Scream of the Evil Genie Read online

  A girl wearing a long dress that makes her look like a princess steps forward. “I think I’ve been twelve for a very long time,” she tells you. “There’s something magical about this island.”

  That’s for sure! A land inhabited by kids who never grow up? Wait a minute. You think you’ve heard of a place like this before. In some baby book. What was it again? Peter Pun? Pitter Pan?

  Just then you glance up to see a little boy floating down to the ground. He’s wearing green tights and green shorts. He has a little green hat with a feather.

  “AAAHHHHHHHHHHH!” you scream in pure terror. It’s him!

  That’s when you know you have reached a truly terrifying fairy-tale

  ENDING.

  The cola can must still be on the table in your family room!

  You quickly change out of that goofy costume. You sneak out a side door to a parking lot. A long white Jaguar convertible is parked just outside. The driver smiles at you and gives you a nod.

  Hmmmm, you think. Is that my car?

  Well, you are a star. Maybe it is. You stroll over to the car and fling open the back door. You hop in.

  “Take me home,” you tell the driver. You rattle off your address so he’ll know where to go.

  “Huh?” the driver says, looking puzzled. “But that’s not where you live. You live in Beverly Hills. In a big mansion.”

  Beverly Hills? Where the rich and famous live?

  Then you realize. That must be your new house. Now that the genie granted your wish and you’re a big star.

  “No, no, no,” you tell him. “I want to go to my old house. And step on it!”

  Turn to PAGE 116.

  Not enough money? How can that be? You handed her a wallet filled with hundred-dollar bills.

  “Are you sure?” you demand. You scurry over to the counter.

  She nods grimly and holds out the bill for all the shoes. You take it from her and stare at it. You’ve never seen so many zeros in your life! It looks like you just bought a million dollars in shoes!

  “How much is missing?” you ask. “How much more do I owe you?”

  “Nine hundred and fifty-three dollars. And sixty-one cents.”

  Peter rummages around in his pockets. “I’ve got the sixty-one cents,” he offers.

  “Not funny,” Cindy snaps. “You still owe me almost a thousand dollars. How do you intend to pay for this?”

  You have no idea. But you can’t tell Cindy that.

  You glance at Peter. He shrugs. He doesn’t have a solution, either.

  “Well,” Cindy huffs. “I’ll just have to call security.”

  “No,” you plead. “I’m good for it. I promise. I’m rich. Really really rich. You saw my wallet. There’s more where that — ”

  “Right,” Cindy interrupts. “You probably stole that wallet!” She picks up the phone and punches in some numbers. “Security. Come quick! I’ve got thieves in my store.”

  Oh, no! Hurry to PAGE 131.

  You are sick with terror. But you know that your only hope of survival may be to defeat this hideous beast.

  The only way out of Mortal Revenge is to win. And this rat-faced samurai looks like the guy to beat.

  The rat-man advances toward you. He swings the swords in all four hands, twirling them in a figure-eight pattern. They slice through the air, making a swish-swooshing sound.

  You shudder. Those swords will slice right through you just as easily.

  You take your eyes off the rat-man for just an instant. You glance around the abandoned warehouse, searching for a weapon. You need something to fight him with.

  But the warehouse is empty! All you see is a pile of crumbling bricks.

  Hmmmmmmm.

  The rat-man opens his mouth in a disgusting hiss. His razor-sharp teeth drip with foam. His eyes glow red.

  You’ve got to do something. Blood is pounding in your ears. Still he comes toward you, the blades slicing the air.

  Then he pounces!

  Quick! Turn to PAGE 84.

  Randy doesn’t even have time to finish his sentence. In an instant, your face is covered with pink-and-yellow stripes.

  “I wish you’d shut your mouth!” you snap at Randy.

  “No problem,” Jenna says with a giggle.

