Jack Templar Monster Hunter Read Online Free PDF

sure what that would mean as far as birthday presents went, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t good.
    Just as I was rolling the repercussions of my suspension around in my head, things got really strange.
    Mrs. Fitcher leaned across her desk and urged me closer with a motion of her crooked finger. I leaned in and she whispered, “Enjoy the day off, Jack. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.” She reached out and grabbed my wrist, squeezing it painfully. “Nice to see your change coming on. It’ll make it more fun.”
    My wrist burned from her touch. Literally. I’m talking a little trail of black smoke rose up from her hands. I pulled back but her grip was too tight.
    I looked into her eyes; usually cold and lifeless, they now blazed with anger. Her lips pulled back and revealed a double row of black, rotting teeth and a long, black tongue that flicked the air like a snake’s . Her chin jutted forward, her wrinkled skin stretching as her face became longer and longer. I watched in horror as her face contorted into that of a hideous monster.
    “That’s all we want, Jack,” she hissed. “Just a little fun.”
    I heard a scraping sound as dark, leathery wings unfolded from behind Mrs. Fitcher and fanned out to either side of her. They were ribbed, scabby, with holes ripped through them, the edges tipped with wicked-looking hooks.
    I yanked my arm back and finally broke free of her grip. I lost my balance and fell over the chair onto the floor. Just then, Ms. Hester opened the door and walked in. She looked down and saw me sprawled on the floor.
    “Are you OK?” Ms. Hester asked.
    I scrambled to my feet and spun around to face Mrs. Fitcher…who sat calmly behind her desk as if nothing had happened.
    She smiled at me. The black teeth were gone. Her face was back to normal.
    “Well, Mr. Smith, are you?” Mrs. Fitcher asked.
    I looked down at my wrist. There was a red mark where her touch had burned my skin. “Yes,” I said, watching Mrs. Fitcher closely. “Just fine.”
    “Good. You can start your suspension immediately. You are allowed to walk home. Bring back a signed letter from your guardian. Ms. Hester will see to it. Dismissed.”
    I turned to follow Ms. Hester out of the office, ready to get the heck out of there.
    “Oh, Jack,” Mrs. Fitcher called when Ms. Hester was out of eyeshot. “Let me be the first to wish you a happy birthday tomorrow. A lot of people are looking forward to it. I know I am.”
    I walked out and shut the door behind me. I’m not embarrassed to admit that my hands shook as I did it. I jumped when I felt a hand touch my shoulder. I spun around. It was only Ms. Hester. She looked at me curiously.
    “Are you all right? You’re not going to let the old bat get to you, are you?” she said.
    I rocked back. That was exactly what Mrs. Fitcher had looked like, a giant bat.
    “How did you…so you know…” I stammered.
    “Know what? Why are you acting so strange?” She handed me a slip of paper with the word “SUSPENSION” written across the top.
    I shook my head. Her choice of words had been an accident. By her expression, I could tell that she didn’t really know what I was talking about. I took the suspension note from her and stuffed it into my backpack.
    “Sure you’re OK, kid?” Ms. Hester asked. “’Cause you don’t look so good.”
    “No, I’m fine. Really,” I said, trying to think things through. Surely the whole thing with Mrs. Fitcher had to be some kind of hallucination. Maybe I was coming down with the flu or something. That was it! That would explain all the weirdness going on. I had the flu and I was just seeing things.
    I admit that it seemed unlikely, but it was better than having to accept that any of these bizarre things were actually really happening.
    I held up the suspension note in front of me. Regardless of why or how I was imagining these things, the piece of paper in my hand was uncomfortably real. I must have looked pretty pathetic because Ms.