Chapter 13: Werewolf Village

I looked around, trying to figure out where Stine and the others could be. I placed my hand on the tunnel, then yelped when a worm slithered on it. "Uh..." I spoke, flicking the worm off my hand, "...let's go somewhere else and to find the others," I suggested, getting grossed out by the slimy bugs. "I don't want anymore worms crawling up on me." I shivered.

Hannah nodded. "Good idea," she responded, agreeing with me. "They could be anywhere." She let out a sigh. "I hope my dad doesn't have a panic attack..." she said. "Plus, I don't want to be in Horrorland anymore, either."

"Same," I replied. "I mean, they could be over there..." I pointed at a sign that reads Werewolf Village. "...or over there..." I then pointed at the sign that says Fever Swamp, which looks like a water park. "...or they can be over there." I also pointed at a sign that says Black Lagoon Water Park. I ran my hand over my face. "They can be anywhere. Do you think they're looking for us , too?" I asked.

"I'm not sure," Hannah answered in an honest voice. "Plus, I'm hungry, too," she added. "I hadn't eaten all day long," she slightly complained.

"So am I." My stomach growled with hunger. "I shouldn't have thrown my backpack at you guys and not run off..." I let out a frustrated moan. "Again, I'm sorry for yelling at you guys," I repeated my apology. "It wasn't right for me to do that."

Hannah was about to place her hand on my shoulder and stopped, letting it dropped to her side. "Don't apologize anymore, Hazel," she assured me with a light grin. "You were just angry, that's all. At least your face didn't do the red thing like my dad's face when he gets angry. Come on, maybe the guys went into Werewolf Village." She gestured her hand for me to follow her.

Not hesitating for one second, I went with her, shoving my hands back into my pants pockets, blowing my hair out of my face. We didn't talk for a whole two minutes until I spoke up. "What happened in the house between you and Stine?"

"What?" She gave me a questioning look.

"You and Stine," I repeated, keeping my eyes straight ahead. "It just came to me, because I was doing my final walk a few nights ago when I heard you and Stine arguing," I explained. "So not to make sure you or your dad not to see me, I spied you guys from the other side of the fence, standing at the side of Zach's house, and that's..." I paused for a second.

"And that's?" Hannah continued, waiting patiently for me what to say next. "Go on," she urged lightly, and I felt her stare at me. Not in a bad way, a good way. Calm way, to be exact.

"And that's when I heard you screaming bloody hell," I continued to explain. I felt tears emerging in my eyes. "I thought Stine was beating you... just like Jeff did to me. But when I asked Stine if he was abusing you, he gave me a shock look, and told me that he wasn't hurting you..." I breathed in and out my nose. "All I wanted to ask is..." I looked at Hannah who continued to give me that relax stare. "...what happened in that house? Really?" I insisted. "Why did you scream like that? Because it freaked me and your boyfriend out."

Hannah let out a heavy breath and responded to my question. "Alright, I'll tell you. Remember when I was glowing blue when the moonlight shined on me. You know? At the school? It even happened at the graveyard when you were up ahead with dad and Champ when Zach was walking with me."

"...yeah..." I nodded, remembering the scene at the school, but didn't know that she also glowed blue at the graveyard. "I saw that and found out right away that you are a ghost. Actually... Are you still a ghost? Because I'm not sure if you told if you're a living person or if you're still a ghost... Oh wait, you did told me. Sorry...I forgot..."

"That's okay. Well, my dad rewrote me back into the world where I can age with Zach and everyone about my age," she told me. "Anyway..." Hannah went back to explain that very night on why'd she let out that frightening scream. "...when I came back from my secret hideout, my dad wasn't happy with me, feeling disappointed that I didn't stay away from Zach. We were up in the study room, and I kept trying to tell dad that he needs to stop being so overprotective of me.

'Dad, it's not a big deal...' I told him as he was pacing around the study room with me nearby the window that is directed towards Zach's house.

'Hannah, you have to understand...' Dad tried to reason with me, but I wasn't having it.

'I don't have to understand anything!' I raised my voice, getting all worked up. 'We were just talking,' I exclaimed. 'Why can't I have friends?' I asked him.

He sent me an angry look. 'You know why!' he yelled, gesturing his hand over at the bookshelf that are filled with his books.

I gave him a frustrated look. 'That's not fair!' I protested, my voice high and shrill. 'You can't keep me locked up all the time,' I said.

'You are never allowed to see that boy ever again!' His angry look turned into a glare as he came up to me. 'Do you understand me?!' he bellowed as he got in my face, throwing his hands in the air, having my frustrated look being replaced with fear. I never liked it when he gets angry at me. 'Ever!' he repeated.

'Dad, please calm down...' I begged in a pleading tone of voice, seeing him go over to the bookshelf, scanning the row of books that are on the shelves until he pulled one out. He didn't say anything as he grabbed the manuscript key off his desk, and right away, I knew what he was about to do. 'No!' I let out a cry that escaped my mouth.

And just as he was about to unlock the book, he suddenly tripped over the lamp cord, falling to the floor, causing the lamp to make a loud crash sound right next to him, with me letting out a scream when the lights cut out, raising my hands as if to shield myself, as the room went into darkness. In the darkness, I heard my dad get up, setting the lamp back on the table, which somehow didn't break, when the room was being filled with light again once he plugged the end of the lamp cord back into the wall.

Picking up the book, which is my book, and the key off the floor, his glare disappeared from him when he looked at me when he saw a terrified expression on my face.

