Monster High

by Perdita Finn

  Frankie looked at her friend, stunned. Where did this promise come from? How could they possibly get Tash to Monster High?

  Draculaura blushed. “Too much?” she realized. But it was too late. All the students had heard her promise, and they were excited.

  “Really?”

  “Wow!”

  “Tash!”

  Word was spreading like wildfire.

  The loudspeaker crackled. “Will Frankie Stein and Draculaura please report to the headmaster’s office? Immediately,” boomed Dracula’s voice.

  Oh no. They were in trouble.

  Draculaura swallowed hard. “Maybe a little much.”

  Her father was pacing back and forth angrily when they arrived in his office. Draculaura and Frankie quietly settled into their chairs.

  Dracula whirled around. “Megastar Tash is coming to your dance?”

  Draculaura looked at her father with her soulful eyes. “It doesn’t hurt to promise.”

  Dracula grumbled to himself as he paced.

  “This is politics, Professor D.,” chimed in Frankie.

  Dracula held up a poster for Dancing the Fright Away. At its center was a sparkling photo of Tash, surrounded by disco balls. “You put her face on the poster!”

  Frankie tried to explain. “Cleo says it’s impossible to say no to royalty.”

  “Plus, I think if Tash got to know us, she might like us and come.” It hadn’t been an empty promise for Draculaura; she really wanted to invite her idol to perform.

  “I think we’re very likable,” added Frankie.

  Dracula was furious. “This is a secret monster high school,” he bellowed.

  “It’s just a dance!” protested Draculaura.

  The intercom buzzed. “Mr. Headmaster, sir. We’ve got a situation with the snack machine.”

  Dracula pushed the button to respond. “Can’t it wait?”

  “I think you’ll want to see this,” answered the secretary’s voice.

  Draculaura and Frankie followed Dracula to the Creepateria. A hub of students was clustered around the snack machine. Gob was stuck inside of it.

  “How could he even fit?” Dracula wondered.

  Gob was stuffing candy bars and potato chips and wrappers into his mouth.

  “Everybody, I insist on calm,” Dracula ordered. “Gob, extract your person from that dispenser immediately.”

  Dracula reached his arm up into the machine and tried to pull out Gob with a tug. But after devouring so many snack foods, he was too bloated to squeeze out via the slot he’d got in through. He was stuck.

  Dracula found a key to open up the whole front of the machine. What a catastrophe!

  “He didn’t say no to the dance,” Draculaura whispered to Frankie.

  “Which is sort of another way of saying yes!” Frankie said hopefully.

  Clawdeen was hurrying down the hall. She had an urgent message for Draculaura. “Ghouls! We have a report of a monster off the grid.”

  “This ghoul hasn’t spoken to another monster in years,” explained Cleo. “Her name’s Moanica.”

  “Poor Moanica!” sighed Draculaura. “Think how excited she’ll be when we show up.”

  It was time to get the Mapalogue and bring another student to Monster High.

  Chapter 11

  Zombie Alert!

  Tombstones and marble crypts stretched as far as the eye could see. An eerie layer of fog blanketed the cemetery. The ghouls landed on a heap near a creepy mausoleum.

  “Ooh!”

  “Ow!”

  “Ouch!”

  Traveling never got easier. Clawdeen took off her helmet and shook out her hair. “You sure we’re in the right place?” she wondered.

  Somewhere, a door creaked on rusty hinges.

  “Supposedly,” said Cleo.

  Clawdeen shivered. “And I thought living in a den was bad.”

  A moan broke the silence followed by another and another. The moaning sounds were coming closer. Emerging from behind the tombstones and from within the crypts were…zombies!

  “Whoa!” screamed Clawdeen.

  Leading the pack of mindless followers was a gorgeously creepy teenage zombie girl.

  “Hey, hey, hey,” muttered the zombies. The Zomboyz were wearing pressed khakis and brightly colored sweaters of prep-school students. But their eyes were blank black pools. They did whatever the girl told them to. That was clear.

  “Who dares trespass my cemetery?” she demanded to know.

  “Your cemetery?” Clawdeen couldn’t imagine wanting to stay in such a miserable place, much less rule over it.

  Draculaura stepped forward, smiling. “Moanica. Moanica D’Kay, right?”

