "She just said she doesn't like the idea of a boy having her body any more than I like having a girl's body."

"And he just said she acts like a boy anyway, so it shouldn't be too different," reported Oswald.

"And she said if she had her body, she'd punch him for saying that," said Martin. "Ah, young love."

"What a coincidence. We took the bodies of two young lovers," said Oswald. He smirked as he heard Evan protest.

Suddenly, Evan's mother came in. "Andy, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, just visiting," said Martin.

"It's terrible what happened," she said. "That town burning down... and a boy from your school, Conan Barber, was assumed to be responsible."

"I wouldn't be surprised if he was," remarked Oswald.

"But it turns out he didn't," Mrs. Ross said. "A monster took his body and did terrible things with it. The same thing happened a while ago. It was the same monster."

Oswald pretended to look shocked, along with Martin. "Oh, no!"

"Some kids talked about similar stuff happening to them," said Mrs. Ross. "Look on TV."

She turned the switch on. A boy named Cooper Holmes was talking about how he switched bodies with a dog. "But at least they didn't use my body to set fire to a town," he said.

"Thank you, Mr. Holmes," said the newscaster. "Another boy has a similar story about switching bodies with an animal."

Then a boy named Gary Lutz came on TV. "I switched bodies with a bee," he said. "Well, it was a complete accident. I meant to switch bodies with another person, but I ended up switching with a bee instead."

"There's a body switching company?" the newscaster exclaimed.

"Yes. Run by Miss Carmen," said Gary. "It's been shut down now, thankfully. I wanted someone else's life. But now, I see mine isn't that bad. But I still have some bee characteristics, like a liking for honey."

"It doesn't sound nearly as bad as this instance of body switching," said the newscaster. "At least dogs and bees can't do anything terrible in your body. Well, not anything too terrible. But this was a case of humans switching bodies. Oswald Manse, along with his brother Martin, were criminals in their lifetime. This isn't the first time Manse burned down a town."

Oswald grinned. "Good times."

"Did you say something, Evan?" Mrs. Ross asked.

"No, Mom," said Oswald.

"Luckily, the Manse brothers were hanged for their crimes," the newscaster continued. "But it seems they came back to life, to take people's bodies to carry out their deeds. Martin Manse could still be out there."

Martin almost grinned, but forced himself to look scared.

"How horrible!" Mrs. Ross exclaimed. She turned off the television. "I'm glad you two are safe."

"So am I," said Oswald, smirking. Evan and Andy's screams went unheard.

"Petey's teeth look sharper," remarked Josh.

"Not just sharper!" Amanda cried. The dog bared his teeth, revealing long, sharp fangs. Amanda dropped him with a cry of surprise. Petey growled and snapped at her heels, showing his new fangs. Amanda backed away.

"Hey! Easy, boy." Josh crouched and tried to pet him, but Petey started growling at him instead. Josh cried out as he saw his fangs. Petey jumped on him and then bared his teeth, preparing to sink it into his leg, but Josh kicked him away.

"What happened to him?" Josh cried. "He never tried to bite me before."

"That stuff," said Amanda. "The stuff in the packet."

Petey ran towards the door, scratching at it and leaving dents, but it was locked. Then he stared at Amanda again and leapt at her, knocking her onto the couch. She was glad it was there to break her fall. She cried out as he growled at her, baring his fangs.

"Amanda!" Josh cried. He tried pulling Petey off, but not before he lowered his head and sank his fangs into Amanda's neck.

Josh pulled Petey off, holding him tightly. "What's gotten into you, boy?" He petted the top of his head, but immediately pulled his hand away when he tried biting it.

"Josh..." Amanda groaned.

"Amanda! Are you okay?" Josh cried. She was lying on the couch with her eyes closed, a wound on her neck. There were two cuts that were dripping with blood.

"He bit me before, but not like that," said Josh.

Amanda opened her eyes, staring hungrily at Josh. Suddenly, she felt very thirsty. "Josh... I'm thirsty," she moaned.

"What?" Josh stared at her. "I'll get you a bandage."

"I'm thirsty..." she groaned. "So thirsty..."

"I'll get you water, then," said Josh.

Amanda got off the couch and approached Josh, staring at him with the same hungry look that had been in Petey's eyes. Josh gulped.

"Let's go outside," Zoe urged. She picked up her bag and headed out the front door. Margaret and Casey followed.

"Wait," Margaret called. "We shouldn't be outside. The monsters appear in the daytime now as well."