I was breathing heavily, dropping my hands back down onto my sides. And we stared at each other. Dad opened his mouth to say something when we heard a knock at the front door. It sounded frantic. He set the key under the clear glass that he keeps it in that is on his desk as well, along with putting my book back on the shelf, and pointed at me. 'Go to your room,' he ordered in a strict tone of voice.

'Why?' I questioned him. 'It could be Zach...' My voice trailed off when he came up to me, pointing out of the study room with his finger.

'Go. To. Your. Room,' he repeated through gritted teeth. 'Now," he added. 'Don't come out unless I say so,' he instructed.

Not wanting him to get angry at me for not doing a simple task, I did so. I walked into my bedroom, closing the door, hearing my dad stomp down the steps to answer the front door.

'What? What?' Dad said from downstairs.

I can hear Zach in a concerned manner. 'I heard a scream. Is Hannah okay?' he replied. I wanted to go downstairs very badly to see him. But if I do, I'll get in big trouble.

'There was no scream,' my dad stated, pretending that our arguing and my scream had never happened. 'You didn't hear anything. Get out of here, or the last scream you'll hear will be your own.' I flinched when I heard the front door slam shut.

In my room, I heard Zach beating on the front door. 'Let me see Hannah! I need to see if she's okay! Let me in the house, you psychopath!' The pounding on the door got louder and louder. 'I said-'

He was cut off as my dad screamed, 'Get away from the door, NOW! You are never seeing my daughter, EVER! Do you understand me?! I'm warning you!' I jumped when he slammed the door again, then heard him climb up the stairs. 'Hannah?' he called out.

Instead of answering, I went over to my bed and lied down on top of my covers that are on the mattress.

'Hannah?' I heard my bedroom door opened, then heard his shoes as he came over to me. 'Hannah?' he said. I still didn't answer and put one of my pillows over my face. I felt him sat on the bed. 'Hannah... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get angry at you... But things will get better...'

'You say that all the time,' I muffled.

'Hm?' Dad questioned.

'You say that all the time!' I repeated, sitting up, throwing the pillow across the bed which ended up on the floor instead. 'You always say 'things will get better',' I quoted with my fingers. 'You know, this is getting ridiculous. We keep moving from one town to the next, and you always keep me indoors for every twenty four hours each day! I want to make friends, but you-' I pointed at him. '-wouldn't let me! At all!'

Dad's eyes filled with sorrow. 'Hannah, you need to understand. If you go out, people will find out what you are,' he reasoned with me. 'And my secret,' he added.

'I don't care about your damn secret!' I yelled, getting all fed up.

'Hannah Fairchild Stine, don't you ever say that word at me again!' He pointed at me. 'You know why I'm strict with you. You know why I'm overprotective of you. I was picked on during my younger years because of my allergies that I had to stay indoors.'

'And what makes you think that people will start making fun of me?' I argued. 'Dad, I won't know unless you allow me to make friends in this town,' I explained to him.

'There are a lot of bad people out in this world, sweetheart,' he told me gently as I turned my body around, staring down at the floor. 'And do you remember what happened back in Chicago?' he asked, changing the subject all of the sudden. 'Back in two thousand and ten? You know? Five years ago?'

I nodded. 'Slappy got out of his book and released all the monsters,' I recalled, rolling my eyes.

'That's right, and with a help with someone, too,' he recalled as well.

I gave him a confused look. 'Who?'

He shrugged. 'I don't remember her name,' he answered honestly. 'However it wasn't Hazel since she has light brown hair that stops at her shoulders. The girl I met who was in the library distracting Slappy at the Town Centre Galleria, she was twelve at the time and she had dark, brown eyes and short black hair. Shorter then Hazel's. She does have an older brother, though. I don't know his name, either.'

'...oh,' was all I replied. 'I wish I knew who they were, but... I guess I was asleep in the car...'

'And that's a good thing,' he pointed out. 'And luckily, it was a cloudy night, too,' he remembered, chuckling. 'Of course, that girl knew who I was right away when she saw me.'

'Really?' I gave him a disbelief look.

'Yep, before I went on calling myself Shivers, I went by-' A knock came at the front door again. Dad narrowed his eyebrows. 'God, can't that kid ever take a hike?' He turned back to me. 'Stay here.' He got up and went to see who it is.

I heard the door open and got up from my bed, pacing around the room as I heard different voices from downstairs, along with my dad answering questions. I then heard Zach yelling for my name and I stopped pacing around, until I heard a male voice and not my dad's.

Minutes later, he came back into my room. 'Was that Zach?' I asked him, hopefully.

He let out an exasperated sigh. '...yes, that was him, and he called the cops on me. And I have to lie, saying that you moved back with your mother in London.'

'Great job, dad,' I responded back in a sarcastic voice. 'So you didn't let him see me?' I questioned him with crossed arms over my chest.

'That's right," he strictly answered, until his phone rang. He answered it. 'Hello?'

'Uh, hi,' a voice spoke. 'We want to talk about the domestic disturbance that happened tonight. Mind if you come to the station?'

Dad looked at me and went back to the phone. 'Sure, I'll be there.'

'Thank you, sir. We'll see you there. Bye.' There was a beep sound when the person hung up.

'Who was it?' I asked dad as he put his phone in his pocket.

'The police asked me to come to the station,' he told me. 'Stay here and I'll be back.'

'Okay,' I nodded.

"And so that's what happened and why he's so overprotective of me," Hannah finished. "And when my dad went to the police station, I heard voices in the study room. At first when I grabbed the baseball bat I thought some burglars broke into the house." She chuckled. "I didn't know it was you three." Hannah glanced at me, noticing my confused expression. "What?" she said.