  She bared her teeth. “Who’s asking?” She extended her long-taloned fingers.

  “Whoa, whoa.” Draculaura stepped backward. “There’s no need to get scratchy. I’m Draculaura. And this is Cleo, Clawdeen, Frankie, and Lagoona. We’re just like you.” She gave the zombie girl a friendly smile.

  “Wrong!” shouted Moanica.

  “She’s telling the truth,” explained Frankie nervously. “We’re monsters. See?” She twisted off her arm and held it out to Moanica. “Wanna shake on it?”

  “I don’t do handshakes,” answered Moanica haughtily. “But I could use a few more monsters in my Zomboyz Army.” She cackled. “We’ve already taken this cemetery back from the humans. Next we’ll conquer the entire human world!”

  Lightning flashed. Frankie applauded. “Sounds ambitious! Speaking of ambition, why don’t you come back to our school?”

  “School?” Moanica snorted. “You don’t get it. I’m not going anywhere. And neither are you. Zomboyz!” She snapped her fingers, and the zombies began staggering toward the ghouls.

  The ghouls formed a close circle protectively.

  “Listen, Zomboyz, we have room for you too,” Frankie suggested.

  “Yes, everyone is welcome at Monster High.” Draculaura tried to sound as friendly and inviting as she could under the circumstances. “Why don’t we all just take a deep breath and talk this out?”

  The Zomboyz didn’t seem to be listening. They were getting closer and closer.

  Clawdeen was worried. “Ghoul, look at them. I don’t think they talk…or breathe.”

  The Zomboyz lunged forward awkwardly, but Lagoona charged through them. They scattered, confused. Lagoona leaped to the top of a mausoleum. “Oooh, little Zomboyz,” she called. “Catch me if you can!”

  The ghouls exchanged glances. It was worth a try.

  Lagoona was leaping from tombstone to mausoleum to tombstone. The Zomboyz were confused. One of them reached out for Cleo’s neck. In a flash, she wrapped him up from head to toe in some of the extra mummy bandages she always carried. Mummified, he toppled over. Cleo yawned, bored. She’d seen worse in the pyramids.

  Clawdeen clambered to the top of a crypt. She looked up at the sky, hoping that the fog would clear, if just for a second. “Come on, moonlight, don’t fail me now.”

  It didn’t. A wild howl ripped through the cemetery. Clawdeen was a werewolf. The Zomboy who had been chasing her turned away, frightened, and went after Cleo. But Clawdeen leaped onto his back and pinned him down with her paws.

  Draculaura transformed into a bat. She flapped her wings in the face of another Zomboy and emitted a piercing high-pitched ultrasonic screech. The Zomboy covered his ears and sank to the ground.

  But flying was still hard for Draculaura. She zigged and zagged through the air, and a whole legion of Zomboyz started chasing her. Seeing that she was in trouble, Cleo stretched linen between two headstones. Boom! Boom! Boom! Every one of the Zomboyz tripped over it and tumbled downhill.

  Meanwhile, Frankie was keeping the Zomboyz at arm’s length, literally. She had detached her arm and was using it as a sword. When she tripped into a patch of mud, she was electrified with anger. The bolts on her neck sparked. “That’s it, boys,” she shouted. “I’m done playing nice!” Frankie reattached her arm, clenched
her fist, and zapped a Zomboy with a jolt of electricity.

  Lagoona was on her surfboard, whizzing across the tops of the tombstones like they were the crests of waves. The Zomboyz were in hot pursuit. On a curved railing, she whipped around unexpectedly and sped forward toward them. She knocked them all off into an open tomb. She slammed shut the door and bolted it shut. Phew!

  The rest of the Zomboyz had been defeated by the ghouls as well. They were spread out across the cemetery, rubbing their heads and groaning.

  Clawdeen and Draculaura had transformed back into ghouls again.

  Clawdeen dusted off her skirt. “Where’s Moanica? I’d like to finish our conversation.”

  “She’s not worth it,” said Lagoona, still catching her breath.

  Draculaura was sad that they couldn’t help Moanica. “I wish she had listened.…”

  They had defeated the Zomboyz, but they had not found another student for Monster High. Disappointed, they put their hands on the Skullette and disappeared.

