Read Online R. L. Stine_Mostly Ghostly 03 by One Night in Doom House - Free Book Online Page B

busy now?”
    Mrs. Manola's expression turned angry. “
We’re
the ones who are busy. You’re interrupting our play rehearsal. Please leave, Max.”
    “Listen to me. We have to go to Doom House,”Nicky said. “If the ghosts there are real, maybe they can help us find our parents.”
    “No. It's too dangerous,” I said.
    Mrs. Manola frowned at me. “Too dangerous to leave the auditorium?”
    “We have to take the chance,” Nicky said. “We’re going there. We’re desperate.”
    “Max, you don’t belong here. I’m asking you politely to leave,” Mrs. Manola said.
    “Please don’t go there!” I said.
    Nicky and Tara waved good-bye and vanished.
    It took me a few seconds to realize the kids on the stage were all laughing at me.
    “Max, you’re being very rude,” Mrs. Manola said.
    “I’m sorry. I wasn’t talking to you,” I said.
    She glanced around the auditorium. “Well, who were you talking to? Ghosts?”
    Big laughter onstage.
    “Well … actually …,” I started. But I realized I didn’t have time to waste. I turned away from Mrs. Manola. “Phoebe, I have to talk to you.”
    Phoebe let out a cry of surprise. “Me?”
    I started to call her down to the auditorium floor. But a loud sizzling sound made me stop.
    A wave of heat rolled over me, hot enough to make my skin prickle. “Whoa.” I unzipped my parka.
    “It's getting very hot in here,” Mrs. Manola said, shaking her head. She stared at the radiator. “Where is all that heat coming from?”
    Kids started to groan and complain as the temperature rose. Sweat poured down their faces. Behind them, I saw the painted backdrop start to droop.
    “The furnace must be going berserk,” Mrs. Manola said, fanning herself with her clipboard.
    But I knew differently.
    I felt another blast of heat on my back. I spun around and saw Mr. Morgo standing behind me. He had a strange tight smile on his face.
    “Mr. Morgo—please!” I cried. But he ignored me. He walked right through me, and my body heaved as if on fire.
    I knew I was the only one who could see him. But what could I do? I watched helplessly as he floated up to the stage.
    “I’m tired of racing around from place to place,” he said. “I’ve been following you, Max. I knew you’d lead me to the stolen life pods. But I’m sick of searching.”
    Only I heard him.
    And only I saw him raise both hands and point them toward the kids onstage.
    And only I knew what he planned to do—melt everyone in sight.

23
    “MORGO—STOP!” I SHOUTED.
    Kids stared down at me.
    “Max, who are you talking to?” Mrs. Manola demanded. Her hair drooped wetly over her face. The front of her turtleneck sweater was stained with sweat.
    Several kids dropped to their knees, unable to stand the burning heat. But the stage floor was hot, and they jumped right back up.
    Steam hissed on the stage and out over the rows of seats.
    Morgo held his hands high. His features were set in an angry scowl. He waved his right hand—and the backdrop started to melt.
    Kids screamed and scampered away from it.
    The skyscrapers appeared to fold. The backdrop curled wetly to the stage floor.
    “What is
happening
?” Mrs. Manola screamed. “We’d better leave, people. Use the stage door.”
    “Don’t let them leave!” Morgo shouted at me.
    At the back of the stage, Mrs. Manola grabbedthe doorknob at the exit. She let out a high shriek and jumped back. She shook her hand hard, blowing on it.
    “Don’t touch that knob!” she cried to the others. “It's … burning hot!”
    Morgo turned to me. “I want those life pods—now,” he said through clenched teeth. “I don’t want to melt your friends, Max.”
    “Uh … it would be really great if you didn’t melt them,” I said. “I mean, I’m sure everyone would be really happy not to be melted.”
    “Shut up,” Morgo said, shaking his head.
    “Oh. Okay. No problem. Really.”
    “Shut up and find out who has the stolen pods,” Morgo said. He swung his hand