"Slappy released the monsters before you and Stine moved to Madison, Delaware? And some girl helped him?" I asked.

"Yeah," she answered with a nod, "six years ago. Like I said, he told me he doesn't remember her name nor her brother's name. I think he had a phone call from her, saying that she needs help or something to stop that evil dummy."

I shivered. "I hate ventriloquist dummies… they freak me out," I replied. "Even dolls," I added.

"Did you know my god brother actually forced me to watch a horror movie about a possessed doll? It was an old movie, but it was terrifying. It was called Child's Play." I kicked a rock out my way. "I even begged him to turn it off, only he wouldn't. And that's when I got upset and tried to take the remote from him. He was twelve when I was five, so he was bigger than me."

"What year was that when you were five and when your god brother is twelve?" Hannah asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm not sure..." I responded honestly. "I'm not good at remembering dates," I explained. "Anyway..." I sighed. "We were fighting over the remote since I don't want to watch the movie anymore, and he threw it at the TV, making the remote make a large scratch on the screen, causing the television not to work anymore..." I paused. "...and when Kelly and Jeff came to ask, Travis..."

"Let me guess..." Hannah added. "He lied to them, saying that you broke it. Even when you never did it at all."

"That's right..." I confirmed sadly.

"Did they believe him?"

My eyes widen a bit before I looked at her. "Of course they believed him!" I cried somewhat loudly and stopped walking and she did the same. "They always believe him! Every time when something goes wrong at the household, he tells them stupid fibs to my god parents! Especially to Jeff! And I hate it!"

"Okay, okay," she replied after my rant. "Sorry that I asked. To me, your god brother sounds like an ass," she commented.

"And he's still an ass," I remarked.

"What if you run into him?" she replied.

"I hope I don't run into him," I clarified as we began walking again. "I mean, seriously, if I run into him, bad things will start happening again." Another sigh slipped out my lips. "I wish I can use Stine's magic typewriter and write a story about him and his family so I can suck them into a book. That way I won't have to worry anymore. In fact, a few nights ago when I was walking back to my house, I saw theirs... But I didn't go near it, I just...walked away from it in case they see me."

"You should tell the police," Hannah suggested as if my god parents are out to find me.

"The police are stupid," I muttered under my breath. "Besides... it was a long time ago since I

ran away from home," I told her my irritated mood being replaced with depression.

"Boy... you switch moods a lot," she commented on my different expressions that I keep receiving. "Not only that I think you might be suffering from depression, I feel like you're bipolar or something."

I scoffed a bit. "Where did you learn that?"

"Health class," she shortly answered. "Just like I mentioned before. It's something that I learned in school." She then began thinking. "If you want to, I can also ask my dad if he can enroll you in school..."

"No," I responded, holding my hand up. "I don't want to go to school anymore. If I do, I'll end up reliving my awful experiences. Plus, I might run into my old classmates again..."

"How would you know?" she slightly questioned me with a raised brow.

"I just do," I answered unnervingly, looking at the ground, listening to the sound of our shoes hitting the pavement of the Horrorland path that we are on.

"Hazel, you won't know if you-"

"I said, NO!" I cut her off in an aggravating tone of voice which shocked her. "I'm sorry..." I calmed down. "It's just that...I don't want to go through the same thing," I explained to her. "Alright?" I said.

"...Alright," she agreed. Then added, "I hope the guys are at Werewolf Village."

"I hope we don't run into werewolves," I added in as well.

And we continued on our way to Werewolf Village.

When we finally arrived, we entered, seeing lots of different buildings like the clothing store called Fur Sure! And another one that looks like a spa, which is called Moment Of Paws as we walked by them.

Around us we heard howls over at The Werewolf Petting Zoo and The Wolfsbane Forest. The forest I was previously after I went down the Doom Slide. I hope the gates still locked... I don't want to get attacked by werewolves again.

As we continued walking, we were surprised to see a female Horror coming up to us wearing a dirty apron with stains all over it, walking out of a restaurant that was in front of us, causing us to stop at our tracks once she stood in front of us.

"Hey there," she greeted in a gruff voice. "Would you like to have a bite over at Wolf It Down?" she asked us, gesturing at the restaurant with her large, green fury hand. "It's the only vegetarian werewolf restaurant in Horrorland. We specialize tofu one-armed shepherd pie, cub club cheese sandwiches, and-"

"We're not hungry," I told her, cutting her off, even though I was starving. I really don't want to have any Horrorland food.

"Aw, come on," she encouraged with a toothy smile, almost like a werewolf. "You girls look like you haven't eaten all night."

"We're not hungry," I repeated in a slight rude tone of voice. My stomach rumbled and I couldn't help but feel embarrassed as she let out a throaty laugh. She actually sounded like a werewolf when she does that.

"Come on, girls, I don't want you to starve." She reached out to grab us with her fury green hands.

"No!" My outburst caused the Horror to give out a gasp. "Don't you dare touch us!" I warned, glaring into her eyes. "We're looking for three guys. Have you seen them?" I questioned her.

"Just a minute ago," she answered.

Hannah stepped forward. "Which way did they go?" she asked, standing at my side, eyes locked on the Horror.

"They went..." She pointed at the direction. "...that way," she told us. "Are you sure you don't want anything to eat?" she replied.

"Like Hazel said, we're not hungry," Hannah informed her, then turned to me, putting her hand at the side of her mouth, and silently said, "I'm starving."

"So am I," I repeated from earlier also covering the side of my mouth, saying it silently where the Horror can't hear it. I looked back at the Horror. "Thank you," I responded to her direction that she pointed.

