by R. L. Stine
“Okay, Wendy,” Ms. Mason urged her gently. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Wendy turned to the beam, then gracefully vaulted onto it. She held still for a moment, to sense her balance. She knew if she didn’t balance correctly right from the beginning, she’d never make it to the end.
She began the routine. Concentrate. Concentrate. Involuntarily her eyes wandered to the floor. But for the first time ever, Wendy didn’t feel afraid!
Maybe all her climbing as a werecat had cured her of her fear of heights. Wendy stopped worrying about how far down it was to the ground.
Halfway there, she thought. It was time for the front flip. Wendy tensed up. This is where she had fallen off so many times.
Wendy steadied herself, then went into the flip. She didn’t even teeter! She nailed it!
Smiling broadly, she dismounted.
As Wendy returned to her seat, Ms. Mason nodded at her approvingly. Tina thumped her back. “You were amazing!” Tina cheered.
But Wendy knew it wasn’t over yet. She was only third or fourth. Her spot on the team depended on how the rest of the girls did—especially Nancy. Nancy had always been better than Wendy on the balance beam. Wendy held her breath as Nancy began her routine.
But something was wrong. Nancy seemed unsure of her footing. Her face was still splotchy. Then, halfway across, she began to sneeze.
And sneeze.
Nancy fell off the beam.
Ms. Mason put an arm around her, but Nancy shrugged it off. She rushed back to her seat and buried her face in her hands. Wendy could see that she was crying.
Wendy felt awful. She knew how embarrassed Nancy must be. And even though Nancy always made fun of her, Wendy couldn’t help feeling sorry for her.
Because Wendy knew it was her fault Nancy fell. I didn’t know she would be so sick! Wendy thought. I never meant to ruin her chances for the team.
Then Ms. Mason made the announcement. “Top girl is Becky, then Sondra. Wendy is third.”
“Congratulations,” Tina exclaimed. “You did it!”
“Thanks,” Wendy answered glumly.
“Hey, what’s with you?” Tina asked. She and Wendy got up and headed for the locker room. “How come you’re not thrilled?”
“I am,” Wendy admitted. “I just feel bad for Nancy.”
Tina stared at her. “After how mean she’s been? Wow, Wendy. You’re a lot nicer than I would be.”
Wendy shrugged. She couldn’t tell Tina she felt guilty. That Nancy fell off the beam because of her. That she had made Nancy sick.
That she was a werecat.
Wendy was more determined than ever to stop the transformation. She yanked off her gym shirt. “Tina, you’ve got to help me,” she said. “You have to get this thing off me.” She touched the cat charm around her neck.
Tina’s eyes grew wide with surprise. “What are you doing with that?” she demanded. “I thought Mrs. Bast wouldn’t sell it to you. Did you go back another day without telling me?”
“No,” Wendy admitted. “I—I took it.”
Tina’s mouth dropped open.
“But I didn’t steal it,” Wendy added quickly. “I put five dollars in the tray.”
Tina shook her head.
“But I think it’s broken,” Wendy continued. “And now I can’t get it off. And I really, really have to.” She turned around so Tina could get at the clasp.
“No problem.” Tina fiddled with the necklace. It wouldn’t open. “That’s weird,” she muttered.
“I told you,” Wendy said. “Keep trying.”
Tina tried pulling. She tried twisting. She tried her fingernails. She even tried her teeth. Nothing was working.
“This thing is really stuck,” Tina said. “There’s no way I can get it open.”
Wendy’s heart sank. She couldn’t live with the necklace around her neck one more night!
“Then I have to go back to Mrs. Bast’s booth and get her to open it for me,” Wendy declared. “I have to.”
Wendy and Tina rode their bikes to the cat show. The whole way Wendy worried. Mrs. Bast was going to be furious that she had taken the charm.
I can’t think about that, Wendy told herself. I have to get rid of the charm. She didn’t know of any other way to stop turning into a werecat. So no matter how mad Mrs. Bast was, Wendy would have get her to open the clasp.
