by R. L. Stine
Was I ready for it?
I heard my parents walking around downstairs. I knew I couldn’t wait for them to go to sleep. I had to get to the house on Forrest Hills Road as fast as I could. I had to catch Dr. Maniac in the act.
So I pulled my Night Howler costume from its hiding place. My hands were trembling as I put it on. Not trembling from fright—trembling from excitement.
The old Night Howler quit the superhero business because he couldn’t capture Dr. Maniac. The supervillain was the biggest challenge a superhero could face. And I was desperate to prove that I was up to the challenge.
I pulled the dark mask over my face. Then I swept the cape over my shoulders. I raised my hand and moved my fingers. And watched as a dark shadow floated over me.
Keeping in the shadow cloud, I made my way downstairs. Mom and Dad were sitting across from each another in the living room. They were tapping away on their tablets. They like to play Scrabble on their iPads. Mom always wins. Dad says it’s just because he always picks bad letters.
I walked right between them. They didn’t even notice the shadow as it floated past them.
Out the front door. I closed it silently behind me. And stepped into a warm, damp night. Low clouds covered the moon. Warm raindrops hung in the air.
Our neighbors were having a party in the house across the street. Cars filled the driveway and lined the curb. All the lights were on, and hip-hop pounded from the front windows.
I used both hands to raise the shadow cloud higher—and felt my shoes lift off the ground. Flying! I was flying. What an awesome feeling! Like living a dream.
I made myself float higher. The air rushed at me, hot and wet. I flew over a group of teenagers rolling down the middle of the street on skateboards. I felt like shouting down at them, giving them a good scare.
But I held myself back. Save it for Dr. Maniac, I told myself.
And as I floated across town, peering down at cars and houses, I suddenly began to grow more serious. I mean, I started to lose confidence. Maybe reality was setting in.
What makes me think I can go up against a foe like that supervillain?
Am I forgetting that I’m just a kid?
The old Night Howler tried and failed.
What makes me think I won’t fail, too?
“I’m DOOMED!” The words burst from my throat.
And suddenly, there was the house below me. So lost in my dark thoughts, I hadn’t even realized I had reached Forrest Hills Road.
The house was enormous, surrounded on all four sides by tall pine trees. The black roof tilted sharply. Three chimneys poked up like dark towers. The garage was a separate building in back. It was wide enough to hold at least four cars.
I lowered myself slowly to the ground in the big backyard. The pine trees shivered all around me in a strong breeze. I landed in tall grass that hadn’t been mowed in a long time.
I gazed at the house. Only a few windows were lit. I turned and checked out the garage. The doors were open. The garage was empty. That probably meant no one was home.
No one but Dr. Maniac.
He must have waited till everyone had left. That would give him all the time he needed to break into the house and rob it.
I crept through the tall grass. I ducked low beneath a kitchen window and listened.
Silence.
I know you’re in there, Maniac, I thought.
I raised myself high enough to peer into the window. No one in the kitchen. Dishes stacked on the counter and at the sink. One ceiling light washing yellow light down over the room.
My throat suddenly felt tight. I bit down to stop my teeth from chattering. The Maniac was so close, just on the other side of this brick wall.
So close. I was standing so close to one of the most horrible villains in history.
Mason, what’s your plan?
Surprise, I decided.
Dr. Maniac was definitely not expecting me. I had to use surprise to capture him. I had to be fast. Burst into the room. Throw a shadow over him. Capture him before he had a chance to turn around—before he even saw me.
I swept my cape behind me. I felt a shudder of fear roll down my back. My teeth began to chatter again. No way to stop them.
I took a deep breath and grabbed the back doorknob. I expected the door to be locked. But to my surprise, it slid open easily.
I took another deep breath and stepped into the kitchen. It was warm inside and smelled of something sweet, like a cake that had been recently baked.
I ignored my pounding heart and my trembling legs. I crept through the kitchen to an open doorway. I gritted my teeth. Adjusted my mask. Let the power of the costume pulse through me.
