Monsterstreet #3, page 1
Dedication
To Kevin Reynolds, Lee Carter, and Bob Darden—
my three mentors who gave me the courage
to keep writing
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
1. A Strange Wind
2. Land of the Dead
3. Zombie Manor
4. Out of the Darkness
5. Carnival of Horrors
6. Moony Visions
7. Brother’s Keeper
8. Rehearsal for Death
9. Haunted Mirror Maze
10. What You See Is What You Get
11. Good Night, Sleep Tight
12. Morning Sickness
13. Secret on the Wall
14. A Tale of Two Sisters
15. Leave the Past in the Past
16. Three Questions
17. Carriage of Souls
18. Banishment
19. Monster in the House
20. Preparations
21. Basement Secrets
22. Checkmate
23. Outsmarting the Wheel
24. Feast of Souls
25. Fright Night
26. Forever’s End
27. Heart Broken
28. A Life Fully Lived
Acknowledgments
Excerpt from Monsterstreet #4: The Boy Who Cried Werewolf
About the Author
Back Ad
Copyright
About the Publisher
1
A Strange Wind
The two brothers stepped off the train, dragging their suitcases behind them. Ren was twelve, had perfectly combed hair, and wore his shirttail tucked in. Kip was nine, hadn’t combed his hair in days, and wouldn’t tuck in his shirt if his life depended on it.
It was their first time away from their parents for more than one night, and they had been given strict instructions to wait at the outdoor depot once they arrived at their destination. But when they looked around for somewhere to sit down, they realized that they were the only ones there.
“This place gives me the creeps,” Ren said.
“Scaredy-cat,” Kip replied. “What time is Aunt Winnie supposed to pick us up?”
“Four o’clock sharp,” Ren said, glancing down at his watch.
A crow cawed, and the boys turned to see a flock of black birds flying away from a scarecrow in the nearby cornfield. The brittle shucks quivered as a cool October breeze swept over Ren and Kip, carrying a strange scent upon it.
“Do you smell that?” Ren asked.
“Yeah. Smells like . . . pumpkins,” Kip said. “And cotton candy.”
“And something else too. What is it?” Ren mused aloud.
“I don’t know, but can you help me carry this?” Kip asked, tugging at his suitcase, which was twice his size.
“You’re old enough to carry your own luggage,” Ren said, forgetting about the scent for a moment.
“But it’s too heavy,” Kip complained. “And mom said you’re supposed to look after me while we’re here.”
“Only because she doesn’t want you to get in trouble like you always do,” Ren said, then reluctantly helped Kip pull his suitcase to a nearby bench. “I swear, Mom and Dad should pay me for being your full-time babysitter.”
“They don’t pay you because brothers are supposed to look out for each other,” Kip said. “Clay Ferguson’s big brother takes him on bike rides and to get ice cream and even to the movies. They’re like . . . friends.”
“Well, if you weren’t so annoying, maybe I’d let you tag along too,” Ren replied. “Not all of us can do whatever we want when we want—there’s a little thing called responsibility.”
“Hey, I can be responsible,” Kip said.
“Yeah right. When was the last time you made your bed or helped Mom unload the dishwasher?”
Kip didn’t say anything.
“It’s the same everywhere we go,” Ren continued. “I have to be the responsible one while you get to have all the fun.”
Kip looked at the ground, and Ren could tell he had hurt his little brother’s feelings.
Just as he was about to apologize, a black hearse with tinted windows slowly rolled into the empty parking lot and stopped. Chills shot up Ren’s spine as he realized that whoever was inside it was staring right at them.
2
Land of the Dead
The hearse didn’t move. It just sat there with the engine still running, like a spider waiting patiently in the shadows of its web.
“Should I call the cops?” Ren whispered, eyeing the nearby pay phone. But Kip looked more curious than afraid.
Ren felt his breath quickening as he peered at the dark windshield glaring back at them.
What do they want? he wondered.
Suddenly, the engine turned off.
The driver door creaked open.
And a pair of black tennis shoes appeared.
A brown-haired woman wearing sunglasses and a nurse’s uniform stepped out of the hearse and waved at them. She looked a few years younger than their mom.
“Aunt Winnie?” Ren said in disbelief.
“Hi, boys!” she called. “Sorry, I had to take a moment to touch up my makeup.”
They met her at the bottom of the depot steps, and she gave them both hugs.
“I swear you two have grown a foot since last Thanksgiving! I’m so glad I get you for an entire week while your parents are away on their anniversary trip in Europe. We’re going to have so much fun!”
Ren had always liked Aunt Winnie more than his other aunts and uncles. She was the only older person he knew who really seemed to care about what a kid had to say. Plus, she always sent the best birthday presents.
“What’s with the hearse?” Kip asked. “Do you work for a funeral home or something?”
Aunt Winnie laughed.
“Something like that,” she teased. “Let’s get your bags in the back with the coffin, and I’ll take you to . . . the Land of the Dead!”
“The Land of the Dead?” Ren questioned.
But Aunt Winnie didn’t explain.
