by Brandon Mull
I told Mom I would call on Alyssa's cell phone.
Okay. Have fun.
Not very likely, Kendra thought as she stepped out of the
SUV.
Hey, Kendra, Case rasped. She could smell his cologne
ten feet away.
We were getting worried you weren't coming, Alyssa
said.
I'm right on time, Kendra insisted. You guys were
early.
Let's pick a movie, Trina said.
What about Brittany? Kendra asked.
Her parents wouldn't let her come, Trina said.
They're making her study.
Case clapped his hands together. So what are we
seeing?
They negotiated for a couple of minutes. Case wanted to
see Medal of Shame, about a serial killer addicted to terrorizing
veterans who had won the Congressional Medal of
Honor. He finally relented on watching his action movie
when Trina promised to buy him popcorn. The winning
movie was Switching Places, the story of a nerdy girl who gets
to date the guy of her dreams after her mind gets swapped
into the body of the most popular girl in school.
Kendra had wanted to catch that movie, but now she
worried it would be ruined. Nothing like cuddling up to a
bald goblin during a cheesy chick flick.
As she had suspected, Kendra had a tough time focusing
on the movie. Trina sat on one side of Case, with Alyssa on
the other. Both were vying for his attention. They all shared
a jumbo bucket of popcorn. Kendra declined whenever they
offered her some. She wanted no part of anything those
warty hands had pawed.
By the time the credits were rolling, Case had an arm
around Alyssa. The two of them kept whispering and giggling.
Trina sat with her arms crossed, wearing a disgruntled
expression. Monster or not, when had any good come from
multiple girls going out together with a guy they were all
interested in?
Case and Alyssa held hands as they exited the theater.
Trina's mom was waiting in the parking lot. Trina said a terse
good-bye and stalked away.
Can I use your cell phone? Kendra asked. I need to
call my dad.
Sure, Alyssa said, handing it over.
You want a ride? Kendra asked as she dialed.
I'm not that far, Alyssa said. Case said he would walk
me.
The goblin gave Kendra a strange, sly smile. For the first
time, she wondered if Case was aware that she knew his true
identity. He seemed to be gloating that there was nothing
she could do about it.
Kendra tried to keep her expression neutral. Mom
answered the phone, and Kendra reported that she needed
to be picked up. She handed the phone back to Alyssa. Isn't
that a pretty long walk? You can both have a ride.
Alyssa gave Kendra a look that questioned why she was
deliberately trying to ruin something spectacular. Case put
an arm around her shoulders, leering.
Alyssa, Kendra said firmly, taking her hand, I need to
talk to you in private for a second. She tugged Alyssa
toward her. Is that all right, Case?
No problem. I need to run and use the rest room anyhow.
He went back inside the theater.
What is your deal? Alyssa complained.
Think about it, Kendra said. We hardly know anything
about him. You just met him today. He's not a little
guy. Are you sure you want to go walking alone in the dark
with him? Girls can get in a lot of trouble that way.
Alyssa gave her an incredulous look. I can tell he's a
nice guy.
No, you can tell that he's good-looking, and pretty
funny. Lots of psychos seem like nice guys at first. That's why
you hang out a few times in public places before you spend
time alone. Especially when you're fourteen!
I hadn't thought of it that way, Alyssa conceded.
Let my dad give both of you a ride. If you want to talk
with him, do it in front of your house. Not on a dark, lonely
street.
Alyssa nodded. Maybe you have a point. It wouldn't
hurt to hang out within screaming distance of home.
When Case got back, Alyssa explained the plan, minus
the part about him potentially being a psychopath. He
resisted at first, saying it was such a nice night that it would
be a crime not to walk, but finally consented when Kendra
reminded him that it was after nine.
Dad showed up in the SUV a few minutes later, and
agreed to give Alyssa and Case a ride. Kendra climbed up
front. Alyssa and Case rode in the back, whispering and
holding hands. Dad dropped the lovebirds off at Alyssa's
house. Case explained that he lived just down the street.
As she drove away, Kendra looked back at them. She
was leaving her friend alone with a creepy, conniving goblin.
But there was nothing else she could do! At least Alyssa
was in front of her house. If something happened she could
cry out or run inside. Under the circumstances, that would
have to suffice.
Looks like Alyssa has a boyfriend, Dad remarked.
Kendra leaned her head against the window. Looks can
be deceiving.
Talking to Strangers
Kendra arrived at her homeroom several minutes early
the next day. As kids trickled in, Kendra sat with her
heart in her throat, waiting to see Alyssa. Case walked in,
and although Kendra watched him, he paid her no attention.
He went to the front of the room and stood near Mrs.
Price's desk talking to Jonathon White.
Was Alyssa's face going to end up on milk cartons? If so,
Kendra could only blame herself. She shouldn't have left her
friend alone with that goblin for a second.
