10. The Machine

10 THE MACHINE The giant metal thing was made up of different parts: an old refrigerator, pieces of a vending machine, and banged-up lockers. It had a rusty head dotted with two splashes of red paint. There were brooms, buckets, and wooden hockey sticks jutting out from it, too. Sam took a deep breath. He was about to step toward it, when "Sam!" a voice shouted.

Sam spun around. It was Antonio! "Antonio! What are you doing here?" Sam exclaimed. "I followed you, since you've been acting like a total weirdo. I was hiding behind some junk over there," Antonio said. "Did you— did you hear everything Mr. Nekobi said?" Sam asked. Antonio nodded. "Do you believe him?" Sam asked. "Not really. I think you're both crazy," said Antonio. Then he walked over to the machine. There was a note taped to the front. Antonio tore it off. Sam, This machine will attack you like the school. You must overcome it. This is your training. Good luck! —Mr. Nekabi

Antonio smiled and said, "I may not believe you, but I will help you train. This big monster machine-thing is awesome!" Sam perked up. Having a friend by his side made him feel 1,000 times better.

"Look, there's a switch on the front," Antonio said. He flicked the switch and the machine came to life. Antonio jumped back. The giant machine charged toward Sam. The top part spun, and a hockey stick lashed out. Sam rolled underneath the hockey stick. He came up behind the machine. The machine's head whirled around. It began shooting tennis balls out of its big, round eyes!

"Watch out!" Antonio said. Sam threw his arm over his face, but the tennis balls knocked him to the ground.

Sam pounded his fists on the cement floor. "This is ridiculous! I don't know how to do any of this!" he yelled. Antonio stuck out his hand, quickly helping his friend to his feet. "Try using what's around you." VAA-SHOOOOM!! A tennis ball whizzed between Sam and Antonio. Antonio dove behind a nearby trash can. Sam looked around and saw a busted locker door. Here goes nothing, he thought. Sam grabbed the locker door, held it up like a shield, and ran straight at the machine. The tennis balls bounced off it.