Night Creature by Rodman Philbrick

Author:Rodman Philbrick
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781497685383
Publisher: Open Road Media Teen & Tween

Chapter 28

Startled, I lost my hold. My claws scraped at the wall but couldn’t grip. I scrabbled at air all the way down.

With that bloodcurling scream echoing in my ears, I hardly felt it when I hit the ground, twisting my leg under me.

The yapping and barking started in a frenzy. It seemed every animal for miles around was howling for my blood.

I lurched to my feet. Limping, I fled into the woods.

The pain in my leg hardly slowed me down at all. I ran like the wind. I ran faster than any of those puny Legwalkers’ animals could go. But it didn’t make me feel any better.

I ran until I couldn’t hear the barking and yowling anymore. But I would always hear that scream. It echoed over and over in my brain. That terrified face was burned into my eyes forever.

What had I been thinking? As if a pretty Leg-walker like that would ever be friends with me! I was a monster. The face I’d seen reflected in the dark window was real … and it was my face.

No wonder she had screamed in horror.

I would, too, if I could scream. But all I could do was howl. “Arooooooooh!” I threw back my head and felt the moonlight seek me out. I let out a long, mournful howl that froze the hearts of creatures for miles around.

I was back in the dark swamp where I belonged. My nostrils filled with the smell of mud and scummy water and rotting things. I would never get to be inside that warm, light-filled room.

Head hanging, I wandered through the swamp. I didn’t want to run anymore. Running only reminded me of what I was.

But how had I become a monster? Why?

It must be the reason I was left here in the swamp so long ago. But why had I never changed before? What had I done to make this happen now?

I pushed on deeper into the swamp. What would happen to me? I wished I could sit down and cry, but the monster had no tears.

Walking slowly, not paying attention, I forgot all about the night creatures.

That was a big mistake.

I felt a hot breath on my shoulder.

It stank of evil.

Instantly, every nerve came alive. I leaped into the air just as a razor-sharp claw raked my shoulder.

My shoulder burned. In midair I twisted, kicking out with my long, clawed feet.

“Ooomph!” I heard as I bolted out of there.

Behind me the creature spat and cursed. “I almost had him!” it fumed. “I was this close.”

I ran to a small muddy pool and plunged in. It smelled of snakes and slime. The scratch on my shoulder hissed and bubbled with steam. Shivering, I crouched until the icy water was up to my neck.

The werewolf called Ripper wasn’t far behind.

“Oh, little one,” he crooned in a false-friendly howl. “Come out wherever you are, little Grrufff! You can’t hide what you are, not from us you can’t.”

It came nearer and I sank deeper, until only my nose poked out of the murky water.

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