Chapter 3

3 "What just happened?" squeaked Skylar. Violet and Pablo snapped their heads toward the twins. "I think something is wrong with Claire," said Devin. He waved his hand in front of her face. No response. "You guys aren't frozen?" Pablo said with raised eyebrows. "Dr. Crisp must want you to come along!" said Violet. "We're going to have so much fun."

"What's wrong with everyone?" asked Devin. "It's what happens when the portal opens," replied Violet. "The what?" asked the twins. "The portal. That's how we get to the Maker Maze," said Pablo, scanning the gym with his eyes. "The maker who?" repeated Skylar and Devin. "The Maker Maze! It's like a makerspace," said Violet, "but way cooler." She rubbed her hands together. "We get to do real science challenges. You're going to love it. Maker's

honor!" Violet held her three middle fingers down in the shape of an M. "There it is!" said Pablo suddenly. One of the microscopes was glowing with a bright purple light surrounding it. Violet turned to Skylar and Devin. "You're coming, right?" They paused.

"Well, I don't really get where we're going but…," said Skylar. "It sounds like fun!" finished Devin. "Let's go!" they said together. Skylar put her sketch pad in her pocket. They took off running. "I've never seen anything like this," said Skylar as they reached the shimmering microscope. "Want to feel something cool?" asked Pablo. "Touch it." Skylar ran her fingers through the light. BIZZAP! She giggled. "It tingles. Do you want to try?" she asked her brother. Devin nodded and reached out his hand. Suddenly, Skylar's eyes grew wide. "Help!" she cried. Her arm was being sucked through the microscope! "Hang on, sis!" said Devin, grabbing her other arm. "Don't worry!" shouted Pablo. "This is how we get there!"

But Devin was too scared to listen. He clung tightly to his sister, and they were both pulled through the microscope. Violet and Pablo jumped in next. After a few seconds of falling, they all tumbled onto the floor of the Maker Maze. Everything was just how Violet and Pablo remembered. There were lab tables with rows of strange plants and flasks of colorful, bubbling liquid. Creepy bugs with too many legs to count zoomed around in big jars. In the corner, a group of robots measured purple powder onto a scale. And next to a huge microscope was a long hallway lined with doors. Out of nowhere appeared a tall woman with wild rainbow hair. She wore a white lab coat with

bright purple pants and had a golden lab notebook tucked under her arm. "Welcome, Makers!" she said with a big smile. "You two must be Skylar and Devin." The twins stood still and stared—a little like zombies. "This is Dr. Crisp. She runs the place," said Pablo. Dr. Crisp took a pencil from behind her ear and pointed to the name tag on her lab coat. She took the Maker Manual from under her arm. "Wow!" said Skylar. She reached out to touch the shiny golden book. BIZZAP! "This glittery gal is going to send us on a science adventure!" said Dr. Crisp. "What would you Makers like to learn about today?" She opened the book to a page with a large question mark on it.