"Find anything?" she asked, glumly. I nodded excitely. "I sneaked into the employee lounge and found this," I whispered, and pulled out the book. Janet's eyes scanned the title. "Claudia," she said, in a loud whisper, "you're a genuis!" I smiled and placed the book back in my keeping. "Let's go," I said. We practically ran back to the cabin. "Aw, they're not here yet!" JAnet exclaimed, as we opened the door. SHe turned to me. "I'm going to get soda and chips. Want anythin'?" I shook my head. "No thanks." Janet grabbed her wallet form a drawer. "Suit yourself. See ya ya in a couple." "See ya," I said, softly as she closed the door. I sat on a cot and took out the book. Before I could open it, I heard a ringing noise like a phone. I got up and looked around for where it was coming from. In the corner which I hadn't notice before was a telephone and it was ringing. I picked it up slowly. "Hello?" I asked shakily. "Hi, Claudie," the unfamilar voice said. "It's Melissa." I almost dropped the phone. Why would she call me? "Um, hi, Melissa," I said. "I just wanted to know something," Melissa said. "You looked real surprised when you saw my shirt. I noticed you, Janet, Daina, Katherine, and Elizabeth were wearing Cooler things too. Um, Does that mean what I think it means?" I gulped. "I have to go, Melissa." "Claudia, wait! I-" But I slammed the phone down, loud enough for Mars to hear. I couldn't believe it! She hadn't said the exact words, but I think I know what she meant. I was turning back to the book when someobdy knocked on the door. I drew in my breath. It might be Melissa. But then again, Janet didn't take her key. I took my chances and opened the door quickly to get it over with. It WAS Melissa. "Hello, Claudia," she said, shyly. "May I come in?" I knew it was rude but I couldn't let her in. Daina, Janet, Katherine, and Elizabeth were coming any minute, and they would kill if they say Melissa here. "No," I said firmly. Melissa looked shocked and said, "I know you hung up on me, but could you listen for a minute?" I sighed and brushed past her to see if my friends were coming. "Fine," I said. "But only one minute!" "Well," Melissa said, "are you, Janet, Elizabeth, Katherine, and Daina...staying at the amusement park for the Coolers?" I bit my lip nervously. "I don't know what you are talking about," I said. I sneaked a glance toward the hallway. Daina, Katherine, Janet, and Elizabeth were coming!!! I took one last look at Melissa and then shut the door quietly and quickly before she knew what happened. "Aw, man," I whispered to myself. Even through the door I could hear Melissa confronting them. "What are you doing here?" Daina asked Melissa. "I-" Melissa started, but they cut her off. "No need for explanations," Katheirne said. "Yea," Janet said, "we know you were snopping around." "No, I-" "Go away," Elizabeth snapped. I could hear Melissa's meek footsteps down the hall. I rushed over to my cot and took out a magazine to pretend I was reading it. Daina and the rest of them bursted in a second later. "You won't believe who we bumped into!" Katherine exclaimed. I put on an innocent face. "Who?" I asked, pretending to be interrested. They filled me in with what I had just heard. "Uh, any luck with finding the midget?" I asked, once they were finished. Elizabeth shook her head. "Not a chance," Daina added. "But I did tell them about your discovery!" Janet said happily. "Read it," ELizabeth begged. I took out the book and opened to the first page. "Here it is." THen I began reading. "'The Midnight Wolf attacks at random. The midnight part os something to be concerned of. Though the Midnight Wolf can attack victims anytime, if it doesn't have it's choosed victim by midnight, it will loose a tooth. (WHEN IT HAS LOST ALL ITS TEETH IT WILL DIE!!!) The Midnight Wolf has forty teeth! As of March 3rd, 1999, the Midnight Wolf has thirty nine teth. There is one chance in 6,999,999 chance that a victim will survive. Don't let the 6,999,998 be you...The Midnight Wolf lives on the Midnight Wolf Island. One few see the island since it changes its place. The ones who do can never locate it, or come out alive.'" "Is that it?" Daina asked when I was done. "That was it," I said, setting down it down. "Short," Janet commented absently. "How can that be?" Katherine asked. "The book has alot pf pages." "The rest is blank," I explained. "Well, then," Daina said, standing up, "we hafta find the Midnight Wolf and the so called island of his right away." We all started talking at once. "We can't go to the Island!" "Are you kidding?" "That's crazy!" "I'm not going!" Daina bursted into giggles. "Boy you guys are suckers!" I rolled my eyes. "Ha, ha," Katheirne said. "Besides-" But she was interuppted by a loud bump and sudden stop of the boat! "Whoa!" I exclaimed as I was