Besides, she reassured herself for the hundredth time, I did pay for it!
The girls pedaled into the parking lot. Wendy glanced up at the building where the cat show was held. “Oh, no!” Wendy cried. She pulled her bike to a sudden stop.
“Whoa!” Tina exclaimed, swerving to avoid crashing into Wendy. “What is it?”
Wendy couldn’t answer. She pointed at the empty store.
The cat show banner was gone!
“Uh-oh,” Tina said. “Looks like they’re gone.”
“But—but—” Wendy sputtered. “They were just here!”
Wendy jumped off her bike, letting it clatter to the ground. She raced up to the front doors of the building. She yanked the handles.
The doors were locked.
Wendy peered in through the glass panes. All she saw was an empty room.
No tables. No booths. No cats.
No Mrs. Bast.
No one to open the clasp. No one to take back the werecat charm.
The cat show was over. Everyone was gone.
And now there was no way to find Mrs. Bast.
Wendy would be a werecat forever.
10
As soon as Wendy slammed through her front door, she raced over to the telephone table. She flung open the phone book and flipped to the Bs. But there was no Bast listed. Not in Shadyside. Not in Waynesbridge, the next town over.
Wendy hurled the phone book to the floor. I’ll never find her, she thought. Never!
“Is something wrong, dear?”
Wendy glanced up. Her mother stood in the kitchen doorway. She wore a worried frown.
Wendy wanted to tell her mother everything. She even opened her mouth to start speaking. But then she stopped. What could she say? Her mother would never believe her. Believe that her “advanced” daughter turned into some kind of monster after midnight? No way.
Besides, Wendy felt terrible about taking the charm. She didn’t want to admit she had done something so dishonest. Her mother would be disappointed in her.
No. Wendy couldn’t say anything. She would have to solve the problem herself.
Her mother was still standing in the doorway. Wendy smiled. “No,” she lied. “Everything’s fine.”
“Well, in that case I could use some help,” Mrs. Chapman said. “I just made brownies and I need someone to lick the bowl.”
“Hey, Mom,” Wendy said, standing up. “It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it.”
* * *
Later that night Wendy carried a plate of brownies into the family room. Her mother and Brad were already sprawled on the couch, a huge bowl of popcorn between them. Mr. Chapman popped a video into the VCR.
“I got a movie I think you’ll enjoy,” he told Wendy. “It’s called Bell, Book, and Candle. There’s a Siamese cat in it.”
“Cool!” Wendy commented. She liked Saturday-night movies with her family. And maybe a movie with an ordinary cat in it would take her mind off her extraordinary cat problems.
Brad rolled his eyes. “Bo-ring,” he said. But he grinned and grabbed a handful of popcorn.
Wendy scrunched down on the floor with her back against the sofa and the plate of brownies on her stomach. But once the video started, her mind began to wander.
To wonder.
Would she turn into a werecat again?
Of course she would. She never got the charm off. There would be no way to stop the transformation.
What would happen? Would the black werecat be out there? Would they fight?
“How do you like the cat?” Wendy’s father’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“What?” For a moment Wendy didn’t understand what he was talking about. Did he mean the black werecat?
Of course not, dummy, she told herself. Her father meant the cat in the movie. Pay attention!
“It’s pretty,” Wendy murmured. But she hadn’t really noticed.
The video ended at a quarter to eleven. With a loud yawn Brad rose, stretched, and went up to his room. A few moments later Wendy’s parents followed. Finally Wendy slowly climbed the stairs to her room.
Maybe it won’t happen tonight, she thought.
But she knew it would.
Maybe, I can avoid the black cat. I know! I won’t go out at all! I’ll be safe that way.
That was the answer! Wendy was determined to stay inside. I can make my own decisions, even if I do turn into a werecat, she told herself firmly. I’ll stay home.
