Horror of Horrors!
In a panic, you scan the backstage area. Where can you and Will hide? All you can see are bare floors, dangling ropes, and brick walls.
You notice a ladder attached to the far wall, but the lower section of it is right out in the open. You might be spotted long before you had time to climb out of sight.
Just a few feet away, at the side of the stage, are thickly bunched curtains.
You grab Will's shoulder. "The curtains!" you whisper. "Let's hide behind them!"
You fumble for the edge and yank it out. You and Will duck behind the old, velvet curtain. You peek through the narrow opening. This is your first glance at MagnifiCAT's audience.
What?
You shove your fist into your mouth to keep from screaming.
"What's wrong?" Will whispers.
You point at the audience. Will takes a peek and he gasps.
When you were sitting in your seats, it looked as if the theater was full, but now, you think fewer then half the seats are taken. You can see all the seats...right THROUGH the misty figures sitting in them. MagnifiCAT is performing his magic show to a bunch of phantoms. You can't believe this. You must have been under some sort of MagnifiCAT's spell. But why?
You let the curtain drop back into place. You hear an angry voice shouting just inches away on the other side of the curtain. "Von!" you hear. "Where are those two kids? I want them NOW!"
"I'm sorry, MagnifiCAT," a frightened voice replies. "I haven't seen them. Are you sure they arrived?"
"Something came through the time gate," MagnifiCAT snaps. "Find them at once, Von or I will test my tricks on you!"
A time gate? Your eyes open wide with shock. How will you get home?
"Of course. I'll get right on it." Von's voice trembles. "But what if they won't cooperate?"
"Leave all vital parts in working order. I need them to be aware of what happens to them."
"I understand."
The voices move away.
"What are we going to do?" Will whispers.
Just then, the curtain jerks aside. A short man with gray hair stares at you.
"MagnifiCAT needs you," he declares. "Why hide? It is an honor to assist him."
"Sure," Will retorts. "Assist him to torture us. Some honor!"
"I will explain." The man crosses his arms. "MagnifiCAT's magic is very great. Sometimes, for very special new tricks, he needs assistants. Do well, and he will send you to your own world with rewards."
"But what if we don't?" you ask.
"You will become phantoms in his eternal audience. You will watch his show forever."
What do you do?
You notice a ladder attached to the far wall, but the lower section of it is right out in the open. You might be spotted long before you had time to climb out of sight.
Just a few feet away, at the side of the stage, are thickly bunched curtains.
You grab Will's shoulder. "The curtains!" you whisper. "Let's hide behind them!"
You fumble for the edge and yank it out. You and Will duck behind the old, velvet curtain. You peek through the narrow opening. This is your first glance at MagnifiCAT's audience.
What?
You shove your fist into your mouth to keep from screaming.
"What's wrong?" Will whispers.
You point at the audience. Will takes a peek and he gasps.
When you were sitting in your seats, it looked as if the theater was full, but now, you think fewer then half the seats are taken. You can see all the seats...right THROUGH the misty figures sitting in them. MagnifiCAT is performing his magic show to a bunch of phantoms. You can't believe this. You must have been under some sort of MagnifiCAT's spell. But why?
You let the curtain drop back into place. You hear an angry voice shouting just inches away on the other side of the curtain. "Von!" you hear. "Where are those two kids? I want them NOW!"
"I'm sorry, MagnifiCAT," a frightened voice replies. "I haven't seen them. Are you sure they arrived?"
"Something came through the time gate," MagnifiCAT snaps. "Find them at once, Von or I will test my tricks on you!"
A time gate? Your eyes open wide with shock. How will you get home?
"Of course. I'll get right on it." Von's voice trembles. "But what if they won't cooperate?"
"Leave all vital parts in working order. I need them to be aware of what happens to them."
"I understand."
The voices move away.
"What are we going to do?" Will whispers.
Just then, the curtain jerks aside. A short man with gray hair stares at you.
"MagnifiCAT needs you," he declares. "Why hide? It is an honor to assist him."
"Sure," Will retorts. "Assist him to torture us. Some honor!"
"I will explain." The man crosses his arms. "MagnifiCAT's magic is very great. Sometimes, for very special new tricks, he needs assistants. Do well, and he will send you to your own world with rewards."
"But what if we don't?" you ask.
"You will become phantoms in his eternal audience. You will watch his show forever."
What do you do?