Nightmares! by Jason Segel

Author:Jason Segel [Segel, Jason]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-385-38403-2
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2014-09-08T16:00:00+00:00

“Charlie?” Alfie panted. “Is that really you?”

“In the flesh,” Charlie confirmed, bending over to catch his breath as Meduso began to lower the platform back down to the tunnel. A little blood had seeped from the scratch on Charlie’s forearm and stained the side of his jeans. The wound was still burning. On all his trips to the Netherworld, he’d never actually been hurt before.

“You saved me!” Alfie cried, throwing his arms around Charlie. Such displays of affection always embarrassed Charlie, but Alfie came from a family of huggers.

“You saved yourself,” Charlie corrected, pushing Alfie back a bit. The boy’s pajamas were soaking wet with a substance that had to be either flop sweat or lion spit. “I wouldn’t have known about the elevators if it hadn’t been for your presentation in history class.”

Alfie looked astonished. “You mean you were actually listening?”

Charlie grinned. He always listened to Alfie—even when he couldn’t understand what his friend was saying. “Yeah, and it’s a good thing I was,” he said. “That’s how I knew how to get to you. Even though this is a dream, I figured you’d probably built a perfect copy of the Colosseum.”

Alfie looked stunned. “I did, didn’t I?” he said as the platform beneath their feet finally hit the ground with a thud.

“I hate to interrupt this touching reunion,” Meduso drawled. “But we’re about to be up to our butts in goblins. Do either of you fellows feel like running?”

Alfie looked at Charlie. “Who is that?”

“Meduso, meet Alfie Bluenthal. Alfie, Meduso.”

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir,” Alfie said, holding out a hand. It dropped to his side before Meduso could shake it. A mob of goblins had just turned a corner and was heading straight for them.

“It’s too late to run,” Meduso observed. Then he slipped behind a column. “Stay where you are.”

“While you get away?” Charlie demanded. “What kind of coward—”

“Shush!” ordered one of the snakes.

“When I shout FREEZE, you two close your eyes,” Meduso commanded from his hiding spot. “I thought I’d given up sculpting, but it’s time to make a little art.”

He was going to turn the goblins to stone, Charlie realized, wishing he could watch.

“What’s he talking about?” Alfie moaned.

“I’ll explain later. Just do what he says,” Charlie instructed. “Close your eyes the instant you hear FREEZE or you’ll never use those eyes again.”

A split second later, the goblins were upon them. They were all wearing filthy blue uniforms. Or rather, the top half of the uniforms. They didn’t appear to be wearing any pants. Charlie had never seen such ugly creatures in the flesh. Their heads were mostly hair-free, and their noses were long, pointy, and brimming with snot. Up close, the goblins’ skin was a pale, mottled green, with scaly patches that looked as though they might be moving. The creatures were spindly legged and had prominent potbellies. Most were only a few inches taller than Charlie, and none of them looked terribly strong, but there were dozens of them. There was no point fighting.

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