8. Terrifying Teeth!

TERRIFYING TEETH! 8 "Yesterday we were in a sticky situation," Antonio said. "Now we're in a tight spot!" Sam, Lucy, and Antonio were crawling through the air vent. They had to wiggle and wriggle to move forward. "Uh-oh," Sam said. "The vent splits up ahead. Which way will take us closest to the front of the school? Right or left?"

"Let me check!" Lucy called. "I brought the blueprints of the school." Lucy peered through a crack in the vent. She saw they were above the art room. She squinted to read the blueprints, using them like a map. "Principal Winik's office is near the front doors— so let's go there," she said, as she ran her finger over the blueprint. "Take a right here, then a left at the gym, and another left at the lunchroom."

Sam crawled to the right. They heard Principal Winik's voice from outside: "The second inning starts now!" "Oh no!" Antonio said. "It's already the second inning! There are only three innings left! Orson's going to attack soon!" "We need to hurry!" Lucy said. Sam scrambled forward. The smells of the lunchroom drifted into the vent. That meant they were close! Sam wormed his way around the corner. He felt a cool breeze rushing up from an opening. He saw Principal Winik's desk far below. "We're here!" Sam said.

He tried to gently climb down, but instead CRUNCH! His hand plunged through the vent! He crash-landed on Principal Winik's desk. "Oof," Sam groaned. He blinked and saw Antonio and Lucy peering down at him. "Nice landing!" Lucy joked. Sam stood. He helped Lucy and Antonio down from the vent.

Suddenly, Sam felt like there was something he had to do... He yanked open Principal Winik's desk drawer. "I'm taking this back!" he said, and he grabbed the sash. Relief flooded through him. Lucy and Antonio smiled at their friend. "Now let's get to the kickball field and stop Orson Eerie!" Lucy said. She ran out into the hallway. Antonio followed. But as Sam stepped through the office door— SLAM!

The wood cracked! The door was like a chomping mouth with splintery fangs! "Watch out!" Antonio yelled. SNAP! The door's terrifying teeth bit the sash! Sam held one end and the monstrous mouth had the other!