Slappy- Tiger Exhibit

I was awake. Not dreaming.
I scrambled to my feet and grabbed for my sneakers.
The lights in the Ape and Monkey House had been dimmed. I squinted into the gray and saw the other kids stirring. Getting up. Everyone.
I heard groans and whispers all around. I peered to the other side of the long hall and saw Willow and Brandy’s group all standing up, too.
I shivered. The air was cool. I could see my breath in front of me as I pulled on my shoes. The monkeys were silent. Were they all asleep? Why were all the kids waking up?
I heard the doors to the habitat bang open. Kids were heading out the door. I pulled on my jacket and followed.
I saw Harry and Andy walking side by side. Their eyes were wide. They didn’t blink. Their arms were stretched out in front of them. They walked stiff-legged. Like zombies in a horror movie.
Are they sleepwalking? I asked myself.
No one spoke. The girls were closest to the doors. I saw Willow, eyes wide, arms stiff in front of her, marching … marching alongside Brandy and two other girls … marching out into the night.
“Slappy!” I cried out his name. I didn’t see him, but I knew that evil dummy was nearby. “Slappy—what have you done?” My voice rang off the habitat walls.
“Did you invade everyone’s dreams?” I demanded. “Slappy, are you making everyone walk out of here?”
His cold cackle clattered in my ears. I spun around. I couldn’t see him.
But I could hear his laugh clearly, close enough to send shivers down my back.
And I could hear his words: “Hurry. Catch up, Richard. You don’t want to be left behind. Your class is going to have an awesome jungle adventure!”
...

The kids all moved like a silent herd of cattle, walking slowly. But all eyes were straight ahead. And no one talked. The scrape of shoes on the pavement was the only sound breaking the strange, frightening silence.
And then that sound vanished as we stepped onto tall grass. The grass led to soft sand. And I knew where Slappy was taking everyone.
He was taking us all to the Jungle Habitat. He was taking us to the home of the tigers!
Yes, there we were in the jungle. The twisted trees looked eerie against the night sky.
Everyone woke up at the same time. Everyone came out of Slappy’s trance. Everyone was confused at first, and then their eyes went wide with fright.
Kids lowered their arms. Voices rang out. Kids muttered their surprise to one another.
I jumped as I heard Willow’s yell: “The tigers!”
Startled gasps and low cries rang over the marshy sand. I jumped back a few steps as the two Bengal tigers slid out from behind the trees.
Kids froze. I saw Harry Winters fall to his knees. Willow covered her face with her hands. Beside her, Brandy clung tightly to Willow’s arm.
The tigers snarled angrily. They lowered their heads and slunk toward us, keeping their bodies low.
I heard Slappy’s laugh in my ears. A cold, triumphant laugh.
And then the evil dummy rasped in my ears: “You’re all having a real adventure, Richard. You can thank me later—if you survive! Hahahaha!”
The tigers both roared. They reared back on their hind legs.
Preparing to attack.
I opened my mouth in a terrified scream. But no sound came out.
I raised both arms in front of me, as if trying to shield myself.
I couldn’t think. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe.
Screams and terrified shrieks rang in my ears as the snarling tigers both
leaped into the air at once.
...

POP POP!
Two soft explosions made me open my eyes.
I watched in shock as the tigers stopped in midair. Their growls cut short, they came down hard, thudding to the sand on their sides. They didn’t move.
Kids screamed and staggered back.
One of the tigers groaned and struggled to raise his head. But his eyes closed and he sank back into the sand.
Two white-uniformed zoo workers pushed their way through the crowd of kids. They carried short rifles in front of them as they ran.
“What are you doing out here?” one of them yelled. “It isn’t safe here! The tigers!”
“Don’t be upset, kids!” the other one shouted. “Tranquilizer darts. We used tranquilizer darts. We just knocked them out.”

- Slappy in Dreamland, chapters 27, 28 and 29