flung across the room by the power on the stop. There were many frightened cries heard from the hallways, other cabins, and our cabin. "Is everyone okay?" Janet asked, shakliy. Everyone replied yes, but I just managed a small nodd. "Attention passengers!" a voice bellowed from the intercom. "This is your captain speaking. We appear to have traveled off course and landed near an island, which is not on the map. Once we get out of this sludge and mud, we will be on our way. Thank you very much." There were a seroius of sighs and groans and then the intercom went back on. "Students of Redwood School please meet Mrs. Harpperel in the dining room now, please." Daina, Elizabeth, Katherine, Janet and I didn't say a word and just struggled to get up. "I wonder if the island is Midnight Wolf Island," I said outloud, as ELizabeth opened the door for us. "Yea sure, Claudia," Daina said. "Whatever you say." I decided to ignore her comment. We were already on thin strings as it was. "I got an idea!" I bursted out. "You guys cover for me, and I'll go check out the island, okay?" "What!" Daina, Janet, and ELizabeth practically yelled at me. "Cool idea," Katherine said. "I'll definitely cover for you." I smiled brightly. "Thanks, Katherine." THen I turned to the rest of my friends, who were dumbfounded. "Wish me luck, I'll be right back." I brushed past them and looked across the hallway. The coast was clear and then I- oof! "S-sorry," I stuttered. I had totally smacked into Melissa! "That's play," she said smiling. Then she dropped to a whisper. "Can I explore the island with you?" I could slap her! "How dare you easedrop?" I shouted. "I thought you were different, Melissa Konlore, then the Bumblebees!" Then I stormed off to the door outside. I was burning mad. My plan was going to be a total distaster....unless I acted fast!
Hmmm, what did I need.....anything? I looked up at the ceiling where the lifejackets were held. Its would probably be good to take one, but they were up too high. I jumped as high as I could, reaching as far as I could. "Yessssssss!" I said to myself, as I had reached the straps of the lifejackets. It was now hanging by one strap. It ook one last deep breath and plunged to the lifejacket. It came crashing down, practically hitting me. I tucked it under my arm and strted walking in a direction where I hoped my classmates wouldn't be. I had made my decision of going on the island that I surprised myself. I guess even though I didn't know it, I wanted to prove Daina wrong about saying I would be scared or whatever. Nothing like witches happen in real life anyway, so nothing like that has ever happened to me. (Not that I really wanted that, or did I?) I gulped as I wen threw the doorway of a low balcony on the ship. No one was around, so my escape was easy, somewhat. The water was only about six feet away, but I was scared half to death. After I would be in the water, I'd hafta swim about ten feet to the island. Slipping the lifejacket on, I though about what if the ship left with out!?! But I had to take my chances. Luckily, I had my swimmingsuit on ready gor the water slider at the amusement park. I quickly remembered that, so I took off my lifejacket along with along with my shorts and shirt. Man, I thought, the water might be cold! Taking my chances, I laid my clother in a bundle under a bench and snapped the lifejacket back on. I swallowed hard, but there was a big lump in my throat. I slipped my legs over the railing and stood on the edge. It was now or never. (I'd rather keep it never.) And then suddenly, someobdy pushed me in! My mouth filled with the lake's water. Sputterinr, I rose to the top. I wiped my hair aways from my face to see who pushed me. But no one was there! Then I heard coughing, sputtering, and weak paddling, and it was coming from behind me!!! "Help me, Claudia!" she coughed out. Sighing, I flung her arm over the side of my lifejacket. "Are you crazy?" I shouted to her, swimming to the island's bay. "You pushing me and diving in with no lifejacket?" Melissa was close to tears. "I'm sorry, Claudia," she managed. "I just wanted to help/" We were finally at the land. "You helped enough," I muttered. I shaled off the access water on my once my feet were on the sand. "Well," I said, "since you are here you might as well come." "Great!" Melissa exclaimed. When she saw the look on my face, she said worriedly, "I mean, I'm sorry." I chuckled. "Whatever. Come on, Let's make this quick." She didn't say anything else to I walked past her and started into the trees of the island. "Wait, I'm coming!" Melissa wailed after me. "On my god," she said when she stopped where I had. There was a little hut made of tree and such, just in the middle of the clearing. You know how Daina said that if something like that were to happen to me