The Ooze Read Online Free PDF Page A

their leafy branches. The deeper I walked into the woods, the darker it got.
    And it was also getting late. Eric had probably left school by now, I realized.
    I heard a rustling sound in the trees behind me. Oh, no! I thought. It’s Eric. He found me. I’m dead meat .
    I charged through the trees—and lost my balance. My feet slid out from under me.
    I flew through the air, into a clearing, and—splash! I landed up to my knees in water. In a lake—the Fear Street lake.
    My shoes were soaked. My feet were freezing.
    I sloshed my way up the bank. Climbed out of the water quickly. I had to keep running—no matter how wet my shoes were. No matter how cold my feet felt. No matter what! Because if Eric caught me, he was going to pound me into the ground.
    I heard footsteps.
    I ran faster and faster, but the footsteps were gaining on me. I pumped my legs as hard as I could. My shoes squished as I ran.
    But Eric was too fast.
    He grabbed my shoulders from behind—and whirled me around.

8

    â€œH ey, where are you going?”
    It wasn’t Eric! It was Colin!
    â€œColin, you have to help me!” I cried. “I’m totally lost, and I have to get home before Eric finds me.”
    Colin gave me a funny look. “We can almost see your house from here.” He turned me around and pointed.
    He was right. I could see Village Road from where we were standing. I lived on Village Road.
    I felt like such an idiot. How could I get lost practically in my own backyard?
    â€œThanks,” I mumbled to Colin. “What are you doing here, anyway?”
    â€œI saw you take off after school. I tried to catch up,but you were too fast. Didn’t you hear me calling you?”
    â€œNo,” I admitted. “I guess I was concentrating on getting away—before Eric found me.”
    We headed toward my house, not bothering to talk. “You want to come in?” I asked when we reached my front door.
    â€œI can’t,” he said. “I have to get home. My brother and I are making a music video with my dad’s new camcorder. See you tomorrow in school.” He started home.
    â€œOkay. Bye,” I called. Then I hurried inside—safe from Eric.
    I found Michelle sitting at the kitchen table. Her calculus textbook was open in front of her, but she wasn’t reading it. She was staring off into space.
    â€œThere’s something wrong with Chester,” Michelle announced. “He’s just not himself. He doesn’t remember how to use the electric can opener. And he waits for me to turn the TV on for him.”
    â€œSo what? Maybe he’s just lazy,” I told her.
    â€œNo, Al,” she shot back. “You don’t get it! There’s something really wrong with him. He doesn’t know what day of the week it is. He’s forgotten how to tell time. He can’t even count anymore!” she wailed. “Something happened to him yesterday. I know it. I just know it.”
    â€œWhat makes you think that?” I asked.
    â€œBecause he was fine before yesterday,” she replied.
    I bet no one else in the whole school—maybe even on the whole planet—has a sister who worries about her cat the way she does.
    Michelle stared off into space again. Trying to figure out what was wrong with Chester.
    â€œHey, Tubby!” I yelled. “I’m home. Here, Tubs!” I heard Tubby race down the hall—and into the living room.
    â€œTubby, I’m in here. In the kitchen,” I called.
    Tubby woofed.
    â€œCome on, Tubby!”
    Tubby woofed again.
    â€œYour dog is so dumb, he can’t even make it from the living room to the kitchen without getting lost,” Michelle said.
    â€œYes, he can.” I picked up his bowl, poured some dog chow in, and shook the bowl back and forth.
    Tubby bounded right into the kitchen. “See?” I said.
    â€œBig deal. He can find his food bowl. Even a goldfish with a teeny, tiny brain