As I expected, the first Monster Protector made an attempt to snatch Margaret's phone from my grip. I smirked and held the phone out of his reach and slapped his hand. He let out a yelp, pulled back his hand, and rubbed the spot where I had slapped. He frowned at me with disgust.

I giggled. "I know that I am disgusting," I joked. "Recording your entire conversation. I even got the parts when Sarah barged in and she and all of you chatted. I am a sick person."

McKinley glared at me hard as if his eyes were burning my soul. "Seems to be a misunderstanding here." He held out a hand and uncoiled his thumb and fingers. "Give me the phone, and us Monster Protectors can explain ourselves."

I pretended to think. "No thank you. I have heard just about enough today. Margaret was right when she claimed that you guys kidnapped her."

"That was by accident. We did not mean to kidnap your cousin."

"You know what? Go ahead. Keep lying to me."

"We are not lying, Margie!" Skylar proclaimed.

"It will not work. I suspected that something was in the mist when I took in each of Margaret's words. So before you and your granddaughter and Enoch left the hideout, I asked Margaret to lend me her cellphone. Thanks to her and to me, I was able to record you without your knowledge and sent the juicy video to my sister. I know that she will not hesitate for everyone else to watch the video once she does."

Again, the Monster Protectors glanced at one another. Skylar had her arms over Enoch's chest, and McKinley was ticked.

"It is the end of the line," I continued. "I won, and you lost."

McKinley opened his mouth to speak, but Enoch beat him to the punchline.

"Who says that you have won?" The teenager scurried up to the first Monster Protector and grabbed the gun from his hand. "Sorry, Margie, that you had to cross that line." He aimed the gun at me and pulled the trigger. A bullet shot out...

...but did not pierce my skin. Instead, it hit a purple and black shield that was protecting me.

"Not today!"

I recognized that voice. My eyes darted to the doorway, and there was Stanley. He had used his powers to make a shield.

"Stanley!" I cried with joy. "Am I glad that you are here."

Enoch was in disbelief that my boyfriend had arrived and nearly dropped the gun. "How the heck did you know where she was? We never gave the location!"

"I did," I spoke for Stanley. "After sending the video to my sister, I sent her a text, telling her to send backup as soon as possible."

"I just had to come to the party," Stanley said with a grin. He used his powers to make the shield stretch to the doorway. "Come on, Margie."

"What about Sarah? She is unconscious and bleeding."

"We will handle it!" two female voices said in unison.

I looked up to see two familiar ghosts. They were twins Lin and Leen.

"Lin! Leen!"

"We will take Sarah to the hospital," Lin reassured me, saluting to me.

I mouthed a thank you and hurried to my boyfriend. I collapsed in his arms, and he cradled me before he made the shield disappear and took off.

About fifteen minutes later, Stanley and I were at the hospital. We were not the only ones in the waiting room, for Mr. Hawk and his friends, my parents, Scarlett, Margaret, Nigel, Hansel, and Gretel were with us as well. They kept me company and said how sorry they were that the Monster Protectors lied to me and were evil.

"I still cannot wrap my head around it," I stated. "I thought that Monster Protectors were supposed to be brave and loyal and kind."

"I am so sorry that they disappointed you, honey," Mom said. "If it makes you feel better, I will give them a taste of their own medicine."

"I would not advise it, Mom. They will beat you to a pulp."

"Is there anything that I can get you?" Dad asked. "You must be starving."

"No thank you."

Margaret slowly walked to me. "Uh, Margie?"

I looked at her. "What is it?"

"I just got this text from an unknown number. Says that he or she wants to see you."

"Let me see."

She handed me her phone, and I squinted at the recent text. It read that whoever it was needed to meet me shortly. At first, I thought that it was McKinley or some other Monster Protector. I was proven wrong a second later when another text popped onto the screen. It read that he or she was floating just outside of the hospital entrance...and that it was Lean Share.

My eyes widened, and I handed the phone back to my cousin. I stood and began making my way to the front of the building.

"Where are you going, sis?" Scarlett asked.

"Getting some fresh air into my lungs," I lied. Okay, it was not much of a lie. I did desire some fresh air.

"I am coming with you."

"I need to be alone. But it will not be long."

I pushed open the hospital doors and stepped outside. I shoved my hands in my pockets and stared at the sky. It was slowly changing back to purple, which meant that it was close to morning.

I did not see Lean Share. Figuring that she was hiding, I blurted, "I am here. And yes, we do need to talk."

Lean turned visible in front of me and gave me a smile. "I heard what happened, Margie." She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a hug. "I could have told you that those Monster Protectors were anything but good before we released them, but—"

I interrupted her. "You knew that they are evil?"