Free The Ooze by R.L. Stine Page A

room!”
    I ducked inside and closed the closet door. I heard Colin race into my room.
    I stood in the hot, dark closet, panting. Gasping for air.
    Squish. Squish .
    He’s coming! He’s coming down the hall! Please don’t let him find me. Please don’t let him find me , I repeated over and over.
    Squish. Squish .
    The sickening sounds grew louder—closer.
    Squiiish .
    The creature slid to a stop—right outside the door.
    I grabbed the doorknob with my trembling hands. Ready to bolt.
    I waited. But nothing happened.
    I listened. Total silence.
    What is it doing out there? What?
    Why isn’t it opening the door? It has hands. It can open the door. Why isn’t it doing it?
    I pressed my ear against the closet door.
    Silence.
    Where is it? What is it doing?
    I know! It can’t open the door, I realized. Its hands are too slimy. They’re probably slipping right off the doorknob.
    Yes! I silently cheered. Yes! It can’t get in!
    Then I felt it. Something hot and squishy soaking through my socks.
    I gazed down—and gasped.
    The ooze! It was sliding under the door!
    And rising higher and higher each second.
    I turned the doorknob and pulled. The door was stuck!
    I pounded on the door with both fists. I clawed it with my fingernails.
    â€œOpen!” I screamed. “Open, open, open!”
    The ooze reached my knees now. And it was rising faster and faster. My feet felt as if they were cemented to the floor. I jiggled my legs, trying to keep them moving in the horrible slime.
    I grabbed the knob and pulled again. Pulled with all my strength as the ooze bubbled up to my waist. Trapping me in its cold, wet body.
    â€œOpen! Open!” I screamed at the door again and again.
    And then I remembered—I pushed the door, and it swung open, shoving aside a glob of ooze that still remained in the hallway.
    With a huge burst of strength I broke out of the slimy mass that surrounded me. I raced to my bedroom.
    â€œWh-where is it?” Colin stammered from under my desk.
    â€œIt’s—”
    â€œHere!” Colin finished my sentence.
    I spun around.
    There it stood, right outside the door—fully formed and bigger than ever. At least twelve feet tall now—with hair!
    The creature had grown hair—black wiry hair that sprang out of its entire orange body.
    â€œOh, gross!” Colin moaned, pushing himself farther under my desk.
    The long hairs quivered, quivered madly, as the creature slowly bent his legs and ducked through the doorway.
    â€œNo,” my voice cracked. “No.”
    â€œIts head!” Colin whispered. “Look at its head!”
    I stared at the monster’s head. It was huge—bigger than a basketball. And an enormous brain bulged out of it. Pulsed against its sides—as if it was way too big for its head.
    My heart pounded in my chest as I backed away.
    The creature stared at me with its empty eye sockets. Then I watched in horror as its gaping hole of a mouth slowly opened.
    â€œDo not move, human,” its deep voice rumbled. “Do not move. There is no escape now.”

17

    â€œL -leave us alone.” I stammered. “Leave us alone.”
    â€œOh, no. It talks, too,” I heard Colin croak as the creature oozed forward.
    â€œYou have done very well,” the creature spoke to me. “You followed the instructions—and you brought me to life. A good plan, don’t you agree?”
    â€œI-I don’t understand,” I stuttered.
    â€œI will explain,” the creature replied. “And then I must leave—with your brain.”
    I knew I didn’t want to hear this, but I also knew I had no choice. My whole body trembled as I listened.
    â€œMy planet needs human brains,” the creature started. “Smart human brains. To give us expanded brain power. The question was—where to findthem? Chemistry sets!” the creature exclaimed. “Smart humans use chemistry