Zoe ignored her. She took a flat silver disk out of her bag and spread it on the ground. When she opened it, it expanded to a dome, like a tent. She opened one part of it and crawled inside. "Go on, come in," she urged.

"I don't know," said Margaret.

"What is that?" asked Casey.

"It's fun," insisted Zoe. "I can bring it inside as well, if you want. Come on."

Casey reluctantly crawled inside. Margaret did as well. "It's so small," Margaret complained, shifting around and accidentally elbowing Casey in the face.

Suddenly, the dome started shifting. Margaret gasped. The sides seemed to be expanding and narrowing at the same time, and it started spinning around, faster and faster until Margaret cried out. Then it felt like they were flying.

"Where are we going?" Casey cried as he held onto Margaret.

Finally, it came to a stop. Margaret got to her knees, feeling dizzy. She and Casey started yelling at the same time.

"What was that?" Casey cried.

"Where are we?" Margaret demanded.

"A very fun place," Zoe replied. Margaret looked at her fearfully. Had she transported them somewhere else?

Zoe opened a flap of the dome and crawled out. Casey reluctantly followed her, along with Margaret. They weren't in their backyard anymore. They were in an indoor playground. Margaret remembered their dad taking them to some when they were little. There were slides, a trampoline, a ball pit, an inflatable area to climb, and strangely, dark caves in the distance. It brought back memories for Margaret.

"Wow," murmured Casey as he got to his feet.

"How did you take us here?" Margaret demanded.

"This is where I work," said Zoe. "It's a good place to have fun, isn't it?"

"But how will we get home?" Casey cried.

"You'll get home when you've had enough," said Zoe. "And when you've given enough." What did that mean?

"Are you a witch or something?" Margaret demanded. She had heard reports about those.

"What? No," replied Zoe. "I just know a few tricks. Enjoy yourselves."

Margaret observed the area. "Our father will be worried about where we are."

"He won't be back for a while," said Zoe. "Have fun."

"No. Send us home!" Margaret demanded.

"Isn't it nice to escape from everything and have some fun?" asked Zoe.

"Well, it is," admitted Margaret.

"Margaret, maybe we should enjoy ourselves," Casey suggested. He ran towards the playground and started climbing up a ladder.

"Casey!" Margaret called.

"You might as well join him," Zoe suggested.

"But..." Margaret shrugged. She was scared, and wanted to go home, but she did want to have fun, even if she thought she was a little too old for this. She raced to join Casey.

"Zoe is cool for sending us here," Casey said, standing on top. "It was so boring being stuck at home."

"I wish we could've come with Dad," said Margaret, climbing up. She reached a hand out to Casey, but he didn't help her up, causing her to nearly slip. She rolled her eyes. "We could've helped him find the monsters. We asked him if we could help him with work before, but he always refused."

"We could've at least visited Aunt Eleanor's baby," agreed Casey. "I wanted to meet our cousin."

"Maybe being sent here wasn't so bad after all," said Margaret, reaching the top. "It gives us something to do."

"Zoe is kind of weird, though," said Casey. "Did you see that rat tattoo on her ear?"

"You wanted a tattoo," Margaret reminded. "You kept asking Mom and Dad if you could get one."

"Yeah, but not a rat tattoo," said Casey. "And she looked so weird when we told her how Dad was replaced by one of the plants."

"It is a weird story," Margaret pointed out.

"Yeah, but there was this look in her eyes. Like she knew what it was like," said Casey, crawling up onto another level.

"That's ridiculous," retorted Margaret. "I just hope we get home before Dad comes back." She couldn't help worrying about him. He had promised not to get so wrapped up in his work again, but now he was trying to find monsters, not experimenting with plants. What if something terrible happened to him?

Ray glanced at the DVD of A Holly Jolly Holiday and felt a sudden surge of anger towards the sickening smiling figure. It momentarily overtook his cheerful, upbeat feeling. He picked up the cover and stormed - more like danced - into the living room. There was an electronic fire there. They turned it on when it was cold. He turned it on and watched the flames crackle. Then he raised his hand with the DVD when Brandon grabbed his arm.

"Ray!" he cried. "What are you doing?"

Ray glanced at the DVD again. He didn't feel angry seeing Susie Snowflake anymore. She looked rather charming. What was so wrong with a little joy and cheer, anyway?

Then Brandon's face lit up upon seeing the fire. "Oh, good! You turned the fire on. Now it's like it's Christmas. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..." He sang the last part.

Ray backed away from the fire. Brandon said, "Let's play the movie again. Itty bitty please with Christmas trees?"