She notice my facial expression. "You okay?" she asked me.

"I'm fine," I responded in a snippy voice my depressed mood switching to anger. I turned to Hannah. "Let's go," I said, wanting to get away from the green, fury monster. "Let's go and keep on searching for Stine and boys."

"Good idea," she replied.

We then burst into a run, hearing the Horror hollering at us. "Come back here and have something to eat!"

We're not hungry, I repeated in my mind. We then stopped, taking deep breaths. "Okay, she stated that they went that way," I pointed, referring to the direction that was told to us. "They probably went in one of those buildings," I stated.

"You might be right," Hannah agreed, gazing at the buildings. "Let's check in there." I looked to see the building she was pointing at.

"Wolfgang's Music Shop?" I questioned.

She nodded. "Yeah, we can check to see if the guys are in there," she answered, walking towards the building. "If not, we can ask a freaky Horror that works there in case he or she saw them," she said, not stopping that I had to catch up with her.

"You know," I brought up, "if they would've stayed over at the end of The Tunnel Of Screams, none of this would have ever happened," I complained.

"Well, dad did say that we should leave you alone, but I refused," Hannah replied by the time we got to the building. And when we opened the door, loud blasting music pierced into our eardrums. "Ow!" she cried from the loud sound. "This sound is worse than being trapped inside a book with all the monsters that Slappy released!" she hollered, covering her ears, but I can barely hear her.

"What?" I yelled as I covered my ears.

"I said, this sound is worse than being trapped inside the book with all the monsters that Slappy released!" she repeated much more loudly.

"What do you mean the sound is worse? Were the monsters going insane?" I pressed my hands over my ears more tightly as a loud, electric guitar solo came through the speakers. "You know, if someone doesn't turn this damn music off, I'm going to end up deaf!" I declared. I glanced over to see a Horror at the desk, bobbing his large head at the loud beat of drums after that guitar solo until it went back to instrumental.

"We howl along as we sing this song." The singing came through the speakers in a loud growly tune.

"We'll keep on howling all night long," the Horror sang along to the loud singing from the speakers. "Let's howl at the moon, and we'll jam until noon."

Not wanting to lose my hearing, I walked over to him. "Hey!" I tried to yell over the music and song, but he kept bobbing his head at the rhythm, and didn't hear me. Like I said before, I am kind of quiet. "Hey!" I forced out, louder this time. That made the Horror shut up and stopped singing and he was surprised to see me and Hannah. "Will you turn that down or shut the music off?" I requested. "We want to ask you something!"

Like I asked, he shut the music off. "You want to ask me something?" he repeated my words.

I rubbed the pain from my ears. Hannah also rubbed her ears as well. "Yes," I finally answered once the pain is gone, "we want to ask you something. Have you seen three guys? Were they here?"

"A few minutes ago," he responded. "Are you here to purchase some werewolf howl recordings of moon-themed songs on CD of the most famous all-werewolf band by Howie And The Howlers?" he asked, gesturing his hand over at a poster on one of the walls. "We have all their songs if you're interested," he said with a grin that I wish I can do.

"No, thank you..." I replied, feeling very uneasy from him due to his large size, reminding me of Jeff. "Do you know where they went?" I questioned him like a cop would do in case someone saw a murder run past them.

He shook his head. "Sorry, I wish I knew, but I turned the music back on so I wasn't paying attention." Figures. "If you want," he continued talking, "you can check over at Over The Moon Souvenirs, or..." He raised his finger. "...you can check at Make Me Howl."

"Thanks." After that, me and her stepped out of the building, hearing the music and song being played again. "I can't wait to trap everything in the book," I said to her.

"I can't wait, either," she replied, looking around. "I hope you know who isn't listening since he's...well... a fraud..." she whispered.

"And a menace," I added, referring to what Stine calls him. "Come on, let's check at Over The Moon Souvenirs." I began walking with Hannah right by my side. "Will I ever smile again?" The question just popped out of my mouth, along with a long frown on my face. "I don't know why I asked, but I just did. So... will I ever be happy again, Hannah?"

"I'm not sure," she responded. "However..." She turned to me. "...if I never see you smile... I won't mind. We don't mind if you can't smile anymore." She then sighed. "Although...I wish you could smile."

"...maybe I'll smile someday," I replied with a short shrug of my shoulders.

By the time we reach Over The Moon Souvenirs, which is actually a gift shop, the bell on over our heads jingled as we entered, seeing a lot of werewolf-like souvenirs. I walked around, wanting to see if Stine and boys are here.

"Looking for something to buy?" I jumped and turned around to see a Horror next to me. This creepy amusement park is filled with these green, furry monsters. "We have silver bullet key-chains, wolf cub dolls..." A shiver ran down my spine when he said 'doll'. "...miniature Werewolf Village play sets, a jar of authentic werewolf drool, and..." He held something up that was hanging at the back of his neck. "...we have wolf tooth necklaces." He let the tooth that was hanging on the string hit his chest as he dropped it. "So what would you like to have?" he asked with a toothy grin. "We have a lot of things that has to do with werewolves," he said in his growly voice. I bet all these Horrors have those voices.

"We're not here to buy anything," I told him, stepping back due to his large size. "Me and her-" I pointed at Hannah. "-are looking for three guys. One adult and two teenagers," I said. "Were they here or not?" I was getting tired of looking for them, and I hope they're looking for us, too.

"A few minutes ago," the Horror answered, going over to one of the shelves that is display of wolf cub dolls. "You look like you need a stuffed animal to take home with you," he grinned.

