Enough for now, back to Susie and Bonnie

"That's just rude," said Susie, stiffly, watching the obscene displays unfold on all the mirrors in the Nightmare Zone. "Turn them off, please."

"Susie, I think we'd better leave."

"Nonsense," said Susie, scathingly. This was absurd. Bonnie was supposed to be the brave one, not her. She'd just have to step up. "I don't believe in ghosts. You're just playing a bunch of dirty videos on hidden TVs."

"Is that what you think?" said the house. "Then you won't mind stepping through here."

One mirror, alone in all the Zone, remained still and calm. As Susie watched, the surface shimmered, then vanished. A trick of the light, no doubt. Only blackness lay beyond. She shivered, feeling a faint cool breeze waft out of the abyss and creep across her suddenly clammy skin.

"What's that supposed to be?" she said.

"The only way out of this room. Unless, of course, I'm telling the truth. In that case, it really is a magic mirror, and if you step inside you'll be trapped in a sexy naked nightmare for all eternity, on display in the Carnival for anyone who cares to see." The house chuckled nastily. "But you're too smart to buy that, Susie. You don't believe in ghosts."

"And why do I care if it's the only way out of the room?"

The door opened, and Anne-Marie Patchett walked in, backed up by her posse of cheerleaders, looking furious. "I can't believe all the boys saw up my... you know," she was complaining. "When I find those girls, I'll give them a piece of my... hey, there they are!"

"Uh," said Susie. "Hello, Anne."

"So, you think it's funny to show the boys my undies, do you? Let's see how you like it."

"I didn't even know that was going to happen," protested Susie, backing away. Bonnie was next to her, the open mirror gaping at her back. The tomboy wasn't afraid of a fight, but she and Susie both knew they couldn't take on a dozen or so fit cheerleaders. Anne shrugged.

"I don't care," she said. "Get them, girls."