wake up, you lot!” Ms. Kindergrubber hollered at Cy, Venus, Rochelle, and Robecca as each of them dozed off during Home Ick. They had arrived to campus so late that they didn’t even have time to change, let alone sleep.

“It’s bad enough I have to deal with these two,” Ms. Kindergrubber continued as she flung open the pantry doors where Rose and Blanche Van Sangre were sleeping among the dried goods, covered in crumbs.

“Vhat time is it?” Rose muttered as her eyes creaked open.

“Time zo go back zo sleep,” Blanche replied as she popped a cookie into her mouth. “I think ve might have found the perfect place zo nap.”

“I know. Eating vhile ve sleep—this is the life,” Rose trailed off, and then quickly started snoring.

Ms. Kindergrubber slammed the cupboard shut and shook her head at Venus, Cy, Robecca, and Rochelle.

“Boo-la-la! Je suis désolée, madame! We had very little sleep last night. Hence why we were nodding off atop our cutting boards,” Rochelle explained as Ms. Kindergrubber mumbled to herself and then walked away.

“Hey, ghouls,” Frankie called over to Robecca, Rochelle, and Venus. “I don’t know if you heard, but I’m canceling today’s Frightingale meeting because of the Claws & Gauze Summit.”

“The what?” Venus questioned Frankie.

“The Claws & Gauze Summit to honor Toralei and Cleo,” Frankie explained. “Spectra announced it this morning on her blog. Apparently Cleo’s dad and Toralei’s guardian set it up with Miss Flapper. I think Scariff Fred and Superintendent Petra are coming as well to show their respect for the missing ghouls.”

“My dad says it’s just another ruse by Miss Flapper to garner support for ASOME, which is probably true. But I’m attending anyway. I might not be Toralei’s biggest fan, but I want them both home just as much as the rest of you,” Draculaura added.

“Are you ghouls going to attend?” Frankie asked.

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Venus replied.

“We wouldn’t?” Robecca wondered aloud, before catching Rochelle’s eye. “I mean, we wouldn’t. That is to say, we’ll be there.”

The Claws & Gauze Summit was held in the Study Howl classroom, which had been transformed into a shrine to Toralei and Cleo, their pictures covering every available inch of wall space.

“It really is such a shame that neither of them are here to appreciate this fangtastique ode to them. I am quite certain that they would be thrilled. After all, you know how much they like to look at themselves,” Rochelle said while surveying the surroundings.

“Isn’t that the truth?” Frankie said with a laugh. “Cleo once told me that the best birthday gift she ever received was a mirror.”

“Toralei once asked me to sign a petition to name her Monster High’s Greatest… well, everything,” Draculaura added with a smile. “You ghouls have to admit she’s a great source of comedy.”

“They both are, mate. Just last week they offered to give me swimming lessons. Apparently, the two of them think they can swim better than a sea creature!” Lagoona remembered as she, Frankie, and Draculaura headed across the room to find seats.

“Jeepers, does anyone else feel bad that we’re having a Claws & Gauze Summit instead of a Headless & Webbed & Claws & Gauze Summit? After all, Cleo and Toralei aren’t the only ones missing,” Robecca noted to Cy, Venus, and Rochelle.

“You really do have the biggest heart,” Cy responded to Robecca. “I’m surprised it can even fit in there.”

“Technically speaking, I do not believe Robecca has an actual heart but a…” Rochelle trailed off after Venus nudged her.

“Thanks, Cy,” Robecca responded bashfully. “I think your heart is even bigger than your eye.… Wait, that sounded weird, didn’t it? I meant it as a compliment!”

“I know, I know,” Cy said with a laugh. “You never need to worry with me. I think it’s pretty clear we understand each other.”

“Look, there’s Miss Flapper with Ramses de Nile and Tab Bee. I don’t know about you guys, but I am super pumped to play the video,” Venus said while fidgeting with her vines.

“We’re all set on that front,” Cy said with a satisfied smile.

The Claws & Gauze Summit kicked off with Ramses de Nile and Tab Bee speaking about their deep-seated fear that Cleo and Toralei would never be returned to Salem, since the monsters lack the necessary power to pressure the normies. Then, as if following a script, Miss Flapper took the microphone and once again spoke of ASOME.

“Life doesn’t always afford us perfect situations or easy decisions. Sometimes we need to make hard calls. Tough calls. Choices that will protect the future. ASOME is our only chance. Time is running out. Please tell Scariff Fred that you support reaching out to ASOME. Otherwise, there’s sure to be more abductions of beautiful young ghouls just like these two,” Miss Flapper said as she pushed a button, prompting a screen to pop up. “Here is a montage of a few of our favorite memories of Cleo and Toralei.”