Feeling more relaxed, she put on her nightgown and turned out the light. But she didn’t feel sleepy. She forced herself to lie down.
Bright moonlight shone through the curtains. Wendy glanced out the window. The moon was almost full. Only a tiny little sliver was dark.
Still she couldn’t sleep.
The grandfather clock downstairs began to chime. DONG . . . DONG . . . DONG . . . DONG . . .
As it chimed for the twelfth time, Wendy felt the transformation begin.
“No,” she moaned. “No!”
But there was no way to stop it. And Wendy changed much more quickly this time.
Was it because it was getting closer to the full moon?
In almost an instant the transformation was complete. Wendy’s heart raced—in fear, in excitement.
“Mowwrr!” she exclaimed, standing on her pillow.
She was a werecat. A wild creature of the night. Ready to prowl! She leaped off the bed.
NO! she told herself. I won’t go out tonight. I will stay here and go to sleep.
Wendy jumped back up onto the bed. She curled her tail over her face and shut her eyes.
But she was too restless. Her muscles ached for action. She wanted to prowl, to run, to chase bugs and mice.
NO! she told herself again. It’s too dangerous. I won’t go. I won’t.
Trying to relax, she stood and stretched. She reached her paws far out in front of her and wiggled her back end. Then she began to pace from one end of her bed to the other.
She couldn’t stand it. She jumped off the bed, then up onto the dresser. Then she leaped back to the floor. Then she paced some more.
It was as if the night were calling to her.
Wendy forced herself to lie down again. Forced herself to listen to the human part of her mind.
But the werecat in her was stronger. Much stronger.
She couldn’t fight it anymore. Her muscles seemed to be moving on their own. Suddenly she was out the window. She moved so fast, she was already on the ground before she realized what happened.
She stood on the moist grass, sniffing the air. She was out! Her senses reeled.
She picked up a movement nearby. A mouse! Wendy realized how hungry she was. She crouched down, preparing to stalk the mouse.
Then she heard a sound. A crunching sound of something moving in her direction.
Wendy whirled around.
There it was. A large, dark shadow moving toward her.
Stalking her.
For a moment the moonlight illuminated the dark shape. Just enough for Wendy to see a flash of white.
A white star.
It was the black werecat. Its yellow eyes glittered in the moonlight, staring straight at her.
Then it pounced.
11
Wendy twisted and sprang out of the way.
Her fur ruffled as the black werecat landed right behind her.
“Mowwwrr!” it screamed. It seemed furious it had missed her.
Wendy faced her enemy. The black cat’s back was arched. It began to move toward her sideways. Its sharp teeth gleamed.
Wendy stood her ground. She puffed out her fur to make herself look as big as possible. Her ears flattened against her head. A low growl started deep in her throat.
So fast that Wendy never saw the movement, the black cat swiped her with its front paw. Wendy felt a sharp stab of pain as its claws sank into her leg.
“MEEEEEEOOOOWWWWWWRRRR!” Wendy howled. She tried to strike back, but the black cat was too quick. It easily avoided her reach. It crouched, ready to pounce again.
Wendy locked eyes with the black cat.
Then a tiny voice inside of Wendy told her to turn and run. That she should stop the fight right now. There was no way she could survive.
The black werecat lunged for her. But Wendy had already turned to run. Faster and faster, Wendy sped along the ground. Her back legs pumped together, pushing her into the air. Her front legs reached far out in front of her. The wind whistled by her face.
But as fast as she was, the black cat was faster. Its legs were longer. Its stride more powerful. With every step he drew closer.
Wendy cleared a large rock, then swerved to duck behind a bush. How could she lose him? She changed direction again. And again. Up ahead was a wall. It towered over her.
Wendy coiled herself, then leaped. Her front claws scrambled on the rough brick. She pushed hard with her hind legs. Then she hurled herself over the wall, into the alley beyond.
She heard a soft thump behind her. The black werecat was still on her trail.
