Boogers from Beyond #3 by M. D. Payne Page A

West Wing.
    In the East Wing, Lucinda B. Smythe screeched, “Oh, heavens, there’s just so many of them!”
    â€œThere are
too
many of them,” said Director Z. “Just when we think we’ve cornered them all in one room, a monster screams from another part of the manor.”
    â€œScream?” Gordon asked. “Why would the monsters be afraid of them?”
    â€œI think the sheer numbers,” said Director Z, “and the fact that they’re multiplying so fast may have something to do with it. Not to mention, I’ve never been more allergic to a creature in my life.”
    Director Z sneezed so hard that snot flew through the fingers of the hand he had placed over his mouth.
    â€œI hear that,” I said, and my nose started to twitch. “This place is swarming with fur.”
    â€œI have something to show you,” he said, and beckoned us down the West Wing hallway.
    â€œThey’re everywhere,” said Ben as we made our way to the werewolves’ room.
    â€œKittens swatting at each other,” Shane said. “Puppies rolling over one another. Normally I love this stuff—when the puppies and kittens aren’t multiplying like freaky amoebas.”
    â€œClearly something unnatural is happening,” said Nabila as we entered the bedroom.
    â€œClearly,” said Director Z, pointing at a curled-up old dog on a chewed-up mattress.
    â€œWho is it?” I gasped.
    â€œIt’s Howie,” said Director Z sadly. “And he’s suffered a severe monster juice drainage. He passed out here after peeing all over the harpsichord. Did you know that before he played accordion, he played the harpsichord? It must have been the only thing he recognized in this place. So sad.”
    Director Z looked tired and zoned out.
    â€œThe puppies and kittens did this to him?” asked Gordon.
    Howie’s leg twitched, and Nabila bent down to stroke it.
    â€œIt’s okay,” she said. “It’s just a bad dream.”
    A banshee screamed past the open door to Howie’s room, chased by a half dozen dogs.
    â€œThis is no dream,” Director Z snapped, regaining some of his energy. “The puppies and kittens did do this to him, and I’m still trying to figure out how. But a few of the residents and I have come up with a theory.
    â€œThese animals give off toxic allergens—that much we know. Even for us, the living, they have an effect.”
    â€œAAAAACHOO,” Gordon sneezed. “Yep.”
    Gordon turned to Ben.
    â€œDude, I’m sorry I made fun of you for your allergies,” Gordon said. “This totally bites.”
    â€œBut I believe that, with the residents, the allergies are actually something worse,” continued Director Z. “Something far, far worse. I believe that the puppies and kittens are absorbing monster juice. They get their victims ill, and then, when their monster juice escapes, they’re there to absorb it. Not by biting, or eating, just by . . . being in the area.”
    â€œLittle monster juice sponges,” said Shane.
    â€œOnce they have too much monster juice to handle, they split in two—or three or four, who knows—and they absorb even more. My guess is there were a few more kittens and puppies in the manor last night when you took the first four away with your mother. There are so many places to hide in this massive manor. The dungeon alone . . .”
    â€œLet’s talk with the ghosts,” I said. “They’d probably be able to float easily through the house and see into places where we can’t see. We’ll need their help to get all of them out of here.”
    â€œNo, we have to keep them here,” said Director Z. “They’re too ordinary-looking. If we turned them out into the wild, they might find owners, and who knows what else they’re capable of.”
    â€œOh no!” Nabila said. “What about the