"We're not here to buy anything," Hannah repeated my words. She looked at me. "I can't wait to finish this 'challenge'," she mouthed.

I nodded, knowing what she meant. I looked back at the Horror. "Okay, we'll get going now," I said to him.

"Are you sure you don't want to buy anything?" the Horror replied, gesturing his hand at all the stuff, clutching the wolf cub doll. "This doll is made by real werewolf fur," he stated to us.

"No, thank you." I backed away from him. "We didn't bring any money, so... yeah...we're not here to buy anything." Hannah and I walked out the door. From outside, we looked inside the building. The Horror shrugged his large shoulders, and then we made our way to the next building. "You know, if they aren't over at the next place, I'm gonna start having an anger fit," I griped, clenching my hands into tight fists. "I'm getting tired of looking for them, I want to get everything in that damn book that we still cannot find, and," I added, "I want to punch that Invisible Boy in the face."

Hannah furrowed her brows. "How are you going to do that?" she questioned. "The Boy is invisible. There's no way you can punch him."

"I can," I responded to her question. "I actually hit him with my backpack that your dad has now," I explained to her.

She blinked. "Oh... I see..." And as we continued walking, she spoke again. "Are you still interested in staying with me and my dad? Cause I'm still gonna ask him if it's okay for you to live with us."

"...yeah..." I nodded my head. "Besides...I don't want to live on my own anymore," I expressed out. My stomach rumbled. "And I'm still hungry," I added, my face turning a bit red from embarrassment.

"Don't worry," she assured me. "Once we find my dad and the boys, we'll have a rest break. If we get one though."

I didn't reply. I just gazed ahead until we spotted Make Me Howl building. We got closer to it and I grabbed the doorknob, opening the door wide open. And upon opening it, I found out it was another shop. "Why is it called Make Me Howl?" I turned to Hannah and asked her. "I don't hear any howling..."

"Neither do I..." she returned, looking around. "Dad?" she called out. "Zach? Champ? Are you guys in here? Hello?" Silence. "Dad, are you here?" she repeated. "Guys?" she called out again.

"Huh..." She shrugged her shoulders. "They're not here, either," she reported.

"Ugh!" I groaned in frustration. "Where can they be?!" I nearly screamed, getting more and more aggravated by the second, kicking a wall nearby. "We checked every damn building!" I cried. "Where else can they-" I stopped. "Be..." Somehow, I figured out where they're at. I don't know why, but it just...came to me. I stopped my rant, looking over at my friend. "I believe I know where they are," I said.

"Huh?" Hannah's eyebrow perked up. "Hazel, I think you're fit somehow messed up your brain," she clarified as if I was insane.

"No, Hannah," I protested, waving my hands in the air. "I know where they can be."

"Okay, okay." She held up her hands. "Okay, I believe you," Hannah said.

"Alright, we just need to go to the-"

"Hello there," a voice cut me off. Me and Hannah screamed in surprise to see a Horror behind us. "Are you here to transform into a..." He grinned. "...werewolf." He laughed. He stepped forward and we stepped back from him.

"We don't want to be werewolves!" I stated firmly.

"Why not...?" he replied, walking closer to us as we walked backwards to the door that we use to get inside. "We only do it digitally," he almost assured us.

"I said no," I confirmed again.

He glared at us, grabbing the front of my shirt and grabbed Hannah by the shoulder. "You know..." the Horror began. "...I've been waiting for a long time to transform someone into a werewolf. Except, no one came except one man and two teenage boys, one of them being a coward."

"Too bad for you," I exclaimed aggressively. "And let go of us!" I commanded. "Or I'll pinch you," I warned, remembering the time when I read that book that we are still searching for.

"No pinching is allowed in Horrorland," he declared.

"Then let go of us," I repeated, my eyes locked on his.

Not wanting to ignore my warning, he sighed. "Okay," he obeyed, releasing his grip on us. "I don't want to get pinched. You know what happens to us Horrors when we do get pinched, do you?" he said in a creepy tone of voice.

"Y-Yeah..." I stuttered, reaching for the doorknob. "Let's go," I directed towards Hannah.

"Okay," she responded in return. We ran out of the door, letting it slam shut. "Let's get out of this village," she declared.

Once we reached out of Werewolf Village, we stopped to take a short break. "Okay," she breathed, "you said you know where the guys are, right?"

"Right," I confirmed.

"Well..." She waved her hands. "Tell me," she slightly urged me to speak. "Where can they be, Hazel?"

I gave her a short, simple answer. "The Stagger Inn Hotel."

Stine

We continued away to Werewolf Village to see if the girls are there. I actually hope they are there, and once we find them, we'll continue to look for that book that the Horrors stolen from me twenty one years ago, so I can get everything back in there. Along with the Boy who is such a… menace… Including a liar! God, I can't wait to trap that obnoxious thing!

"You look angry," Zach noted towards me.

"I'm not angry... I'm just..." I pinched the bridge of my nose, taking my glasses off my face. "...annoyed from not being able to find the girls and the book. I want to know if they're okay or not," I spoke in a concerned voice. "I mean, this is Horrorland, boys," I told them. "The scariest park on earth," I empathize, gesturing my left hand at all the rides and everything else.

"Then why did you create it?" Champ said.

"I just have an act for it," I shrugged. "Although...this gift...of mine...is a curse," I barely sentenced out, pausing in between words that I can barely muster out. "I should've never created monsters as well as this park... If those brats hadn't made fun of me because of my stupid allergies, I wouldn't have to scare the daylights out them with my books that I'd had written over the years..." I paused. "And I should've known that I forgotten one of the monsters; the Invisible Boy."

