7. The Face of Orson Eerie

THE FACE OF ORSON EERIE 7 Antonio was shining the light at a picture frame on the desk. Inside, there was an old black-and-white photo of a man. "Geez, Antonio!" Sam said. "You scared me! I thought you meant Orson Eerie was here! Like, real, back to life, in person!" Sam felt around on the wall until he found a light switch. He flipped it on. Two light bulbs flickered on.

The light was dim, but Sam could see that this corner of the basement was a sort of office. There were charts hanging from the walls and papers on the desk. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust. The boys stepped closer to the desk. Sam picked up the picture frame. You're right," Sam said. "Look at the glasses and the creepy mustache. This is Orson Eerie!"

"I don't think anyone has been here in a long, long time," Antonio said, picking up a newspaper. "This is from 1938! That's older than my grandmother! That's older than, like, my grandmother's grandmother!" "Whoa," said Sam. "And what is this?" A large piece of blue paper lay out on the desk. "It looks like a blueprint," Antonio said. "Like a drawing of a building." "That makes sense. This big room looks like our gym. See?" said Sam, pointing to the blueprint. "It's like a map of Eerie Elementary."

Suddenly, a girl's voice called out, "HELP!" "Lucy!" Sam and Antonio said at once. Lucy's cries were coming from beyond a large metal door. It was at the far end of the dark basement. A sign on the door read HEATING AND COOLING ROOM. "Let's go!" Sam said. The boys quickly stuffed everything they could fit into their pockets: papers, a small book, and the blueprint. But as soon as they did, everything in the basement came to life!

WHOOSH! A dodge ball flew at Sam. Sam grabbed Antonio by the wrist. "Come on!" Sam shouted, ducking beneath the ball. "Let's go get Lucy!" Sam dodged chewed-up Frisbees that rocketed toward him! Antonio jumped over roller skates that shot toward his legs like cannonballs!

BRRRGGLLL!!!! The school was loud! Sam thought it sounded like a stomach rumbling! The walls shook and the floors shifted! Sam and Antonio stumbled from side to side. Backpacks opened wide and threw rulers, pencils, and books at them. The Heating and Cooling Room door was just ahead. "Keep running!" Sam yelled. But Antonio stopped in his tracks. Sam looked back. Something long that looked like a spear was headed for Antonio. A whiffle ball bat! Sam pulled Antonio behind a large pillar.