12 ALL TIED UP

CHAPTER 12 ALL TIED UP Fwoof! Alexander yanked the sheet off the creature. "Aha!" he said. "This whirly-wisp was a fake!" String Pulleys Rubber skull Lights Loudspeaker Sliced-up sheet

"We've been tricked!" said Rip. "But why?" asked Nikki. "And who would do something like this?" added Dottie. Alexander turned off the loudspeaker. The tunnel became quiet. SHUFF. SHUFF. Alexander heard new footsteps. Alexander, Rip, Nikki, and Dottie all turned to see an oddly dressed man carrying a lantern. The man had one arm in a huge sling. "Count Chad!" said Rip. "Thank goodness you're here!" cried Dottie, smiling. "How did you find us?" asked Nikki. Count Chad tugged at his beard. "A good magician never reveals his tricks!" "Can you get us out of here?" asked Dottie.

"Hmmm..." said Count Chad, stroking his beard. "I think I'd rather show you my latest trick." "Huh?" said Rip. FWISH! A lasso of colorful scarves shot from the magician's sleeve, binding Alexander's arms to his sides. "Oof!" Alexander fell onto the tracks. "Presto!" said Count Chad. "You've tumbled right into my trap!" The magician smiled at Rip, Nikki, and Dottie. The friends took a few steps back. "You three," he said, "will be the audience for my next magic trick!" He raised his sling above his head.

CRACK! Count Chad's huge sling burst open, revealing a spiky crab claw. "You're the one who's been cutting stuff up?!" said Nikki, wide-eyed. "You got it!" said the crab creature. SNIP-SNIP-SNIP! Count Chad's claw sliced off his cape. Then he yanked off his fake beard and tossed it aside. "TA-DAAAAA!" he said. "I'm the wonderful, mysterious, amazing CRAB-RA CADABRA!" Alexander squirmed. The monster leaned down to pat his head. "Alexander Bopp! I knew you'd follow my fake monster clues!" Dottie gave Alexander a strange look. "This guy knows you?" she said. "I—I don't know," said Alexander.

The crab creature laughed. "Every monster knows the Super Secret Monster Patrol!" he said. "We've been trying to stop the S.S.M.P. since forever! And finally: hocus-pocus! I've trapped the leader!" Rip took a baby step toward Alexander. CLICKA-CLICK! The creature pointed his claw at Alexander. "You! The boy tied up on the tracks! You'll help me with the old saw-the-boy- in-half trick!"

"What?! No!" cried Nikki. "I could use my claw as the saw..." the monster continued, "...but cutting you in half with this roller coaster will be way more fun!" The crab-ra cadabra scuttled over to a panel near the service tunnel. "It's show time!" he said. He pressed GO. Rip rushed over to Alexander and began yanking on the scarves. "Rip, hurry!" yelled Alexander. He could feel the rumble of the cold metal track as the coaster rolled closer.