12 A BRIGHT IDEA

CHAPTER 12 A BRIGHT IDEA Alexander could hear the screams of freaked- out students (and Mr. Hoarsely) running around the pitch-black planetarium. "Nikki!" Alexander shouted. "What can you see with your night vision?" "Everyone is scrambling to find the exit!" she said. "We've got to get the other students out of here," said Alexander. "But it's too dark!" "You need light, weenie?" said Rip. "Stand back. It's my time to shine!" Rip stamped his fool. His shoe made a flash of light.

"Rip, you're a genius!" said Alexander. "Keep doing that!" Rip stomped in place, lighting up the room every couple of seconds. "Everyone!" Alexander yelled. "Walk toward Rip's shoe lights! He's near the exit! Then Mr. Hoarsely will lead you back to class!" Mr. Hoarsely peeked out from his hiding spot. "I will?" he said. "Oh, right! I will! Follow me!" He led the other students out of the planetarium. "What about us?" asked Nikki. RIP was still stomping, but a little slower now. "Yeah! Aren't we going downstairs, too?" "Nope. We're going upstairs— to the root!" said Alexander. He pointed to a nearby ladder: It led up to a hatch in the ceiling.

RIP stopped stopping. The room went back to being dark. "Are you nuts?!" said Rip. "That warning said to stay off the roof!" "And don't forget about the lightning!" said Nikki. "We should not be up there when it's lightning out!" "But it's not real lightning!" said Alexander: "Monsters are behind this! We've got to get up there and stop them!" BZZZT! The lightning bugs suddenly lit up the dome above chew heads. Now the bugs were growing all kinds of colors: pink, purple, yellow, green, and blue.

The bugs swirled around, and then lined up in a pointy zigzag formation. "Hey! There's that jagged arrow again!" said Alexander. "But wait, it's not an arrow. It's a lightning bolt!" The lightning-bolt shape floated in place for a moment. Then it zoomed straight at Alexander's head.