Trapped in the Circus of Fear Read online

  BEWARE!!

  DO NOT READ THIS

  BOOK FROM

  BEGINNING TO END!

  ARE YOU READY FOR POWER PLAY!?

  In this special edition GIVE YOURSELF GOOSEBUMPS, you’ve got to choose the right POWER objects to take with you. Choose wrong and you’re — gone!

  At the Circus of Fear, you’ll need to be prepared for anything — and everything — that can go wrong. Like walking the tightrope after it’s been cut with shears! And outsmarting an evil ringmistress who wants to turn you into the Kid Who Lives in a Jar!

  So stop clowning around and make your first choices. Because it all depends on you. Will you hit it big under the big top? Or will something big get to you … before the finale?

  NOW, TURN THE PAGE, CHOOSE THREE POWER OBJECTS, AND GET READY TO PLAY WITH POWER!

  Contents

  Beware!!

  Title Page

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  Teaser

  About the Author

  Also Available

  Copyright

  BEFORE YOU JOIN THE CIRCUS … READ THIS!

  Congratulations! After a week at circus camp, you and your friend Richie have been selected to spend a week as guest performers in a real-life circus.

  But this is no ordinary three-ring adventure.

  This is a terrifying circus of doom!

  Only if you make the right choices will you and Richie survive your bone-chilling experience under the big top.

  Since this is a special GIVE YOURSELF GOOSEBUMPS, you get to take three things with you for extra help. Read through the list of objects on the next two pages. Then decide what you think you will need.

  But remember, you may take only three things. No more!

  What will you need most when the going gets tough?

  It’s up to you to choose….

  Go on to PAGE 2.

  Choose any three things from the list below. Then pack your bags and head for the circus on PAGE 4!

  CAMERA: Great for taking pictures of the other circus performers you meet. Also useful for recording proof of evildoing (if by some strange chance you run into any trouble during this adventure).

  DICTIONARY OF CIRCUS TERMS: A small book that will teach you the cool words and phrases used by circus folk.

  MIRROR: Useful for putting on clown makeup (and for looking over your shoulder).

  PEPPY, YOUR PET SNAKE: Not necessarily useful, but you can take him everywhere with you (and you’re not sure you can trust your family to remember to feed him).

  CHOCOLATE BARS: You might want to take these along if you love chocolate. That way, you’ll be prepared if you get a craving.

  TALCUM POWDER: The professional trapeze artists use talcum to keep their hands from slipping when they grip the bars. You might want some if you plan to do any swinging.

  BAG OF PEANUTS: A tasty treat for you (and a good bribe for angry elephants).

  BUNCH OF BANANAS: Not only are they high in potassium, but the peels are useful if you want to get involved with the clown acts.

  YOUR LUCKY BASEBALL CAP: You wore it every day at circus camp. Nothing bad happened to you. You figure maybe the cap kept you safe.

  BALL OF TWINE: Useful for tying things together, reconnecting broken ropes, etc.

  BULLWHIP: A fifteen-foot-long leather whip might come in handy if you run into any lions or tigers on the loose!

  Choose three things. Then start the adventure on PAGE 4.

  “Welcome!” a voice booms at you over a microphone. “Welcome to the most astounding show on Earth!”

  You step into a dimly lit circus tent. Rope shadows dance on the pointed canvas tops. The smell of animals fills your nose.

  “Good-bye, honey,” your mom calls from the entryway. She blows you a kiss. “Have fun.”

  “Okay, Mom … bye,” you mumble. You’re distracted by how spooky the circus tent looks. So gloomy. So creepy.

  “How come it’s so dark in here?” Richie Fieldston whispers at your side. He brushes his red hair out of his eyes.

  “I don’t know,” you answer. “And where is everyone?”

  You and Richie were in circus camp together this summer. You learned how to fly on the trapeze, do clown acts, and ride bareback on a horse.

  You were both so good at it, you won the chance to spend a whole week in a real circus.

  “What are you two waiting for?” a female voice commands over the microphone. “Come on down, you lucky kids. And make it fast!”

  You squint into the darkness. The voice sounds familiar.

  “Mistress Barbara?” you call. “Is that you?”

  “The name’s not Barbara,” the voice snaps. “It’s Barbarous!”

  Go on to PAGE 5.

  Barbarous? You gulp. You and your mom met the ringmistress of the circus outside. She seemed sweet and friendly.

  But she doesn’t sound so sweet now!

  “Hurry up!” her voice booms over the microphone.

