9 SINGLE FILE

CHAPTER 9 SINGLE FILE The UPSTAIRS BASEMENT was huge, dark, and chilly. It looked like a downstairs basement, except on the thirteenth floor. Alexander put down the bucket and ran his finger along the wall. There were long, deep gouges scratched into the stone. GURG-G-GG-GG. A high-pitched growling came from up ahead. "It's too dark I can't see," whispered Rip.

"Rip-monsters can't see in the dark, but jampires can!" said Nikki, squinting. "It looks like a machine. It's shiny, and metal. And sharp."

KSSHHHH!!! An explosion of sparks lit up the room. The machine-thing spun toward Alexander, Rip, and Nikki. Sparks flew from where its metal pointy parts scraped the stone floor. "Look out!" Nikki shouted. The three friends dove in different directions, leaving the still-steaming bucket near the door. The spinning whirligig tilted left. "OW!" Rip yelped as part of the spinning thing scraped his boot. He scrambled up the wall, using the deep scratches as toeholds.

SCRITCH-SCRITCH! The metal machine-thing spun in place, like a top. Alexander's eyes were finally adjusting to the light. The spinning thing stopped. It looked like a silvery metal pig-bear. Its back was covered in hundreds of sharp, poky tines. The blood drained from Alexander's face. "I know this monster!" he shouted. "It's a forkupine!"

FORKUPINE Metal rodent, covered with forks. Loves spaghetti. Rip scratched his head. "The boss-monster is a forkupine?" he asked. "No," said Alexander. "I think this monster's more like a guard dog." "What's it guarding?" Rip asked. That!" said Nikki. She pointed to a metal box in the corner. "I bet our notebook is in there!" Rip said. "I remember what forkupines like! I'll lure it away from the box!" said Alexander. He ran toward the bucket.

CLAP-CLAP! "Hey! Poky!" he shouted. The forkupine spun behind him. "Nikki!" Alexander shouted. "Kick the bucket!" Nikki ninja-kicked the bucket. Spaghetti splattered everywhere. The forkupine zipped over to the wet noodles. The creature twisted and twirled around, smiling. Alexander dashed over to the box. He opened it. There was no notebook. Just a gray file folder stuffed with lists, maps, and photos.