Teen Zine Spring 2014 Honk! Honk! Honk! Table of Contents Cover – Dessa Leonard Nightmare on Realm Street – Taylor Bradley Doodle – Dessa Leonard Beat of Angel’s Wings (Part 3) – Dessa Leonard Piggy – Dessa Leonard We Love Invader Zim – Dessa Leonard Breakfast Face – Taylor Bradley Nightmare on Realm Street (Imaginary Frenemies #5) – by Taylor Bradley The three friends watched in horror as the monster called The Stepmom rode down the street on Andrew’s obnoxious Harley Davidson. Andrew was across the street screaming, “Granny! What did you do with my ride?!?” “What is he talking about?” Molly asked. “Can’t he see it’s been stolen?” “Nope.” Polly said. “Nightmares only come out at night. She’s invisible to everyone but us, because we’ve been in the Realm. So because the Stepmom is on the motorcycle, it’s invisible too.” “So we have until nightfall to prepare ourselves.” Ace said. “For what?” Molly asked. “The Stepmom.” Polly told her. “Once it gets dark, she’ll be on the prowl.” “Prowl for what?!?” Molly said, getting agitated. “What is she gonna do?” “Nightmares hunt at night.” Ace said grimly. “And once the sun goes down, every imaginary friend in town will be on her menu.” “Nightmares feed on imaginary friends.” Polly said darkly. “We need to get ready. It’s already noon.” “What happens when she runs out of imaginary friends?” Molly said. “Not that she’s going to.” She added quickly. “But…if she did.” “She’d start feeding on the next closest thing,” Ace said. “Humans.” “So…once it gets dark, she’ll attack us?” “Yes.” Ace clapped his hands. “So, if anyone needs me, I’ll be hiding in the nearest closet.” He started walking away. Polly stepped in front of him. “Oh, no you don’t. If we fight Stepmom, then so do you.” Ace gently moved her out of the way. “Polly, I love you to pieces, but right now, I’m way too scared to fight. So good luck, and I hope you don’t get eaten.” He walked into the hall. “Okay,” Polly said in a sneaky way. “If you want to be a chicken and hide like a baby, that’s fine. I’ll just call Domino then. Maxine’s imaginary friend. Her male imaginary friend.” Maxine Jenkins was Molly’s best human friend. She also had an imaginary friend named Domino, who was black like a shadow and covered in white spots. Ace stopped walking away but didn’t turn around. “I’m sure Domino would protect me.” Polly continued. “He’ll take that Stepmom down easy-cheesy. He’s so brave and strong and manly. Unlike people hiding in closets.” Ace still didn’t turn. “If he knew Stepmom was loose, he’d be hiding too.” Polly sighed, but still had a sneaky tone in her voice. “You’re right. We’re doomed. Stepmom will come and kill us all. Except the gray boy in the closet, I’m sure he’ll be safe. But Molly and I are sure to lose the fight. You’ll be all alone again.” That got Ace to look over his shoulder. Polly was making this extra dramatic. “If only we had a brave, strong, imaginary friend to save us! Someone who was brave enough to stop the Mummy, Boogieman, Dust bunny, and Hairball. But alas, he’s too scared to fight for his girl.” Polly sighed heavily. Mummy, Dust bunny, Hairball, and Boogieman were the other monsters besides Stepmom that were in Nightmare Realm Thirteen. They’d stopped them using a flashlight and dream catcher. Ace was about to take the bait, now all Polly had to do was reel him back in. “But, hey, if you’re too scared to help us, well then, maybe you should just go back to Andrew.” Polly winked at Molly; knowing that her plan would work. “Now hold on a second!” Ace yelled, marching back into Molly’s room. He walked up to Polly and scolded, “I may not be the bravest guy imagined, but I’m no chicken! I had to deal with Andrew Wolf for years, and that says something! I beat four monsters with only a stupid flashlight! I can take the Stepmom down better than Domino with one gray hand tied behind my back! I’m not scared of her! And we’re not doomed because I have a plan! So there!” He grinned proudly, until he realized that Polly had tricked him. “You used my own ego against me.” Polly nodded. “So, let’s hear about this plan of yours.” Ace groaned. “Fine. We’re not going to be able to stop Stepmom with just the three of us.” Within half an hour, Maxine and Domino had arrived. “So let me