"Everyone stay calm," Rosemary instructed, trying to sound brave. She was supposed to be fearless. She couldn't let fear consume her now. "We need to keep a level head."
"How are we supposed to do that?" Ray cried. "My brother might be stuck as this hideous abomination forever!"
"No he won't," Rosemary assured. "We'll find my mom, and she'll set it right. Don't worry."
"Yes, listen to her," agreed Billy, looking relieved that somebody else was leading the others while he kept an eye on Kiran. Kiran seemed to recognize him as the undersea explorer, and was behaving very well.
"You're so brave," said Alyssa admiringly.
Rosemary was surprised to find herself blushing. People told her that all the time, but something about the way the pretty African-American girl said it, with such awe and admiration shining in her eyes, made her flush.
"Priorities," muttered Sari, smirking.
Somehow, they managed to make it to Stagger Inn. Rosemary was the leader, more than Billy or Sari were. They all listened to her, and she tried to speak clearly and remain calm. It wasn't that far from Stagger Inn. It just seemed a long distance. They would've reached it quickly in normal circumstances.
"What's going on?" Steve Boswell stared at the hoard of people running through the hotel in confusion, clutching a frightened Ashley to his chest.
Rosemary's face lit up. "Uncle Steve!" She ran over to him. "We need your help."
He started jiggling Ashley up and down, who smiled upon seeing Rosemary. Even Rosemary did, despite the circumstances. "Rosie!"
"There you are, Rosemary," said Steve, smiling at her. "Your mom told me you were coming here. This place is awesome, don't you agree?"
Steve froze as he saw Kiran's terrifying mask, his eyes starting to glint with anger again. "No..."
"He put on the mask!" Rosemary cried. "The same mask Mom put on! And we can't take it off!"
Panic crossed Steve's face. "What?!"
Ashley gasped. She was wearing heavy black headphones around her ears, so Rosemary didn't think she could actually hear them, but it was the terrifying mask and the panic in everyone's faces that frightened her.
"Where's Mom?" Rosemary demanded.
"She's out, actually," said Steve.
"What?" Ray shrieked.
"She went out with James to get food for him," explained Steve. "Didn't like anything on the menu, I guess."
"That's horrible!" Kiran cried, his voice sounding more desperate than angry.
"But Uncle Steve's here," said Rosemary, trying to sound reassuring. "He put on a mask like that as well once."
"I did," said Steve. "It was horrible. I started feeling weak and tired—"
"How did you take it off?" Billy demanded.
Steve paused. "It... it was so many years ago."
"Don't tell me you can't remember!" Rosemary moaned.
"I do," Steve insisted. "I'm just trying to think..."
"Well, don't try for too long!" cried Ray.
Kiran groaned. "I'm going to be stuck like this forever, aren't I? It's a nightmare!" He started pacing up and down, though he didn't have the furious glint in his eyes. He seemed actually upset, instead of vicious.
"I don't want you stuck like this!" Ray cried.
"Everyone calm down," Rosemary instructed. "Uncle Steve will help us. Don't panic."
"Yes, listen to her," Alyssa agreed. "We need to stay calm."
Their hopes of staying calm were dashed as they saw one of the huge green Horrors dash through the hotel, holding up plastic guns. They immediately all put their hands into the air, even Kiran. They raised their gun and pointed it right at his mask.
"What are you doing?" Steve cried. Ashley started to cry. He shushed her.
"We are the Monster Police," the Horror grunted. "We need to punish you. We need to punish any humans trying to replace monsters."
"Woah, wait," said Billy.
"I'm not!" Kiran cried.
"You need to be punished," the Horror repeated, lining up his gun and squinting.
"Woah, calm down," said Sari. "Don't be unreasonable."
"Yes, let's think about this clearly," Billy agreed.
The Horrors weren't going to be reasoned with, though. They glared at Kiran, who actually looked scared instead of angry. He was no match for other monsters. He held up his arms, trembling, his mask even looking less scary now.
"He's just a child!" Sari said. "Give him a break."
"He can't control it," Steve added. "He put on the mask, and he couldn't take it off."
"He shouldn't have put it on to begin with," the Horror insisted. "It's our obligatory extermination ritual. Nothing personal."
As the Horror set his aim on the trigger and pulled it, Ray yelled out "No!" He dashed forward and ran in front of his brother just as the shot went off, ringing through the hotel.