Ray obligingly slid it into the TV. It wasn't such a bad movie. As he saw the bright colors and cheerful music, he relaxed. He could feel the cheer radiating from the television. It was such a nice, charming movie. He resisted the urge to sing along with Susie Snowflake.

At one point, he got up and hugged Brandon, who was surprised at first, but then hugged him back.

Then Ray pulled away in disgust. What was he doing? He was more likely to give his brother a broken arm than a hug. He didn't want to become so irritatingly cheerful and babyish. That was Brandon's job. Actually, Brandon wasn't even cheerful, just babyish.

He slid the disk out of the TV, ignoring Brandon's protest, and walked over to the fire. He tossed his arm back and heaved it in, watching it disintegrate in the flames.

"Ray!" Brandon cried, running over in dismay. "Why did you do that, dearie?"

Ray glanced at Brandon. To his relief, his hair was losing its red color. Then Brandon gasped. "Why was I acting like that? What happened to me? And to you?"

"That DVD changed us," explained Ray. He ran to the mirror, and was relieved to see that his hair had turned back to normal as well. "It turned us into that annoying, cheerful character. It must've been cursed or something." Brandon looked horrified.

Mr. Gordon walked into the room. "Who made those cookies? They were tasty, but too sweet."

"You did, Dad," said Ray.

"Really?" Mr. Gordon frowned. "I must've put too much sugar in."

"Way too much," Ray agreed.

"I can't believe I acted like that," Brandon told Ray. "I hugged you!"

"And I hugged you," said Ray, a look of disgust crossing his face.

"Ew!" Brandon backed away from his brother. "That DVD is cursed if it makes me hug you."

Ray laughed. Things were back to normal.

"Can you believe it?" Crystal cried. "Apparently Vanessa helped out that boy, Todd Barstow. She turned him back to human after he was cursed."

"I bet she was the one who cursed him," said Cole. "Like how she cursed us, and then turned us into humans."

"Todd said someone else fed him stuff that turned him into a monster," said Crystal. "Vanessa came by, and turned him back into a human."

"It must've been a different witch," insisted Cole.

"No, it was Vanessa," said Crystal. "She said that was her name, and she had black hair and lipstick and a black dress. Sure sounds like Vanessa."

"Wow. So she can be nice," said Cole. "I don't believe it."

"The person who turned him into a monster was part of a plan to turn people into aliens," said Crystal. "We shouldn't accept any food from strangers who show up at our door. I wouldn't do that, anyway."

"That's horrifying," Cole shuddered. "It's like an alien invasion in the movies."

"Better to become an alien than a chicken," said Crystal. She still shuddered remembering their transformation.

"Well, at least Vanessa taught us to be polite," said Cole. "Mom and Dad are still shocked I'm so polite now."

"I feel sorry for the chickens now," said Crystal. "I used to hate them, but now I just feel bad for them."

"I've heard you talking to them," Cole teased.

"Well, I used to be one," said Crystal.

"I still can't believe Vanessa helped him," said Cole.

"They must've begged her," suggested Crystal.

"She didn't listen to us when we begged," Cole pointed out. "Not until you wrote her a thank you note."

"Someone should point at her and said witch, witch... but with a B," Crystal quipped.

Cole burst out laughing. "Don't let her hear you say that."

"Trina?" Zane called his cousin.

"Zane?" She sounded confused.

"It's me," he said. "Are... are you okay?"

He regretted calling her when he heard a muffled sob. "No... not really."

"Oh, I'm sorry," said Zane quickly. "Maybe I shouldn't have called."

"No, stay on," urged Trina.

There was an awkward silence. Zane wondered what he should say. Ask if she was okay? No, he had already asked that.

"I... I'm sorry," said Zane. "About what happened."

"Thanks," said Trina. "I'm still not over it. I keep remembering..." She trailed off.

"Did... did you see it happen?" asked Zane.

"Yes. I saw him..." Trina trailed off again. "It was horrible. I keep seeing it happen in my mind."

Zane couldn't blame her. How could you forget watching your brother die?

"You got kidnapped by Slappy, right?" asked Zane.

"Yes. We got taken to a place called Horrorland," said Trina. "It's where all the monsters are."

"I've heard about that. Some other kids went there before," said Zane. "It's very useful information. They're going to be going to the place to investigate."

"They won't," said Trina. "They don't know exactly where it's located. Neither do I. Anyway, they're busy with other stuff. Like Sara Kramer's killer being discovered, and the thing that got Todd Barstow."

