The Dolls
    
How could anyone fall asleep with ten pairs of eyes on them?
    
Shermane Wilson cracked her eyes open, only to quickly close them. She still found herself in creepy Great-Uncle Finn Mecklenburg’s home. Shermane was sleeping over at Uncle Finn’s dusty old mansion for the weekend, and so far she wasn’t enjoying it. Her current abode was her uncle’s revolting guest room, but what she hated the most was the--
    
Clown dolls.
    
The ten repulsive things of faded, burnt-red hair and popped-out eyes all sat on an aged dresser, sporting patched clothing. Their beady eyes seemed to follow Shermane. Their frowning mouths, with carnivorous teeth sticking out, seemed to have drool oozing out.
    
Shermane couldn’t fall asleep. After a few deep breaths, Shermane squeezed her tired eyes shut, snuggled under the foul sheets, and, finally, dozed off.
    
“AHH!!”
    
Shermane awoke staring into a ghastly, deformed face. Bonking her head on a bedpost, she hurled the creature at the door as it opened.
    
“Ow! Shermane, you OK in there?” In the doorway stood Robin Mecklenburg, Shermane’s cousin. Flowing blond hair matched her azure eyes. Her face glowed with kindness as she bent down to pick up the clown.
    
“Oh . . . just a nightmare . . . ,” Shermane stuttered.
    
The day passed quickly, and Shermane’s heart filled with panic as she prepared for bed. She hastily stuffed the intimidating dolls under the bed before nodding off.
    
Shermane woke up gladly the next morning to see that the clown dolls were still under the bed. However, the reflected face in the mirror was—
    
A clown face.
    
Shermane gasped and scrubbed roughly, happy that it was just makeup. As she shook her wet face, something caught the corner of her eye. An open cabinet revealed a few colorful makeup vials, the same colors of her multihued face. Shermane gladly realized that it was all a prank, but who would do such a thing?

    
One month later, Shermane invited Robin over for a sleepover.
    
“EEK!”
    
Nothing has ever sounded better, Shermane thought, watching Robin fling the fat, plastic spiders off her bed.