Toy Terror: Batteries Included Read online

  It’s official: You’re the Grand Prize Winner!

  Pick your prize: a tour of the Hasley Toy Company, or Hasley’s newest toy — a kid-sized robot called the Annihilator 3000. But choose carefully!

  Take the tour and you’ll get locked in the factory — where the toys come alive at night. Watch out for Zorgs. Those nasty monster toys want to suck out your brain. And stay away from Nasty Kathy. This living doll may look sweet, but her heart is pure evil!

  If you choose the robot, make sure you’re ready for trouble. The Annihilator is bent on destruction! First it goes after your cat. Then it goes after … you. Yikes! How do you disable a raging robot?

  You’re in control of this scary adventure. You decide what will happen. And how terrifying the scares will be!

  Start on PAGE 1. Then follow the instructions at the bottom of each page. You make the choices.

  SO TAKE A DEEP BREATH. CROSS YOUR FINGERS. AND TURN TO PAGE 1 NOW TO GIVE YOURSELF GOOSEBUMPS.

  Contents

  Beware!!

  Title Page

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  Teaser

  About the Author

  Also Available

  Copyright

  “Hey, Mom! Look at this! I’m a winner!” you shout.

  You race into the house with a letter that’s just arrived in the mail. It came in a strange black envelope. Addressed to you. The words HASLEY TOY COMPANY are printed on the back.

  “Look, Mom!” You wave the letter in the air. “I won!”

  “That’s nice.” Your mother is reading the newspaper. She doesn’t look up.

  “Mom. For real! I won the Grand Prize!” you announce happily.

  “That’s great, sweetie.” You can tell she’s not really listening.

  “I get my choice,” you go on. “A tour of the Hasley Toy Factory, or their biggest and best toy — the Annihilator 3000. It’s this totally cool robot. It’s as big as I am!”

  “The Annihilator what?” She looks up. You’ve got her attention now. “When did you enter this contest?” she asks.

  Hey. That’s weird, you think.

  “I didn’t,” you admit.

  Your mom looks concerned. “How did they get your name?” she wants to know.

  Go on to PAGE 2.

  You glance down at the envelope in your hand. It suddenly seems creepy that it’s black.

  “I don’t know how they got my name,” you admit.

  Your mom thinks for a minute. “Maybe it was that electronic game we bought last year for your birthday. Remember? We sent your name in on the registration.”

  “That must be it,” you say, sighing with relief. “Isn’t it great that I won?”

  “Oh, sweetheart.” Your mom pats your shoulder. “Don’t get your hopes up too high. Sometimes those contests are fakes. They say you’ve won, but then there’s a catch: You have to buy magazines or something.”

  “No way!” you protest. “The letter doesn’t say anything about magazines.”

  You hurry to the phone and call the special number in the letter. You dial it. A man answers. A man with a scratchy voice.

  “Hello,” he says, addressing you by name. “I’ve been waiting for your call.”

  Go on to PAGE 3.

  “Which prize do you want?” the man asks.

  You hadn’t really thought about it yet.

  And then it hits you. The man knew your name. But how?

  A shiver goes down your spine.

  You shake your head and try to concentrate. So he knew your name. Big deal. Not every kid on the planet has just won a huge prize!

  “Hello? Are you still there?” the man calls.

  You’ve got to say something. Which prize do you want? The letter says that if you take the tour of the Hasley Toy Factory, you’ll get a free video game too.

  But the Annihilator 3000 is the best toy the company makes!

  “Uh, if I choose the tour of the toy factory, can I bring a friend?” you ask.

  “Sure,” he replies. “So what’s it going to be?”

  If you want to tour the Hasley Toy Factory, turn to PAGE 44.

  If you want the Annihilator 3000, turn to PAGE 69.

  You rush down the hall. The smiling robot stumps along behind you.

  “How do I turn it off?” you shout to the good robot.

  “Knock him over,” the good robot advises. “There’s a switch on the bottom of his feet.”

  You race to the kitchen and grab a broom. Then dash into the living room. The bad Annihilator is about to blast the couch!

  You swing the broom hard. The robot tumbles over. You use the broom handle to flick off its switch.

  “Hurray! I’ve hated him forever,” the nice robot shouts. “Quick, throw him away.”

  You think about that for a minute. You’re tempted….

  But what about when the class bully starts hanging around your yard? Trying to steal your bike? Or your lunch money?

  You might need the bad robot someday.