"Right. Get rid of the smaller problems before tackling all the monsters," said Zane.

There was another silence. "Trina?" Zane asked. "How was Horrorland like?"

"Horrifying," replied Trina. "Good thing you didn't come with us. You'd wet yourself." Zane was relieved that she could still tease him. "But apart from the monsters, it was pretty cool. There were a bunch of scary rides. Too bad we couldn't try any."

"Did... did one of the monsters..."

"Yes," said Trina, sounding forlorn again. "It happened right in front of me... and it was my fault." She said the last part so softly that Zane wasn't sure he had heard.

"Your fault?" he asked.

"Yes, it was my fault," Trina cried. "I didn't tell the police, or anyone on TV, but it was my fault."

"Your fault? How was it your fault?" asked Zane, confused. "The monster killed him."

"But I caused it," insisted Trina. "The monster told me she only needed one victim. Me or Dan. I told him to go first."

"You... you told him to be the monster's victim?" Zane gasped. He couldn't believe Trina would do that. How could she let her brother die?

"Well, no," Trina admitted. "We didn't know it was a monster at first. She pretended to be a normal girl who wanted to help us. She helped us escape the park, but she told us one of us had to exit first. I told him to go, since I wanted him to escape first. Then, she revealed she was a monster, and I had offered him as her victim."

Zane paused, trying to process what she said. "So you tried to help him escape, without knowing there was a monster?"

"Yes," said Trina. "I thought he'd be safe, but I got him killed instead."

"But it wasn't your fault," said Zane. "How could you know that she was a monster? You were trying to help him and get him to safety."

"I... I guess you're right," admitted Trina. "I couldn't have known what would happen. But it was still my own fault. That's what the monster told me."

"Well, she was wrong," said Zane. "She tricked you."

"Thanks, Zane," said Trina. "I just feel so guilty."

"It was your fault that I got sent Slappy, though," griped Zane.

"Oh, yeah," said Trina, sounding apologetic. "Sorry I did that. You didn't deserve that. It was a bit too harsh."

"A bit?" Zane quipped.

"I guess it's karma that he kidnapped me and Dan," said Trina.

"The other girl, Amy Kramer, met him before as well," said Zane. "And a bunch of other kids. How many others have met him?"

"Sounds like we were one of his first victims," remarked Trina.

"Excuse me, miss. Could you help me?"

Wade looked at the woman. She was dark-haired and wearing a black shawl. "I got separated from my friends," she said. "Could you help me find them?"

Wade knew she shouldn't be outside again. Her parents had lectured her about being out last time. But she needed to escape from the house. From Micah.

"Sure," Wade replied. "What's your name?"

"Clarissa," she said. "And yours, miss?"

Wade felt delighted whenever she called her "miss". "Wade," she replied, less delighted about having to say that name. "Wade Brill."

A confused look crossed Clarissa's face. "That's strange. That name sounds familiar."

The woman looked familiar to Wade as well. She looked like Iris. But it couldn't be her, right?

"My friends and I were headed somewhere," said Clarissa. "But I got separated. I want to find my way to one of their houses. They'll probably return there. Do you know where Goshen Falls is?"

"Goshen Falls? That's in the country," said Wade. "It's quite a while away."

"Oh. Well, do you know Flamingo Road?" Clarissa asked.

"What?" Wade was taken aback. "I went there once."

"Can you take me there?" asked Clarissa.

"I don't know," admitted Wade. "I'd rather not return to that place. Terrible things happened to me last time."

"Oh." Clarissa looked disappointed.

"But I'll take you there if you want," said Wade. She considered warning her about Iris, but decided against it.

"Oh, thank you, Wade," said Clarissa. "I hope it's not too far off. I went there before, but I can't remember exactly where it is."

"It's not," said Wade.

"What are you doing out here?" Clarissa asked. "You're very young. Aren't your parents worried about you?"

"I doubt it," Wade muttered.

"Perhaps you should return home," Clarissa suggested. "You shouldn't be out here. I'm sure I can find my way on my own."

"No, I'll help you," insisted Wade. She still preferred returning there than to her home. "It's not too far."

"Oh, thank you very much," said Clarissa.

Wade started to lead Clarissa through town. "You should go home straight afterwards," suggested Clarissa. "Your parents must be worried about you."

"I doubt they are," Wade muttered.

Clarissa frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Wade hadn't realised she said it out loud. "I mean, they aren't worried," she said. "They let me out all the time."

After walking in silence, Clarissa asked, "Wade, can I ask you a question?"