  Uh-oh. You’ve blurted out another wish without thinking. You glance at your brother. His eyes are wild. Full of terror. He’s trying desperately to open his mouth. He pries at his lips with his fingers, tugging. Pulling. Twisting. No matter what he does, he can’t get his mouth open.

  “How’s he going to eat?” you ask Jenna, your voice rising.

  “That’s your problem,” she says with a sly smile.

  Okay — think! you tell yourself. You’ve only got one wish left. What should you wish for?

  Finally, you decide.

  “I wish you’d give me the rest of Randy’s wishes,” you tell Jenna. You think this is pretty clever, so you start to smile.

  But Jenna just laughs. “Granted,” she says. “But he doesn’t have any wishes left! I didn’t like him better than you after all. Ha-ha!”

  Uh-oh. You just used up your last wish.

  Oh, well. Your face is pink and yellow. But it probably should be red after all the mistakes you’ve made!

  THE END

  The butler gives you a small smile.

  “You, of course, are at home,” he answers in a formal English accent. “And I, of course, am James. In service to your family ever since you won the eighty-million-dollar lottery with that ticket your mother bought you. Are we having trouble with our memory today, if I may ask?”

  “Yes. Yes, James,” you mumble, trying to take all this in.

  I’m rich! you want to shout. You feel like doing cartwheels and dancing around the family room. But you don’t. James would definitely think you were nuts if you did that!

  “Uh, James,” you ask instead. “Do we have a car and a driver? I want to go see my friends.”

  James’s polite smile disappears. His whole face frowns.

  “Oh, no, no, no, no,” he says, shaking his head quickly. “You can’t do that, I’m afraid. You can’t leave the house. It’s much too dangerous.”

  Find out what happens next on PAGE 111.

  “Awesome wheels,” a little boy comments as you and Peter hop out of your Rolls Royce.

  “Want to go for a ride in it?” you offer. You turn to the driver. “Okay, Manny? We won’t be ready to leave for awhile.”

  “If that’s what you want,” Manny responds uncertainly.

  “Great!” the little boy cheers. “Come on, Ma! Let’s go!” He tugs his mother’s hand. She smiles at you as they get into the car.

  “Me, too!” A man yells. “Can I go, too?”

  “Sure!” You wave your arms. “You can all go!”

  The crowd cheers and then scrambles into the Rolls.

  “That was fun,” you tell Peter as the car drives away. “Now let’s check out the mall!”

  Do you want to go to the food court first? Turn to PAGE 17.

  Or do you want to hit the sporting goods store? Turn to PAGE 81.

  “AAAAHHHHHHH!” your friend Peter yells. “That is the coolest car I’ve ever seen!”

  “I know. Isn’t it awesome?” you shout. “And it’s all mine. I’m rich! Peter, I’m rich!”

  A neighbor, watering the lawn, glances in your direction. Two kids on bikes stare at you as they ride by.

  Manny pops his head out the car window. “I wouldn’t go announcing that to the whole world if I were you,” he warns.

  But why shouldn’t you tell everyone you’re rich? It’s the truth, isn’t it?

  “I’m rich!” you shout again.

  “I know,” Peter exclaims. “I saw on TV that you won the lottery. Your face was all over the evening news.”

  You reach into your pocket, grab the bulging wallet, and pull out a wad of bills. You hand one to Peter. “Remember that dollar I owe you? Here’s a hundred!”

  Pe
ter looks shocked. He gazes at the bill in his hand.

  “Hop in the car,” you tell him. “We’re hitting the mall!”

  Turn to PAGE 57.

  You can’t just let your little sister scream, can you?

  Of course not.

  So you forget the cola can.

  You race through the dark house, down the hall, following the sound of her cries.

  “Help! Stop it! You’re scaring me!” Kate screams over and over again.

  Turn to PAGE 114.

  “You can’t go outside,” James tells you. “I am under strict orders from your parents not to allow you out of the house.”

  Is this guy for real? You’re the richest kid in the world. You should be able to do anything you want. No way are you going to stay stuck in the house, you decide.

