12. Beast From Below

12 BEAST FROM BELOW It was opening night, and the school auditorium was packed. Sam stuck his head through the red curtains and peered out. He saw hundreds of parents and teachers in the audience. He even saw his mom, and Lucy's little brother.

Students were changing into their costumes backstage. Antonio, as Peter Pan, was wearing green from head to toe. And Lucy wore a yellow dress as Wendy. Sam pulled Antonio aside. "I've got a feeling something really bad is going to happen," he whispered. "Maybe we should stop the play. We could tell Ms. Grinker—" Antonio cut him off. "Sam, everyone will think we're crazy. I'm still not sure we aren't."

Sam sighed. He knew Antonio was right. "Besides," Antonio said, "I've got my lucky peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my pocket! What could go wrong?" Sam rolled his eyes. "Lucky sandwich Before Sam could say anything else, the lights dimmed. The audience went quiet. The play was about to start. Lucy rushed over. She pulled Antonio toward the stage. "Wish us luck, Sam!" she whispered as she and Antonio marched out onstage. Sam sighed. "Good luck...."

Two hours later, Sam was smiling from ear to ear he couldn't believe it: The play was actually going okay! Lucy was saying her lines perfectly, Antonio made an awesome Peter Pan, and the audience was clapping a ton. Maybe he had been worried for nothing. The next scene was the most exciting part of the play: the big finish. Antonio and Lucy were strung up on wires high above the stage like they were flying.

"Sam!" Ms. Grinker said. "It's your turn onstage!" "Oh, right," Sam muttered. He stepped out into the spotlight and began to say his lines: "I am Noodler, Captain Hook's friendly pirate. And I order you to—" Sam stopped. He felt something move below his feet RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE

With horror, Sam realized the school had been waiting for him. Now that he was onstage, the school was coming to life! This was it. There were some whispers in the audience. People thought Sam had forgotten his lines. But Sam didn't care about his lines. He cared about what he saw next: A trapdoor in the floor was opening! From up high, Lucy and Antonio saw it, too. The trapdoor was opening wider and wider. It was like the wooden stage was suddenly made of rubber.