"Like that one night where we saw the huge giant praying mantis?" Zach brought up. "And you didn't remember writing anything about it?" He raised his brows at me, crossing his arms as we continued to walk to Werewolf Village.

"Hey, that mantis didn't appear later in the book," I defended. "That's why I didn't remember writing about that bug," I explained. "I've written four hundred million copies and sold them to those bullies," I nearly spat out.

"Okay," he said a bit defeated. "I was just saying..."

I let out a sigh. "No... it's fine..." I answered, putting my glasses back on my face since I almost forgotten that I had them off, or else I'll end up running into a tree. "Besides," I added, "this curse might never leave me."

Once we finally made it to Werewolf Village, we entered. I was expecting Champ to turn the other way, but when I gave him that warning look, he didn't. Probably so he wouldn't get his ear pulled again.

"I don't like this place..." he whimpered, the howls both coming from The Werewolf Petting Zoo and Wolfsbane Forest. "I'm going to be hearing those howls in my head for the rest of my life," he said, whipping his head around as if to see if any werewolves have appeared or not.

I looked around, spotting the first place. A restaurant that is a few feet away from us. All three of us approached it and I shifted Hazel's backpack over to my other shoulder. It wasn't very heavy, though. However, I couldn't help but to feel very hungry. I hadn't eaten all day and neither did the kids, and I bet they were starving, too. I wanted to stop and for us to take a snack break, but I want to find the girls before we do that. And if we're lucky, we might end finding the book as well. Plus, if something ever happened to those girls... I'll kill that Boy. Or... I can at least try to. Oh wait... monsters can't be killed... Darn it! Ugh, I'm so hungry that I can't even think straight.

"I'm hungry..." Champ suddenly let out his words that I was thinking.

"You should've eaten that apple that I gave you," I told him. "But you decided to waste it."

"It had worms on it!" he exclaimed. "I even said that I lost my appetite because of those...slimy things... until now because all I keep thinking is about food."

Zach gave him a soldem look. "Please don't say food..." he spoke, his stomach rumbling except he didn't care at all. "I rather find Hannah and Hazel, then to die of starvation."

"I'm sorry, Zach," Champ apologized. "I just want a sandwich or something..."

"Stop saying words that has to do with food!" Zach snapped.

"You stop saying the word food!" Champ attacked back

"How about you both don't say that word?" I cut in, not wanting them to continue how hungry they were before I even start yelling.

"Sorry..." they both responded, once they stopped arguing.

Once they shut their mouths, we proceeded towards the restaurant. Even seeing that place makes me want to eat there. But I don't think Horrorland food is edible. Probably just... stuff that I'd rather not think about.

A few seconds later, Champ spoke. "...I want a burger..."

"Oh for God's sake, boy," I voiced out, getting very irritated that he couldn't keep his mouth shut that has to do anything with...you know what I'm talking about. "I'm going to shove some Horrorland snacks down your throat if your don't shut the hell up about food!" I threatened. "God, I just said the word food!" I declared. "I just said again! Ohh, I just want to find the girls and finish everything else!" I ranted, feeling my face turn red with anger. Then I took a deep breath and let out slowly, and my face turned back to its normal color. "Okay..." I manage to calm down. "...not only that we're starving, but we're also tired," I said, along with a yawn that I couldn't keep in my mouth. "So let's all just calm down and keep searching for the girls," I stated clearly. "And once we find them, we'll stop to take a rest break… and eat what Hazel has packed for us." I lifted her backpack to show them that I meant it.

"You sure this time...?" Champ didn't seem too convinced. "You said that after we went through that terrifying tunnel..."

"Well, this time I'm keeping it," I replied to my answer. "Let's just get to that place..." I looked at the building as we made our closer to it. And by the time we did, I read the sign. "Wolf It Down?" I arched an eyebrow in question.

Zach noticed my expression. "What?" he manage to speak. "You don't remember writing about restaurants in the book that we need?" he inquired, pointing at the building.

"...kinda," I answered. "Come on," I commanded, grabbing the door, swinging it open for all three of us to enter in.

"Ew," Champ groaned. "Okay... my appetite just went away," he spoke, his voice sounding different when he pinched his nose shut.

"You sure...?" I gave the kid an arched brow again.

"Well..." he thought as he began to think about it. "I'm not sure... It might come back."

"Uh huh..." I responded in a slight dull, tone of voice. "Now let's check to see if any of the girls are at a table," I told them. "And I hope they didn't eat anything in this place," I hoped fearing the worst of them getting sick.

Just as we were about to search at each table, a Horror wearing an apron with stains on it came walking towards us. The stains actually bothered me since I'm a bit OCD.

"Ugh..." Champ let out another groan. "Now I know where the smell is coming from..." He pinched his nose closed even tighter. Zach didn't seem to care for the least. Either that he's used to bad smells, or he just doesn't want to be a wimp, just like the awkward teen.

"It's not that bad," Zach told his best friend.

"I'm not used to these kind of smells, Zach," he explained. "I actually failed Biology class for not being to cut open a frog back in seventh grade, and I refuse to take that course again."

Zach rolled his eyes in reply by the time the Horror got close to us.

"Welcome to Wolf It Down," she greeted. "The only vegetarian restaurant in Horrorland. With food such as tofu one-armed shepherd pie, wolf cub cheese sandwiches, and-"

"We're here to check to see if two girls are here," I cut her off.

"They didn't stop by here," she said. "However, why don't you take a seat and eat some food," she suggested.

