Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty My winter action outfit's hood tugs at me. It's tight around my throat. I manage to loosen it, so I can breathe better. And just in time to gasp— The curtains open with a whoosh, revealing the IMAX screen. Far below, I see a figure, stepping from the darkness... Hello heroes.

Evie taps the Louisville Slicer against the seats as she walks along the front row. My heart growls I mean, heart growling isn't a thing, but that's basically what happens. I'm raging on the inside as I watch her grip the thing she stole and used to set this all off! My blade! My weapon! We watch, helpless, as Evie approaches Dirk. She places the Louisville Slicer in his hands and wraps his fingers around the handle. Evie looks to the screen. "Ghazt!" Evie calls out. Her voice is high- excited but nervous. 'It is time, my general.' Silence for a moment. And then Evie shrieks" she shrieks in the language of .e...c.. .*...XI.. ....dfD..d! The awful words hang in the stillness of the theater. Then- An ear-splitting CRACK erupts and every single speaker booms. I gulp. "I guess Ghazt heard her...." Behind us, the projector hums to life. A bright white light showers the screen.

Dirk is silhouetted in shadow below, holding up the blade. Hanging from Meathook, I can just make out the side of Dirk's face. It is a mask of undead features. Dirk must be about... -94% zombie!- Evie turns, flashing me a smile. "Jack," she says. "This must really eat you up inside. Your

weapon. Your friend. Being used to usher ancient cosmic evil into your world. You're kinda lousy at being a hero, aren't you?" Oh no, she didn't. I am going to hammer some villain. Jack eyes on the prize, Dirk, Dirk, and not letting the ancient evil be ushered forth. The massive IMAX screen is suddenly a swirling pool: dark colors splashing and neon streaks glowing. It's like liquid metal. Light bursts and flashes on the screen. It has a power to it—I feel my hair blow back, like I'm looking into the eye of a swirling storm.

I see flashing images—like zooming at hyperspeed through a string of galaxies. Worlds and dimensions—things my mind can't even comprehend. And I can do nothing but watch. "Guys," I whisper. "Her plan is nearly complete. All three steps..." Number one, get an artifact that has destroyed a cosmic being complete. NO.2 get a recently zombies human body for gasp to enter like 98 percent complete NO.3 have the recently zombies Human body hold the artifact, then say some words. So the monster soul enters the body, currently moving ahead at a speed that is way too fast.

I don't think Meathook likes us chatting—'cause he suddenly swings us into the balcony ledge. Sharp pain shoots through my belly. There's something daggering into my side. I reach into my pocket, and I realize— The zombie action figures! The custom ones that Evie made! It's the height of geekiness. The peak of everything I love. The peak of, in my mind, good. "Hey, Evie!" I shout. you made these. You're the geekiest of the geeks. You'd fit in perfectly with us instead of making bad-guy stuff. Come join us. He can do good guy stuff together.