Free Zits from Python Pit #6 by M. D. Payne; Illustrated by Keith Zoo Page B

shuffled them out, trying desperately to look into our eyes.
    â€œLook away,” said Director Z.
    â€œWhat did you say they were?” I asked Grigore.
    â€œAdzes,” he replied. “Vampires from West Africa that assume the form of fireflies. When they’re captured and brought into a house by a victim, they have the ability to turn into humans.”
    â€œAnd possess you,” said Director Z, helping Nabila off the floor. She was awake but groggy.
    â€œAre you okay?” Ben asked.
    â€œI think so,” said Nabila. “My head hurts a little.”
    â€œWow, we’re really seeing a different side of monsterdom,” said Shane. “Ancient monsters, new types of vampires, burly talking bats. Everything feels so new, just like when we started at Raven Hill Retirement Home.”
    â€œAh, those were the days,” said Pietro.
    â€œSo not all Earth monsters are like this?” asked Twenty-Three.
    â€œNo,” said Director Z. “But something doesn’t feel right. I don’t think they’re supposed to be like this. Those adzes were as old as Grigore was a few months ago, but they’re acting like teenagers, reckless and out of control. They’re filled with a strange energy of some sort.”
    â€œI guess that’s why I was called,” I said.
    â€œFriends!” yelled François from the doorway. “Come now, let’s continue the tour!”
    â€œKeep your guard up,” Director Z whispered. “I don’t trust François. He goes from friendly to angry to friendly again in a flash, like he’s hiding something that he doesn’t know how to deal with. He’s out of control.”
    Director Z turned to the door. “We’re coming!” he yelled.

I Pledge Allegiance to Tikoloshe
    â€œMost of our facility—along with the residents—is deep underground,” said François. “However, there was one more thing I wanted to show you upstairs.”
    We walked toward the back of the ruin, in the direction that the pterosaur had flown.
    We passed a room with rock slabs laid out as tables. Around one table, the adzes hovered over something.
    CRUNCH MUNCH MUNCH.
    â€œThat must be the cafeteria,” Ben said.
    At the sound of Ben’s voice, the adzes’ heads popped up. With a smile, one looked at Nabila. “Hello, snackie!”
    Nabila shuddered.
    â€œDon’t bother the residents as they eat,” said François. “Let’s keep going.”
    We passed other rooms in the narrow, cool hallway. There was nobody but us.
    The end of the hallway led to another large room like the first we had encountered just past the entryway.
    â€œNow we know how the pterosaur exited,” said Shane. “The back of the building is completely gone.”
    A warm jungle breeze blew into the room. Vines crept in.
    Ben craned his neck to look out at the jungle, which sloped up into a small hill. “I wish I could see another dinosaur,” he said.
    Shane pointed up. “Perhaps you should look for a flyby,” Shane said. He turned to François. “I thought you said that you had something to show us upstairs.”
    â€œThere is one tower that remains,” said François.
    We walked to the far side of the large, open room and came to a door set in the wall. François opened the door to reveal a spiral staircase.
    â€œUp we go,” he said.
    We slowly made our way up the spiral staircase. Open windows were chiseled into the stone, and no matter how high we got, still more green from the wild jungle outside crept in.
    At the top of the tower was a small room that we could barely fit into.
    â€œDid you bring us up here for the view?” asked Shane. “Because it’s pretty awesome!”
    â€œDo enjoy the view while you’re here,” said François. “But there’s also a bit of business we need to discuss.”
    â€œBusiness?” I