Wendy tore down the alley. The black cat raced after her. Her leg began to throb where the black cat had scratched her. She felt blood trickling down, matting her fur.
And the black cat still got closer.
Wendy was running so hard her breath came in gasps. Her heart felt as if it would explode.
“Moowwwwrrr!” the black cat called in challenge.
Wendy didn’t respond. She had to save her breath for running.
She knew she was running out of strength. Her only hope was to outsmart the other cat.
Suddenly Wendy swerved to the right.
Without thinking, she leaped straight up. She found herself clinging to a chain-link fence. She jumped into the yard below.
Wendy had no idea where she was. She’d never been in this part of the neighborhood. The moonlight cast sharp shadows as she searched desperately for some place to hide.
But there was no time. The black cat was on the fence. Wendy gazed up in terror as it crouched, ready to spring. Its mouth stretched wide as it howled again.
Again, Wendy glanced around, looking for an escape.
The black cat landed in the yard.
There was nowhere to run. She couldn’t jump to safety. The black cat stood between Wendy and the fence. It approached her, hissing.
Wendy backed up.
Right into the base of a scraggly tree.
Wendy was cornered.
12
Wendy’s entire cat body trembled. The black cat approached slowly. Closer. Closer.
Wendy’s back arched even higher. She puffed out her fur. “Mowwwrrr!” Wendy cried. “Sssssttt!” she hissed.
The other cat stopped.
That was all the time Wendy needed.
Wendy whirled around. She leaped up onto the trunk of the pine tree. Using her sharp claws to hold on, she flung herself up the tree.
She heard the black cat behind her. She felt its weight shake the tree trunk.
Wendy climbed even higher. Into the small, skinny branches near the top. She hid her body in the shadows of the twigs and the pine needles.
The black cat was still after her.
But it had slowed down. It was a large animal. It had to be more careful climbing among the thinner branches.
Wendy remained completely motionless. The other werecat didn’t see her!
But then the scratch on her leg began to throb. Instinctively Wendy licked it.
The black werecat’s head whipped around in Wendy’s direction. It had noticed the movement. It climbed closer.
Wendy
crouched deeper into the pine needles. She couldn’t climb any higher.
The black cat crept closer.
It was only a few feet away now. It gazed directly at her. It hissed.
Wendy shut her eyes. Waiting. Waiting for the attack.
But nothing happened.
She sensed a sudden movement. Her eyes popped open.
And she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
The black cat was climbing down the tree. Away from her.
She gazed after it until it disappeared.
Why didn’t it attack? What could have scared it off?
Wendy noticed that the sky was growing lighter in the east.
The terrifying shadows had disappeared.
For the first time in hours Wendy wasn’t afraid. She was safe now.
Except for one little problem.
Her skin began to itch. Her paws tingled. Her face twisted as her nose and mouth moved farther apart.
She was changing back!
In less than a minute Wendy had transformed into a human girl.
A human girl stuck at the top of a pine tree.
On one of the flimsy upper branches. A branch she could feel beginning to bend under her weight.
Wendy wrapped her arms and legs around it. When her heart stopped hammering, she glanced down.
It was so far . . . so far . . .
There was no way she could climb down!
13
Wendy gripped the tree branch as tightly as she could. It was no thicker than a broomstick.
And the ground was so far away.
She could feel the top of the tree sway in the wind. It had easily held a cat—even a werecat. But now Wendy was human. She was much too big for the small branch.
Stay calm, Wendy told herself. You have to get down!
Wendy forced herself to look down again. A wave of dizziness washed over her. The entire world seemed to spin.
I’m going to fall! she thought in a panic. She was up so high! Her hands began to sweat. Wendy’s terrible fear of heights was taking over.
NO! Wendy ordered silently. Remember yesterday. Remember the gymnastics tryout. She had been strong. The balance beam was a snap. Being far off the ground had not bothered her.