As they drove through the nearby neighborhood, Ren observed Halloween décor in every yard. There were blow-up monsters and fake gravestones, smoking witch’s cauldrons and light-up animatronic figures. It seemed every house in town went all out for Halloween.
All the while, the pumpkin-candy scent poured through the hearse’s open windows.
“Don’t you just love this time of year?” Aunt Winnie said. “I can’t believe Halloween is only a few days away. Did you boys bring costumes? If not, I can throw something together for you.”
“I think I’ll pass,” Ren said. “Every Halloween, I end up spending the entire night chasing after Kip and making sure he doesn’t get in trouble.”
“I can help watch Kip so that you can have fun too,” Aunt Winnie replied.
“Really?” Ren asked.
“Sure,” Aunt Winnie said. “I mean, we’re talking about Halloween here. The one night of the year you can become anything you want! Besides, you’re only a kid once.”
Ren half smiled. The idea of actually getting to have fun on Halloween sounded too good to be true.
A few minutes later, Aunt Winnie turned in to a long driveway, and Ren observed the rusted iron sign above the arched stone entrance. It was overgrown with twisting green vines, but he could still make out the words Old Manor Nursing Home.
“You work at a nursing home?” Ren asked.
“You boys will love it,” Aunt Winnie said. “It’s like living in a library, only the books can talk to you. I’ve wanted to work here since I was in college. So when they invited me to be their activities director, I jumped at the opportunity. There’s something special about helping people during their last stop in life, you know.”
“Creepy is more like it,” Kip mumbled.
Ren elbowed Kip in his ribs.
“That sounds nice, Aunt Winnie,” Ren said, then glared at Kip and added, “and responsible.”
Kip rolled his eyes.
Once inside the property grounds, Ren expected to see dozens of old people wandering around in the garden while others sat in wheelchairs staring out into nothingness. But instead, he saw pumpkins grinning from behind each window, black streamers strung above every door, and droves of elderly people cobwebbing the porch.
“Welcome to the Land of the Dead,” Aunt Winnie announced.
Ren looked up and saw a giant hand-painted sign hanging over the front doors of the nursing home.
Beware . . .
You Are Now Entering the Haunted Manor!
“This is the Land of the Dead?” Kip asked. “Do you call it that because people die here all the time?”
“Kip!” Aunt Winnie said. “We’re actually just transforming Old Manor into a big haunted house for Halloween night—the Haauuunntted Maaannnoooorrr!” she said in her spookiest voice. “I’ve put ads in the local gazette, inviting all the neighborhood kids to come trick-or-treating here. I even rented this hearse for the week to keep parked out front to give it extra ambience.”
“You’re not going to need to put much makeup on these old people for your haunted house,” Kip said, then pointed to the small graveyard in the empty field next to the manor. “Everyone here already looks half-dead.”
Ren nudged Kip again.
“Kip, please show a little respect while you’re here,” Aunt Winnie said. “These folks have lived stories beyond your wildest dreams. And as you can see, they’r
As the boys stepped out of the hearse, a crinkled sheet of paper twirled in the strange autumn wind and blew up against Ren’s shin. He picked up the flyer and read it.
Experience the horror, the mystery, the wonder!
Get your ticket to the scariest carnival in the world.
But beware . . . you may not make it out alive.
*Bring this flyer to the Carnival of Horrors for one free ride!
Ren looked up and saw a giant black Ferris Wheel looming in the distance, reaching toward the gray October sky. The wheel was surrounded by a tiny village of orange-and-black-striped tents and rusty rides, all dotted with alluring purple lights. At the sight of it all, Ren realized what the peculiar scent had been.
The carnival! he thought. With its funnel cakes and cotton candy, turkey legs and roasted corn, and a thousand other autumn delights . . .
But there had been something else in the scent too—something he still couldn’t name.
Aunt Winnie stepped out of the car and noticed the flyer in Ren’s hand.
“You know, it’s weird,” she said. “I woke up this morning, and that Halloween carnival had just appeared overnight. No trains. No trucks. Nothing. It’s like it conjured itself out of thin air.”
3
Zombie Manor
As soon as Ren stepped through the mausoleum-themed doors of the nursing home, the sweet scents of the carnival collided with the smells of bleach and floor wax.
“You boys can have your own room in the guest house. I’ll be just down the hall from you,” Aunt Winnie said, pointing out a window to a small house beside Old Manor.
Ren and Kip peered down a dimly lit hallway. Several old people were hanging up black streamers across the walls, the soles of their slippers squeaking against the floors.
“They look like zombies,” Kip whispered to Ren. “Do you think they’ll try to eat our brains while we’re asleep?”
“First you’d have to have brains for them to eat,” Ren said.
Just then, a high-pitched beeping sound pierced their ears, and Ren noticed a red light blinking on the giant service board behind the front desk.
“Geesh. Where is Brad when I need him?” Aunt Winnie said.
“Who’s Brad?” Ren asked.
