Read Online 25 - Attack of the Mutant by R.L. Stine - (ebook by Undead) - Free Book Online Page B

Masked Mutant.
    My back pressed hard against the wall, I stared in horror as The Mutant began
to change again. His face twisted and appeared to flatten. His body lowered, and
he leaned forward, spreading his hands on the floor.
    He stepped forward as a snarling leopard. Tilting its head to one side, the
leopard uttered a ferocious growl of attack.
    Then it arched its back, tensed its back legs—and leaped on to the sprawled
body of The Galloping Gazelle.
    “Get up! Get up, Gazelle!” I shrieked as the leopard attacked.
    The Masked Mutant clawed and gnawed at the helpless Gazelle.
    “Get up! Get up !” I screamed.
    To my shock, The Galloping Gazelle opened his eyes.
    The ferocious leopard ripped away the bottom of The Gazelle’s mask with its
teeth.
    The Galloping Gazelle rolled out from under the enormous beast and scrambled
to his feet.
    With a roar, the leopard swiped its paws, sending a long tear down the length of The Gazelle’s cape.
    “I’m outta here!” The Gazelle cried, making tracks to the door. He
turned back to me. “You’re on your own, kid!”
    “No! Wait!” I screamed.
    I don’t think The Gazelle heard me. He shoved open the door with one shoulder
and vanished.
    The door slammed behind him.
    Quickly, the leopard changed, rising up on its hind legs, its body shifting
and moving—until The Masked Mutant stepped forward.
    He smiled at me as he approached, a cold, menacing smile.
    “You’re on your own, kid,” he said softly.

 
 
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    I edged along the wall as The Masked Mutant moved slowly, steadily toward me.
I knew I couldn’t get to the door, as The Galloping Gazelle had. I wasn’t fast
enough.
    He should call himself The Galloping Chicken! I thought bitterly.
    How could he save his own skin and leave me here like this?
    I couldn’t run. I couldn’t fight. What could I do?
    What could I do against a deadly foe who could turn himself into anything
solid?
    The Masked Mutant stopped in the center of the room, hands on his waist, his
dark eyes twinkling. He was enjoying my fright. And already tasting his victory.
    “What are your powers, kid?” he demanded, a sneer in his voice.
    “Huh?” His question caught me by surprise.
    “What are your powers?” he repeated impatiently, swirling his cape behind
him. “Do you shrink down to a tiny bug? Is that your secret?”
    “Huh? Shrink? Me?” I was shaking so hard, I couldn’t think straight.
    Why was he asking me these questions?
    “Do you burst into flames?” he continued, moving closer. “Is that your power?
Are you magnetic? Are you a mind-fogger?” His voice turned angry. “What is it, kid? Answer me! What is your power?”
    “I—I don’t have any powers,” I stammered. If I pressed any harder into the
wall, I’d become part of the wallpaper!
    The Masked Mutant laughed. “So you won’t tell me, huh? Okay, okay. Have it
your way.”
    His smile faded. His dark eyes turned cold and hard. “I was just trying to
make it easy on you,” he said, moving even closer. “I want to destroy you in the
easiest way possible.”
    “Oh. I see,” I muttered.
    My eye caught something on the shelf. A large, smooth stone as big as a
coconut. It was some kind of decoration. I wondered if it would make a good
weapon.
    “Say bye-bye, kid,” he said through clenched teeth.
    He came toward me quickly.
    And as he moved, I grabbed the big stone off the shelf. It was a lot heavier
than I’d thought. It wasn’t stone, I realized. It was shaped like a smooth
stone. But it was made of solid steel.
    I hoisted it up and took careful aim. Then I heaved it at The Masked Mutant’s
head. And missed.
    The stone thudded heavily onto the carpet. “Nice try,” he muttered…
    …and moved quickly to destroy me.

 
 
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    I tried to duck away from him, but he was too quick.
    His powerful hands grabbed me around the waist and lifted me off the floor.
    Higher. Higher.
    I realized he was moving his molecules, making his arms