  “Come on, Richie!” you exclaim. “We’d better get down there!”

  You hustle down the dim aisle. Richie follows reluctantly behind you. You toss your backpack down on a chair in the front ro
w and step onto the sawdust-covered floor of the main ring. Richie plops down in a chair.

  Suddenly the lights snap on. Bright, glaring lights that almost blind you. In the next instant, a curtain swings back. Mistress Barbarous steps out holding a cordless microphone. She is wearing black leather pants, a red satin blouse, and a snug black vest. She smiles wickedly at you and claps her hands three times.

  “Let the fun begin!” she bellows into the microphone.

  From behind her, a man in a black cape rides into the ring, standing on a horse.

  He’s carrying a huge silver knife!

  And he’s pointing it at you!

  Race to PAGE 6.

  SWOOSH! The man on the horse gallops right by you — so fast and close, he nearly knocks you down.

  “You!” Mistress Barbarous cries. She points at you as she strides into the middle of the ring. “Move it! Get over there so Morton the Knife Thrower can practice!”

  She points at a huge white board. It’s a target with an outline of a person painted on it.

  You know from circus camp what to do. You’re supposed to stand in front of the board with your arms out like the painted outline. Then the knife thrower will throw knives at you.

  Missing you. You hope!

  You glance at the man on the horse. And at his sharp, sparkling knife. This could be really dangerous, you realize.

  Maybe you could still catch up with your mom outside. Then again, if you defy Mistress Barbarous’s orders, there’s no telling what might happen….

  Well?

  If you stand in front of the board, turn to PAGE 33.

  If you run to catch up with your mom, turn to PAGE 9.

  You decide to face the dangers on the floor. You take a deep breath to steel yourself. “Ready,” you murmur.

  Time to deal with the lions, the knife thrower, Mistress Barbarous — and whatever else is out to get you!

  You grip the bullwhip tightly as you jump off the trampoline. You land on the dirt floor.

  “GRRRRR!” the lions growl hungrily.

  The hairs on the back of your neck prickle.

  The three furry beasts circle you. They look ravenous.

  “In the center ring!” Mistress Barbarous announces over her microphone. “It’s today’s main attraction — lunch!”

  You rub your sweaty forehead with the back of your hand. “Hup!” you yell, cracking your whip at the lions.

  The lions back away a step.

  But the knife thrower doesn’t.

  WHHHSSSSSHH! A knife sails so close to your head, it parts your hair. You can’t help screaming!

  Keep your nerves steady until you reach PAGE 16.

  Plunge your hands into the spinning sugar?

  Why not? you think. It’ll be fun.

  Carefully, you ball your hands into fists. Then you dip them both into the machine.

  Little by little, you begin to pick up the cotton candy, wrapping it around and around your hands.

  “Yummy! Yummy! Let me have it!” Mr. Peepers demands, drooling with anticipation.

  You hold out your fists toward the greedy clown.

  I hope he’s a careful eater, you think.

  “Hold it right there!” commands an icy voice.

  It’s Mistress Barbarous! No!

  You spin around and gasp.

  Her eyes —

  They’re flaming purple!

  Go on to PAGE 82.

  “Get into place!” Barbarous demands over the microphone.

  “Forget it!” you shout. “I’m out of here.”

  You spin around and race up the aisle. You wave to Richie as you zip past him. I hope he leaves, too, you think.

  You run. Out of the creepy tent. Through the dust of the parking lot, where your mom’s minivan is heading for the road.

  “Mom!” you shout, waving your arms frantically. “Wait! Come back!”

  Your mom has the window rolled up.

  Oh, no! She can’t hear me, you realize.

  But she glances over. She sees you waving and waves back.

  “Bye!” she mouths. She flashes you a big smile and then pulls out of the parking lot.

  Why didn’t she stop? you wonder.

  You hear a nasty little laugh. Behind you. You whirl around.

  It’s Mistress Barbarous. Waving and smiling good-bye to your mom behind your back.

  No wonder your mom left! She thought you and Barbarous were happily waving good-bye.

  “Back inside!” Mistress Barbarous says through clenched teeth.

  Do what she says. Go back into the tent on PAGE 48.

  A world record? Cool!

  The guy sounds nice, and obviously he has good taste if he’s calling you amazing….

  Your steps slow as you turn around and go back.

  Inside the sideshow tent, a tall man in green pants and a white pirate-style silk shirt smiles at you.

  “I’m Pietro — and you’re fantastic!” he says with a broad grin. “What speed! Have you ever thought about a career as a runner?”