get this straight,” Maxine said. “We have to fight an evil nightmare called Stepmom, or were all doomed?” “That about sums it up.” Molly told her. She turned and looked at Ace. “What’s next?” “There’s still one person we need.” He said. “Who?” Polly asked. “Molly’s mom?” “No. Someone else.” Ace’s voice sounded far away. Molly looked at him and understood. “Do you mean…?” “Yes.” Ace said. “We need muscle, but without the brains to go along. We need someone ruthless. Who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. Who never backs out of a brawl. We need…Andrew.” “What?” Polly shrieked. “He’s the one who got us in this mess! If he hadn’t put us in Nightmare Realm Thirteen, this wouldn’t be happening!” “Look,” Ace admitted. “I don’t like Andrew any more than you do. In fact, I probably hate him more. But right now, we need someone with the strength that we lack. You and Molly have the brains. Maxine has the smart- aleckyness, and so do I. And Domino…?” “I have the awesomeness.” Domino said. “Uh…sure. Let’s go with that.” Ace continued. “All that’s left is the muscle. And, unfortunately, that means Andrew.” “But,” Polly started, but by the look on Ace’s face, she knew there was no use arguing. “Okay.” “I’ll agree on one condition.” Molly told him. “If he hits on me, I can slap him, right?” “If you don’t, I will.” Ace vowed. Molly, Ace, and Polly walked across the street to Andrew’s front door. He lived with his grandmother. Ace and Polly were invisible to everyone but Molly, Domino, and Maxine. Molly knocked. A short, wrinkled, kind old woman opened the door. “Hello, Monica. How nice to see you again. I noticed you haven’t come over as much since my grandson moved in. Is something the matter?” “Hi, Miss Wolf.” Molly said, not bothering to correct her about her name. “No, nothing’s wrong. In fact, I actually need to see Andrew, if that’s okay.” “Of course! Come in, come in child.” Miss Wolf smiled. “He’s in the basement, probably lifting weights again.” “Thanks Miss Wolf.” Molly walked down the stairs to the basement. Just as she’d said, Andrew was lying on a bench lifting a large weight. To her horror, he was shirtless. Andrew was counting how many times he’d lifted the weight. “Sixty-five…Sixty-six…Sixty-seven….uhh…what comes next?” Molly started to walk up to him, but Ace grabbed her shoulder. “I got this.” He insisted. “Are you sure?” Molly whispered. Ace nodded. “Okay, just be careful.” “Relax,” he said. “To him, I’m invisible. I’m like a ghost. Or a ninja.” He made a karate pose, then lost his footing and almost fell backwards. Not his best move. Ace approached Andrew, who still hadn’t figured out his next number was sixty-eight. He picked up a large twenty pound weight and added it to the other weights on the left side. Andrew couldn’t handle it and it pinned his left arm down. Then, Ace did the same to the other side. Andrew was immobilized. “Hey!” Andrew yelled. “What’s going on?” Ace looked down at Andrew and snapped his fingers, making him visible. “HOW DID YOU GET OUT OF THE REALM?!?” Andrew growled. “There’s one thing you need to learn, Andrew: In the poker game of life, nothing beats the Ace. Not even the king.” Ace smirked. “Why you little fool! You survive the Realm, and you still think you can stop me? That’s a death sentence!” Andrew yelled. “Clearly you need to be reminded of a few things: 1: I can only die if I get on the wrong side of a nightmare, so your threat means nothing to me. And 2: This little fool came from your little mind.” Ace grinned. Andrew struggled to get the weight off of him. “Why you little…Well, don’t just stand there!” Andrew barked. “Help me up!” “Why? You haven’t been very nice to me lately.” Ace said. Andrew growled. “When I get this hunk of metal off of me, you’re in for it!” “You mean if you get it off of you.” Ace teased. “Face it, Drew. You need my help. Say it.” “Oh, sure, Ace. I’ll say it.” Andrew said sarcastically. “When pigs fly!” Ace started to walk away. “Okay. I hope that old lady gets that off you in the next few years.” Andrew sighed with anger. “Fine.” He clenched his teeth, and out of the side of his mouth mumbled. “I need your help.” But it sounded more like “My meed yer melp.” Ace turned around and put his hand to his ear.