“He’s the head nurse,” Aunt Winnie replied, examining the service board. Her eyes suddenly filled with dread. “Oh no, not Room 1942. Any room but 1942.”
She turned to Ren.
“Can you do me a favor and go check on Mrs. Wellshire?”
“Why me?”
“Because all the other nurses are busy, and I— Well, let’s just say Mrs. Wellshire hasn’t taken to me very well. She’s already thrown three trays at me this week,” Aunt Winnie said. Ren wondered how anyone couldn’t like his aunt. “I’ll give you boys twenty dollars to go to the carnival later if you just do this one favor for me.”
Kip began jumping up and down with excitement.
“Oh, please, Ren!” he begged. “I’ve never been to a carnival! Please, pretty please!”
Ren looked down at his little brother. The only other time he had seen Kip so excited was when their parents had given him his first bike.
“All right, all right,” Ren surrendered. “But only if you don’t annoy me the rest of the time we’re here.”
“No problem!” Kip promised.
“Mrs. Wellshire’s room is just down that way,” Aunt Winnie said, pointing Ren in the right direction. “I’ll help Kip carry your bags to your room. When you’re done, come back here and give me an update. Then I’ll drop you boys off at the carnival.”
Reluctantly, Ren started down the hallway, counting down the room numbers posted beside the doors decorated like coffin lids. . . .
“1962 . . . 1961 . . . 1960 . . . 1959 . . .”
Several doors were open, revealing glimpses of the residents in each room.
Some sat watching Halloween movies in front of buzzing TVs.
Others were decorating their walls with skeleton and gargoyle cutouts.
A few were even crafting their own costumes.
All the while, Ren tried to ignore the smells of bleach and Lysol that lingered in the air.
When he finally arrived at Room 1942, the door was cracked open, and the room was as dark as midnight. In fact, it was the only room on the hall that didn’t have a single Halloween decoration outside it.
Knock, knock.
No one answered.
Ren gently pushed open the door and saw a tray of uneaten food sitting on a table beside the bed.
Then he noticed someone sleeping in the bed, covered in a mound of blankets.
“Mrs. Wellshire, I just came by to see if you needed anything,” he called out, stepping inside the room.
Still no answer.
What if she’s dead? Ren thought, wondering how cold her corpse might be.
The possibility chilled him.
He gulped.
Then cautiously, he reached to pull back the blanket. . . .
4
Out of the Darkness
Maybe I should go get Aunt Winnie, he mused, having second thoughts.
But curiosity overcame him.
Slowly, he pulled back the blanket and cringed at the sight of the stuffed, disfigured thing beneath it.
A pillow?
Ren laughed, feeling both silly and relieved.
He turned to exit, deciding Mrs. Wellshire must have left her room. But he stopped when he heard a frightened voice creep out of the darkness. . . .
“H-have they left? Is it safe now?”
Ren squinted and saw a twisted figure crouching in the closet, veiled in shadow.
“H-has who left?” he called back.
“The carnies,” the voice returned, and a withered face leaned into the dusty light pouring in from the hallway. “I heard them come in the night.”
The old woman with frizzy white hair stepped out of the closet, and Ren noticed her hands were trembling. She was so pale, he could see the tangle of blue veins beneath her skin.
“I woke up in the night and saw the purple haze out my window. And the tents,” she said. “Just like last time. We were warned to stay away, but we didn’t listen. And now they’re back. For another harvest.”
She reached down and touched the odd-shaped scar on her forearm.
“What are you talking about?” Ren asked.
But Mrs. Wellshire didn’t answer. Instead, she began pacing back and forth, babbling things that Ren couldn’t understand.
When she noticed the flyer in his hand, she grabbed it eagerly and examined it, as if looking for a hidden message.
“Hey, give that back!” Ren said. “I need it to get a free ride!”
He took the flyer and glared at the old woman. She seemed haunted by something.
“I—I just came to see if you needed anything,” Ren explained. “My aunt is the director here and asked me to come check on you.”
He stepped backward toward the door, keeping an eye on the old woman. She stood in the same place, but turned her shoulders squarely toward him.
“Whatever you do, don’t listen to him,” she warned. “Everything he says is a candy-coated lie.”
“Everything who says?” Ren asked.
“The Tick-Tock Man,” Mrs. Wellshire whispered.
Ren didn’t know why, but his blood turned cold at the mention of the name.
This place is getting in my head. I’ve got to get out of here, he thought.
Ren stepped out of the room and closed the door, leaving Mrs. Wellshire alone in the dark.
He waited outside her room for a moment, listening to see if she was going to come after him. But the door remained sealed.
No wonder Aunt Winnie didn’t want to come down here, he thought, then looked at the balled-up flyer in his hand. Carnivals show up in lots of towns this time of year. It can’t be that bad.
But by the end of the night, he would think otherwise.
5
Carnival of Horrors
Aunt Winnie pulled up in front of the carnival gates and handed a twenty-dollar bill to Ren.
“Make sure you split this equally. And stay together at all times, okay? I’ll pick you boys up at this same spot in two hours.”
