Read Online The Monster of Creasy's Hollow (Defenders of the Rift Book 1) by N.C. Reed - Free Book Online

hard
to hold. She tightened her grip, knowing that attracting the
attention of this monster
would be the last mistake she would ever make.
    All we wanted to do was bring Waldo back to us, she thought. That reasoning had been their justification for what
they had done, and she had held to it like a ship anchor until now.
The excuse rang
hollow in her mind as she saw the horrible beast they had summoned
from another plane of existence standing before them.
    We shouldn't have done it, she
told herself. But now that we have, we
have to fix it.
    That thought steeled her determination. But she was
still scared out of her mind.
    *****

    Alvin watched in silent horror as the monster moved to
take the goat hanging from the tree. He had almost cried at the idea
of killing another living thing to make up for their mistake, but
looking at the hideous Monusuol now, he admitted that it was far
better to kill one goat than to let this thing run loose in Creasy's
Hollow for another second.
    At first he had simply been relieved that Waldo hadn't
been turned into a monster by their attempt to revive him. Alvin was
as soft hearted as any teenager ever when it came to inflicting pain
and suffering on any other living thing. He always had been. He had
taken a lot of ribbing about it from others, though not from his
friends, who seemed to understand and even agree with his feelings.
    Maybe that was one of the reasons he immersed himself in
his video games, he thought, as he tried anything to distract himself
from the vision of horror in front of him. The games he played, while
violent, were just that; games. And Alvin knew that. Unlike some
people, Alvin had no trouble simply leaving a game behind and moving
on to something else. He enjoyed playing, and had made 'friends' with
other kids, and even a few adults, online playing in tournaments and
role-playing games. He'd never meet them, of course, but they all
came together in the virtual world to play.
    That was all it ever was to Alvin. Play. But this. . . .
This horrible scene was real, and he had helped cause it. He could
have absolved himself by saying he hadn't wanted to do it in the
first place, and he had been reluctant. But in the end, he had wanted
Waldo back as badly as anyone, and he had put his misgivings aside to
try and help make that happen.
    Looking at the monster he and his friends had loosed on
the world, Alvin finally understood that some things are better left
as they are.
    *****

    Donna felt her mom's presence behind her, and fought
the urge to turn and yell at her. Belinda hadn't moved much, but she
was fidgeting, and that could cause a disaster.
    Donna loved her mom, she really did, but there was no
doubt in her mind where Donny got his flightiness from. Their mom was
a nervous bundle of energy at the best of times, and these were not
in any sense of the term the best of times. Donna was scared too, but
she was determined to do her part. She appreciated her mother's
desire to be here, with her, supporting her children in a time of
dire need, but. . .honestly, Donna wished she was here alone. She
would still be scared, but her own nervousness wouldn't be compounded
by the presence of her mother.
    On the other hand, if she were with Donny, it would
be worse, Donna
thought suddenly. She spent a few seconds imagining the scene of her
mother and twin brother standing together as the monster walked into
the clearing, and decided that it was better that their mom be with
her.
    There was no way the two of them could have remained
still and silent enough to prevent being seen.

    *****

    Chuck tensed as Monusuol reached the goat. It was
obvious that the monster was still cautious, and expecting a trap.
There was nothing else he could do about that. They had taken every
precaution possible and now had to hope it was enough.
    He reached out mentally to his son, trying to will Chip
to start the incantation. The longer they waited, the more likely
they were to fail. He was at the point of