Nightmare Hour

Nightmare Hour Read Free

Book: Nightmare Hour Read Free
Author: R. L. Stine
Ads: Link
doing this.”
    Mike and Liz didn’t hear me. They were already climbing the front fence, sneaking into the farm.
    A few seconds later we stood side by side, catching our breath, gazing at the hills of pumpkins that stretched before us.
    The wind whispered through the vines, making them quiver and bend. The scarecrows creaked, shaking their armsas if waving us away. A large pumpkin came bouncing down a hill. Thud thud thud…
    â€œIt’s alive!” I cried, making a joke.
    But Liz and Mike didn’t laugh.
    â€œIt’s creepy here at night,” Liz murmured, shivering.
    The wind blew my hood back onto my shoulders. A creaking sound made me jump. Just a scarecrow tilting on its pole.
    â€œIt’s so silvery and strange at night,” Liz whispered, keeping close to me. “Like walking on the moon.”
    Mike pulled something out of the plastic bag he had brought.
    â€œWhat’s that?” I asked.
    He held up a can. Spray paint. Black spray paint.
    â€œOh, no. What are you going to do with that?” I asked.
    A grin spread over his face. “Have fun.”
    â€œMike, wait--”
    He bent down over a large pumpkin and sprayed a smile face across the front. Then he ran along the row of pumpkins, spraying black X’s over them.
    Mike pulled paint cans from his bag and gave one to Liz and one to me.
    â€œNo way,” I said, handing the can back to him.
    â€œCome on, Andrew,” Liz urged. “It’s Halloween. Don’t be such a wimp.” She leaned down and sprayed a big black heart on a pumpkin.
    Mike sprayed his initials--MG--on a bunch of pumpkins, giggling as he worked. “Mr. Palmer will never sell these!”
    Liz moved quickly down the row, spraying hearts. I painted I WUZ HERE on a few really big pumpkins.
    I stopped when I heard Liz scream. She fell and hit the ground hard. The paint can bounced out of her hand.
    I ran over to her. “Tripped on a stupid vine,” she groaned. “Ow. My ankle.”
    As I helped her up, she gazed over my shoulder and let out a startled cry. “He’s here! Mr. Palmer!”
    My heart pounded. I spun around and stared in fright.
    No. Not Mr. Palmer.
    A scarecrow. Just a tall scarecrow. An orange cap resting on its straw head.
    â€œI think I’ve had enough fun. It’s too creepy here,” Liz said, rubbing her ankle. “Let’s go home.”
    â€œHey, Mike,” I called. “Let’s get out of here.”
    Mike?
    Where was he?
    I turned…and gasped.
    He was climbing over the green fence.
    â€œNo!” Liz screamed.
    â€œMike--no! Mike!” I cried.
    He dropped to the other side. To Mr. Palmer’s private pumpkin collection.
    A chill of fear trickled down my back.
    Mike is going too far, I thought. Mr. Palmer keeps those pumpkins locked up for a reason. He called them his babies….
    My heart pounding, I took off, running to the fence. Liz followed, limping on her twisted ankle.
    â€œMike! Hey, Mike!” I called. “Come out of there --now! ”
    No answer.
    Then I heard a shrill scream. “ Help me! Ohhh, help! ”
    I forced myself to run faster. I heard another scream. “ Ohhh-- ”
    The scream cut off quickly.
    I reached the fence. It was a few feet taller than me. I jumped and grabbed onto the top.
    As I pulled myself up, I thought I saw long, silvery vines moving, standing up like snakes, reaching up, wriggling and twisting up off the ground.
    No. No way. That’s crazy, I told myself.
    Using all my strength, I hoisted myself up--and over to the other side. I landed hard on both feet and gazed around quickly. “Mike?”
    â€œAndrew, what’s going on?” Liz carefully lowered herself over the fence.
    â€œMike?” I called again. Then I saw him, standing at the end of the first row. I recognized his bomber jacket, his jeans, torn at one knee, his sneakers…
    But on his shoulders…on his shoulders…
    A

Similar Books

Arrows of the Sun

Judith Tarr

Heart of Texas Vol. 3

Debbie Macomber

Adelaide Confused

Penny Greenhorn

Heart Of Atlantis

Alyssa Day

Hells Kitchen

Jeffery Deaver

Dying on the Vine

Aaron Elkins