Scream of the Evil Genie

by R. L. Stine

  That’s when you hear it. Outside. The sucking noise. The shrill high-pitched whining and clicking sounds.

  The screams.

  Turn to PAGE 11.

  Finally, slowly, the smoke fades away.

  When it’s gone, you suck in a big breath of fresh air. Then you glance around.

  Wow! You’re sitting in a fancy Hollywood dressing room — in front of a makeup mirror!

  Is this my dressing room? Am I famous? Your heart beats extra-fast as you jump up, run out of the dressing room, and look at the door.

  YES! There’s a gold star painted on it! And under the star is your name!

  “Thank you, Jenna!” you cry. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

  For a minute you wonder where Jenna is. But you are too excited to worry about it.

  “I’m a star!” you practically shout as you dance back into the dressing room. “I’m famous!”

  You throw open the closet doors in your dressing room. You can’t wait to see what kind of fancy clothes a big TV star wears.

  But what you discover makes your stomach flip-flop.

  “No way,” you murmur, shaking your head. “This can’t be right. No way!”

  Turn to PAGE 56.

  “Yes!” you cry happily, when you see where you are.

  You’re back in your own home. In your family room!

  You jump up from the couch and dance around.

  “What’s up with you?” your older brother, Randy, asks, as he walks in carrying a tray full of snacks.

  “Oh, nothing,” you answer, smiling to yourself.

  How could you possibly explain it to him? This is something you’ll just have to keep to yourself. You’ll remember it all your life, though. This was some adventure.

  “Hey,” you call to him, noticing all the junk food he’s eating. “How come Mom’s letting you eat that junk?”

  “Mom’s not home, idiot,” Randy answers. “Remember?”

  Then he points toward the kitchen.

  “There’s a whole six-pack of cola in the fridge, too,” he says. “Help yourself.”

  “Cola?” you repeat, your eyes growing large. “Uh, I think I’ll pass on that.”

  Then something occurs to you. “But maybe I’ll stash it in my room,” you add.

  “How come?” your brother asks, surprised.

  “You never know when you’re going to need a can of cola,” you explain. “Sometimes nothing else will do!”

  THE END

  The warty genie breathes in your face again.

  Yuck. Your stomach clenches from the smell. It’s so gross. And so are his teeth. They’re not just green and slimy. They’re covered with moss!

  He’s right, you think. You do wish you’d never met him.

  You back away from the huge genie.

  “Yeah, okay,” you tell him. “I wish I’d never met you.”

  The genie throws back his head and roars with laughter.

  “GOOD!” he shouts. He opens his arms wide, then brings his hands together fast. When his palms touch, the force of his clap shakes everything in the pantry. Cans tumble off the shelves, dropping near your feet. Boxes of cereal begin to fall on your shoulders, your head.

  Then, suddenly, you feel yourself being lifted off the ground.

  Turn to PAGE 128.

  “Done!” you exclaim. The can is open.

  “Nooooooo!” Jenna wails behind you. You turn toward her.

  And gasp in horror.

  “Aahhh!” you scream, stumbling backward.

  Before your eyes, Jenna is changing! Fading. She’s transforming into a ghostly version of herself.

  You can see right through her. Through her skin, her blood, her organs. But you can’t see through her bones.

  Inside her transparent body she has a solid skeleton!

  “What’s happening?” you ask her, trembling.

  “The can,” she moans. She stretches out her long bones and fingers, pointing at it. It is a terrifying sight. She looks like a Halloween skeleton surrounded by a misty cloud. “You opened the can — and killed me! You’ve ended my life!”

  She lets out another unearthly moan. Then she reaches for you. You shrink back against the kitchen counter, trapped. Just as her gnarled finger bone touches your face, her body fades away completely. Only her skeleton remains.

  The bones clatter to the floor.

  Turn to PAGE 44.

  “Stay away from me, you creep!” you yell at the metal bug.

  You dash toward a group of Randy’s friends who are all standing in the street, gawking from a safe distance.

  “Listen, everyone,” you pant as you rush up to them. “Did anybody take a can of cola from the family room? I need it back really bad!”

  They stare at you as if you are crazy.

  A short girl shakes her head. “A giant metal bug rampages through your house, and you’re worried about a beverage?” she demands.

  “Besides,” a guy in ripped jeans adds, “it was a party! Everyone grabbed sodas.”

  “I know, I know,” you answer quickly. “But I need a certain can. A special one. It was on the coffee table.”

  They obviously think you’re nuts. Behind you, the insect crawls closer.

  “Please,” you beg. “It’s important!”

  Finally, a guy in an orange T-shirt reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls something out. “Is this it?” he asks with a shrug. “I was going to drink it later.”

  You grab the cola can from the guy. Is it the right one? You have no way to know.

  Turn to PAGE 95.

  You wait, terrified of the moving eyes. They seem so eerie — just floating toward you in the dark.

  Then you hear giggling.

  Huh? Giggling?

  “Hi!” a voice calls to you.

  A moment later, the six pairs of eyes step right up to you — into the light at the opening of the cave.

  It’s just a bunch of kids. All about your age!

