8. Jasper's Nightmare

JASPER'S NIGHTMARE 8 "Orson Eerie was here!" Jasper said. Sam, Antonio, and Lucy nervously looked around as they stepped inside. "Orson was off school grounds?" Sam asked. "Yes!" Jasper said. "I saw him in my dreams. But he was so real! I'm SURE he was here!" Sam and his friends sighed. It was just a nightmare. Sam wasn't surprised— Jasper was a scaredy-cat. He wouldn't even go near the school anymore.

Jasper shakily headed into the kitchen and sat down. Orson Eerie's journals, notes, and diaries were stacked everywhere. "After I agreed to host the haunted house, I started having nightmares," Jasper explained. "The nightmares got worse as Eerie Day got closer. Last night, I dreamt I was surrounded by Orson Eeries! Like an army!" Sam gasped. An army of Orson Eeries! Jasper continued. "So I called Principal Winik this morning. I explained I was too frightened to host the haunted house."

We're all frightened, Sam thought. But we can't quit. We have to defeat Orson tomorrow— once and for all! "Jasper," Lucy said. "We need your help finding Orson's ultimate weakness. It's the only way we stand a chance." Jasper shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't have any clue what Orson's weakness is." "Let's get to work," Sam said. "We must find something." They began reading Orson's old journals and diaries. They searched and searched. Soon, the sun was setting and they hadn't found anything.

Sam sighed. It felt hopeless. But then "Look, guys!" Antonio exclaimed. "Orson's journal entry from September 6, 1923! The day the school opened!" Antonio read the entry aloud: "I will become Eerie Elementary. I will live forever by feeding on students. My powers will spread and grow." Sam shivered. Antonio turned to the final page. His voice was a whisper as he read the last words Orson ever wrote: "And nothing will stand in my way!"

Everyone was quiet. "But Orson Eerie was wrong," Lucy said. "Something did stand in his way. Us! The hall monitors!" Antonio pounded the table. "Right! We've defeated Orson before, and we'll do it again!" Sam nodded. "But this time... we'll need more." "Count me out!" Jasper said. His voice shook. "I'm sorry, but I was scared even before I had my nightmare!"

Jasper's terrifying nightmare gave Sam an idea. An army. "I've got a plan!" Sam said. "It's going to sound crazy... But if it works, Orson Eerie will be gone forever." Sam pulled out his hall monitor sash. He gripped it tight and then RIP! Sam tore his sash in half. "What are you doing?!" Antonio exclaimed. Sam was nervous. His plan was crazy. He wasn't sure it would work. But he was sure Orson Eerie would never see it coming...