Free R. L. Stine_Mostly Ghostly 03 by One Night in Doom House

and three folding chairs on the stage melted into dark brown puddles.
    Kids screamed. Mrs. Manola had her arms crossed tightly in front of her, as if trying to shield herself.
    “Phoebe, I need your help!” I shouted.
    Phoebe stared suspiciously at me. “What do you want?”
    “You know those metal pendant things that Traci gave you?” I asked. “Do you have them? Could you give them to me?”
    Phoebe wiped sweat from her forehead. “No, I couldn’t use them, Max. I don’t have them.”
    I saw Morgo tense his hands, preparing to melt everyone.
    I turned back to Phoebe. “Well, where are they?” I shouted up to her.
    “I returned them to
your
house,” she said.

24
    PHOEBE MUST HAVE RETURNED them on her way to the play rehearsal at school—while I was searching Traci's house.
    Now
what?
    I didn’t have long to think about it. Morgo floated off the stage and landed behind me. He grabbed my right arm and twisted it behind my back.
    “Ow!” I let out a cry as his touch burned right through my parka sleeve.
    Kids onstage were staring at me in disbelief. Why was I twisting my own arm back?
    “Let's go, Max,” Morgo said. He gave me a hard shove that sent me staggering. Then he pushed me up the aisle toward the exit.
    Kids were shouting and laughing. I guess some of them thought I was clowning around.
    But it was no joke.
    Morgo held on to me all the way to my house. As we walked, we burned a path in the snow. People in cars stopped to stare at me.
    “I want those life pods,” Morgo said as we turned onto Bleek Street.
    He pushed me toward the two snowmen on the curb. They both melted as we walked past.
    “I … I’ve been trying to get them back for you all morning,” I stammered. “Really. I don’t want them. You can have them.”
    My skin throbbed and burned, as if I had a really bad sunburn. We melted a path in the snow up my driveway and to the back of the house.
    Please don’t melt me, I thought. I’ll give you back your pods.
    But please don’t melt me.
    I stamped the snow off my boots and pushed open the kitchen door. Was anyone home?
    The house was silent.
    I walked into the kitchen and started to pull off my wet boots.
    “No time for that,” Morgo said. He gave me another hard shove. His touch made the back of my parka sizzle. “Where are the pods?”
    I searched the living room quickly, but I didn’t see them. “Mom probably took them up to my room,” I said.
    I led the way upstairs. My heart was thudding like a bass drum. My legs suddenly felt rubbery and weak.
    What if Colin was home? What if Phoebegave the pods to Colin and he threw them out? What would Morgo do if the pods weren’t here?
    I ran into my room and glanced all around. Not on the bed. Not on the chair. Not on the bed table.
    “Yes!” I cried out when I saw the six silver pods on my desk next to the computer. “Yes! They’re right here.”
    I scooped them into my hands and handed them to Morgo. “Here. Take them.”
    He stared at them, his lips moving as he counted them.
    “They’re all there,” I said happily. “The life pods. All six of them.”
    Morgo raised his eyes to me. “So they are,” he said softly. “So they are.”
    “Well … uh … good-bye,” I said. I waved.
    “Not so fast,” Morgo said. “Now I’m going to punish you for being a thief.”
    “No, wait,” I pleaded, staggering back as Morgo came toward me. “I’m not a thief. Really. I mean, yes, I did take those things. But that doesn’t mean—”
    Morgo raised his right hand and I felt a blast of heat sweep over me.
    “Please don’t melt me!” I screamed. “Please!”
    A cold smile crossed Morgo's face. “I’m going to enjoy this,” he whispered.

25
    THE ROOM GREW HOT and wet. I saw the windows steam up.
    I shut my eyes. And waited for the pain.
    Then I heard the thud of footsteps.
    I opened my eyes and saw Colin burst into the room. “Think fast!” he shouted.
    He heaved a snowball at me. It hit me in the chest and