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so why doesn’t someone report it?’
    â€˜And end up in the loony bin?’ Mac replied. ‘Would you believe a kid who said they were at a school that made them hunt monsters?’
    He had a point.
    The look on Saffy’s face soured. ‘So, we don’t even get a choice? We’re just shoved in here and expected to hunt monsters even if we don’t want to?’
    Mac smiled. ‘Well, you could ask to be flown back to thug school. By the time the plane lands you’ll think this was just a dream. But don’t worry – this place kind of grows on you.’

6
    Jasper was flying. He knew it was a dream because he was flying with a flock of turkey sandwiches, and turkey sandwiches don’t usually fly. Still, it was a nice dream and he was enjoying it.
    â€˜GET UP YOU LAZY LITTLE SLOB!’ someone yelled in his ear.
    He didn’t think this was part of his turkey sandwich dream.
    Jasper forced an eye open and groaned. He was right. This wasn’t a dream. This was really happening. He was back in his bed. His cold, hard bed, in the cold, hard sleep hall. At Monstrum House.
    The numbers glared on the clock next to his bed. It was 11.45pm. How could it possibly still be the same day ? Jasper had a feeling that this was going to be a horrible end to a horrible birthday.
    Three dark shapes with balaclavas masking their faces stood over Jasper’s bed. In the dim light, he could just make out their camouflage suits.
    â€˜Great. The thug brigade,’ he muttered.
    One of the prefects grabbed Jasper by his legs, and another grabbed hold of his arms. Someone clamped a hand over his mouth.
    My head’s going to get flushed down the toilet , was all Jasper could think. He knew that some schools had stupid initiation ceremonies that the older kids forced on the new kids. Well, come on, thought Jasper, gritting his teeth. Let’s get it over with .

    Jasper was carried through the first-year boys’ sleep hall, down the huge marble staircase, past the line of statues, and out into the dark icy night. Snow pelted against his face. A black van was waiting outside the door.
    Jasper had seen enough scary movies to know that nothing good ever came out of being dragged out of bed and put into a van.
    And this was turning out to be just like the movies, in the worst possible way.
    Jasper was thrown into the back of the van and ordered not to make a sound.
    The van rumbled through the night. Jasper had no idea where they were or how far they were going. His sense of direction wasn’t working. The longer they drove, the more scary images shot through his brain.
    Jasper could hear the prefects sniggering to each other from the front of the van. He took a deep breath. There was no way for him to escape. Maybe they’ve organised a surprise birthday party, Jasper thought hopefully. But something told him that wasn’t quite what the prefects had in mind.
    After what felt like hours – well, maybe half an hour, but a really long half-hour – the van screeched to a stop. Jasper was flung forward in the cabin. Then the door was wrenched open and he was marched out into the cold night.
    He was standing in front of an old falling-down house. A really spooky old falling-down house. The windows were broken, cobwebs hung from the busted rafters and, from somewhere close by, a wolf howled.
    It didn’t help that there was a full moon and that clouds were drifting across it like something out of a ghost story. And it was freezing. Jasper wished he was wearing more than his pyjamas.
    â€˜You didn’t happen to bring my jacket, did you?’ Jasper asked.
    One of the prefects responded by shoving him so hard he almost fell into the snow.
    â€˜Gee, temper, temper,’ Jasper said before he could stop himself. This time, he did end up in the snow.
    A prefect nudged the door to the house open with his foot. The door gave a creepy creeeeak . Jasper was wrenched to his feet