Werewolf Skin Read Online Free PDF

didn’t stop to see.
    A branch scratched my cheek as I scrambled past it. Pain shot over my face.
    I raised one arm to shield myself as I ran.
    Ran blindly. Ran through the darkness.
    Where was the flashlight?
    Oh, no. I’d left it behind in the bushes.
    It was of no use to me, anyway. I was running too fast to keep to the path.
    I lowered my shoulder and pushed my way through a patch of tall reeds. They
snapped back, slapping me wetly as I shot through them.
    My foot caught on a half-buried rock. I slid off it, somehow keeping my
balance.
    I leaped over an upraised tree root—and kept running.
    Over the harsh gasps of my breath, I listened for the heavy, thudding
footsteps behind me. The animal growls.
    Was the creature still chasing me?
    I grabbed a smooth, damp tree trunk and stopped. I hugged the trunk,
struggling to keep my legs from collapsing, struggling to catch my breath.
    I turned and gazed back.
    Nothing there.
    No growls. No grunts. No bang of heavy feet on the ground.
    I sucked in breath after breath. My lungs burned. My mouth felt so dry, I
couldn’t swallow.
    I’m okay, I told myself. I’m safe—for now.
    I gazed into the deep darkness.
    And the creature hit me from behind.

 
 
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    “Hunh—!”
    I uttered a startled groan. And dropped to the ground.
    I spun around to face my attacker.
    No one there.
    Nothing.
    “Huh?” A shocked cry escaped my lips.
    I started to scramble to my feet—and saw what had hit the back of my head.
    A bird’s nest. A dried-up, broken bird’s nest. It must have fallen from a
tree limb above my head. Probably shaken loose by the gusts of wind.
    “Oh, wow.” I shook twigs from my hair. Then, cradling the camera case under
my arm, I gazed around.
    Where was I?
    Trees up ahead slanted as if leaning against each other. A low mound of rocks
stood at the edge of a ridge of tall reeds.
    I’m lost, I realized.
    I gazed up at the sky. No moon. The heavy rain clouds covered the moon and
stars.
    How do I get back? I squinted into the darkness, searching for the path.
Searching for anything I might recognize.
    Nothing.
    If I could find the creek, maybe I could find the spot where I found my
camera, I decided.
    But which direction was the creek?
    I was completely turned around.
    I shivered. A cold raindrop spattered on the shoulder of my jacket.
    I jumped. That bird’s nest had made me terrified of things falling from the
sky!
    What should I do?
    My mind whirred frantically with ideas.
    Should I call out for help? Shout to my aunt and uncle? Maybe if I called
loud enough, they would hear me.
    But, no. If I shout, the animal—the snarling creature—will hear me first.
    Was it still searching for me? Was it still nearby?
    I decided I’d better not call for help.
    What should I do? What ?
    Start walking in one direction? And just keep going no matter what?
    No. I remembered a book I’d read where a guy was lost in the desert. And he
tried walking in a straight line. And he just made circles. He went around and around and didn’t even realize it until he saw his own footprints
in the sand!
    Maybe I should wait until the sun comes up, I decided. I’ll never find my way
in this darkness. When it’s daylight, I’ll have a much better chance.
    I didn’t like the idea of spending the night in the woods. But waiting here
until I could see where I was going seemed like a good idea.
    But then I heard a clattering sound. And felt the rain start to pound down
hard. A freezing rain, swept by gusting wind.
    I can’t stay here, I realized.
    I have to get back to the house.
    I walked and walked, trying to retrace my steps. I sighed with relief when I
finally came to the clump of bushes where I’d hid. I found the flashlight and
gripped it tightly in my free hand.
    I took a guess on which direction to go next.
    Ducking my head against the rain, I started to walk again.
    Less than a minute later, I stumbled over something.
    Something soft.
    I landed on my knees. Turned