Kyle took a deep breath before he entered the Laughter in the Dark funhouse.

It was indeed dark. Kyle crept slowly down the dark hallway, bracing himself for anything that might pop up. He came across funhouse mirrors. He amused over his crazy reflections and moved on.

After passing some creepy animatronics, he came across another passageway. There he entered a brightly colored room with several numbered doors.

He slowly opened door number 5, only to find a dead end. He picked door number 4 and found the exit.

But he turned around. "If I don't get that nose," he muttered, "I'm dead meat."

He approached door number 6. When he opened it, Kyle screamed in terror as the animatronic Zeebo popped out at him cackling with his glowing red eyes and terrifying grin.

Kyle tried to calm himself. "It's only a dummy," he whispered. "A fake one."

Without thinking, Kyle reached up and snatched Zeebo's nose off his face.

"I did it!" he laughed. "I beat Zeebo! Wait'll I tell Remy."

He turned back to Zeebo. "Hope you can still smell your stinky cigars without your nose."

Kyle laughed and took off through the exit.

The next day, Kyle sat with Remy on his doorstep. He bragged nonstop about the nose.

He made Remy wear it, much to his embarrassment.

"I think it looks good on you." Kyle laughed.

Infuriated, Remy threw the nose across his lawn. "Okay," he said. "I get it! What more can I say?" He went back inside.

Don't be a bad sport," said Kyle as he went to retrieve the nose. Just as he picked it up, he stopped and sniffed the air.

There was a foul odor. "Cigars?"

He sniffed again. "No, get a grip, Kyle." He took the nose and ran back to his house.


That evening, Kyle would be by himself. His father was working late and Regina was sleeping over at a friend's house.

At first Kyle looked forward to being alone. But it wasn't long until things went from strange to terrifying.

Kyle heard strange noises echo through his house. He heard what sounded like laughter.

"Who's there?" he cried. There was no answer.

Kyle just took his supper out of the microwave when the phone rang. He expected his father or Remy to be calling.

"Hello?"

"Give it back," a low voice growled. "Give it back now!"

Kyle slammed down the phone. "This has to be a joke," he muttered. "It has to be."

He checked the hallway and the living room. Nothing there. But when he returned to the kitchen, his nose picked up the scent of cigars. Kyle's terror mounted. He looked down in horror at his dinner. It was covered in cigar butts like an ashtray.

Kyle screamed. Zeebo was here! He fled up to his room and locked the door.

He tried to call his dad, but he didn't answer. Then he tried calling Remy. He picked up on the third ring.

"Remy, it's Kyle."

"What is it?" asked Remy.

"I have to know, did you call me, pretending to be Zeebo?"

"No, why would I do that?" he laughed.

"The phone suddenly crackled. "If you dodn't give it back, I'll come up and get it!" laughed Zeebo.

"What was that?" asked Remy.

Kyle was starting to sweat now. He heard what sounded like circus music. His door jiggled, but he sprang up and pushed back.

Cigar smoke rose up from under his door. Kyle tried not to gag.

Just then, he saw balloons being blown up under his door and floating up to his ceiling. They were colorful balloons that read "Give it Back!" and "Thief! and "Turn back now!"

Kyle was trapped. But not for long. He knew what he had to do. He grabbed the nose and a wad of his allowance money. He climbed through the window and slid down to the ground.

He ran as fast as he could, not stopping until he reached the carnival.


Are You Afraid of the Dark © Nickelodeon