Clark reached the door. “Here I am, swamp monster!” he called out as he stepped into the room. “Come and get me!”
A second later Clark’s terrified screams echoed from the room.
The creature roared over Clark’s cries.
Charley bounded up the stairs, barking wildly.
“Run! Run!” Clark came bursting from the room, waving his arms. “A monster! A swamp monster!”
We tore down the stairs, dragging Charley with us. Charley fought hard. He wanted to turn around and charge back up the steps.
“Charley, come!” I pleaded. “Come!”
But Charley sat down on a step and howled. He wouldn’t budge.
A bellow thundered through the hall.
Oh, no! He’s coming! He’s coming after us!
“PLEASE, CHARLEY!” I begged, yanking on his collar. “PLEASE!”
Clark stood on the steps, frozen in fear.
“Help me, Clark!” I pleaded. “Don’t just stand there. Help me!”
The swamp monster pounded down the hall. The old stairway quaked under our feet.
“He’s coming to get us,” Clark whispered. He still hadn’t moved.
I grabbed my stepbrother’s T-shirt and yanked him hard. “Help me, Clark!” I screamed. “Push Charley!”
We struggled down the stairs. I tugged Charley and Clark shoved him from behind.
“Grandma! Grandpa!” I cried out.
No answer.
The monster’s roar grew louder. Closer.
“Lock Charley in the bathroom!” I ordered Clark when we reached the second floor. “He’ll be safe there. I’ll find Grandma and Grandpa.”
I charged down to the kitchen. “Grandma! Grandpa!” I yelled. “A monster!”
No one in the kitchen.
I flew into the living room. “Where are you? Help!”
Not in the living room.
I searched the library. Empty.
I ran back up the stairs. I checked their bedroom and all the other rooms on the second floor.
I couldn’t find them anywhere.
Where are they? Where could they be? I asked myself.
Clark stepped out of the bathroom—just in time to hear the monster’s footsteps rumbling above us.
“W-where’s Grandma and Grandpa?” he stammered.
“I—I don’t know. I can’t find them!”
“Did you check outside?” His voice came out in a squeak.
That’s it! I thought. Don’t panic, Gretchen. They must be outside. Probably in the back. Grandpa is probably working on the shed.
We bolted down the stairs and into the kitchen.
We stopped at the back door. Stared out across the swamp. To the shed.
No one back there.
“Where are—?” Clark began.
“Listen!” I cut Clark off. “Do you hear that?”
