Full Moon Halloween by R. L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page B

you want it. You know you love it.”
    Ray made a loud gulping sound as the raw wet meat slid down his throat. Then he bent to the floor and started to retch.
    Mr. Moon turned to Tristan. “Do I have to feed you, too?” he barked.
    Tristan saw that he had no choice.
    He picked up the wet raw meat in one hand. It’s so cold, he thought. Maybe I can choke it down without tasting it.
    He raised it to his mouth. He took a deep breath and held it.
    He pushed it into his mouth.
    Ohhh!. It’s too big to swallow whole, he realized.
    He bit into it. It was soft and squishy, like raw liver.
    He tried to chew it.
    But his stomach heaved. He gagged. Then he bent over and spewed it out.
    “You’re pretending,” Mr. Moon said, standing over him. “You love the taste of raw animal guts, don’t you, Tristan?”
    Tristan tasted the sour meat on his tongue. He gagged again.
    “Why don’t you admit it, Tristan?” Mr. Moon continued excitedly. “Why don’t you admit that you are the werewolf and allow your friends to go home?”
    Still bent over, Tristan struggled to catch his breath. Why is he picking on me? he wondered.
    What can I do?
    How can I prove to him that I’m not the werewolf?

18
    When he straightened up, Tristan saw Bella choking down a long yellow intestine. She had her eyes shut. She was chewing rapidly, swallowing, swallowing, swallowing.
    “She likes it!” Mr. Moon screamed happily. He clapped his hands. “See? She likes it!”
    “Maybe Bella is our werewolf,” Angela said.
    Bella finished the intestine and hunched over, gasped for breath.
    Once again Tristan pictured her in the lunchroom at school, chewing the fried chicken bones.
    That doesn’t make Bella a werewolf, he thought. I know Bella isn’t a werewolf.
    Bella can’t be a werewolf.
    Bella was holding her stomach, still swallowing rapidly. Trying to get the awful taste from her mouth.
    “Ohhhhh!”
    With a sharp cry, she turned and vomited the yellow stuff onto the rug.
    “Perhaps everyone needs a drink,” Mr. Moon suggested. “As soon as Rosa has her snack, we will bring you all something delightful.”
    What will it be? Tristan wondered. Blood?
    Rosa had a red, heart-shaped blob on her plate. She tried to raise it to her mouth.
    But it slid out of her hand. It hit the floor and bounced under the table.
    “Gross,” Rosa muttered, her face twisted in disgust. “It’s so slimy and cold.”
    Angela handed her another red piece of raw meat. “Don’t waste food, dear,” she scolded. “Come on. Down the hatch. We’re all waiting.”
    “I—I can’t!” Rosa cried.
    “ Eat it—NOW! ” Mr. Moon bellowed.
    Closing her eyes, Rosa tried to nibble a tiny piece of it. But her stomach lurched, and she tossed it to the floor beside the other one.
    “They don’t like my cooking!” Angela joked.
    Mr. Moon had his eyes on Tristan. “One of them likes it,” he said. “One of them is pretending it makes him sick.”
    He stared a long while at Tristan. Then he turnedand studied Rosa again.
    “I’ll get the drinks,” Angela said. She picked up the platter, still piled high with raw animal parts. Then she disappeared into the kitchen.
    “It’s getting late,” Mr. Moon said. “I know the werewolf wants to go out trick-or-treating. To find an innocent victim for his goodie bag.”
    He slammed his fist on the dining room table. “But not tonight!” he bellowed. “The werewolf will spend Halloween in a cage!”
    Tristan took a deep breath, trying to slow his racing heartbeat. The toy guns at his waist suddenly felt heavy. He had completely forgotten he was in costume.
    He pulled off the holsters and tossed them against the wall. Then he tore the red bandanna off his neck.
    The others had taken apart their costumes, too.
    Angela returned carrying another tray. This one contained four silver goblets.
    “After that special treat, I’m sure you are all thirsty,” Mr. Moon said.
    Angela set the tray down on the table. Then she handed a goblet