8 LIGHTS OUT!

CHAPTER 8 LIGHTS OUT! Rip shook Alexander's hand all the way to gym class. "Salamander, you're my hero," he said. "A pie?! Right in Vanderpants's face?!" "It was an accident!" said Alexander, pulling his hand free. "And I'm in huge trouble!" "What will she do to you?" asked Nikki. Alexander shook his head. "Whatever it is, it won't be good." The friends filed into their school gym, which had been the old hospital's laundry room.

"I can't wait for our new school to be finished," said Rip. "Just imagine having gym in an actual gym. Instead of in this dump." Mr. Hoarsely stood near a clothes dryer, trying to untangle the cord on his whistle.

"Um, well, students," Mr. Hoarsely said. "Since the school's so cold, we won't change into our gym clothes today." "Can we play dodgeball?" asked Rip. "No way!" said Mr. Hoarsely. "It's dangerous to throw balls at other students! Let's play something safe, like tag." Nikki snapped an icicle off a leaky pipe. "I think he means freeze tag," she mumbled. Mr. Hoarsely checked his clipboard. "So I guess, when I blow my whistle, just... play tag." The students began chasing one another. However, no one was "it." So they more or less ran in circles until CLUNK! The lights went off. The room went dark. Students crashed into one another.

"Nikki!" said Alexander. "What's happening?" "You can see in the dark, right, Nikki?" added Rip. "Yes!" she shouted. "Come toward my voice!" WHOOSH! Something flew past Alexander's head. "What was that?" he cried. "It looked like... some sort of volleyball," said Nikki. "Watch out! Here come more!" Alexander heard more balls whiz by. "Dodgeball in the dark!?" Rip yelled. "This is awesome!" He ran off.

SPLAT! One of the balls hit a nearby kid. "Gross!" she said. "This ball's smooshy!" "Salamander, jump left!" said Nikki. "Now, right!" Alexander followed her directions. "Now, catch!" called Nikki. "Huh?" Alexander opened his arms and FLOMP! caught one of the balls. It was heavier than a volleyball. And slimy. And... moving! Alexander dropped it and felt it roll across his shoe. "They're alive!" he shouted. "Just get down!" said Nikki. "I'll go find the light switch."

Alexander dropped to the floor. He heard dozens of balls whooshing overhead. BONK! BLAP! SPLAT! Then, silence. CLICK! The lights went on. There was no sign of the whizzing balls. "Eep!" Mr. Hoarsely peeked out of the dryer. All of the students had dropped to the floor, except one. Rip wobbled in the middle of the room, covered in greenish goo. Then he fell down.