Max leaned backwards, trying to use his weight to force the mummy to release him. “What is that thing?”

The “thing” was a skeleton. Only it wasn’t just a skeleton. There was something wrong with its head. In the place where a normal skull should’ve existed, the bony creature had an egg-shaped stone with a painted smiley face. Gordy wanted to scream, but he could only manage a high-pitched whine.

The skeleton never slowed as it descended, diving headlong into Bawdry with the force of a cannonball. The mummy smashed against the wall, his grip on Max’s arm broken.

The two undead creatures then engaged in a wrestling match.

“Who sent you? Is this your handiwork, Priscilla?” Esmeralda demanded.

Bawdry grappled with the skeleton, working his arms around the stone skull and forcing it into a headlock. The skeleton didn’t respond. It made no sounds. No heavy breathing. Then again, Gordy wasn’t sure if it could make sounds without a real skull to work with.

“It’s a zombie death match!” Max screamed.

“This is a creative twist, I must say,” Esmeralda continued shouting at the skeleton. “But you should’ve picked a more formidable warrior. I have you now!” Bawdry squeezed, tightening his hold around the skeleton’s neck.

Gordy could see the skeleton struggling, unable to wiggle free. Suddenly, it hoisted Bawdry into the air and hurled him into the centrifuge. Vials of potions exploded, their contents mixing together and creating a wall of multicolored smoke.

Bawdry was down, but not out.

“We’ve got to get out of the lab!” Gordy shouted.

Keeping their eyes glued to the two battling creatures, Gordy and Max pulled their shirts up over their mouths, and ran up the stairs.

Brushing away bubbling liquid and broken glass, the mummy stood shakily and pointed a finger at Gordy. “Don’t go too far,” Esmeralda called out. Then Bawdry charged at the skeleton again. There was another crash as more glass shattered and potions sprayed.

Gordy and Max frantically untied the ropes around Mr. Stitser’s arms and legs. The house was once again in a state of disarray. Glass from the living room window lay across the floor, along with soil from his mom’s fern. A trail of thin, bony footprints tracked a path through the dirt.

Gordy stared at the jagged hole in the window and blinked. The skeleton must have had a long running start in order to propel it headfirst into the room. The footprints headed directly into the kitchen, but made a wide arc around his dad’s chair.

“Get to the van!” Gordy’s dad ordered. His voice was low, but his eyes were fixed with a determined stare on the door to the basement.

There was another violent crash from downstairs, an earsplitting cackle from Esmeralda, and then the lab grew deathly still.

Gordy felt his heart pounding in his throat. Was the fight over? Was there a victor, or had both undead creatures destroyed each other?

“Go, go, go!” Mr. Stitser pointed to the garage, but Max had beat him to the punch and was already slipping through the exit. Gordy stood rooted to the floor in the living room, watching the basement door and listening.

“Gordy! Come on!” his dad shouted.

“Wait!” Gordy insisted. There were still no sounds from down below. Nothing was climbing the stairs. Holding his breath, he inched toward the door, but his dad’s hand closed around his arm, tugging him backwards.

“Get over here now, son! I’m not fooling around!”

“I have to check,” Gordy resisted. “I think . . . I think we’re safe now.”

“How could you possibly know that?”

“Because nothing’s coming up to get us.” If Bawdry had won, the mummy would’ve already ascended the steps. Since nothing was climbing the stairs, it meant there was an excellent chance the skeleton had won. “Let me just look.”

A car horn honked loudly, and Max’s incoherent babble echoed from the garage.

Gordy’s dad narrowed his eyes and sighed. “Okay, Gordo, we’ll do it together.”

The basement door creaked as they pushed it open. A reddish haze hung in the air over the steps. At the bottom, the skeleton stood, head bowed, motionless. As the door opened wider, the skeleton slowly looked up.

Mr. Stitser gripped Gordy’s arms, ready to yank him out of harm’s way.

Gordy swallowed. His whole body was trembling, but he didn’t think they were in danger any more.

“What is that thing?” his dad asked.

“I don’t know,” Gordy answered. “But I think it’s on our side.”