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

tall.
    As the two kids stared in silent horror, the quivering green mass appeared to
come to life, like a newly born creature pulling itself up, stretching, looking
around.
    Then, with a loud sucking sound, it arched toward Evan, who was still
sprawled on the toppled can.
    “Get up, Evan!” Andy cried. “Get up! It’s going to roll right over you!”

 
 
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    “Noooooo!”
    Evan uttered an animal cry, a sound he had never made before—and rolled
away as the quivering green ball bounced toward him.
    “Run, Evan!” Andy screamed. She grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet.
“It’s alive!” she cried. “Run!”
    The Monster Blood heaved itself against the garage wall. It seemed to stick
there for a brief second. Then it peeled off, and came bouncing toward them with
surprising speed.
    “Help! Help!”
    “Somebody—please— help !”
    Screaming at the top of their lungs, Evan and Andy took off. Scrambling as
fast as he could, his legs weak and rubbery from fear, Evan followed Andy down
the driveway toward the front yard.
    “Help! Oh, please! Help us!”
    Evan’s voice was hoarse from screaming. His heart thudded in his chest. His
temples throbbed.
    He turned and saw that the Monster Blood was right behind them, picking up
speed as it bounced across the yard, making disgusting squishing noises with
each bounce.
    Plop. Plop. Plop.
    A robin, pulling at a worm in the grass, didn’t look up in time. The
trembling green mass rolled over it.
    “Oh!” Evan moaned, turning back to see the bird sucked into the green ball.
Its wings flapping frantically, the bird uttered a final cry, then disappeared
inside.
    Plop. Plop. Plop.
    The Monster Blood changed direction, still bouncing and quivering, and
leaving white stains on the grass like enormous, round footsteps.
    “It’s alive!” Andy screamed, her hands pressed against her cheeks. “Oh, my
God—it’s alive !”
    “What can we do? What can we do?” Evan didn’t recognize his own terrified
voice.
    “It’s catching up!” Andy screamed, pulling him by the hand. “Run!”
    Gasping loudly, they made their way to the front of the house.
    “Hey—what’s happening?” a voice called.
    “Huh?”
    Startled by the voice, Evan stopped short. He looked to the sidewalk to see
the Beymer twins, matching grins on their beefy faces.
    “My favorite punching bag,” one of them said to Evan. He raised his fist menacingly.
    They took a few steps toward Evan and Andy. Then their grins faded and their
mouths dropped open in horror as the gigantic green mass appeared, heading down
the drive, rolling as fast as a bicycle.
    “Look out!” Evan screamed.
    “Run!” Andy cried.
    But the two brothers were too startled to move.
    Their eyes bulging with fear, they threw their hands up as if trying to
shield themselves.
    Plop. Plop. Plop.
    The enormous ball of Monster Blood picked up speed as it bounced forward.
Evan shut his eyes as it hit the twins with a deafening smack.
    “Ow!”
    “No!”
    Both brothers cried out, flailing their arms, struggling to pull themselves
free.
    “Help us! Please—help us!”
    Their bodies twisted and writhed as they struggled.
    But they were stuck tight. The green gunk oozed over them, covering them
completely.
    Then it pulled them inside with a loud sucking pop.
    Andy shielded her eyes. “Sick,” she muttered. “Oooh. Sick.”
    Evan gasped in helpless horror as the Beymer brothers finally stopped
struggling.
    Their arms went limp. Their faces disappeared into the quivering gunk.
    The sucking sounds grew louder as the two boys were pulled deeper and deeper
inside. Then the Monster Blood bounced high, turned, and started back up the
drive.
    Andy and Evan froze, unsure of which way to head.
    “Split up!” Evan cried. “It can’t go after us both!”
    Andy returned his frightened stare. She opened her mouth, but no sound came
out.
    “Split up! Split up!” Evan repeated shrilly.
    “But—” Andy