that I would be scared? For once, she was SO right. And all I had seen was the hut. "Listen, Melissa, why don't we just go back?" I suggested still staring at the little hut. When I got no reply, I turned to- WHAT! "Melissa!" I cried out. She was being carried by a...wolf?!!! "Claudia!" she screeched. I got so afriad that I ran back to the water. "Great," I said to myself. "You prove Daina right, get Melissa caught by some weird wolf and now there's no way to get back on the boat!" I finished with an experrating sigh, collasping onto the sand. "Claudia!" somebody called. I thought for a second that it was Melissa, ut it sounded more like... "Daina!" I exclaimed. She and the others were on the low balcony calling me. Elizabeth threw a lifesaver out and Katherine gestured her hands out to it. I slipped my lifejacket on and thrusted my feet into the water. They just weren't cooperrating today! I swam as quickly as I could to the lifesaver. It was hard for me to hold on to it, but I did my best as they pulled me up. Janet grabbed my hand as soon as I was in reach. Katherine helped me over the bar. "Good you're back, Claudia," Daina said. "I'm going to get my hcnage so we can play in the arcade." She quickly rushed out. "So did you see anything?" Elizabeth asked. I nodded. "There was this this hut-" "Oops," Katherine interupted. "Sorry for cutting you off, but Elizabeth and I were just about to go get something to eat..." I was angry. "You don't even care what I saw!" Elizabeth exchanged looks with Katherine. "It's not that important..." Janet said. "But if this island is important to you, I'll listen." "Me, too," Katherine said. Elizabeth sighed and mumbled, "Me, three." I smiled. "Good, but we don't have much time!" I quickly excalimed what had happened, and that we had to go help Melissa. "Let me get this striaght," Janet said, once I was done. "A Bumblebee is kidnapped, and you want to HELP?" "Yes," I said, suddenly relized this wouldn't work. "Are you crazy, Claudia?" Elizabeth said. "Did the saltwater get to your brain?" I fought back my distraught tears. How could they be so coldhearted? "No," I said, as straightly as I could. "Who cares if Melissa is a Bumblebee? We need to save her!" Katherine laughed. "Listen, listen, listen. This is halariuos! I wish Daina were here!" I glareed at her. "How can you guys just sit around? What the heck is wrong with you people? You're suppose to be my friends!" Elizabeth patted my back comfortly. "We are your friends, Claudia. But this is so isane!" "So trying tp save someone is isnae?" I asked, even madder. "We are not going to help you," Katherine said. "Can't you get that through your head?" I was too stunned for words. Melissa could be hurt or even the wolf's meal, but all they could think about was her being a Bumblebee? "Just think of it as one less BUmblebee to worry about," Janet said jokingly. They left me. "How could they do this to me?" I whispered. "Well if they won't help me, I'll find somebody who does!" I slipped my shirt and shorts on and entered the inside of the ship. Maybe one of the BUmblebees would help. After all, Melissa was one of them. I found their cabin and knocked on the door. Wendy and Tricia answered. "What are you doing here?" Tricia asked nervously. I saw Wendy check behind me, probably to see if anyone was with me. "Melissa is in terrible danger!" I exploded. I then explained everything. "Is this some kind of a sick joke?" Wendy asked, looking skeptical. "No!" I cried out. "Would you just come on? We have to save Melissa!" Tricia laughed. (Can you believe it??? Even her FRIENDS wouldn't help!) "Melissa and Kandy are at the gameroom." Tricia said. "Even go check for yourself." Then they closed the door. "Fine, I will," I mumbled. "I raced to the arcade, hoping to prove them wrong. I gasped in horror. Playing a video game, was Kandy AND Melissa! "WHAT!" I bursted out. This was impossible! Melissa and Kandy turned to me. "What's wrong?" Kandy asked, surprised. "Melissa is supposed to be kidnapped by the Midnight Wolf," I said. They laughed. "Sure, Claudia," Melissa said. "Then why am I right here?" I couldn't think of anything that sounded reasonable. I looked at Kandy, and then at Melissa. Even though they were veternal, Melissa lokoed different..... as if it wasn't her somehow. There wwas something on the side of her face, like....fur? Then it came to me. "You're not Melissa!" I shouted and pushed her hard to the ground. She snarled and fangs formed. I ran as fast as I could, hearing Kandy's cries as she tried to get away. I bursted into my cabin, where Daina was doing her hair into a bun. "You've got to help me!" I said. Daina turned to me as she hairsprayed her hair. "Why shuold I help YOU?" she asked. I searched for an answer. "Melissa is in trouble," I said quietly. Then I explained once again what happened. "Besides," I added, "you're the best swimmer I know." It was true! Daina was on a chapion swim team, and she was a great swimmmer. Daina slyly smiled. "This is a little upserd, but since you mentioned that I'll help." