Free They Call Me Creature by R.L. Stine Page B

“You promised, Laura. You promised to stay in the backyard.”
    â€œBut, Dad—” I pointed. “The blood … What is that blood?”
    He looked down, as if seeing it for the first time. He stared at it for a long moment. “I heard you screaming,” he said finally. “I … I dropped everything and ran.”
    The blood stained both of his hands. I saw a patch of it darkening on his chin.
    â€œI ran into a sharp tree branch,” he said. “I … cut my chest, I guess. I didn’t stop to check. I thought you were in trouble.”
    We stared at each other. I couldn’t take my eyes off the bright, red blood. Still wet. Still so wet.
    Did I believe his story?
    I wanted to believe it. I really did. But I remembered the journal in the shed. If we kill them, we will learn more. How many can we kill?
    Did Dad kill the deer?
    No … no … please—no!
    He pulled off his glasses and wiped them on the side of his pants. He squinted at me. “Are you okay? The screaming … are you hurt?”
    I shook my head. “No. A deer. I heard a deer being attacked. By some kind of animal. It scared me.”
    I stared at my father. He couldn’t have done it. He couldn’t have ripped the deer’s head off like that. He couldn’t have, I told myself. No way. No way. No way.
    Ellen and Stevie and all the other kids were waiting for me when Dad and I returned to the backyard. Dad slipped into the house while everyone gathered around me, talking all at once, smiling, relieved.
    â€œLaura, where did you go?” Ellen asked. “We heard you screaming and—we were so scared.”
    â€œWhere did you go?” I demanded. “I went looking for you—”
    â€œStevie and I were in the garage,” Ellen said. “We were looking for another Frisbee.”
    â€œSomeone told me you were in the woods,” I said, sighing.
    â€œCan we cut the cake now?” a boy shouted.
    Everybody laughed.
    We cut the birthday cake. It was a little melted and soggy from being left outside for so long.
    The party broke up early. No one was really in the mood anymore.
    â€œI’m really sorry,” I apologized to Ellen for the hundredth time as she headed away with Stevie and two other guys. “I—I shouldn’t have run into the woods like that.”
    Ellen hugged me. “It was a great party anyway. Oh, I forgot to tell you. Joe was here.”
    â€œHuh? When?”
    â€œHe showed up right after you went into the woods. But you weren’t here, so he left. He’s not bad. Kind of shy. But not bad.”
    I was so disappointed. Why didn’t he stay? Oh, well. At least Ellen had finally met him.
    After Ellen and the others left, I picked up some dirty paper plates and cups and carried them into the house.
    But I couldn’t finish cleaning up. I was too upset. And too confused. Dr. Carpenter said I could come back and talk some more—and that’s exactly what I was going to do.
    Dr. Carpenter knew something about Dad. Something she didn’t want to tell me. But I had to make her tell me. I had to know.
    I ran out the back door, letting the screen door slam behind me. Then I jumped on my bike and began pedaling hard, heading to the animal hospital.
    I hoped she would be there. I really needed her help.
    A few minutes later I jumped off my bike, letting it fall to the grass. Then I ran inside the building.
    No one at the reception desk. I heard a radio playing down the hall. A few dogs were barking.
    â€œAnyone here?” I called.
    No answer. So I made my way to the main office. I pulled open the door. “Dr. Carpenter?” The lights were all on. I saw a cup of coffee and a half-eaten muffin on her desk. But no sign of her.
    I’m not leaving this place without answers, I told myself. I can’t live with all these questions about Dad. I’m afraid of him now. I can’t be afraid of my own