The Boy Who Ate Fear Street by R.L. Stine

Kevin and Lissa.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” I asked.
    â€œWe came to help you,” Kevin said. “Where are you going?”
    â€œI’m going to see Dr. Stone,” I said.
    â€œWhere’s Fred?” Lissa asked, searching for Fred.
    â€œI’m—I’m not taking Fred. I’m going for—me.”
    â€œYou’re going to a veterinarian!” Lissa cried. “That’s ridiculous.”
    â€œI don’t know what else to do!” I shouted. “Mom’s not home. Dad’s at lunch. I can’t find the name of a regular doctor. And my blood is still blue!” I held up my hand and showed them the dried blue blood.
    â€œNo way!” Kevin protested. “You are not going to a vet. You are coming with us.”
    â€œI am not going home with you!” I declared.
    â€œSomething is wrong with you, Sam,” Lissa said. “And Aunt Sylvie will know what to do.”
    â€œShe’s done enough!” I yelled.
    â€œWhat if we sneak into her room and search through her stuff. See if we can find anything about a black-flake curse,” Kevin suggested, rolling his eyes.
    I thought about that for a moment.
    Maybe that made sense.
    Maybe we could find a cure in her room for the curse.
    Dr. Stone probably wouldn’t know anything about the black-flake curse.
    â€œOkay.” I gave in. “But I don’t want her to know I’m there. We have to sneak into the house.”
    Kevin and Lissa agreed.
    As we walked along Fear Street, I noticed a tall maple tree a few houses from the corner—in the Knowltons’ front yard.
    I’d never seen such a tall tree before. Its branches towered over all the houses around it.
    â€œHow long has that tree been there?” I asked.
    â€œProbably about a million years,” Lissa said.
    I stared up at the tree. At its red and gold leavesas they floated to the ground. “I wonder why I never noticed it before.”
    â€œWhy would anyone notice a maple tree?” Kevin said. “They all look alike.”
    â€œHow could you miss that tree?” Lissa declared. “It must be thirty feet tall.”
    I stopped at the Knowltons’ gate. I pushed it open and walked into their front yard. I gazed down at the ground.
    â€œSam, what are you staring at?” Kevin asked.
    â€œThe leaves,” I replied. “They look so delicious.”
    I sank to my knees—and began stuffing the red and gold leaves into my mouth.
    I grabbed handful after handful from the ground. I stuffed my mouth full with leaves. They tasted drier than sand, but I couldn’t stop.
    â€œSam!” Kevin shouted. “Get up!”
    â€œWe have to stop him, Kevin,” Lissa wailed. “We have to do something!”
    Kevin and Lissa each grabbed one of my arms. They tried to tug me away from the leaves.
    â€œLet me go!” I shouted. “I have to eat these leaves!”
    Lissa grabbed my head in one of her karate holds and yanked me back.
    â€œPlease, just one more leaf,” I begged. “Just one more.”
    â€œDon’t believe him, Lissa,” Kevin shouted. “I’ve seen him eat paste. Once he starts, he can’t stop. If you let him go, he’ll eat every tree on Fear Street!”
    Lissa and Kevin dragged me back to the sidewalk.
    I took a deep breath.
    â€œThanks. I’m okay now,” I told them.
    â€œBoy, you really do need help,” Lissa said, shaking her head. “That was disgusting, Sam. Really disgusting.”
    I picked a leaf out from between my teeth. “I know,” I moaned.
    We walked a few steps—right by my front door.
    I thought about Aunt Sylvie.
    About her mocking laugh. Her evil chant.
    I decided to go home.
    â€œOh, no, you don’t.” Kevin pulled me back. “We’re going to my house, remember?”
    Kevin tugged me past my house. We walked by Mrs. Kowalski’s front lawn—and I took a dive. Right