Then I lowered my head and took off, running to the next room.
I had gone only a few steps when I heard several voices shout out: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
I stopped short—and tripped over my cape. I stumbled across the dining room and ran into the windowsill. Quickly, I spun around and stared at the family around the table.
A father and mother and three kids huddled over a tall blue-and-white birthday cake at the end of the table. A little boy was on his knees on a chair, about to blow out the flickering candles.
The father’s eyes went wide as I lurched toward them, and he opened his mouth in a scream. The birthday boy nearly fell off the chair. But the mother caught him in time. His two sisters moved behind the table, unable to hide their shock.
The mother laughed. “Gary, did you hire a superhero for Shawn’s birthday? What a great surprise.”
“Huh?” Gary shook his head. “Myra, I didn’t hire him. Did you hire him?”
“Who is he supposed to be? Batman?” the birthday boy asked.
“I’m the Night Howler,” I said, finally finding my voice. “I’m sorry, but—”
“You’re the one who always howls?” Myra, the mother, said.
“Well, yes,” I said. “But you see—”
“Did you bring balloons?” one of the girls asked.
“Yes. Aren’t you supposed to bring balloons when you do a birthday party?” the father asked.
“I’m not doing your birthday party!” I shouted. “I’m in the wrong house!”
That got them quiet.
“I’m really sorry,” I said, lowering my voice. “I made a big mistake. I shouldn’t be here.” I started toward the kitchen. “Pretend this didn’t happen, okay? I’m totally embarrassed.”
“Can you howl for us?” the birthday boy asked.
“I don’t think so,” I said. “But happy birthday anyway.”
Holding my cape in both hands, I swept out of the room, through the kitchen, and out the back door. My face felt hot behind my mask. I knew I was still blushing from my mistake.
Oh, well. At least I gave them a birthday they won’t forget, I told myself.
I ducked through an opening between the tall pine trees. The house next door came into view behind rows of low shrubs. The house was completely dark. No moonlight to reflect in the tall black windows.
I made my way to the stoop that ran along the front of the house. To my surprise, the door was wide open.
That was careless of Dr. Maniac, I thought. Maybe he’s slipping. Slacking off. Maybe he’ll be easy prey.
I took several deep breaths and prepared for battle. I crept up to the front steps, tossed back my head, and uttered the Night Howler howl:
“Aaaaaaaaawoooooooooooooh!”
I leaped onto the stoop.
And Dr. Maniac stepped out the front door. “You’re late,” he said.
I gasped and nearly toppled off the stoop.
“Huh? How d-did you know I was coming?” I stammered.
“I didn’t,” he said. “But you’re late.”
He stared down at his wrist, pretending he wore a watch. “You know, showing up on time is an important part of being a superhero.”
I swallowed. I took a moment to gather my courage. “Well, I’m here now,” I said, lowering
my voice.
He squinted at me. “Are you sure? Can any of us be sure where we really are? Perhaps we are a figment of someone’s imagination. Perhaps we are just characters in a novel, and we have no control over our actions.”
“That’s crazy,” I said.
“I’m not crazy—I’m a MANIAC!” he screamed.
“Well, I’m the Night Howler,” I said. “And I’ve caught you robbing this house.”
“I know who you are,” Dr. Maniac replied. “I recognized the howl.” He leaned close. “You know, if you want to sneak up on someone and take them by surprise, it’s probably not a good idea to howl so loud.”
“Thank you for the advice,” I said. “But I repeat. I’ve caught you robbing this house.”
“No, you haven’t,” he said. He brushed back his leopard-skin cape.
“Yes, I have.”
“No, you haven’t. You’ve caught me standing on the front stoop of this house.”
I let out a long breath. Arguing with this dude was tough. I tried again. “I know you are here to rob this house.”
“I don’t rob houses,” he replied. “I rob things in houses.”
