Werewolf Skin by R. L. Stine Read Free Book Online

shook his head. “I don’t remember anything anymore,” he replied.
“I’m lucky if I remember to get up in the morning!”
    “Oh, give me a break, Colin!” Aunt Marta scolded. She gave him a playful
shove. She began singing a song about a rag doll.
    Hannah did a silly dance, twirling her hands above her head. One of her
jacket sleeves fell off, and we all laughed.
    “Where’s your costume, Alex?” my aunt demanded. “Go put it on. Come on. Let’s
have a preview.”
    “I—I haven’t put one together yet,” I stammered.
    “Well, let’s get some old clothes and make you a costume tonight!” Aunt Marta
insisted.
    “No. I… need to think about it,” I told her.
    I didn’t have my mind on costumes. I kept glancing out the front window at
the darkening sky. Thinking about what I planned to do later.
    I planned to meet Sean and Arjun in the woods by the creek. At school, they
told me to take my camera and meet them there.
    They said that the werewolf comes to that spot every night when the moon is
at the highest point in the sky. “It howls up at the moon,” Arjun said in an
excited whisper. “And then it lowers its head and laps up water from the creek.”
    “Wait till you see it!” Sean exclaimed. “It’s a man and a wolf at the same
time. He’s half-human, half-animal.”
    I narrowed my eyes at the two of them. I tried to decide if they were goofing
or not. Their expressions were so serious—and so excited—I decided they were
telling the truth.
    Was it possible? Did werewolves really exist?
    I pictured the howling creature in the Marlings’ window. And I pictured the
two animals in the woods, ripped to pieces.
    By a werewolf?
    The back of my neck tingled. I’d never believed in werewolves. But I’d seldom
been out of the city.
    Here in this small town surrounded by woods, they began to seem real.
    “Will you meet us at midnight?” Sean asked.
    I didn’t want to return to the woods at night. Not after what I’d seen there.
    But I didn’t want them to know I was afraid.
    And I really needed a great photo to win the contest. A photo of a werewolf
would definitely win! What else could come close?
    So I agreed to sneak out of the house and meet Sean and Arjun at midnight in
the woods. But now, as it grew later, I began to feel really nervous about it.
    As I glanced out at the darkness beyond the window, I had a heavy feeling in
the pit of my stomach. And my hands were suddenly cold and clammy.
    “Alex, what are you thinking about?” Aunt Marta’s voice broke into my
thoughts.
    “Huh?” I blinked and shook my head.
    Everyone laughed. “You were staring out the window with the strangest look on
your face,” Hannah declared.
    “Oh. Just watching the moon,” I said with a shrug.
    “It’s Moon Madness!” Uncle Colin joked. “OOOH. Looks like a bad case!”
    “What’s that?” I asked.
    “How should I know?” my uncle replied. “I just made it up!”
    We all laughed again.
    Everyone was in such a good mood. I wished I could relax and have fun too.
But all I could think about was sneaking out to the woods.
    Hannah went home a short while later. I said goodnight to my aunt and uncle
and closed myself up in my room.
    I glanced at the bed-table clock. It read ten fifteen.
    Nearly two hours to wait.
    I checked out my camera. Made sure I had it loaded with high-speed film.
    Then I sat down to read a photography magazine—and wait—hoping the time
would pass quickly.
    My eyes stared at the pages of the magazine. But I couldn’t read. I couldn’t
concentrate.
    Every few seconds, my eyes went up to the bed-table clock.
    Why does time move so slowly when you’re waiting?
    Finally, at about ten to midnight, I closed my magazine. Pulled on an extra
sweater and then my jacket. I grabbed my camera case and slung the strap over my
shoulder.
    Then I tiptoed to the bedroom door.
    My aunt and uncle were probably out in the woods, photographing night
animals. But in case they decided