  Continue the story on PAGE 12.
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  On Monday morning, you and Officer Murphy, the toy policeman, arrive at your school for a special assembly.

  When he is introduced, Officer Murphy glares sternly at the kids in the audience. “Children,” he booms, “I’m here to show you some things that you should never do to your toys. Like this.”

  He tugs you to the front of the stage.

  Then he pulls out a big black Magic Marker and scribbles all over your face!

  “Hey!” you protest, spitting out ink. “Cut it out!”

  “Or this,” Officer Murphy continues as if you hadn’t spoken.

  He grabs you by the hair and drags you around the stage.

  “Ow!” you yell. “Stop it! Ouch!”

  “And never, ever let your pets get hold of your toys,” Officer Murphy adds. “Like this!” He presses a remote control.

  Barking furiously, Mittens, the mechanical Doberman, races across the stage and attacks your leg.

  Hey — remember those crash test dummies they use to test cars? That’s what you are now. So do the smart thing. Close the book.

  And next time you read it, try not to be a dummy!

  THE END

  You stomp your foot on the ground.

  No fair! you think, feeling totally disappointed. There’s something going on in that factory. And now you’ll never find out what it is.

  A million questions spin through your brain.

  They’re good questions too.

  But it’s too late for all of them.

  All except for one:

  “What page do I turn to if I want to stay in the toy warehouse and find the doll?” you mutter out loud.

  Uh-oh. Now you’re talking to yourself.

  But, okay. Since you asked, it’s PAGE 76.

  Now go on. You’re out of the factory — so get out of this book. Because, as they say in showbiz:

  THAT’S A WRAP!

  You can’t believe it. That doll was alive!

  Your heart thumps with excitement.

  You want to chase after her. You want to run over and tell Benny! You want to call a reporter and be interviewed on television!

  But you decide to race home first — and get your dad’s camera. If you can catch the doll on video, maybe you can sell it to the news. You could make a ton of money!

  And besides — you figure no one will believe you about a living doll. Unless you get proof, that is.

  You dash out the door of the factory and ride your bike home. Grab the camera. Stuff it in your backpack. Then pedal like crazy back to the factory.

  When you return, Benny is waiting outside for you.

  He has a horrified look on his face.

  Turn to PAGE 32.

  Seconds pass. And no laser blast.

  You lift yourself onto your elbows and look back.

  That flash wasn’t the Annihilator. It was lightning.

  You know, because through your kitchen window you can see the robot, still standing there.

  You let out a sob of relief.

  You scramble to your feet and run to Mrs. Carlyle’s house. You yank open the door and stumble into the kitchen.

  “Oh!” Mrs. Carlyle says, startled. “You scared me!” Then she sees your wet clothes and frowns.

  “I’ll get you a towel, dear,” she says. As she bustles down the hall, she talks to you in a loud voice. “I was wondering when you’d come over. Your mom called a while ago. She said your phone isn’t working. Must be the storm.”

  She comes back into the kitchen and drapes a towel over your shoulders. “Let me make you some hot chocolate,” she clucks.

  As Mrs. Carlyle busies herself at the stove, you peer through the window toward your house.

  You see another blinding flash of light.

  Then flames burst through your kitchen windows.

  Your mouth drops open. You can’t believe it.

  Your house is on fire!

  Turn to PAGE 14.

  There must be a way you can fool the toys into thinking you’re one of them….

  “Wait!” you cry as the soldiers dangle you over the belt. “You can’t do this to me. I’m a toy too!”

  Will they believe you? You’re nearly choked with fear. The sound of the hair-planting machine makes your scalp crawl.

  A few of the soldiers look uncertain. But the captain just laughs. “That’s a lie,” he declares. “Put the kid on the belt.”

  But some of the ninjas — the ones you saw making the robot police officer — rush in to help. One of them turns off the hair-planting machine.

  “Maybe the kid is telling the truth. Maybe it’s really a doll,” another ninja warrior says.

  “Ridiculous,” the captain snaps. “Start up the machine.”

  The ninja hesitates, unsure. You gaze at him with pleading eyes.

  “Please! Believe me,” you plead. “I’m a toy.”

  “Prove it,” the ninja replies. “Let’s see your batteries.”

  Turn to PAGE 28.

  You’d better call the toy company. Someone there can tell you how to stop this crazy robot.

  “Hang in there, Patches!” you shout.

  You race to the kitchen and pick up the phone.

  But you don’t know the number. You need the letter from the toy company. The one in the black envelope.

