Read Online House of a Thousand Screams by R.L. Stine - Free Book Online Page B

like a monkey, flinging its arms. Then it reared up and swiped at my little brother.
    â€œAaagh!” Freddy yelled, and jumped away.
    Little people were leaping everywhere in total panic. One of them rode Freddy’s shoulder, holding on for grim life.
    Where had the evil thing come from? A picture suddenly flashed through my mind. Of the box clattering on the attic floor. And the sound of air—or something —whooshing out.
    I grabbed the nearest thing I could find and threw it. It was an Oreo. The monster snatched it out of the air and gulped it down.
    A moment later its face twisted into an even uglier expression. It started heaving. Then it threw up the cookie and a pool of purple gunk all over the floor.
    â€œOh, gross me out!” I groaned.
    The monster snarled at me. Its mouth gaped, a hideous hole at least half the size of its head.
    â€œHey! Where did it go?” Freddy shouted.
    â€œCan’t you see it? It’s there, to your left,” I called, pointing.
    â€œNo.” He looked panicky. “I can’t see it. It must be able to make itself disappear!”
    â€œI can still see it with these glasses,” I said grimly.
    I glanced around for something I could use as a weapon. There was nothing.
    Suddenly the monster lunged toward Freddy.
    â€œFreddy!” I yelled. Without thinking, I leapt and tackled the creature. My leg twisted under me as I landed. I winced at the sudden stab of pain.
    The thing was much smaller than me, but heavy. Its fur felt greasy and coarse. And the smell! Like garbage on a hot day. I rolled with it, then threw it as hard as I could at the wall.
    The monster hit the wall with a heavy thud. It slid to the floor. And lay there. Still.
    I got up, wiping my hands on my jeans. But thegreasy feeling wouldn’t go away. Or the smell. I was afraid I was going to be sick.
    I took a step. Pain shot through the leg I’d twisted. Oh, no! This was horrible. How could I get away?
    â€œFreddy, I’m hurt,” I gasped.
    He dashed to my side. “Can you run?” he asked.
    I gritted my teeth. “I’ll try.”
    Freddy slipped his arm under mine to help take the weight off my leg. We staggered to the door. Little people bounced off the walls around us. I wondered why they didn’t simply vanish. They seemed crazy with fear.
    â€œRRRRROWWWRRR!”
    My stomach lurched. I glanced over my shoulder.
    The monster had come out of its daze. It crept after us. Its eyes glowed at me with a sick hunger.
    I was prey—and the prey was lame. It was only a matter of time.
    â€œHurry, Freddy,” I moaned. “He’s following us.”
    â€œI’m trying,” my brother grunted.
    We dragged ourselves into the hall. My injured leg banged against the hall table. I couldn’t help jerking. It hurt so much!
    â€œWhoa!” Freddy yelled. He lost his balance. The two of us toppled to the floor.
    â€œOh,” I groaned. Aching and trembling, I pushed myself up. I couldn’t see the monster. Frantic, I swept the hallway with the magic glasses.
    There! There it was! Sneaking up behind the table.
    Less than a yard away!
    I felt helpless. A look of glee crossed the monster’s face.
    Before it could move another step, a playing card whacked it in the face.
    It growled and backed up. Another struck it, and another.
    Freddy! He was whizzing his deck of cards at the monster. They flew out of his hands at dizzying speed.
    â€œGo, Brainiac!” I cheered.
    â€œI’m judging where it is by the stink!” he yelled to me. “And you laughed at me when I showed you that book on using cards as weapons.”
    â€œI’ll never laugh again!” I promised.
    But then a look of horror crossed his face. He searched frantically in his pockets.
    Oh, no!
    Freddy had run out of cards!
    The monster crept forward again. Snarling. Drooling.
    The tiny guy on Freddy’s shoulder peepsed like crazy. Then I noticed that all