I declined her offer. "We're fine," I lied. Both boys nodded. "Come on," I said. "Let's keep searching for the girls."

"Coming," Zach responded to my command.

"Yes, sir," Champ added.

When we reached back outside, the Horror stopped the door from fully closing. "You sure you boys don't want anything to eat?" she asked in a concerned manner.

I gave her a glare from my eyes. "We're fine," I repeated nothingless. Being a good liar that I am, she nodded her head, heading back to the kitchen, letting the door closed shut.

Champ released his nose, suching a lung full of hair. "Oh good," he gasped. "I can breathe now."

"You were holding your breath, too?" I questioned.

"It was that bad, okay?" he answered shyly.

"You're a wimp," I slightly insulted.

"Hey!" I ignored his protest. "I'm not a wimp. In fact, I actually saved Taylor from a werewolf since her used-to-be-boyfriend abandoned her," he recalled, remembering that very moment. "With silver fillings," he acknowledged. "Silver!" he exclaimed.

"I didn't know you had cavities..." Zach stated. "So you didn't brush your teeth in years? That's gross, dude," he mentioned.

"I was ten when I had to get them filled."

"Whatever." Zach approached me while I was scanning the area. "Where else can we check?" he asked. I then pointed at another building. He looked at the building that I was pointing at, raising a brow. "Wolfgang's Music Shop?" he questioned. "Do you think that they are in there?" he said.

"I'm not sure..." I replied truthfully. "But it's better to check then rather not to, right?"

"...I see your point," he responded, but didn't seem too convinced that the girls are in there.

All three of us walked towards the building. I grabbed the doorknob and opened it, and when we entered inside, a blast of heavy metal music stung our ears. "Oh my, God!" I declared, pressing my hands on my ears. "Someone needs to turn that down!"

"What?!" both boys cried out.

"Someone needs to turn that down!" I shouted in repeat, the music going over top of my voice.

"What?!" they cried again, obviously still not understanding what I was saying.

"I said..." I took a deep breath in. "...that someone NEEDS TO TURN THAT DOWN!" I screeched on top of my lungs.

Champ pointed at the speakers that are hung up on each corner, indicating where the music is coming from. "We still can't hear you, Stine!" he answered, flinching at the loud music. "Someone needs to turn that down!" he hollered.

"That's what I said!" I yelled.

"What?!" he exclaimed, still not able to hear me clearly.

"Grrr...!" I strained, getting fed up by the loud music. I whipped my head around, seeing a Horror over at a counter, going through some music albums. I stomped over to him. "Turn that down!" I ordered him. Of course, he didn't hear me, either. Just moving his head up and down at the music, with a radio that is right next to him since that's where the awful sound is coming from that was plugged to the wall, the music transporting over to the speakers. Getting more fed up by the second, I yelled again. "Turn that down!" Again, he didn't hear me. My face began to turn red again with frustration and anger. Taking another deep breath in, I tried one last time. "Turn that DOWN!" Using my full volume voice, mixing in with another screech, the Horror dropped the albums on the counter and shut the music off, and the sound died off. "Finally..." I dropped my hands to my sides.

"Oh, thank God," Champ relieved, putting his hands back down on his sides with Zach doing the same thing. "I was afraid that I will end up deaf, were you?" he said, turning to Zach.

"Yeah..." he responded, recovering from the loud music once it's been shut off. "...just a little..."

"It's a good thing, too," Champ stated. "Because if I was deaf, I had to learn sign language just like Helen Keller."

"Dude, she was deaf and blind," Zach corrected him. "And when did you learn that?" he then asked.

"...History class," he said kind of mumbly. "It's the only history story that I remember..."

"Uh huh..." Zach rolled his eyes and I saw him come up to the counter right next to me, with Champ on the other side.

I looked at the Horror who is now straightening out the albums on the counter that had scattered when he dropped them in surprise from my screeching volume of voice. But before I had a chance to speak, he spoke first.

"Are you here to buy moon-themed songs on CDs and albums from the best rock group ever?" he exclaimed, grinning.

"What rock group?" Zach inquired.

"Howie And The Howlers," the Horror said. He pointed at all the CD's that are behind him and all around the shop. "We have all of their howl records you can get," he told us. "And this week, new ones will be coming in," he broadcasted, his grin growing wider. "So...are you gonna buy some CDs and albums?" he asked. "You can even have ten CDs or albums for free, if your willing to do that," he offered.

"Nope," I declined, "we're only here to see if the girls came by," I told him in a serious manner.

"Uh...well... they didn't come by here..." The Horror put the stacked CDs to the side. "But if they do come here and asked me, I'll tell them that you dropped by," he said.

"Alright," I returned causally. I was still acting like we were not searching for the book during this so called 'challenge' that the Invisible Boy came up with until Hazel told us the truth about his scheme that he's about to do. "Thank you," I thanked, still be causal as I can. "Let's get going, boys." With that said, the two followed me out the door and we walked away from that building.

"Okay..." I sighed. "So they were not there," I confirmed with a shake of my head.

"Let's check in there?" Champ said, the words sounding like a question.

"Where?" I responded.

He pointed. "There." I looked to see where he was pointing at, seeing another building not too far from us.

"Over The Moon Souvenirs." After I read the sign, I nodded. "The girls maybe in there."

"Maybe?" Zach echoed.

"Hey, I might be right," I replied.

"Might?" he echoed again.

"Okay, I could be wrong," I changed my wordings. "Besides, how will we know if we don't check?" I said, bringing up a good point.