  “Oh, come on, James. I want to hang out with my friends. I won’t be gone long. And my parents never have to find out. It will be our little secret.” You flash him your best smile.

  He doesn’t smile back.

  “Out of the question,” he tells you. “I have my orders. I intend to follow them. And you will, too.”

  “Okay, fine!” Obviously, you aren’t going to get anywhere with this guy. “I’ll stay here.” Then you wave him away with your hand. “Uh, thank you, James. That will be all.”

  James doesn’t move.

  You let out a sigh. “Don’t worry,” you assure him. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Very good,” James answers. He gives you a quick bow, then turns and walks out of the room.

  You listen to his footsteps echoing down the long hallway. As they fade away, you pop your head out the doorway.

  The coast is clear.

  Sneak out of the house on PAGE 48.

  You stare straight ahead, unable to move. You can’t even blink.

  You try to figure out where you are. The wall across from you is covered with paintings. But there’s no furniture in the room. Nothing but a low bench.

  Weird, you think. It looks like a museum!

  “Ah!” a woman standing in front of you gasps. “Look at the shadows on the hair. So beautiful!”

  People stop to stare at you, all right. And their mouths hang open when they see you. Just as you asked for in your wish.

  Then the awful truth dawns on you. Your wish has come true — but not at all the way you had hoped!

  You are beautiful, all right. Jenna has turned you into a beautiful painting! A painting so beautiful it hangs in a museum!

  But that’s not what I meant! your mind screams.

  But there’s no way to wish yourself out of this mess. You can’t exactly open a cola can and let out a genie if you’re frozen inside a painting. Or say the special wish-making words.

  “Look at that painting!” a man in front of you whispers to his friend. “Isn’t it beautiful? And so lifelike.”

  Being beautiful may not be all it’s cracked up to be. Guess you’re really hung up on your looks.

  THE END

  “Nooooo!!!!!!” A wail fills the studio. You glance at the audience.

  Ooooops.

  As far as those four-year-olds are concerned, Wilfred is a real dragon. Their hero. And you just ripped his head off! Right in front of them!

  The noise in the studio is deafening. You realize you aren’t only hearing upset, crying, screaming kids. You’re hearing screaming, angry parents.

  “You terrified my Clara!” a father bellows.

  “You killed Wilfred!” a child weeps.

  “What kind of cruel nut are you!” demands a furious mom in the front row. She takes a step toward you.

  They all take a step toward you.

  Back up to PAGE 50.

  Kate’s screaming is coming from the hall that leads to the kitchen. When you get there, a bunch of teenagers are crowded around, laughing and slapping one another high fives.

  “Excuse me. Move it. Let me through!” you shout, trying to be heard above the noise. Randy must have used another wish, you realize. Now there’s a live rock band playing in your family room.

  Finally, the teenagers move aside enough for you to see Kate, cowering outside a closet door, crying.

  The minute she sees you, she runs up and throws her arms around your legs.

  “They’re scaring me!” Kate shrieks, still sniffling.

  “Who is?” you ask her.

  “Randy and these other guys,” she whimpers. “They keep hiding in the closets and then jumping out to scare me!”

  You give Kate a pat on the head. “Okay,” you tell her. “Take it easy. I’ll put you back to bed.”

  “No!” Kate whines, stamping her foot. “I won’t go! I won’t go! They’ll hide in the closet in my room! And when the lights are out, they’ll scare me more! You know what I wish?”

  Wish? Did she say the word wish?

  Uh-oh.

  Turn to PAGE 24.

  You’ve got to get rid of that monster!

  “I wish the metal insect would go away forever and never come back!” you shout.

  Then you close your eyes. And hope that you’ve said the wish right.

  Because sometimes Jenna makes your wishes turn out all wrong.

  When you open your eyes, everything is quiet.

  You glance at the closet. It’s empty. The metallic insect thing is gone.

  Katie comes up behind you. She’s smiling.