  “Who are you?” you ask. “And how did you get here?”

  “The same as you,” a boy with glasses replies. “Bogus wishes.”

  “Yeah,” a dark-haired girl says. “Each of us found that genie and wound up making the wrong wish.”

  Your mind races. “How long have you been here?” you ask.

  They glance at each other. The tall teenager shrugs. “None of us knows. We’ve all come here from different times and places.”

  That’s when you notice their clothing. Some of the kids are dressed just like you. But others wear strange old-fashioned outfits. And one girl seems to be in a futuristic space suit!

  Turn to PAGE 102.

  A girl approaches you. “I heard you were giving away hundred-dollar bills,” she says.

  “Uh, yeah. I guess. Kind of.” You aren’t sure how to answer.

  “Well, can I have one?”

  You are startled by her request. Then you shrug. Why not? You’re the richest kid alive. “Sure,” you say and hand her one.

  She stares at the money in her hand. Then she turns to the crowd. “You were right, Angie!” she shrieks. “This kid is giving away money!”

  The room erupts! People rush at you.

  “Hey!” you shout. “One at a time!”

  But they don’t listen. The crowd is screaming, tearing at your pockets. You are terrified. These people are crazy! “Help!” you shriek. Peter pulls you under the table with him. Together you crawl along the floor. The crazed mob overturns tables and chairs, searching for you.

  “Now what?” Peter croaks, terrified.

  “Back there!” You point at a hot-dog booth in the corner of the food court. The little store is dark and empty. It must be closed, but it looks like a great place to hide.

  Or you could make a break for it. Try to outrun the crowd.

  If you try to run, turn to PAGE 93.

  If you hide behind the hot-dog counter, turn to PAGE 64.

  “Back here!” the clerk cries. She leads you and Pe
ter behind a counter, to avoid being trampled.

  She eyes you curiously. You notice her name tag reads CINDY. “Are you seriously going to buy shoes for all those people?” she demands.

  “You got it!” you answer with a smile. “I can afford to be generous.”

  So many people crowd into the little store that you and Peter help Cindy wait on the customers. Finally, the last kid brings a pair of sneakers to the counter, and Cindy totals up the bill. There aren’t any more shoes left on the shelves.

  You hand Cindy your wallet. “This should cover it,” you tell her.

  As she counts the money, you and Peter head for the door. “Sorry, Peter,” you say, “no movies today. But we can come back later and —”

  Cindy interrupts you. She holds up the wad of cash. “This isn’t enough,” she informs you.

  Uh-oh. Turn to PAGE 104.

  Your body tumbles in the air, over and over, as if you are being tossed and turned in a giant clothes dryer.

  Finally, you drop to the floor with a thud. You glance around. “Hey, what? Why — ”

  Why are you back in your old house? Where’s the mansion?

  Then you remember your wish.

  You wished that you’d never met the warty genie. So he sent you back in time — to before you even met Jenna! Before you wished you were rich.

  Back to your old life. The life of a regular kid — not a millionaire.

  No fair! you think. I didn’t wish for that!

  But then an idea hits you. Does that mean the cola can is still here? Maybe you can start all over! Make three new wishes.

  And this time you’ll get them right!

  You race into the kitchen and yank open the refrigerator door. No cola. The fridge is empty, except for milk.

  “Mom?” you call out. “Do we have any cola?”

  “No,” she answers. “Your brother just took the last one!”

  You hear a familiar “FZZZZZZFFFFFTTTT.”

  Hope you’ve been nice to your brother lately. Because your chance to make wishes has just come to an

  END.

  A wooden baseball bat is no weapon against a metal monster, you decide.

  Katie has managed to climb out the broken window. Randy is throwing everything he can at the insect. Books, games, sneakers — anything!

  But still the monster comes toward you.

  Time to make a run for it!

  You dash out the front door.

  SNAP! SNAP-SNAP! You hear the metal claws opening and closing wildly behind you.

  You know what you have to do.

  You have to find that cola can. Fast!

  The metallic insect sticks its head out the window. It’s looking for you!

  It crawls back out the window after you!

  Hurry to PAGE 124.

  “Wait, Jenna!” you cry, dashing after her.

  But it’s no use. She’s much too fast for you. By the time she’s taken ten steps, she’s completely disappeared.

  Tired and frustrated, you drop to your knees. “I want to go home!” you moan. “I just want to go home.”

  Suddenly a voice startles you.

  “You can’t catch her that way,” squawks the parrot. “Get up and ride the tiger!”

  Huh?

  You look up from the jungle path where you’re kneeling.

  The tiger! You’d forgotten all about him. You whirl around and see him still sitting in the clearing, near the vending machines.

  He’s sitting perfectly still, like an obedient dog who’s been ordered to stay.

  “Ride the tiger! Ride the tiger!” the parrot squawks.

  Hmmm …

  Ride the tiger. Does that sound like a good idea?

  If you ride the tiger, turn to PAGE 27.

  If you think it’s safer to chase Jenna on foot, turn to PAGE 6.

  Are you going to be arrested? You’ve got to get out of there.

  But a second later a police officer steps into the store and blocks the exit. You’re trapped!