  “You mean like at the Olympics?” you ask, pumping his hand.

  “No,” Pietro replies, shaking his head. “I mean like running around and around the circus ring with the lions and tigers chasing you.”

  Pietro’s eyes sparkle with a mischievous glint.

  Go to PAGE 76.

  You decide to go searching for Richie. You exit the clown tent through the back. It leads into a small, dark tent that has candlelight flickering inside. Soft, eerie violin music draws you in.

  A huge trunk full of glittering costumes stands open. You glimpse a dressing table covered with candles. Seated next to the table is a small, bent-backed gypsy. He looks about a hundred years old. He’s playing the violin.

  “Your friend is not here,” the gypsy announces.

  Weird. How did he know you were looking for someone?

  You shiver, wondering if this gypsy is friend or foe.

  But before you can ask him anything, you hear a growl.

  Behind you.

  All the hair on your neck stands on end.

  Turn around on PAGE 84.

  “Now, get in your jar!” Mistress Barbarous growls at you. She pushes you toward a four-foot-tall jar filled with oozing gray goop. It’s the same jar you saw in the poster.

  “Don’t do it!” the Lizard Boy calls. “Whatever you do, don’t get into that jar!”

  The Girl with Five Tongues shouts, “Run!”

  It comes out, “Run-run-run-run-run!”

  “She’s too strong!” you cry. “I can’t break away!”

  Even with you kicking at her, Mistress Barbarous is able to lift you up. She starts to shove you into the huge jar.

  Your hand dips into the cold, sticky gel. It’s so disgusting you feel like you might retch. Plus, it smells terrible. Worse than the smell of rotting flesh!

  “No!” the Lizard Boy cries. “Make a deal with her!”

  You have no idea what he’s talking about — but you would give anything to stay out of the jar. So you call out.

  “I want to make a deal!” you shout, struggling to keep Barbarous from pushing you into the stinky jar.

  Go to PAGE 40.

  Way to go! You brought your lucky baseball cap with you!

  And you wore it for the big performance.

  The lion falling on you didn’t hurt a bit! And it turns out he doesn’t want to eat you after all — he just ran over you by accident. He couldn’t stop fast enough.

  You gently push the lion off you and spring to your feet.

  The audience roars with applause.

  You’re a huge hit! The crowd can’t get enough of you.

  You feel so lucky that you decide to walk the tightrope, even though you never practiced it.

  “But there’s no net!” Pietro objects. “Don’t be foolish!”

  “I’m incredibly lucky!” you boast. “Stand back!”

  The crowd goes wild.

  You’ve only got one proble
m. You’ve turned to a very unlucky page. Check it out. The page number is 13.

  You lose your balance on the wire and fall to the floor. Oooh, too bad. Your hopes for a circus career have just been dashed to the ground!

  THE END

  Okay, you think. I’ll trust him. With his help, I’ll be able to get out of here! Besides, something in his voice sounds sincere. Like he really will help me if I show him the photo.

  You stop and turn to face the lion tamer.

  “Let me see,” he says eagerly, hurrying toward you.

  You show him the camera screen.

  The Great Bostini stares at the photo for a minute. His face twists into a look of anguish, anger, and pain.

  “Noooo!” he cries, opening his mouth in a wide roar.

  Check out the picture on PAGE 92.

  It might be risky. But you have no choice. You reach into your pocket and pull out the small mirror you brought from home.

  As you dance, you hold up the mirror and aim it at the pendant. You can barely hold the mirror still, your feet are moving so fast.

  But all at once …

  ZZZZZAP!

  Yes! You’ve caught the reflection of the magic pendant!

  The purple energy bolt shoots out of your mirror and straight into your eyes.

  The light fills your eyes. Blinding, searing pain!

  “Owwwww!” you scream, dropping the mirror and covering your eyes.

  Turn to PAGE 59.

  You’re so scared, your heart feels as if it has jumped up into your throat. But you try not to let the fear show.

  The knife thrower draws another knife. In a flash, you crack your whip at him. You knock the knife away.

  “Ow!” he screams, popping his fingers into his mouth.

  “Yes!” you shout triumphantly.

  Barbarous flies into action. She blows a whistle. It brings a clown ambulance racing into the ring. The siren blares as the clowns rush to the knife thrower’s side.

  The clowns make the lions nervous. They pace and roar, ripping the air with their razor claws.

  Lions … clowns … acrobats … knife throwers …

  You’re completely surrounded.

  It’s big trouble under the big top!

  Go on to PAGE 70.