However, instead of Cleo and Toralei, a friendly-looking normie with a thick mustache, dressed in a suit and tie, appeared on screen.

“Who’s that normie?” Superintendent Petra screeched.

“Hello, my name is Darren Mazin, and I am the mayor of the town next to Salem,” the man said as though he were answering Superintendent Petra’s question. “A young man came to see me today about a rumor that we were planning to build a wall to separate us normies from you monsters. Well, I am here today to tell you that nothing could be farther from the truth. As a matter of fact, at the last town council meeting we voted to extend an invite to our monster neighbors for our Fall Festival.”

“I don’t understand!” Superintendent Petra screamed. Her eyes darted around the Study Howl until she spotted Ramses de Nile.

“You told us that you met with the normie mayor. That you saw the plans for the wall?” Scariff Fred said as he approached the now stressed-looking mummy.

“I am royalty! A scaraoh! I am only protecting my history, my legacy!” Ramses de Nile hollered in response.

“But you’re a member of the Society of United Monsters?” Robecca screamed at she stood up in the crowd.

“I was, but then my sister Neferia helped me realize that ASOME is right. Traditions must be continued! Family legacies must thrive!”

“If my father were here today, I can only imagine how disappointed he would be to hear this, how disappointed he would be in you,” Robecca stated honestly.

“Trust me, your father made his disappointment more than clear to me,” Ramses answered.

“He knew? Is that why he’s no longer here? Where is he? What did you do with him?” Robecca screamed.

“This is absolutely shocking!” Miss Flapper cried out dramatically as she threw her hands in the air.

“Oh, can it, Sylphia! We wouldn’t even be in this situation if you had pulled off the Whisper like you were supposed to,” Tab Bee hissed as only a werecat can.

“Well, at least I didn’t kidnap my own child,” Miss Flapper shot back.

“No, you just kidnapped our former intern after failing to properly control her,” Ramses de Nile growled.

“Oh, please! Wydowna’s having a grand time in the old maze with Bloodgood and your divas! It’s not like she’s suffering!”

“First, I want to thank you guys for basically interrogating each other. It makes my job a whole lot easier. But now I am going to have to take you three downtown with me,” Scariff Fred interjected as he motioned for one of his deputies to handcuff Miss Flapper, Ramses, and Tab Bee.

“Royalty in jail! Never!” Ramses screamed as he stormed out of the Study Howl with Miss Flapper and Tab Bee hot on his tail.

“Well, now we know why he wasn’t on that list in the attic. He no longer considered himself a member of the Society of United Monsters. He had reverted to ASOME,” Venus said as she shook her head at the scene that had just unfolded.

“What do you think he did with my father?” Robecca asked softly.

“Maybe he’s in the old maze with the others,” Cy suggested.

“Where is the old maze?” Robecca asked. “I’ve never even heard of it.”

“Beneath the new one,” Miss Sue Nami grunted, before lowering her head in shame. “I owe you non-adult entities an apology. You were right… again.”

“No need for apologies. Just help us find Headmistress Bloodgood and the others,” Rochelle replied.

“Speaking of apologies,” Skelita interrupted, tears streaming down her black-and-white face. “Lo siento. I am so sorry. We didn’t know. We thought Senorita Flapper was our friend, our mentor. I considered her an older sister.…”

“I am deeply ashamed by our behavior. We blindly followed that woman, never once stopping to question her actions or motivations. But, ghouls, you must believe us. We had no idea what she was up to,” Jinafire offered solemnly, her head lowered to conceal her tears.

“We know, chéries,” Rochelle replied kindly. “Madame Flapper is a very charismatic woman with a very charismatic wardrobe—falling under her spell is easy, especially when you are new to a place and looking for guidance.”

“How can you be so understanding? We supported a woman who tried to ruin Monster High,” Skelita babbled while dabbing her eyes.

“Yeah, but you ghouls didn’t know that,” Venus added. “Plus, you’re hardly alone in having trusted Miss Flapper. She almost destroyed Monster High with the Whisper, and yet she was still able to convince the entire school that she was trustworthy!”

“In other words, don’t lose any steam over it! We know you’re good ghouls with good hearts, and frankly that’s all that matters,” Robecca explained, before offering the two distraught ghouls a genuine smile.

“Non-adult entities, I hate to break up this scarepy session, but need I remind you that Headmistress Bloodgood and the other ghouls still need rescuing?” Miss Sue Nami barked as she broke into a head-to-toe shake, sending drops of water every which way.

“Might we be of assistance in rescuing the others?” Jinafire asked, lifting her head for the first time.

“Thanks, but I think we got this,” Robecca answered as she turned and looked at her friends—Rochelle, Venus, and Cy.