3. Orson's Plan

ORSONT'S PLAN 3 Sam stepped away from the door. Fear crept over him. Everyone was stuck in the school. There was no way out. "Who knows how long we'll be stuck in here," Sam said. "We need to turn the heat back on."

Ms. Grinker shouted down the hall, "Sam, Antonio, Lucy! Hurry up and get your things!" The three friends quickly slipped into their jackets and grabbed their backpacks. "The binder is in my backpack," Lucy whispered. Lucy had filled a big binder with everything they knew about Orson Eerie. It contained blueprints of the school, notes, and more. Ms. Grinker led her bundled-up students to the gym. Sam looked at the phone while Antonio and Lucy walked ahead.

Suddenly, Sam stopped in his tracks. His friends turned as he read words that changed everything: "Orson Eerie wrote, 'Once the temperature drops to 13 degrees, I will return in my human form.'" Lucy gasped. "Do you mean...?" Sam nodded. "I think Orson was exploring ways of coming back to life for real. Like, all the way back! A person again!"

Antonio rubbed his hands together as they continued walking. "A real, flesh-and-blood Orson Eerie?" Antonio said. "Now I've really got goose bumps! But I'm not sure if they're from fear or the freezing cold The thought of Orson Eerie returning terrified Sam. He had battled the monstrous school many times. Each fight had been awful in its own way. But Orson Eerie appearing as a real person was horrifying. He'd be back from the dead! He could go anywhere and do anything! He'd be more powerful than ever! The sound of hundreds of chattering students filled Sam's ears as he walked into the gym.

"It's smart to have everyone in one room," Antonio said to his friends. "Body heat should help keep us warm." "Hall monitors!" Ms. Grinker said as she pulled Sam and his friends aside. "Please take a quick walk around the school. Check for students who are dillydallying." Great! Sam thought. Ms. Grinker just gave us the perfect excuse to leave the gym! "You got it, Ms. Grinker!" Antonio said. The friends rushed into the hall. "We'll look for stragglers first," Sam said. "Then we'll get on with our real mission."

As soon as the friends were out of sight, they began running. The halls were long and winding. Sometimes, Eerie Elementary reminded Sam of a maze.