14. The Face of Orson Eerie

THE FACE OF ORSON EERIE 14 Flaming-hot lava bubbled and splashed at the top of the volcano. Sam shouted down to his friends. "Guys! I need backup!" Lucy and Antonio began scrambling up the volcano. Suddenly, it erupted! Lava streamed down the side. "Follow Sam's path!" Lucy shouted as she darted past a sizzling pipe.

"I'm trying!" Antonio said as he jumped over a stream of lava. They jumped from one safe spot to the next, until they were at the top. There, they were able to steady themselves. "Everyone! Fire into the volcano!" Sam shouted. Together, the three friends aimed their fire extinguisher nozzles and sprayed. VOOOSH! VOOOSH! VOOOSH!

The lava became covered in white foam. Steam poured off the lava. The volcano shook. The lights flashed on and off. It felt like the entire gymnasium was about to crumble around them. Finally, the volcano shifted and rocked. It was beginning to sink back into the ground. "It's working!" Lucy said. "We're like real firefighters!" "Or volcano fighters!" Antonio shouted, smiling. "Right, Sam?"

But Sam didn't hear his friends. He was too busy staring into the bubbling lava. Sam saw something. A face. The face of Orson Eerie. And it was staring right back at Sam. The face seemed to be telling Sam that someday, he would fail. It was telling Sam that he could not protect the school forever.

Even though the room was hot, Sam felt a chill rush through his body. "What is it, Sam?" Lucy asked. Sam stared back at the red-hot face. "Aim at the center of the lava! NOW!" he ordered.

At once, the three friends blasted the spot where Sam had, for a brief moment, seen the face of Orson Eerie. VOOOSH!