The Children of Fear by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online

whispering secrets. The branches hit against one another.
    I should keep watch, Luke realized. But I’m tired. So tired. His eyelids grew heavy.
    Trying to get comfortable, he shifted his body slightly. He stared at the nearby trees cloaked in shadows.
    Two glowing yellow eyes stared back at him.

Chapter
6

    L uke swallowed back a scream of terror.
    Wolf? Bear? Mountain lion? The vicious possibilities raced through his mind. He had no gun. No protection.
    Maybe it doesn’t see me, he thought wildly. Maybe it doesn’t know we’re here.
    But then the eyes glowed brighter … and began to move … slowly through the shadows … slowly toward the hollowed-out log.
    Luke’s heart pounded in his chest. His mouth grew dry. He scooted back.
    â€œOw!” Leah cried. “What are you doing?”
    â€œBe quiet!” Luke warned in a low voice. “I did hear something earlier. It’s out there … looking for us.”
    â€œWhere?” she asked as she scrambled over his legs.
    Luke tried to grab her, but his fingers only skimmed over her skirt as she quickly crawled out of the log.
    â€œLeah, come back!” he whispered harshly.
    He remembered the shriek of the deer mouse as the owl had carried it into the night. What will this creature do to Leah? Nothing, he decided. I won’t let it hurt her.
    Struggling to unfold his body, he worked his way out of the log. He spotted Leah several feet away. Moonbeams filtered through the thick branches and cast a halo around her.
    The glowing eyes moved out of the shadows.
    Luke heard a low, deep growl. A wolf’s growl.
    The beast slinked out of the shadows into the moonlight. Luke shivered at the sight. Its long, powerful body moved closer.
    They wouldn’t have a chance to fight it off. Or outrun it.
    Luke gasped as he caught sight of the wolf’s head. A mangled rabbit dangled from its jaws.
    The silver beast crept slowly toward Leah, its head bowed low. Then it dropped the dead rabbit at Leah’s feet and lay down.
    Run, Leah! Run! A voice in Luke’s mind cried out.
    His heart nearly stopped as he watched Leah kneel down.
    Luke felt a scream well up in his throat. He struggled to choke it back.
    Mesmerized, he watched as Leah plowed her hands into the wolf’s thick fur and pressed her face into its neck.
    Luke breathed a sigh of relief.
    It was Leah’s wolf.
    Does Leah have power over animals as the townspeople believed? No, he told himself. The animals trust her because she is kind to them, but that is all. She has a gift. Like their father.
    He heard a shuffling sound and glanced down. Corey had crawled out of the log. His eyes wide, he stared at Leah and the wolf.
    â€œDon’t be afraid,” Luke said softly as he knelt beside his brother. “Father told me a story once about a man who broke his leg out in the wilderness. His dog hunted for him. The dog brought him meat until he was strong enough to find help.”
    Corey looked doubtful, and Luke explained further what he hoped was the truth.
    â€œThe wolf must sense that Leah needs help now. She has always been kind to it. She found it when it was a pup. Its mother was dead. She kept it alive until it could live on its own. Now it is returning the favor.”
    Nodding, Corey rubbed his tired eyes. Luke pulled his brother back into the protective hollow tree. Corey snuggled against him.
    Luke stared at his sister … lying on the ground, curled up against the wolf … sleeping peacefully.
    It was the last thing he saw before he fell asleep.
    â™¦Â â™¦Â â™¦
    Luke awoke with a start.
    He held his breath, listening.
    He squinted into the darkness. The wolf had disappeared. Leah slept soundly beside him inside the log.
    He squirmed, trying to get comfortable. He closed his eyes. But he could not go back to sleep.
    What will we do tomorrow? How can I take care of Leah and Corey? We have no money. No food. Only the clothes on our