They Call Me Creature by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online

more. How many can we kill ?”
    â€œOooh,” I moaned. Those words made me feel dizzy.
    Dad was killing animals. This was too much. It was too much for me to handle.
    I backed out of the shed. I closed the door and snapped the lock.
    â€œI have to get away from here,” I said out loud.
    I had to go somewhere quiet and peaceful. Somewhere I could think.
    A hummingbird buzzed above a tall reed that swayed over the pond. I raised my camera to my eye. The hummingbird darted to the water.
    Click . I snapped the shutter. Then I lowered the camera around my neck and watched the hummingbird flit across the water.
    Clouds drifted over the lowering sun, casting deep evening shadows through the trees. Every few minutes I felt cold raindrops on my head and shoulders.
    But I didn’t care. I had to come to the woods. I had to be here, where I felt at home. At peace. In the gentle quiet, surrounded by trees, the water shimmering darkly in front of me, I could catch my breath and think.
    I turned and saw the tall, fat fern leaves shake on the other side of the pond. Must be an animal in there, I decided. I raised my camera. Come on, I silently urged. Show yourself. I need to finish my project.
    I held my breath as a raccoon poked out from the fern leaves. Yes!
    I didn’t wait for him to come all the way to the water. I clicked once. Twice.
    Gotcha.
    My mood started to lift.
    But then I heard voices behind me, from the other side of the path. And a loud thunk thunk .
    The raccoon darted away. I spun around. Took a few steps towards the sounds. And saw the camouflaged Jeep and its trailer.
    The two men walked along the path up ahead of the trailer. Their rifles rested against their shoulders.
    I placed my hands around my camera. Then slowly raised it to my face.
    I’ll take a few pictures of them, I decided. And show them to Dr. Carpenter.
    I stepped out onto the path. Aimed it at the two men. And clicked off two quick shots.
    The snap of the shutter echoed in the quiet woods.
    The men spun around quickly. One of them pointed. “Hey—!” he called.
    I knew I couldn’t outrun them. I had to talk to them. “Hi,” I said, trying to sound calm. “What’s going on?” I motioned to the Jeep and trailer.
    Thunk thunk thunnnnnk.
    The men glanced at one another and didn’t answer.
    The fat one tugged at his cap and studied me. “You live around here? How come you’re in the woods?” he asked. He had a hoarse, raspy voice, as if he had a sore throat or maybe smoked too much.
    â€œIt’s not a good time to be in the woods,” his partner said coldly. He had silvery gray eyes that reminded me of ice.
    â€œI’m … working on a science project,” I said. My hand trembled as I raised the camera to show them.
    They both glared at the camera. “What are you taking pictures of?” the bald one asked.
    â€œPlants and animals,” I replied.
    Thummmp thunnk.
    â€œWhat kind of animals?” the bald one asked, frowning.
    â€œAnimals that use the pond,” I said. “You know. Chipmunks … rabbits … raccoons …”
    They both nodded.
    I stared at the rifles on their shoulders. They knew what I was looking at, but they didn’t say anything.
    â€œYou explore the woods a lot?” the one in the baseball cap asked finally.
    I nodded. “Yeah. Sometimes.”
    â€œSee anything strange?” he asked.
    â€œNo. Not really,” I replied. I was dying to ask them what they were doing. And what they had in the trailer.
    But before I could get the question out, they raised their rifles to their waists. And then they came at me, eyes so cold, expressions so hard.
    Gripping their rifles, they moved quickly. Walking heavily toward me.
    No chance to run.
    â€œWhat—what are you going to do?” I whispered.

 

    â€œYou’d better give us the camera,” the bald one said, narrowing his eyes at