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she cries, giving you a big hug. “You are the best! I wish I had a hundred more brothers and sisters just like you!”

  Uh-oh.

  Did she just say what you think she said? Did she just make another wish? Yup. And your wishes are all gone!

  Suddenly, the house is overflowing with kids.

  And they all look exactly like you!

  Oh, well.

  At least now you’ll have some help when Randy decides to pick on you. You outnumber him a hundred to one!

  THE END

  Eventually, the white convertible pulls up in front of your old house — the one you lived in until about an hour ago. You leap out of the car and race to the front door, hoping that the cola can will be right where you left it.

  But the front door is locked.

  “Hey! Mom? Dad? Let me in!” you cry, pounding on the door.

  No answer.

  “Let me in!” you scream, jerking the door handle as hard as you can.

  You peer in the windows — and your heart almost stops.

  The place is empty. Bare. All the furniture is gone.

  You glance over at the garage and gasp.

  No cars. No lawn mower. No bikes. No gardening tools.

  Empty. Everything your family ever owned is gone! Just vanished.

  Then you notice a sign in the front yard. You barely saw it when you pulled up. Now you whirl around and stare at it.

  FOR SALE.

  Turn to PAGE 97.

  “Let me shake your hand, kid!” the officer exclaims. “My wife and son had fun in your fancy car.”

  “Aren’t you going to arrest them?” Cindy demands.

  “Not a chance!” he tells her. “This kid is a millionaire. And generous, too. You’ll get your money, I can guarantee you that. As a matter of fact, how would you like a police escort, kid? Anywhere you want to go.”

  “Wow! A police escort!” Peter exclaims. “Like in the movies.”

  The people you bought new shoes for follow you out to your car, cheering. Everyone who got to ride in your Rolls Royce joins in.

  You have Manny drive really slowly and turn the music up really loud. It’s like a parade.

  You’ve got a lot of money. And a lot of friends, too. You use your second wish to throw a big pizza party. And your final wish to make everyone else a millionaire. What a nice kid you are. Guess this is one of those mushy, happy, feel-good

  ENDINGS.

  “Grant your wish?” you gasp, surprised by Jenna’s words. “You want me to grant you a wish? But how?”

&nb
sp; “Don’t worry about it,” Jenna snarls. “I’ll handle the details. All you have to do is pick up that cola can and hold on tight.”

  You glance down and see the cola can lying among some twigs and leaves. You must have dropped it when Jenna came out.

  “Pick it up!” Jenna orders again.

  “Okay, okay,” you say. “But then can I go home?”

  Jenna’s yellow cat-eyes narrow as she gazes at you. Her lips curl into a nasty smile, exposing her fangs again.

  “When my wish is granted, you’ll be home,” she tells you.

  You aren’t sure what she means and you definitely don’t trust her. But you don’t exactly have a choice, stuck here in the middle of a jungle on some deserted island.

  Your hands shake as you pick up the cola can and clutch it tightly. “Got it.” You gaze, trembling, at the horrible genie. “Ready.”

  You prepare yourself for the worst.

  What is the evil genie going to wish? Find out on PAGE 96.

  I can’t do it, you think. I can’t use up my last wish!

  If you do, you’ll never be able to get rid of Jenna and get your mom back. And you’re sure that getting rid of the genie is the most important thing in the world.

  “I wish it!” Kate screams behind you. She has crept back into the hall. “I wish the monster would get out of here — RIGHT NOW!”

  WHOOOOSH.

  The world seems to spin. Just for an instant.

  Then everything is so quiet you can hear the hum of the stereo amplifier in the family room. No music is playing. There’s just a steady hiss as electricity buzzes through the amp and speakers into the room.

  The monster is gone.

  “Way to go, Katie,” you cheer, ruffling her hair. “You got rid of it! Good girl.”

  “Yeah,” Randy says weakly. “Good job, Katie.” He rubs his arm where the monster had gripped him.