  But Moanica had been watching them from behind a gravestone. Her eyes narrowed. It was one thing to rule over a cemetery—it was another altogether to take over an entire high school.

  Where should she begin?

  Chapter 12

  A Monster with Pride

  Classes were in full swing back at Monster High. Chalk squeaked, students drummed their claws and flippers, the bell rang. Lockers opened and shut as students rushed to exchange their pencils and books.

  When Clawdeen headed to her next class, Rayth waved at her. A lock of his silver-white hair fell across his forehead. Clawdeen blushed.

  Dracula was getting ready to lecture in the front of the room. In front of him was an odd assortment of normal human things—things monsters never used. Pizza. Eyeglasses. Money. Dracula held up a dollar bill. “Can anyone tell me what this might be used for in the human world?

  Venus McFlytrap raised her hand. “Ooooh, ooooh, oooh! I know! It’s one of those thingies humans hold to their nose when it leaks!”

  Dracula shook his head, sighing. “That’s a tissue. Anyone else?”

  No one raised their hand.

  In the bathroom, Clawdeen was adjusting her jacket. She was earning a reputation as Monster High’s fashionista—and even Woolee was seeking her out for hair-styling advice.

  Wherever Clawdeen went, Rayth seemed to be just around the corner. Every time she walked past, he got all flustered.

  “Looking good,” he told her when she came out of the bathroom. But he was so distracted, he walked into an open locker door.

  Outside the Creepateria, Cleo was working on posters for Dancing the Fright Away. Deuce Gorgon was helping her decorate. He always made sure to wear his shades these days—so he wouldn’t turn his friends to stone. He was standing on a ladder hanging heavy lights. Cleo was directing him and also talking on her iCoffin. “Yes. I’m looking to book Tash. It’s an exclusive event.”

  “Uh, Cleo?” Deuce called. He was tottering on the ladder.

  “A little to the left,” instructed Cleo, without looking. “What do you mean it’s not important enough? Don’t you know who I am?” Her face was red with fury, and she was yelling into the phone. “Tell your client that she’s the one missing out!”

  Cleo angrily hung up the phone. She looked up at Deuce. “Perfect,” she said.

  Just at that moment, Deuce lost his grip, tumbling off the ladder. The lamps fell on his head. “Whoa! Ow!”

  Posters for Frankie and Draculaura were everywhere. They were ready to be Monster High’s very first copresidents. After all, no one else was running against them.

  They gathered at the coffin shop for bubbling bat tea and green smoothies.

  “I’m telling you, you two are shoo-ins for student council,” said Clawdeen.

  “You think?” worried Draculaura. “What if someone else decides to run against us?”

  “You’re the school’s founders.” Lagoona laughed. “Who would run against you?”

  Little did they know, that Moanica D’Kay and her Zomboyz were headed to Monster High.

  “Time to put on your happy face, Zomboyz,” she instructed them. “You’re students now.”

  In perfect unison, the Zomboyz smiled. They all had rotten teeth.

  Ghouls clustered around the bar at the coffin shop. They were talking about the upcoming election and the first dance.

  “I’m so excited!”

  “When is the election again? I can’t wait!”

  “What’s the first thing you want to do as copresident?” Draculaura asked Frankie.

  “Maybe start a monster science committee!”

  A passing monster looked down at the mash on his plate. “Do you think the food’s any better?”

  “It’s possibly even worse than yesterday,” answered his friend.

  Overhearing them, Frankie made a mental note to review the meals when she was copresident.

  A loud cackle caught everyone’s attention. The monsters at the Coffin Kiosk stopped talking.

  “Well, isn’t this just peachy!” It was Moanica D’Kay. “I’m sorry, was I interrupting?” She smiled wickedly.

  Draculaura whirled around. “Moanica! What are you doing here?”

  Moanica pretended to be hurt, clutching her heart. She sauntered around the Coffin Kiosk as if she already owned the monster coffee lounge. She ran a finger along a table, checking for dust. She picked up a monster’s cup, took a sip, and threw it on the floor in disgust. She ambled over to Gob, who threw his hands over his milk shake. Moanica poked his gooey belly and pulled away a slimy finger. She wiped it on Deuce’s shirt.

  “Draculaura.” She sighed dramatically. “Frankly, I’m a little hurt. You invited me to this school after all. Everyone is welcome. Isn’t that what you said?”

