Opal spun to face the woods.
Out stomped a six-foot orange T-Rex with teeth made of foam rubber and shiny brown eyes. It bumbled onto the grass and began to dance, swinging its arms and grinning.
Nico stopped dead. “Oh, crap.”
“Pippo the Dinosaur?” Opal laughed, and she could hear Tyler cracking up over the walkie-talkie. “Nico, why were you thinking about him?”
“Shut up. It’s not like Itriedto.” He turned his back on her. He’d been rude again all afternoon, and Opal had no idea why.
Pippo waddled over to Emma, who’d run to join them and was smiling like a loon in her Timbers swim-team suit. She tried to pat the dinosaur’s back, but her hand passed rightthrough it. Still, Pippo looked more solid than the last creation—a sparkling unicorn Opal had conjured. The figments lasted for only a few minutes before disappearing without a trace.
Pippo looked just like he did on his TV show. He tottered around, waving gleefully, but then spotted Nico.
Nico swallowed. His face was pale.
“Nico?” Emma asked. “Is something wrong?”
Out of nowhere, Pippo produced a giant bottle of Brack & Brack’s No-Tangles Shampoo.
“No way.” Nico looked more resigned than afraid. Pippo advanced, waving the bottle like an orchestra conductor. Nico backed up a step. “Stop it. I’m not five anymore. I’m not afraid of you.”
Pippo cocked his head. He put the bottle down and stretched out his short T-Rex arms.
Nico shot a glance at Opal and Emma. Emma was smiling, but not in a mean way. Opal knew her own grin might be alittlemean.
“Go ahead,” Emma urged. “Try to hug him!”
Nico shook his head. A second later Pippo faded in a shimmering orange haze.
“I feel like we witnessed something special,” Tyler wheezed, out of breath. He’d climbed down from the roof and sprinted over to join them, a soggy blue towel draped over his shoulders. “Nico, facing the dino-terror of his past. And nearly messing himself.”
“I used to dream about Pippo.” Nico blinked with distaste. “He’d appear in my bathroom and force-shampoo my hair. It … wasn’t good.”
“The two things you hated most.” Tyler put a consoling hand on Nico’s shoulder. “Pipposaurus Rex and daily personal hygiene. Not much has changed.”
Nico shoved Tyler playfully. “Thanks a lot.”
“Why’d you imagine Pippo if you don’t like him?” Emma asked, stealing Tyler’s towel.
“I didn’t. He must’ve been lurking in my mind somewhere, and the Darkdeep picked him up. I’m not as good at this as you.”
Emma had gone in more than anyone, racing back to the whirlpool as soon as her latest figment disappeared. She’d conjured up a Porg fromStar Wars, Moaning Myrtle, and an Angry Bird perched on a seven-foot Pikachu.
“Hey, the mini-dragon you called up earlier was super cool.” Emma frowned down at her phone. “I just wish we could take videos of these things.”
Nico’s dragonhadbeen cool, Opal thought. They’d been going in one at a time to appreciate one another’s creations. Tyler had agreed to makeonedive, conjuring his favorite cartoon genius, Suzie Robotonic. After watching the mad scientist draft schematics on her magic whiteboard, he’d declared himself satisfied, and spent the rest of the time on the roof.
“Who’s next?” Emma asked, bouncing on her feet.
“I’m good for now.” Opal was still recovering from seeingher idol, Sailor Jupiter, stalking through the trees. Though amazed by the figments, she found the Darkdeep unsettling—the way it touched her mind and filtered her imagination. Plus, she always came out spitting pond water. She needed more recovery time than Emma did.
Emma grinned. “Nico? Tyler?”
“You go ahead,” Nico said. “We all know you want to.”
“Well, if you insist!” She sprinted for the houseboat.
“I better get back to my post.” Tyler whistled as he strolled toward the stepping-stones. Opal couldn’t tell if he was afraid of the Darkdeep or was just being cautious, though it didn’t dampen his mood. Tyler just didn’t seem to want to go in again.