“I see you like word games,” I said. “But the game is over. I’m bringing you to the police.”
“No, you’re not,” he said, sticking out his chin.
“Yes, I am.” I raised my hand to summon a shadow to trap him in.
Suddenly, he raised his eyes and turned his gaze to the street. His mouth dropped open in shock. “Oh, good heavens!” he cried. “Look at THAT!”
Startled, I spun around. I didn’t see anything in the street. Total darkness.
“Made you look!” Dr. Maniac said. He tossed back his head and laughed. Then he disappeared into the house.
I let out another sigh. This guy was going to be a challenge.
I followed him into the house. A lamp in the entryway sent a yellow glow over the front rooms. My eyes adjusted slowly to the pale light. I saw a large living room filled with heavy-looking wooden furniture. To the left, a dining room with an endless table surrounded by tall chairs.
I heard Maniac clumping around in the living room. I stepped in and clicked on a ceiling light. He was hunched over a wide desk against the wall. He pulled open drawers and tossed things into the leopard-skin bag he was holding.
“Howler, help me move this desk,” he called.
My mouth dropped open. “You want me to help you?”
“There is a hidden safe filled with jewelry under the floor,” he said. “If you help me move the desk out of the way, I’ll give you something shiny as a souvenir.”
“No way! You’re crazy!” I cried.
“I’m not crazy!” he screamed. “I’m a MANIAC!”
He jumped onto the desk and did a wild tap dance. His feathery boots thudded loudly against the hard wood desktop.
After a minute or so, he leaped back down to the floor. “It’s important to express your feelings,” he said. “Don’t let them all get bottled up inside you.”
He took a few steps toward me. For the first time, I noticed he had one brown eye and one blue eye. “Howler, come on.” He motioned with both gloved hands. “You want to dance with me?”
I stumbled back. “No way!”
“It’s good to go with the flow,” he said. “Easy-breezy. I mean, sometimes I feel like a giraffe in a luggage store. Do you know what I mean?”
“No,” I said. “I don’t understand you at all.”
“Howler, open your heart,” he said, suddenly gushing with emotion. “Open your heart to your true feelings!” Teardrops rolled down his face.
That’s enough, I decided.
“Oh, shut up!” I cried. “Shut up! You’re not getting away, Maniac. So stop all the talk!”
“I’m only human,” he said softly, as if I had hurt his feelings. “I’m like everyone else. I like to stand on a hilltop and spit at the clouds.”
“Shut up! Shut up!” My head was spinning. I knew what he was trying to do. But I wasn’t going to fall for all his double-talk.
I raised my right hand above my head. I gestured with my fingers. I could feel the pulsing current run from the costume and up my arm.
A dark shadow formed above me from out of nowhere. I moved my arm forward and sent the shadow floating low over Dr. Maniac.
“Your night is over,” I told him. “You’ve been captured by the Night Howler. And I’ll be howling in victory when you go to prison.”
His grin didn’t fade. “No, you won’t,” he said.
“Yes, I will.”
“No, you won’t,” he repeated. “Look behind you, Howler.”
“Ha,” I said. “I’m not falling for that a second time.”
“You should listen to him,” a voice said from behind me. “You should turn around.”
“Huh?” I gasped in shock and spun to the doorway. “Oh no!” I cried. “YOU again?”
Blue Strawberry strode into the room. Her red costume looked like a streak of fire under the bright ceiling light. Her eyes flashed behind the red mask.
“What’s the matter, Night Howler?” she cried. “Orange you glad to see me?”
“Whoa. I’ll handle the jokes!” Dr. Maniac protested.
“Just handle the jewelry,” she replied. She motioned to me. “Why do I have to keep rescuing everyone from this pest?”
“Because he’s a pest?” Maniac said.
Blue Strawberry helped Dr. Maniac shove the desk aside. Then he pulled up a secret trapdoor and opened a safe hidden there.
“Leave the jewels where they are,” I ordered them. “You’re not taking them.”