"...I guess you're right..." Zach rubbed the back of his head in a doubtful way. "However...I don't believe that the girls went in there..."

We walked towards the building, then entered inside. There we saw silver bullet-key chains, wolf cub dolls, miniature Werewolf Village play sets, jars of authentic werewolf drool, and wolf tooth necklaces all over the store. Champ walked over to the silver bullet-key chains and took one off the hook.

"What are you doing?" I asked him. "Put that back," I told him.

"Okay..." he obeyed, putting the key chain back on the hook. "I just want to protect myself in case any werewolf comes after me...or us..."

"Well, they won't, okay?" I replied.

"But I just-"

"Shut up!" I snapped at him. "I'm sorry... I mean... shut up," I said, changing my harsh voice into a polite one. "Alright..." I looked around the shop. "I see no sign of the girls here, so let's go check somewhere-"

"Welcome to Over The Moon Souvenirs!" Me and Zach jumped while Champ let out a girl-like scream and turned to see a Horror behind us. "Welcome to Over The Moon Souvenirs!" he repeated his greeting. "Are you here to buy anything? We have-"

"Were two girls here?" Zach interrupted him.

"No..." The Horror shook his head. "...they didn't drop by here," he answered.

Zach looked at me. "They're not here," he reported.

"Gee... I didn't know that," I responded sarcastically.

"...sorry..."

I sighed. "It's fine…" I looked up at the Horror since all of them are pretty big. "We'll be going..." I turned and all three of us head out the door, walking out of the building. "Well, they were definitely not in there ," I stated obviously since the girls were not in that building. "Ugh...!" I let out a strained groan, allowing my hand to slide over my face. "Where can they be...?" I wondered, looking at the other buildings like Moment Of Paws and another one called Fur Sure! "They can't be in those buildings..." I thought out loud. "Hmm..." Still looking around, my eyes widen when a building came into view. "Oh no..." I breathed with uneasiness as I kept my eyes locked on the building. "Please, don't think that the girls went in there..." I talked myself, fearing the worst, my pulse rate going up, beginning to panic just a bit. "But..." It took me a second to say the words since they were caught in my throat that I had to force them out as best as I could. "...what if they were transformed... Into werewolves...?" The thought of that stayed in my mind, not going away.

"Huh?" Zach and Champ questioned in usion.

"The girls..." I explained. "They might of went..." I pointed at the building. "...in there," I finished.

Zach glanced at the building. "Do you think that they went in there...?" he said. "The building with the sign that says Make Me Howl?"

"I believe so..." I replied. "For some reason... that building is telling me that something bad happened to those girls..."

"Like what...?" Champ seemed to get that same uneasiness feeling just like I am. "Why did you say that they turned..." He gulped. "...into werewolves?" he asked with frightful look on his face. "I'm gonna run!" He was about to do so, when I grabbed his shirt collar again.

"Don't you start," I seethed, gripping the fabric of his shirt. "Don't you start running away, kid," I warned through gritted teeth. I let go of him. "Don't run off," I repeated. "Come on," I urged them immediately, not wanting to waste anytime. We began running to the building, entering inside. "Girls! Girls!" I shouted frantically. "Girls!" I continue to shout throughout the inside of the building, my panic state starting to rise up. "Hannah? Hazel? Sweethearts?" Wait... did I just say sweethearts? Ignoring that question that came into my mind, I continue to call for them, even searching for them. "Girls, are you in here?" I yelled getting more worried by the second.

"I don't think they're here, Stine," Zach informed me. "I don't even hear any howling, either," he added.

"Yeah, you're right, Zacharias," Champ agreed. "Besides," he asked, "why is it even called Make Me Howl?"

Before I can answer, a Horror stepped around the corner. "My, my, my," he grinned, walking towards us. "Humans that want to turn into werewolves. Now this is a nice surprise."

"Where are the girls?" I demanded him. "Did-Did you do something to them?!" My protection instinct came onto me.

He chuckled a throaty chuckle. "Oh, they were not here..." he sneered. "However, if they do come here... I'll turn them into werewolves. Just like I'm going to do...with you," he declared, lunging at us.

"Run!" I exclaimed.

Bursting out of the door, we ran as far from that building, getting away from there. "Hey!" the Horror yelled in a loud, booming voice. "Come back here, right NOW!" he ordered.

Not a chance, I thought. Once we reached far from that place and close to sign of Werewolf Village, we stopped.

"Okay," Champ panted, "that is the last time I'll run that fast," he decided, leaning on the sign, putting his hand on it, which is made out of wood, just like the other signs. "Ow!" he screamed, jerking his hand off the sign. "I think I got a splinter…" He looked at his hand. "Oh… wait...just a scratch," he informed us.

"Really, dude?" Zach replied nothingless, not caring about his best friend's injury.

"Hey!" He held his hands up. "It felt like a splinter, okay?" he responded in defense. He looked over at me. "Where should we check now?" he asked, picking at the scratch which is a little red and looks sore.

"Don't pick at it, or it'll hurt even more," I told him. "When we get this over with, and once we get to our homes, put a bandaid on it with ointment," I advised, taking off my glasses and cleaned them with my shirt. I then placed them back on my face. "Besides," I added, once I got them on right, "I bet I know where the girls are at…"

Zach crossed his arms. "Oh, really?" he smirked, thinking that I am nuts or something. "Then where can they be?"

"Don't worry," I assured both the boys in a mysterious tone of voice that I sometimes use. "I just know where they're at… Trust me.

I looked at the boys and they gave me a 'are you serious' look.

I couldn't help but put on a smile when I believed that I might figure out where the girls went to.