“Cheese makes everything better,” Frankie said with a nod. They held up their own stack, which contained three crackers and four pieces of cheese.

“So, let’s recap everything that’s happened so far.” Danny turned the camera on himself again, looking thoughtfully into the distance as he tapped his chin with his finger. “Two months ago, the crew escaped the maniacal clutches of the illusive Game Master, only to discover that Angel’s hamster, Elephant, had been hamster-napped. Now Miguel’s left-hand man—er, snake—has also been taken. The Game Master left the crew a code through Matt’s robot, Ralphie, who may or may not have been hacked.”

Matt’s stomach dropped at the idea of Ralphie being hacked. As cool as it was for Ralphie to have been the one to help the friends discover the clue, Matt worried about what else might happen to his beloved robot before all of this was said and done. Would Ralphie ever return to his regular state? Maybe if they beat the Game Master again, whoever it was would be willing to tell Matt how to fix Ralphie. More than anything, Matt missed the robotic buddy he’d worked so hard to build. He hoped the group was able to beat this game, and fast.

“Now,” Danny continued, “we’ve been left with nothing but an address. Where is the address located, you ask? A haunted house that has been terrifying local children for years. The house”—he paused dramatically, waggling his eyebrows at the camera—“on Guuurley Streeeet!”

“Cut it out, Danny,” Becca said through a mouthful of cheese and crackers. “When you see it, you’ll understand why nobody wanted to go there.”

“For the record, I am down to go,” Kylie said with a shrug.

“Same,” Miguel said. “I don’t get why we’re wasting time when we could be on our way to save Nacho and Elephant!”

“You said, ‘when you see it,’” Matt said to Becca, challenging her. “Does that mean you’re finally ready to admit that we need to go over there?”

“I don’t know,” Becca said, still sounding unsure. “Maybe we should wait until tomorrow. You know, bright and early and all that.”

“That’d be a colossal waste of time,” Kylie said, growing impatient. “It’s still early. There’s plenty of day left. Plus, I have plans tomorrow.”

“We need to go today,” Miguel agreed. “No ifs, ands, or buts, Becca. Nacho needs me.”

Becca swallowed hard, and Frankie looked like they might be feeling sick again.

“Look,” Matt said gently. “If you guys are too scared, you don’t have to come.”

He’d meant for it to make her feel better, but instead, Becca’s face flushed to the color of a tomato. “I’m not scared!” she insisted, her voice coming out like a squeak.

“I am,” Frankie said. “I’m not too tough to admit it.”