“Yes, we are,” Maniac said. He pulled up a diamond necklace and dropped it into his bag.
“No, you’re not,” I said. “I have enough power to imprison you both in shadow.”
“No, you don’t,” Blue Strawberry said.
A loud clink clink echoed across the room as Dr. Maniac tossed more jewelry into his bag.
Blue Strawberry squinted at me through her mask. “You look like you need a snack. Today is Sunday, right? How about a nice Pineapple Sunday?” She waved both arms above her head.
“OWW!” I uttered a cry as something heavy and hard dropped from the ceiling, landed on my head, and bounced to the floor. Pain shot down my body. “Owww!” I couldn’t dodge away. Another object hit my shoulder, nearly knocking me down.
Pineapples!
A storm of pineapples, heavy as bowling balls, sharp and prickly, rained down on me. I tried to shield myself but they dropped too fast. The pain sent me to my knees.
A pineapple smashed the top of my head. Red and bright whites flashed in front of me. I couldn’t see. I hit the floor. Then everything went black.
How long did I lie there? I have no idea.
I finally raised my head. My whole body ached and throbbed from the pineapple attack. Groaning, I pulled myself to my knees and gazed around.
Of course, they were both gone.
Another major fail by the Night Howler.
But I had learned something important. I had to defeat Blue Strawberry before I would ever score a victory over another villain.
But … how?
Two nights later, I had a major supervillain in my control.
OverTime. He was known everywhere as one of the fastest, greediest, nastiest villains of all time. He was called OverTime because he worked all hours to commit crimes. His motto was “I’m never off duty. I work overtime!”
And now I had him cornered in the back of a supermarket he was robbing. I gave my Night Howler howl: “Aaaaaaaaawoooooooooooooh!” And I raised my arms to cover him in shadow.
He spun around in surprise. His black cape swirled behind him. He had a big white O on the front of his black shirt. And his big silver belt buckle was also shaped like an O.
“I’m too fast for you, Night Howler,” he cried. “I’m actually robbing two stores at once. I’m robbing the vitamin store next door at the same time I’
m talking to you.”
“But—” I started.
“I work overtime,” he said. “You have to work overtime to catch me.” He turned and started to pull stacks of cash from the cash register.
“But I have caught you,” I said. “Put down the bag. I’m taking you to the police.” I raised my arms again, preparing to cast a shadow over him.
“But I’m not here. I’m next door,” he replied. “You have to be two places at once to bring me in.” He dumped more money into his bag.
“Okay, okay,” I said. “I’ve captured half of you. I’ll bring you in, and your other half will follow.”
He tossed back his head and laughed. “You’re too late, Howler. I’m already across the street. I’m getting away while you stand there. You have to work overtime to catch OverTime.”
I scratched my head. Was he trying to pull a fast one? Or was he telling the truth?
I could see him clearly. He was moving fast, running from cash register to cash register, emptying them as fast as he could. Was it possible that he was across the street at the same time, escaping from me?
I waved my hands above my head. A dark cloud formed above me. I motioned it forward. Then I lowered it slowly over OverTime. He stopped moving as the shadow slid down over his head, his shoulders, his body. The loot bag fell from his hand.
“Let me out of here!” he shouted. “Let me out!”
I had him.
My heart was beating hard under my costume. Finally—a victory! I felt like celebrating.
My victory lasted about ten seconds.
Then I heard the familiar female voice behind me: “Hey, Howler, have you tried the cantaloupes?”
“YAAAII!” I cried out as a heavy melon dropped from the ceiling and crashed to the floor inches in front of me.
“Blue Strawberry!” I uttered. I spun around to face her.
I tried to dodge away, but I wasn’t fast enough. Another cantaloupe dropped from above. Pain shot down my body as it bounced off my shoulder.
“Okay, okay. I know when I’m beat!” I said. I raised my hands above my head in surrender. “Take him. Take him, Blue Strawberry. You win again.”