“No argument here,” Nico said. The three boys convergedon the ATVs and took cover behind them. Opal edged their way, waving the dagger. It felt like threatening an elephant with a toothpick.
Emma hadn’t moved. “This is my fault,” she breathed. The cockroach swiveled its massive bulk, slapping a feeler in her direction. She dodged just in time, then ran for the others. The insect chittered in their direction.
“Is this one yours, Emma?” Nico whispered as they huddled behind the vehicles.
Emma nodded robotically. “Roach Motel. The one horror movie I could never finish.”
Opal swallowed, eyes glued to the monster. Its antennae were probing the air again. “Why couldn’t you finish?”
“Why?!” Tyler’s voice cracked. “It’s a giant cockroach! Plus the movie one hadpoisonous fangs.”
“I’m out of here.” Logan reached over and started his engine. “Who’s coming with me?”
The figment’s head snapped to them. With a grating, grinding hiss, it charged. Everyone scattered, Logan jumping out of the driver’s seat just before the roach smashed into the purring vehicle. The monster flipped the four-wheeler upside down and sunk in its jaws.
Opal sprinted a short way, then stopped to catch her breath. The others joined her in a ragged knot.
“It’s too fast!” Tyler wailed. “We can’t outrun it, and the engine made it mad.” The figment had turned on the other ATV, flipping it on its back as well.
“I’m so sorry, guys.” Emma spoke in a thin, trembling voice. “When I was little I played baseball all the time. One day I went into the garage to get my glove. When I put my hand inside”—she shivered from head to toe—“three roaches crawled out. They ran up my arm and neck. Into my hair. One touched mymouth. Roach Motelwas too much. Regular cockroaches are awful enough.”
Opal wrapped an arm around her, shooting a glance at Nico.What should we do?
Nico shook his head. “I told the Sasquatch I was sorry.”
“Forget that,” Tyler growled. “Emma doesn’t owe that thing an apology.”
The giant roach lost interest in the vehicles. It swiveled to face the group, feelers dancing in the air.
The cockroach clicked, rearing up. Something lifted from its back.
“I forgot to tell you,” Emma whispered in despair. “The movie monster can fly.”
The cockroach rose like a storm cloud, blocking out the sun.
Opal lifted the dagger. But before she could do anything, Emma snatched it away and charged toward the figment. “Emma, no!” Nico shouted.
“Stop!” Tyler screamed, as Emma ran directly beneath the hovering figment.
“Fight it, Emma!” Opal yelled in desperation.
The cockroach plummeted from the sky, mandiblesclicking. Emma ducked under its jaws and slammed the dagger into its belly.
Opal heard a crunch, followed by a horriblesquish. The roach collapsed with a rattling moan, its feelers swinging wildly. Emma scrambled out from between the insect’s massive, flailing legs, covered in yellow bug guts but still holding the dagger. “That wasmybaseball glove!” she yelled.
She pulled the knife back to strike again.
Before she could, the figment vanished with a popping sound.
Opal nearly collapsed in surprise. Emma dropped the dagger and closed her eyes. Everyone reached her at once, smothering her in their arms.
“Are you hurt?” Opal ran her hands over Emma, hunting for a bite, a wound, a break.
“It didn’t get me.” Emma’s whole body quaked. “That was close, though.”
“Why’d you attack?” Tyler squawked. “These things are dangerous now!”
Emma looked to where the figment had been. “In the movie, right before I quit watching, the roach flew up high and a million tiny roaches exploded from it.” She looked like she might puke. “I didnotwant that to happen.”
