Join Layla, Mak, Ivy, and JJ in a thrilling adventure as they unravel the mystery of the ominous 12 AM rumors and a creepy scarecrow that comes to life. This captivating tale of friendship, courage, and spooky encounters will keep young readers on the edge of their seats, exploring what happens when dares go too far and how to face your fears together.
Mak, with wide, excited eyes, leans into Layla, whispering about the scary midnight rumors, while Layla, with a defiant smirk, playfully shoves him, yelling she isn't scared. Their mom, a whirlwind of cheerful energy, calls from off-panel, her voice echoing through the bright, cozy kitchen, reminding them about school.
In their zippy, colorful car, Layla gazes out the window with a thoughtful expression, while Mak points a nervous finger at a tall, menacing scarecrow standing eerily still in a field. Its straw hat is tipped low, and its button eyes seem to follow them, casting a long, strange shadow against the vibrant morning sky.
At the bustling schoolyard, Layla and Ivy chat happily, while Mak high-fives JJ, who is puffed up with bravado, declaring he'll stay up past midnight. Ivy quietly expresses concern, which JJ dramatically interprets as a dare, his cartoonish face full of exaggerated challenge, just as the school bell rings with a cheerful clang.
JJ sits alone in his dimly lit room, boredom etched on his face, when a sudden, thunderous BANG makes him jump, eyes wide with fear. A shadowy, elongated scarecrow figure with glowing red eyes materializes in the corner, its voice a chilling whisper: "YOU KNOW THE RULES... RIGHT!?" JJ screams, his face contorted in terror.
JJ's mom, her face creased with worry, cautiously peeks into his silent room, then gasps, dropping her phone, as she sees her son motionless on the floor. Police officers, with their serious, simplified expressions, arrive quickly, but one shrugs helplessly, explaining they can't act without a suspect, leaving her distraught.
Layla, Mak, and Ivy huddle together at school, their faces etched with sadness, as Layla clutches a newspaper with a headline about JJ's mysterious death. Ivy's eyes well up, and Mak cries out in disbelief, realizing the terrifying connection to JJ's midnight dare, prompting Layla to invite Ivy over for a serious discussion.
Inside Layla and Mak's cozy bedroom, the clock ticks ominously towards midnight, casting long, nervous shadows. Suddenly, a monstrous scarecrow face, with glowing eyes and a gaping, toothy grin, presses against the windowpane, its straw hands reaching. The children shriek in horror, scrambling to their feet to flee to their mom's room.
Back at school, the three friends gather, their expressions a mix of fear and determination, as Layla passionately explains their close call with the scarecrow. Mak nervously suggests setting up traps, while Ivy, her eyes sparkling with a sudden idea, agrees enthusiastically, proposing they strategize their defenses against the midnight threat.
As night falls, Layla lies perfectly still in her bed, "fake sleeping," while the scarecrow's shadowy form looms over her, its eyes peering closely before moving on. Mak, meanwhile, 'sleepwalks' around his room, confusing the scarecrow into thinking he's harmless. In Ivy's room, the scarecrow thrashes, caught in a giant, sticky fly trap, roaring in frustration about their cleverness.
The next morning at school, Ivy animatedly recounts how her trap worked, while Layla and Mak, with wide-eyed expressions, describe their terrifying 'fake sleep' encounters. Mrs. Lafave, a stern but kindly teacher, bustles into the hallway, her arms crossed, reminding the startled trio to get to class, leaving the lingering threat of the scarecrow hanging in the air.
