15 A TIGHT SQUEEZE

CHAPTER 15 A TIGHT SQUEEZE Off!" The bubble-wrap warrior barreled into Alexander, trapping him in a bear hug. Rip and Nikki pulled at the monster. It laughed. "Let's go for a spin, shall we? I think my true form will BLOW YOU AWAY!" The bubble-wrap warrior tossed Alexander aside. It set the Ruby Scorpion down on a big wooden pinecone.

The monster unraveled itself into one long noodle made of hundreds of sheets of bubble wrap. Then it began spinning around. It spun faster and faster, rising in the air like a giant tornado. A giant twisting, snapping tornado made entirely of bubble wrap! WHOOOOOOSH! The three friends' hair started blowing. Nikki shouted something. But Alexander couldn't hear her over the rush of wind.

The bubble-wrap warrior spun even faster. Clock gears wobbled. Chains rattled. Alexander could barely stand against the strong wind. He saw Nikki clinging to a ladder. Rip crouched behind a cog. Alexander grabbed the closest thing the tail feathers of the giant cuckoo. He held on tight. FLOMP! Eight long arms shot out of the tornado. "Watch out! This monster's going into octopus-mode!" Rip shouted. A bubbly arm stretched across the room and grabbed Rip.

"Gotcha!" said the bubble-wrap warrior. Another arm reached for Nikki. She scooted up the ladder and out of reach. A third arm snaked back to Alexander, wrapping around his leg. He hugged the cuckoo tighter. Then two more arms shot out and -SNAP! broke the wooden bird off its branch. "AAACK!" yelled Alexander. The monster grinned as it grabbed. Rip and Alexander. "Let's see how you guys like getting popped!"