03 - Monster Blood by R.L. Stine - (ebook by Undead) Page B

keeps
growing?”
    Andy shrugged. “I don’t know.”
    “Also, I have to save it,” Evan continued excitedly. “If it’s really
the thing that’s causing Trigger to grow, I’ll need it as proof. You know. To show the doctors or whatever. So they can cure Trigger.”
    “Maybe we should call the police,” Andy said thoughtfully, tugging at a
strand of hair.
    “Oh. Sure,” Evan replied, rolling his eyes. “They’ll really believe us. For
sure. ‘We bought this stuff in a toy store, officer, and now it’s growing bigger
and bigger and it’s turning my dog into a giant monster.’”
    “Okay, okay. You’re right,” Andy said. “We can’t call the police.”
    “So, are you going to help me?” Evan demanded. “Will you take some of this
stuff?”
    “I guess,” she said reluctantly. “But just a little.” She climbed to her
feet, carefully stepping around the bucket. “I’ll be right back.”
    She left the room, then quickly returned, carrying an empty coffee can. “Fill
’er up,” she said, smiling.
    Evan stared at the coffee can. “That’s all you’re going to take?” he
complained. Then he immediately softened his tone. “Okay. Okay. It’s a help.”
    Andy crouched down and dipped the coffee can into the middle of the bucket.
“Hey!” she cried out. Her hands flew up and she tumbled back onto the floor.
    “What’s wrong?” Evan hurried over to her.
    “It was pulling the coffee can in,” she said, her features tight with fear
and surprise. “Sucking it. Look.”
    Evan peered into the bucket. The coffee can had disappeared under the
surface. “Huh?”
    “I could feel it pulling,” Andy said shakily. She regained her perch over the
bucket.
    “Let’s see,” Evan said, and plunged both hands into the middle of the Monster
Blood.
    “Yuck,” Andy said. “This is really gross.”
    “It’s pulling. You’re right,” Evan agreed. “It feels like it’s pulling my
hands down. Wow. It’s so warm. As if it’s alive.”
    “Don’t say that!” Andy cried with a shudder. “Just get the can out,
okay?”
    Evan had to tug hard, but he managed to pull up the coffee can, filled to the
top with the quivering green substance. “Yuck.”
    “You sure I have to take this?” Andy asked, not reaching for it even though
he was holding it out to her.
    “Just for a little while,” he said. “Till we think of a better plan.”
    “Maybe we could feed it to the Beymer twins,” Andy suggested, finally taking
the can.
    “Then we’d have giant Beymer twins,” Evan joked. “No, thank you.”
    “Seriously, you’d better watch out for them,” Andy warned. “If Trigger scared
them away this morning, they’ll be looking to get back at you. They really think
they’re tough dudes, Evan. They can be vicious. They could really hurt you.”
    “Thanks for trying to cheer me up,” Evan said glumly. He was still pulling tiny, clinging clumps of the Monster Blood off
his hands and tossing them into the bucket.
    “I was watching a video before you came over. The first Indiana Jones movie.
Want to watch it?”
    Evan shook his head. “No. I’d better go. Aunt Kathryn was busy making dinner
when I left. Chopping up some kind of meat. Another great dinner, sitting there
in silence, being stared at by Aunt Kathryn and her cat.”
    “Poor Evan,” Andy said, half teasing, half sympathetic.
    He picked up the bucket, now only two-thirds full, and let her walk him to
the front door. “Call me later, okay?” she asked.
    He nodded and stepped outside. She closed the door behind him.
    He was halfway to the sidewalk when the Beymer twins slipped out from behind
the evergreen hedge, their hands balled into red, beefy fists.

 
 
17
     
     
    The brothers stepped out of the shadows of the hedge. Their short blond hair
caught the late afternoon sunlight. They were both grinning gleefully.
    Evan stood frozen in place, staring from one to the other.
    No one said a word.
    One of the Beymers grabbed the