Less than two minutes before the bell, Alyssa entered
the room. She glanced at Case, but did not acknowledge
him. Instead, she came straight to her desk and sat down
next to Kendra.
Are you okay? Kendra asked.
He kissed me, Alyssa said through a tight smile.
He what? Kendra tried to conceal her revulsion. You
don't sound too thrilled.
Alyssa shook her head regretfully. I was having so much
fun. We talked in front of my house for a while after you
drove away. He was being really cute and funny. Then he
moved in close. I was terrified-I mean, I hardly know him,
but it was also sort of exciting. Until we actually kissed.
Kendra, he had dog breath.
Kendra could not resist laughing.
Alyssa relished the reaction, becoming more animated.
I'm serious. It was rancid. Putrid. Like he had never brushed
his teeth since birth. It was worse than I could ever describe.
I thought I was going to throw up. I swear, I almost did.
Staring at the leprous scalp of the thing Alyssa had
kissed, Kendra could only imagine how bad his mouth would
have tasted. At least the illusion concealing his true identity
had not disguised his rank breath.
The bell rang. Mrs. Price was encouraging a few noisy
boys at the back of the classroom to take their seats.
So what di
d you do? Kendra whispered.
I think he could tell how shocked I was by his breath.
He had this weird smile like he'd been expecting it. I was
totally grossed out, so I wasn't very nice. I told him I had to
go and rushed inside.
Is the crush over? Kendra asked.
I don't mean to be shallow, but yes. Trina can have him.
She'll need a gas mask. It was that foul. I went straight to the
bathroom and gargled mouthwash. When I look at him now,
he makes me shiver. Have you ever eaten food that made
you puke, then not been able to imagine ever eating it
again?
Alyssa, Mrs. Price interrupted. The school year does
not end for four more days.
Sorry, Alyssa said.
Mrs. Price crossed to her desk and sat down. Yelping, she
jumped up, swatting at her skirt. Mrs. Price squinted at the
class. Did somebody put a tack on my chair? she asked
incredulously. She patted her skirt and checked her chair
and the floor. That really hurt and was far from funny. She
put her hands on her hips, glaring at the class. Somebody
must have seen. Who did it?
The class members were silent, exchanging sidelong
glances. Kendra could not imagine anybody doing something
so hurtful, not even Jonathon White. Until she
remembered that Case had been standing near Mrs. Price's
desk at the start of class.
Mrs. Price leaned against her desk, one hand rubbing her
forehead. Was she going to cry? She was a fairly nice
teacher-a middle-aged woman with curly black hair. She
had narrow features and wore a lot of makeup. She didn't
deserve to have a goblin play hurtful pranks on her.
Kendra considered speaking up. She would have ratted
out the monster in a heartbeat. But to her classmates it
would look like she was telling on a cool kid. And although
he was a prime suspect, she hadn't actually seen him do it.
Mrs. Price was blinking and swaying. I don't feel so…
she began, her words slurred, and then she toppled to the
floor.
Tracy Edmunds screamed. Everybody stood for a better
look. A couple of kids hurried over to the fallen teacher.
One boy was feeling her neck for a pulse.
Kendra pressed forward. Was Mrs. Price dead? Had the
goblin pricked her with a poisonous needle? Case was
crouching beside her.
Get Mr. Ford, Alyssa shouted.
Tyler Ward ran out the door, presumably to fetch the
principal.
The kid feeling for a pulse, Clint Harris, declared that
her heart was beating. She probably just fainted because of
the tack, he speculated.
Elevate her feet, someone said.
No, elevate her head, someone else said.
Wait for the nurse, a third voice instructed.
Mrs. Price gasped and sat up, eyes wide. She appeared
momentarily disoriented. Then she pointed toward the
desks. Get back in your seats, pronto.
But you just passed- Clint began.
Back in your seats! Mrs. Price repeated more forcefully.
Everyone complied.
Mrs. Price stood at the front of the classroom, arms
folded, eyeing the students as if trying to read their minds.
I have never in my life met such an unruly group of vipers,
she spat. If I have my way, you'll all be expelled.
Kendra furrowed her brow. This was not like Mrs. Price,
even under the current circumstances. Her voice had a different
edge to it, cruel and hateful.
Mrs. Price grabbed the lip of Jonathon White's desk. He
sat in the front row because of repeated discipline issues.
Tell me, my little man, who put a tack on my chair? She
was gritting her teeth. Veins bulged in her neck. She looked
like she was about to explode.
I… didn't see, Jonathon stuttered. Kendra had never
heard him sound scared before.
Liar! Mrs. Price yelled, heaving the front of his desk
up so that it tipped over backwards. The seat was connected
to the desk, so Jonathon went down as well, banging his
head on the desk behind him.
