The Nightmare Vortex Read Online Free PDF

it’s not so terrifying.’
    Max’s shoulders nosedived along with her ego. She knew she wasn’t perfect, but she was a good spy and she’d get it soon. She realised it was probably the wrong moment, but she asked anyway. ‘Alex? When will we be sent on our next mission?’
    Alex started packing her bag. ‘I’ve no idea but it won’t be until you’ve learnt a lot more. I’ll see you both tomorrow. On time.’
    As Max watched her go, she was determined to prove to her she was a good spy.
    Her body ached and her pride sagged but that wasn’t the worst of it. She had a science exam tomorrow and faced hours of study when all she felt like was falling into a deep, training-free sleep.

Brrrt! Brrrt! Brrrt! Brrrt!
    Max’s head shot up. Her clock shouted the digital numbers: 7.00. She’d slept the whole night slumped over her science books. Great! She couldn’t even remember if she’d taken anything in before she fell asleep.
    When Max’s mother drove them to school, Max tried to make a quick getaway before her mother did anything to embarrass her. But it was like she couldn’t help herself as she called out, ‘Sweetie, do you have your lunch?’
    Max could see the other kids mimicking her mother and calling her ‘sweetie’. She nodded and moved away fast.
    â€˜This school’s huge,’ Linden gawped. ‘I’d like to meet some of the other kids.’
    â€˜There aren’t any worth meeting.’ Max was still being called ‘sweetie’ from somewhere behind her. ‘And make sure you don’t do anything to draw attention to yourself.’
    But just as she said it, Max slammed into Mrs Flagbottom, the sports teacher, and her bulging crate of balls. Max fell to the ground, a frenzied whirl of rubber bouncing around her. The usual laughter followed from everyone within a five kilometre radius, but the laughter that hurt most was from Linden.
    Max’s look soon told him to stop. ‘Oh come on, Max, it is funny,’ he tried but she wouldn’t hear it.
    â€˜I hate being such a klutz, especially in front of Toby.’
    Linden looked at where Max’s eyes had landed.
    â€˜Why do you care what he thinks?’
    â€˜I don’t,’ Max snapped. ‘I care that I scuffed my knee when I fell and no one seems worried about that.’
    Linden looked at Toby. He couldn’t see why Max would worry about what he thought, but then there were lots of things about Max that Linden couldn’t work out.
    â€˜Okay, settle down class.’ Mrs Grimshore knew the extra talking was due to exam nerves. ‘Before we start, I’d like to introduce you to Linden. He’s our guest at Hollingdale this week and is a friend of Max’s from the country.’
    Max shrunk as someone nearby clucked like a chicken.
    â€˜I know you’ll do your best to make him feel welcome.’ Mrs Grimshore frowned. ‘Linden will go on with his own work while the rest of us have the pleasure of this exam.’
    The class groaned as she handed out the test paper.
    Toby leant into Linden and pointed to the side of the classroom. ‘That’s a computer. We’ve got a lot of those in the city.’
    â€˜Mrs Grimshore?’ It was Linden. Toby shot him a threatening glare. ‘Can I do the exam too?’
    â€˜I don’t see why not, especially as I’ve never had anyone volunteer for an exam before.’
    Linden let out one of his super smiles. Toby thought maybe he wasn’t a pushover after all.
    Max yawned and slumped across her desk.
    â€˜You may begin.’
    When Max turned hers over, terror rose inside her like an electric charge and her stomach lurched, threatening to bring up her breakfast. She’d studied all the wrong things. She looked around. All the other kids seemed to be flying through. Especially Toby.
    The next thirty minutes were the longest of her life and when