  But it’s on the desk in your room.

  FZZZZZTTT!

  Mrrrrrrrrooooooowwwww!

  Oh, no. Not again.

  CLUNK, CLUNK, CLUNK.

  The noise is right behind you.

  You’ve got a bad feeling….

  You put the phone back on the hook, then turn around slowly.

  Find out what’s behind you on PAGE 122.

  You and Benny creep through the warehouse toward the factory. Your eyes widen when you look through the glass wall.

  The ninja action figures are out there, pulling switches and pushing buttons to run the machinery.

  Then you see a figure standing still in the middle of the excitement. It’s the doll you watched come to life!

  Her brown hair is held in two pigtails with pink ribbons. Her little pink lips are heart shaped. She has huge blue eyes and rosy cheeks.

  The doll lifts a megaphone to her lips.

  “MOVE IT, YOU NO-GOOD NINJAS!” she roars.

  You and Benny exchange startled glances. You look back and squint, trying to read the name stitched on her dress. Finally you make it out: NASTY KATHY. You’ve seen her on TV. Pull her string and she says all kinds of mean things.

  “What are they making?” Benny whispers.

  “More toys, I guess,” you whisper back.

  You both look at the conveyor belt. Then a bizarre cargo chugs into sight — a life-sized doll.

  It looks so real, you’d swear it’s alive. And lined up behind it are dozens more.

  Turn to PAGE 40.

  You decide to keep the bad Annihilator 1500 in your closet. Turned off. Just in case.

  But you quickly throw the broken Annihilator 3000 in the trash. Along with the box it came in. You don’t want your mom to know what happened.

  She’d never believe it, for one thing.

  And, besides, if she knew about the fires, she’d probably make you throw all the robots away!

  Somehow, you’ll have to do something about your dad’s baseball cards. But you’ll think about that another day.

  A few minutes later, your mom walks into the house. The Annihilator 1500 is standing in the kitchen.

  “Welcome home,” the nice robot declares. “How may I serve you?”

  Your mom takes one look at it and frowns. “I thought they were going to send you the Annihilator 3000,” she says.

  “Uh, well, they sent this instead,” you reply.

  Your mom shakes her head. “See? I told you not to get your hopes up too high. Those contests never turn out the way you hope they will. Just remember, Mom knows best!”

  THE END

  You and Benny glance at each other and shudder.


  Evil toys are after you. They want to put you in the Dark Hole — whatever that is!

  Murphy steps out of the car and stalks off. His hard shoes click along the road. They’re the only sound in the night — other than the low hum of Bobaloo’s car engine.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Benny whispers.

  “But if we go home, we have to ride our bikes the same way that — that thing — went,” you object.

  You eye Bobaloo’s car.

  The trunk is slightly open.

  You start to get a crazy idea.

  “Maybe we could sneak into Bobaloo’s trunk and ride along with him,” you say. “If we follow him, we might find out what’s really going on.”

  Sounds risky, huh? Well?

  How daring are you?

  If you try to sneak past Officer Murphy and get home, turn to PAGE 54.

  If you climb into Bobaloo’s trunk, turn to PAGE 115.

  You know that wasn’t lightning.

  It was the Annihilator. And it’s burning down your house!

  “No,” you moan.

  Then your stomach lurches. Patches! Patches is trapped in the house. If you don’t rescue her, she’ll burn up!

  You race out into the wind and rain. Tree branches blow so hard, they whip your face.

  “Patches!” you scream as you run. But the wind is roaring so loudly, you can barely hear your own voice.

  Suddenly your ankle twists on a rock in the yard.

  Your feet fly out from under you. The world turns over. And you land on your head. Hard.

  “Ow,” you moan.

  Then everything around you goes black.

  You’re out cold. Wake up on PAGE 45.

  You fall, banging your head on a shelf on the way down.

  “Ouch. You stepped on my foot,” a voice says in your ear.

  Huh?

  You gaze over and see the stuffed pig — the pig who talked to you when the toys first came to life. He’s lying flat on the floor beside you, but he doesn’t really seem hurt. He shakes himself off.

  “Sorry I ran under your legs,” he whispers. “But I had to stop you. To warn you. Don’t go near the army. Nasty Kathy is there — and she’ll get you! She’s very, very mean.”

  “But I’ve got to help my friend,” you explain.

  Whoa! you think. This is too weird. You’re talking to a stuffed animal. And it’s talking back!