Mrs. Price moved over to the next desk, to Sasha
Goethe, her favorite student. Tell me who did it! the
crazed teacher demanded, spittle flying from her lips.
I don't- was all Sasha managed before her desk was
upended as well.
Despite her shock, Kendra realized what was going on.
Case hadn't poisoned Mrs. Price. Whatever pricked her had
cast some sort of spell over her.
Kendra stood up and shouted, It was Casey Hancock!
Mrs. Price paused, staring at Kendra through narrow
eyes. Casey, you say? Her voice was soft and lethal.
I saw him by your desk before class started.
Mrs. Price advanced toward Kendra. How dare you
accuse the one person in this class who would never harm a
fly? Kendra started backing away. Mrs. Price continued
speaking in a low voice, but she was clearly furious. You did
this, didn't you, and now you're pointing fingers, blaming
the new kid, the one with no friends. Very low, Kendra. Very
low.
Kendra reached the back of the classroom. Mrs. Price
was closing in. She was only an inch or two taller than
Kendra, but her fingers were hooked into claws, and her eyes
boiled with malice. The normally even-tempered teacher
looked like she had murder on her mind.
Only a few steps away from Kendra, Mrs. Price leaped
forward. Kendra dodged sideways and raced down a different
aisle toward the door at the front of the classroom. Mrs.
Price was right behind her until Alyssa stuck out a foot and
sent the rabid teacher sprawling.
Kendra yanked open the door and found herself face-to-face
with Mr. Ford, the principal. Behind him stood a panting
Tyler Ward.
Mrs. Price isn't herself, Kendra explained.
Shrieking, Mrs. Price lunged at Kendra. Mr. Ford, a
heavy man with a sturdy build, intercepted the manic
teacher, pinning her arms to her sides. Linda! he said in a
tone that suggested he could not believe what was going on.
Linda, calm down. Linda, stop.
They're all maggots, she hissed. They're all vipers.
Devils! She continued struggling vigorously.
Mr. Ford was looking around the room, taking in the
overturned desks. What's going on here?
Somebody put a tack on her chair and she freaked out,
Sasha Goethe sobbed, standing near her overturned desk.
A tack? Mr., Ford said, still trying to control the
squirming teacher. Mrs. Price suddenly whipped her head
back, slamming Mr. Ford square in the face. He staggered
backwards, losing his grip on her.
Mrs. Price shoved Kendra aside and sprinted out the
door and down the hall. A stunned Mr. Ford was catching
blood from his nostrils in a cupped hand.
Across the room, Casey Hancock, the goblin in disguise,
grinned wickedly at Kendra.
By the end of the school day, Kendra was sick of
recounting the drama in homeroom. The school was buzzing
with the news that Mrs. Price h
ad lost her mind. The
frazzled teacher had run off school property, leaving her car
in the parking lot, and had not been seen since. As word
spread that Kendra had spoken up against Case and been
specifically attacked, she was bombarded with endless
questions.
Kendra felt terrible for Mrs. Price. She was certain it was
some strange goblin magic that had led to the outburst, but
that was an impossible theory to present to the principal. In
the end, Kendra had to admit that she had not actually seen
Case put anything on the chair. Nor had anyone else, apparently.
They couldn't even find the tack. And of course she
could not say anything about Case's secret identity, because
there was no way to prove it short of convincing Mr. Ford to
kiss him on the mouth.
Walking out to catch her bus, Kendra brooded over the
unjust situation. The reputation of an innocent teacher had
been ruined, and the obvious culprit was totally getting away
with it. Thanks to his disguise, the goblin would keep on
causing mayhem without any consequences. There had to be
a way to stop him!
Ahem. A man walking beside Kendra cleared his
throat in order to get her attention. Lost in thought, she had
failed to notice his approach. The man was dressed in a
fancy suit that looked about a hundred years out of style.
The coat had tails, and he wore a vest with it. It was the sort
of suit Kendra would have expected to see in a play, not in
real life.
Kendra stopped walking and faced the man. Kids heading
for the buses passed them on either side. Can I help
you? she asked.
Beg your pardon, but do you have the time?
His vest had a watch chain. Kendra pointed at it. Isn't
that a watch?
Just the chain, my girl, he said, patting his vest. I
parted with the watch some time ago. He was fairly tall,
with wavy black hair and a pointy chin. Although the suit
was fancy, it was rumpled and worn, as if he had slept in it
for several consecutive nights. He seemed a little seedy.
Kendra resolved immediately not to let him lure her into a
windowless van.
She was wearing a watch, but did not check it. School
just got out, so it's a little after two-forty.
Allow me to introduce myself. He held up a business
card in his white-gloved hand, in a way that suggested he
meant for her to read it, not take it. The card said:
Errol Fisk
Cogitator * Ruminator * Innovator