  “She’s got a point.” Frankie winced.

  “Besides,” continued Moanica, “I had to see this place for myself. So many, many monsters to recruit…” She cleared her throat and corrected herself. “I mean, befriend.”

  Cleo walked over to her. “Sorry, Moanica. You’ll have to grow your Zomboyz Army somewhere else. Monster High is a peaceful place.”

  “Peaceful?” Moanica laughed. “Isn’t that adorable, Zomboyz?”

  But her obedient army wasn’t paying attention! They were ordering coffee, relaxing in the easy chairs, sipping smoothies.

  “Zomboyz!” Monica yelled.

  Draculaura seized the opportunity to convince them all to come to Monster High. “Our school teaches monsters how to come out of the dark,” she said.

  “Just one little problem,” Monica sneered. “You’re still in hiding.” She jumped up on a table. “If you really want to come out of the dark,” she addressed the guys and ghouls, “you’ve gotta remind humans we exist.”

  Her words caused a stir.

  “We will. When they’re ready,” protested Frankie.

  “Go home, Moanica,” Clawdeen ordered. “No one wants to hear your nasty plans.”

  But Moanica wasn’t listening. She was studying Frankie and Draculaura’s election posters. She grabbed one off the nearest wall. “I think we should let the students decide what they want to hear.” She snapped her fingers.

  In an instant, the Zomboyz had created election posters—with Moanica’s face in profile.

  “That’s right, students of Monster High. You now have a choice for who you want to lead this school’s student council. You can vote Frankie and Drac, the monsters who hide. Or Moanica D’Kay, the monster with pride!”

  She leaped off the table and strutted past Draculaura and Frankie. “See you on the ballot, ghouls.”

  What were Frankie and Draculaura going to do? This was a whole new campaign.

  Chapter 13

  Scare Tactics

  Frankie was working on an experiment in chemistry class. Beakers bubbled, steam rose, sparks shot across the room. Frankie ignited a burner with a jolt from her fingertip.

  Lagoona was trying to pay atten
tion. But she was worried. “Moanica can’t win the election, right?” she whispered to Cleo.

  “She won’t,” Cleo answered confidently. She went to pour a pink powder into one of Frankie’s test tubes, but Frankie swatted her hand away.

  “But what if she does?” asked Frankie.

  “Ghoul, please.” Clawdeen laughed. She was braiding a strand of her hair. “No one’s going to vote for Moanica. That zombie’s a menace.”

  A three-eyed frog in the corner blinked in agreement.

  But Frankie wasn’t so sure. “I’ve seen more than one monster in here wearing a MOANICA FOR PRESIDENT pin. What does she have that we don’t?” She glanced across the room, where Moanica was talking to another group of ghouls.

  “Well, for one…pins,” said Cleo. “But two, she’s got a message.” She held up one of the pins that Moanica had given her.

  Lagoona read the words on it out loud: “Why hide? Vote for Monsters with Pride. Moanica D’Kay for President.”

  “We’re not hiding!” Draculaura protested. “We’re all here together, aren’t we? We’re just preparing…in secret. On a hill. Where no one can see us.” She thought about what she’d just said. “Ghouls? What if Moanica is right? What if things are the same as they’ve always been? What if we’re just hiding together?”

  Clawdeen ignored her. “Forget it, ghoul. You’ve got this election in the bag.” She tossed the pin away—which landed in one of Frankie’s bubbling beakers.

  “Hey!” shouted Frankie.

  The pin was sucked up into a coiled tubing. It got stuck. It blocked the experiment. The test tubes all started rattling. Smoke filled the room. The ghouls grabbed their safety goggles. BOOM! The experiment exploded.

  All it took was one mistake for everything to go wrong.

  Moanica and her Zomboyz were not acting like students. They sauntered into Dracula’s Humanology class and took seats across from Draculaura and Frankie.

  Dracula began his lecture. “Now, as we all know, humans can be quite curious creatures.” He clicked a button, and projected on a screen was a photograph of an adorable kitten hanging from a tree. “A disproportionate part of their day is spent looking at cat pictures, like this one and this one.” He clicked a button to show another photo—a cat dressed up as a burrito. “But while they portray this feline as a burrito, they have no plans to actually eat it.”