  “Are these the troublemakers?” the officer asks Cindy.

  “Yes.” Cindy glares at you. “They owe me a lot of money. And they’re trying to get away without paying.”

  “We don’t like that.” The officer comes toward you, sneering.

  “That one claims to be rich.” Cindy points at you.

  The officer bends down and stares you right in the eye.

  You can feel sweat break out across your forehead. “But I am rich,” you protest faintly. You smile weakly at him.

  “Hey! I recognize you!” The officer stands up again. “You’re the kid who let those people ride in your Rolls Royce, aren’t you? The one that’s parked out front, in the no-parking zone.”

  “Y-yeah,” you stammer. Way to go, Manny! you think. As if you’re not in enough trouble already!

  Face the music on PAGE 117.

  You wait for what seems like days. Years, maybe.

  You have no way to know how much time passes while you are trapped inside the can.

  You wonder if you will wait forever.

  Then suddenly you feel yourself moving.

  And all at once … PFFT!

  Someone pops the top on the cola can. Light pours into the tiny opening!

  WHOOSH!

  Without even knowing how you’re doing it, you feel yourself breaking into a million tiny pieces, forming yourself into a gas cloud. Then you shoot out of the can!

  You’re free!

  As soon as you’re out of the can, you materialize into a solid form, and cast your eyes around.

  You are still in the jungle on the island. A kid dressed like a tourist is staring at you, his mouth wide open in shock.

  You stare right back at the kid and say the only thing you can say:

  “Hi! I’m a genie and you’ve got three wishes,” you tell the kid. “Boom. Boom. Boom. Whatever you want. Three things — you name it, and I’ll grant the wish.”

  Maybe being a genie won’t be so bad after all.

  THE END

  “Sorry, tiger!” you yelp. “I didn’t mean anything! Good boy. Don’t bite me!”

  As if it understands you, the tiger stops snarling. It continues darting through the jungle at lightning speed.

  You hang on tight. Pretty soon he catches up to the genie!

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Jenna looks shocked to see you. “Get off that tiger — right now!”

  I won’t do another thing you tell me to do, you vow silently. Ever!

  Your fingers clutch the tiger’s fur as it suddenly springs into the air. He leaps at Jenna.

  “No!” Jenna shrieks at the attacking tiger. “Get back. NO!”

  The tiger snaps at her face. But with her huge, powerful hand, she smacks it to the ground.

  “Ahhhhh!” you cry as the force of her swat throws you from the tiger’s back.

  Turn to PAGE 34.

  Ignore the tiger? No way, you think.

  How could you possibly ignore a huge, man-eating beast whose powerful jaws are just inches from your head?

  You turn and run. Run for your life. Feet pounding, legs pumping. And hope that the hungry beast won’t catch you.

  Mistake. Big mistake!

  Here’s how fast an average kid your age can run: 4.8 miles per hour.

  Here’s how fast a tiger can run: 30 miles per hour.

  Get it?

  Also, the basic rule of the jungle is: Never run!

  Running always makes a wild animal think about chasing you.

  Which is exactly what happens.

  You run.

  The tiger chases you.

  You become a tasty little tiger treat.

  Which happens to be exactly what the tiger was wishing for!

  At least something got its wish.

  THE END

  “Hey! Way cool!” you shout.

  You gaze around your new surroundings. Can this be real? Or are you just dreaming? Your heart races with excitement. Is this wher
e you live now? It’s a palace!

  Well, at least a mansion.

  You’re sitting on a fancy black leather couch in a family room the size of a gymnasium. An elegant oriental rug covers the floor. A huge-screen TV faces the couch, filling one wall. Along the other walls are three different media centers, with enough computers, video games, and electronic music equipment to fill a department store.

  A butler in a black tuxedo enters the room, carrying a silver tray.

  “Would you care for an after-school snack?” he asks politely. Then he bends stiffly from the waist to offer you a selection of pizzas, soft drinks, candy, and apple juice — all your favorites!

  “Uh, where am I?” you ask the butler, just to make sure. “And who are you?”

  Turn to PAGE 107.

  BAM! A door slams at the back of the house, startling you. Someone’s home.

  Wait a minute, you think. You already heard your mom’s footsteps down the hall.

  So who just came in?

  You pop out of your room and spot your big brother, Randy, bounding into the family room. He’s sixteen years old and really clumsy. Your mom says he’s at an awkward age. His hands and feet seem too big for the rest of him.

  Jenna follows you to the family room and flops down on the couch.

  “Hi, Mom,” Randy mumbles as he glances at Jenna. “What’s up?”

  Wait a minute — what did he just call Jenna?

  Turn to PAGE 79.

  “Hi,” you say to your driver. His name tag says MANNY.

  You try to act casual. “Uh, Manny, can you drive me to see my friends?”

  “Of course,” the driver replies politely. “Where to first?”

  Great! The driver doesn’t know about your parents’ orders! You hop in the backseat before anyone else notices you.

  But who should you go see? It’s a toss-up between your two best friends, Peter and Stephanie. Peter likes to hang around at the mall. Stephanie likes to play video games.