"What?" Wade asked.

"If you could make any wish and it'd be granted, which wish would you make?" asked Clarissa.

Wade stared at her. "What?"

"Just trying to make small talk," said Clarissa. "Silly question."

"No, it's a good question," said Wade. She knew exactly what she would wish for. "I... I wish I could change my name."

"Your name? Wade?"

"Yes. I don't like it," admitted Wade. "It sounds like a boy's name, doesn't it?"

"It does," agreed Clarissa.

When they reached, Clarissa stopped. "Well, thank you very much, Wa— Miss Brill," she said, making Wade grin. "It was very kind of you."

"Well, I'll have to get home now," said Wade.

"Wait," called Clarissa. "I'd like to repay you in some way."

"Repay me?" Wade turned around. "Oh, that's not necessary."

"Because you were kind to me, I shall grant you a wish," said Clarissa, her dark eyes boring into Wade's.

"A wish?" Wade cried.

"Go on, Miss Brill," Clarissa urged. "Make a wish, and I shall grant it. I would normally grant you three wishes, but I'm not too confident about my magic."

"Magic?" Wade cried. "You're a witch?"

"Yes," replied Clarissa. "I grant people wishes. Make a wish, Miss Brill."

"I don't know," said Wade hesitantly, though she was secretly excited. What were the chances of meeting someone who could grant her a wish?

"Any wish you want, and I shall grant it," declared Clarissa. "To the best of my ability."

Wade hesitantly approached her. "Uh... any wish?" she asked.

"Any wish," confirmed Clarissa.

"I wish..." Wade gulped. "I wish I was a girl."

There was a silence. "But you are a girl," said Clarissa, confused.

"I know," said Wade. "But I mean, a real girl."

"Oh," said Clarissa, catching on. "But you are a real girl."

"I don't feel like it," confessed Wade.

"Well, I can make you appear more like a girl," said Clarissa.

"Could you... could you change my voice?" Wade suggested. She tried her hardest to increase the pitch of her voice, but she always sounded too deep and raspy, though she thought she had gotten good enough at sounding like a girl. But not enough.

Clarissa closed her eyes and muttered something while pointing at Wade. Then she opened her eyes.

"What?" asked Wade, and then she gasped. Her voice sounded completely different. "I sound..." Her voice wasn't as low and raspy as before. It was still a little raspy, but it sounded like a girl's. "I can't believe it!" She loved her new voice. It wasn't too high-pitched and girly sounding, but it was a girl's voice.

"Would you like a different hairstyle?" asked Clarissa.

"Well, yeah," Wade admitted, touching her blondish-brown hair. "I wish it was longer. And maybe a little wavier." After saying it, she immediately regretted it. She remembered when hair had grown all over her before. It had been a nightmare.

Clarissa closed her eyes again, and when she opened them, Wade gasped. She felt her hair expanding down her head, and for a moment, she felt the horrible feeling from before when hair grew over her. But it quickly disappeared when the hair stopped below her shoulders. She tossed her head and ran her fingers through her hair. It was thicker, and more wavy.

"Clarissa, thank you so much!" she cried.

"Is there anything else, Ms. Brill?" asked Clarissa.

"Well..." Wade hesitated. "There is one thing. But I can't do it."

"What?" Clarissa prompted.

"My name," said Wade. "I wish I could change it. Maybe you can, but my parents and brother wouldn't call me by my new name. You can't make people think it's my real name."

"Well, I can," Clarissa admitted.

"Really?" asked Wade, her heart pounding.

"Yes, but it might be too advanced magic for me," said Clarissa, causing Wade's heart to sink. "Why not explain to them what your new name is?"

"They might not call me by it," said Wade. "They'll be surprised to see the changes you gave me."

"It doesn't matter what they think," said Clarissa. "You're happier this way, aren't you?"

"I am," admitted Wade. "But couldn't you make them know for sure that I'm a girl, and not be surprised by the changes?"

"That's something you'll have to work on yourself," said Clarissa. "Anyway, it's too complicated for me. It's best not to mess with people's minds."

"Oh," said Wade, trying not to look disappointed. "Thank you so much, Clarissa," she said genuinely.

"It's my pleasure, my dear," said Clarissa. "Now go, Miss Brill."

Wade left, feeling happier than she had in ages. Finally, she felt right, like herself. Her family couldn't bring her down, and Micah couldn't ruin her happiness, no matter how hard they tried.

Goosebumps says trans rights.

Next chapter (or the second next) will show the scientists trying to track down monsters. It's not just the kids.