Free 42 - Egg Monsters from Mars by R.L. Stine - (ebook by Undead)

the horror of crazy Dr. Gray and his freezing
lab.
    I pedaled faster. I rode without stopping. Without seeing! The world
was a blur of green.
    I must have set a speed record for getting home.
    I roared up the driveway, the tires sending gravel flying on both sides.
    Then I jumped off my bike and let it topple to the grass. I dove for the
kitchen door and burst into the kitchen. “Mom!” I cried.
    She jumped up from the breakfast table. I caught the worried expression on
her face. It melted away as I ran into the room.
    “Dana!” she cried. “Where were you? We’ve all been so terrified. The
police are looking for you and—and—”
    “I’m okay!” I told her. I gave her a quick hug.
    Dad ran in from the hallway. “Dana—you’re okay? Where were you all
night? Your mother and I—”
    “Egg monsters!” I cried. “Egg monsters from Mars! Hurry!” I grabbed Dad’s
hand and tugged. “Come on!”
    “Huh?” Dad spun around. He narrowed his eyes, studying me. “What did you
say?”
    “No time to explain!” I gasped. “They’ve got Dr. Gray. He’s evil, Dad. He’s
so evil!”
    “Who has what ?” Mom demanded.
    “The egg creatures! From Mars! Hurry! There’s no time!”
    They didn’t move. I saw them exchange glances.
    Mom stepped forward and placed a hand on my forehead. “Do you have a fever,
Dana? Are you sick?”
    “No!” I screamed. “Listen to me! Egg creatures from Mars! Follow me!”
    I know I wasn’t explaining myself too well. But I was frantic.
    “Dana—come lie down,” Mom instructed. “I’ll call Dr. Martin.”
    “No—please! I don’t need a doctor!” I protested. “Just follow me—okay?
You’ve got to see them. You’ve got to see the egg creatures. You’ve got to
hurry.”
    Mom and Dad exchanged worried glances again.
    “I’m not crazy!” I shrieked. “I want you to come with me to the science lab!”
    “Okay, okay,” Dad finally agreed. “You were in that lab last night?”
    “Yes,” I told him, shoving him to the kitchen door. “I called and called. But
you couldn’t hear me.”
    “Oh, wow,” Dad murmured, shaking his head. “Wow.”
    The three of us climbed into the car.
    It took about three minutes to drive to the lab. Dad parked in front. I
jumped out of the car before he stopped.
    The front door to the lab stood wide open, as I’d left it.
    I ran inside with Mom and Dad close behind me.
    “They’re egg creatures,” I told them breathlessly. “They dropped down
from Mars. They captured Dr. Gray.”
    I led the way down the long hall.
    I pushed open the door to the freezing back room.
    Mom and Dad stepped in behind me.
    I gazed around the room—and gasped in amazement!

 
 
32
     
     
    I saw Mom and Dad staring at me. They had worried expressions on their faces.
    “Where are the egg creatures?” Mom demanded softly.
    Dad rested a hand gently on my shoulder. “Where are they, Dana?” he asked in
a whisper.
    “Uh… they’re gone,” I choked out.
    The lab stood empty.
    No Dr. Gray. No egg creatures. No one.
    Bare white walls. Nothing on the floor.
    Nothing.
    “Maybe they went back to Mars,” I murmured, shaking my head.
    “And Dr. Gray? What about Dr. Gray?” Dad asked.
    “Maybe they took Dr. Gray with them,” I replied.
    “Let’s go home,” Mom sighed. “Let’s get you into bed, Dana.”
    Dad guided me from the room, his hands on my shoulders. “I’ll call Dr. Martin,” he said softly. “I’m sure we can get him
to come to the house this morning.”
    “I—I do feel a little strange,” I admitted.
     
    So they drove me home and tucked me into bed.
    The doctor came later that morning and examined me. He didn’t find anything
wrong. But he said I should stay in bed and rest for a while.
    I knew that Mom and Dad didn’t believe my story. I felt bad about that. But I
didn’t know how to convince them I was telling the truth.
    I did feel a little weird.
    Just tired, I guess.
    I dozed off and woke up and dozed off