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Out of all people, Daina was going to help. "Maybe there's some things to help us in the first aid closet," she said, heading out. I follwed her quickly. Then a thought came to me. "Daina," I said, "I went to the arcade and Melissa and Kandy were there. But then Melissa changed into the Midnight Wolf. Maybe she's already..." But my voice trailed off. "Check that book again," Daina said. I took it out. "Hey!" I exclaimed. "There's more than there was beofre!" "Well, read it then," Daina urged. I cleard my throat. "'The Midnight Wolf is known to take the spirit and enter the body of its victims after its had its meal. This way it can get the victims' friends and family under cover.'" "That's it, right?" Daina asked. I nodded. "So anyway, that explains what I saw which means we can't save Melissa... but we can figure out a way to save everybody else." "Right," Daina said. "Oh, here's the first aid closet." She opened the door and we scanned the shelves. "Hmmm. Take two lifejackets, flashlight, pxygen tanks, and whatever you thinik we might need." Daina got the things while I kept a lookout. Then suddenly I saw a figure charging down the hall. The Midnight Wolf! I pushed Daina and myslef inside the closet and shut the door. "What did you do that for?" Daina exploded. I put my finger to my lips and mouthed "Midnight Wolf." Her eyes widened and handed me a bunch of stuff. Then I heard a slash of claws against the door. Ohhh...the Midnight Wolf was trying to get in! Daina grabbed my hand in fright. Only a few more clashes and he'd have us. I looked around for a point of rescue. There was no means of escape, only a small porthole which was was closed of course. I had no choice. "Stand back," I whispered to Daina. I grabbed the nearest thing I could reach and threw it against the window. Daina yelped in surprise. I scraped the access glass away. "No way!" Daina said crossing her arms. "Just go!" I shouted. Daina jumped in surprise. She put on an oxygen mask and lifejacket and jumped. Midnight Wolf slapped down the doorway finally. I drew my breath in. The Midnight Wolf was not like a regular wolf. It had big black ears perched on each side. IT's fur was mixed of black, grey, and off white. It actually stood on two feet also, and had barring sharp fangs and teeth, lined with gruesume blood. Its eyes were a deep black, filled with fury and hunger. I shook myself to stop gawking. I grabbed my oxygen tank and mask (whatever if I'm wrong!:)) as it leaped at me. "Nooo," escaped from my lips. Midnight Wolf's claws scraped across my leg. Taking the pain, I ran over to the porthole and started to pull myself up while the Midnight Wolf snarled and scratched my legs. I jumped through the porthole into the open air, screaming. The cold sea water hit my body so fast that I couldn't think. Daina pulled me up. "Take off your lifejacket!" she said. "We need to hide under water! The Midnight Wolf is coming!" I did what I was told and we plunged (not too deep) in the water. I could hear the Midnight Wolf splash in. Luckliy we had oxygen tanks or I wouldn't be able to hold my breath that long. I started to swim towards the island and I could feel Daina next to me.... What amazes me is that no one would help me except for Daina. Her and I were always at eachother's necks, and hadn't even argues much after she said she'd help. Not that I minded or anything! We finally reached the sandy shoers in relief. Each stroke had felt like one million strokes for me. The cuts and scars hurt like crazy, and were bleeding badly. I reached to the top of the water and took a peek. The Midnight Wolf was swimming around trying to find us. "Come on," Daina said, not too loudly. "Let's see what we can find in the hut." I swallowed hard. "Um, maybe we should go on the ship now." I twirled a piece of my hair nervously. Daina shook her head. "Claudia, you know how you hate happy endings on books and movies?" I nodded slowly. "Yeaaaaa." "Well," she said, looking in the distance, "the characters can't just sit around and do nothing ot else it WILL be a scary ending. And we don't want that to happen!" She turned into the bushes and trees, pulling me with her. Daina was right. This is like a horror film, except for real. "Cool," Daina said when she saw it. I started at her. "Cool" wasn't excatly the word I was thinking. She dragged me over to the hut and entered, with me getting scareder by the minute.
To read the rest, click part three of the Midnight Wolf!
Copyright © danilewcz@prodigy.net, 1999 |