CHAPTER 1 THE RUMORS Hey layla,have you herd the Rumors about 12:00am?Asked mak. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SCARE ME BRO!yelled layla.KIDS! yelled mom.GET READY FOR SCHOOL!OKAY!thay yelled. IN THE CAR(not chapters) Hey sis,do you see the scarecrow outside!?!?ya,why??? I dont know,its just kind of creepy. AT SCHOOL HEY!said JJ.Oh,hi JJ.said layla.SUP BROO!!!yelled mak. hey babe.said Ivy.Hi babe.said mak."kisses" EWWWWW!said layla and JJ. are you guys going to stay up past 12:00am tonight?Asked JJ.No.They all said.I AM!JJ said. ummm...i dont think you should.Said Ivy.Oh,YOUR DAREING ME!WHY WOULD YOU DARE ME!?!?!said JJ.I did not dare you.Said ivy quietly. "END OF DAY BELL RINGS" oh,thats the bell bye guys.said layla. Dont die JJ!!!Yelled mak. chapter 2 after school at jj house Hi mom.said jj.hi sweety.said jj mom.I am going to my room.said jj. ok.said jj mom. IN JJS ROOM AT 12:00am ughhhh...NOTHING is happining."LOUD BANG"WHAT WAS THAT!"LOOKS AROUND" hmmmmm...must be my imaganation.hello.said a voice.YOU KNOW THE RULES...RIGHT!?!? y-y-ya.said jj.GOODNIGHT!!!NOOOOOOOO!.yelled JJ. *dead on ground* WHOS NEXT SAID SCARECROW!!! JJS MOM Honey are you ok!?!?No answer.okey i am coming in!sees him on the floor AHHHHHHHHH!!!!NONONOOOOO!!!WHAT HAPPENED!I AM CALLING 911! 911 ARRIVES miss WHO killed him,do you know?asks one of the officers.no,i just went in his bedroom and he was dead!:(miss if you dont know who killed him we cant do anything.said the officer goodbye. chapter 3 WERES JJ? hi,have you guys seen jj latly?asked mak.no said layla.. ya.:( please dont cry tho.said Ivy.the news this morning said someone broke into there house last night and killed him!:(WHAT!cryed mak.NO!WHY!!!cryed layla.Come to our house ivy,TONIGHT! AT LAYLA AND MAKS HOUSE okay,i think i know who killed him.said layla.you know how he said he was going to stay up until 12:00am!!OMG it is true,the monster thing killed him!yelled Ivy.guys do you know what time it is,im kind of tired?asked mak.ummm its...12:00am!AAAAaaaa!!!!!LOOK AT THE WINDOW!!!yelled IvyRUNNNNNN!!!!hurry to our moms room!!!said mak MOOOM!!!KIDS WHATS WRONG!!!NO TIME TO EXPLAIN!!!:o said layla!can we sleep with u tonight!?!?asked mak. sure.said there mom. chapter 4 WE ARE SCREWED BACK AT SCHOOL what do we do now we all just saw what killed jj,and ALMOST killed US!!Said layla. well now he knows were we live!:( said layla wait...what happens if we exape him?!?! said ivy what if he comes back!?!?asks mak. mak.WHY ARE YOU BEING SUCH A CHIKEN!said layla.i am not!yelled mak.whatever:[ said layla.back to what we were talking about.said ivy.we all have to be careful!tonight DO NOT STAY UP LATE!not even until 11:00pm!said ivy.Mabye we could set up traps! said mak.Oooooo good idea babe.said ivy.oooooor mabey we could stay up until 12:00am and fake sleep.said layla.Ooooo good one too!said ivy. IM JUST LIKE THAT!said layla. what a pick me girl.wisperd mak.did you say something brother?!?!asked layla.no,he said. *bellrings*be safe guys.said ivy. make sure you set the traps!said ivy. we will!said layla and mak chapter 5 SET THE TRAPS how are we going to make him come.asked mak.i will make a fake mannequin.said layla.ok.said mak! LAYLAS IDEA I think i am going to fake sleep. i really hope it works.AND i think i am going to setup traps MAKS IDEA I am going to setup traps.Actually...layla will proboly make a lot of stuff so i am not going to. Ivys IDEA i dont think he knows were i live...but for safty i am still going to set up traps NIGHT TIME LAYLAS PLAN i am going to "SLEEP" thought layla ARE YOU ASLEEP CHILD ASKED SCARECROW OMG i might die TODAY layla thought in her head IT SEEMS LIKE SHES ASLEEP...GOODBYE CHILD SAID SCARECROW MAKS PLAN I am going to sleep its 11:00pm at 12:00am IS THIS CHILD ASLEEP? *Mak stands up* ARE YOU ASLEEP!!!???OH...HE IS SLEEP WALKING!?!? FOR A SECOND I THOUGHT I GOT TO GET SOMEONE!:( *mak gose back in bed* ivys plan I NEED TO GO TO SLEEP I SPENT ALL NIGHT SETTING UP ITS 11:30PM!!! IS THIS CHILD ASLEEP....AAAAAAAAA I AM STUCK IN A STICKY FLY TRAP!!!THEY DONTKNOW I CAN DISSAPEIR THEY NEW I WAS COMEING THAY CANT STOP ME FROM MY JOB!!! !!!!!THAY WILL REGRET THIS!!!!! CHAPTER 6 !!!DID WE CATCH HIM!!! BACK AT SCHOOL hi guys,did you catch him?asked ivy.no said mak.NO BUT I HERD HIM!!!i fake sleped!!!said layla. The scarecrow said "ARE YOU ASLEEP CHILD"!it was so scary!!!!said layla.WHAT!WHAT DID HE SOUND LIKE?!?!yelled ivy.I DONT KNOW HOW TO DISCRIBE HIS VOICE!said layla.OKOK JEZZZ you dont need to yell! said Ivy well its not like i can imitate a boys voice! you are-said ivy STOP FIGHTING!yelled mak. HEY YOU KIDS GET TO CLASS!!!said mrs.Lafave AAAAAHHHHH.....sorry mrs.lafave you scared us.said layla. oh sorry that i scared you guys but GET TO CLASS! ok.they all said.
