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  “Here comes Sissy King,” Gina said, waving at a girl with long dark hair and about a pound of skillfully applied makeup on her face. “Let’s get her to sit with us. She always knows all the gossip.”

  Sissy didn’t need encouragement. She slid into a chair on the other side of David and smiled at him. Her nearly black eyes sparkled and flirted. “David, hi. Did you get your sociology paper finished?”

  What sociology paper? Abby wondered. David never mentioned he had a paper due, but Sissy seemed to know all about it. Abby and David had tried to get all their classes together, but ended up with only chemistry. David could pass chemistry just by showing up in class. Why hadn’t she asked him to help her last night? She wouldn’t have spoiled her project, and she’d have time for him now.

  Because you like being independent, Abby, a little voice inside her reminded. Because you hate clinging-vine girls like Sissy.

  “What do you think about the monster on campus?” Abby asked, moving closer to David and leaning around him. Maybe Sissy hadn’t noticed that David was taken. Abby would remind her.

  “I love it. The drama department’s next play is a creepy thriller. I’ll bet someone is practicing for tryouts. I don’t need to practice, since I had a lot of starring roles in high school.” Sissy twisted a curl about her forefinger. “But Ms. Alexander may not want to give big roles to freshmen.” She pulled her mouth into a pout and stared at David.

  Gina caught Abby’s eye and made a face, wiggling her shoulders like Sissy. Abby bit her lip to keep from giggling.

  “You know, you guys can laugh all you like, but I think there really could be things on our planet we don’t know about.” Jerry pointed a knife dripping with strawberry jam at David and Sissy, then smeared it on an English muffin. “I vill make believers of you all.” He hunched his shoulders and narrowed his eyes. “I vill make you vish you had listened to me and stayed inside at night.”

  They all laughed at Jerry’s antics, but Abby felt her stomach lurch. Maybe something really had followed her last night. Maybe she had just missed seeing what everyone was talking about.

  “Don’t all stare at once,” Sissy leaned in and spoke in a dramatic whisper. “But the evil scientist Stan Hurley is going to sit right behind us. He’s probably scoping out his next victim.”

  David didn’t get silly often, but he joined in. Maybe he was showing off for Sissy. He whispered, too. “We’re safe. He would only want Abby’s brain. Geniuses only attract geniuses.”

  She was probably being extra sensitive because of Sissy, but David’s remark made Abby have to breathe deeply and squeeze her eyes shut. Suddenly tears wanted to spill over. She covered with her own joke.

  “I thought only opposites attract. Isn’t that a scientific law?”

  Gina pulled Abby out of her sudden funk. “So he’d want me?” She made her face so woeful, Abby giggled, then laughed out loud.

  “Maybe,” Jerry said, “just maybe he has zee formula for zee salsa dip. Hey, Stan.” He was actually going to speak to Stan Hurley.

  Stan looked surprised that anyone would call his name. He had been shuffling through some papers while he ate.

  “You got zee extra-spicy salsa dip?” Jerry stood up as if to go get it if Stan said yes.

  The look Stan gave them was evil enough to turn them all to stone. He returned to shuffling his papers, then opened a book.

  “I just love a guy with a sense of humor, don’t you, Gina?” Jerry sat back down and kept talking. “You’ll be very happy together.”

  Gina was practically under the table from laughing.

  Abby continued to smile, but inside she shivered. Stan was now staring at her as if it were her idea to tease him.

  She stood, balancing her tray in one hand, her book bag in the other. “I’ve got a nine o’clock class, guys. I’m going to be late.”

  “See you later.” David waved, then turned back to talk to Sissy. But Abby was distracted before she had time to worry about David.

  Stan Hurley had picked up his own tray and was following her.

  “Excuse me. Excuse me.” She bumped three people out of the way, slammed her tray into the revolving section of wall that would move it into the kitchen.

  Then she pushed through the crowd that headed for the door and their own classes. Glancing back, she saw Stan was still staring at her.

  Outside, she bounced down the steps and ran, actually ran, to the English building.

  Chapter 3

  Lenny Latham wondered why he ever thought he wanted to be a member of Sigma Chi. Hazing was silly. Fraternities were silly — un-American. Maybe he’d feel differently tomorrow. If he got through this night.

  He didn’t like being outside alone at night. But Foster Tuttle knew that. They’d been in the same Boy Scout troop, even though Foster was two years older. They’d been camping together. And Foster had done everything he could think of to make Lenny miserable. Here he was doing it again.

  Lenny’s last initiation task was to stay all night, alone, on the grounds of the old Peabody Gym. Everyone knew the old gym was haunted. And even though it had burned down, everyone said the ghost hadn’t left. Now it was haunting the ruins.

  To top it off, he knew it was Sigma Chi, maybe led by Foster, who had started the rumor about a monster on campus. Everyone was talking about it.

  Silly. There were no such things as monsters, werewolves, vampires.

  Or were there?

  Lenny looked around. The skeletal remains of the gym rose up around him like gray tombstones or some sort of ritual stones. Not unlike the photos of Stonehenge he had seen in books.

  There was no moon tonight, making the campus even darker than usual. It wasn’t that late, but no one would be hanging around down here. So it was quiet. Too quiet. And cold. Too cold for this late in the spring. At least it wasn’t raining.

  He pulled his sleeping bag around him. He was letting his imagination run away. Just go to sleep, he commanded his brain. Just stop thinking, his brain shouted back.

  He closed his eyes, but then he heard every tiny sound. A slight rustle of limbs at the back of the gym’s shell. The trees were dead, black statues reaching bony arms to the night, but also scraping the blackened stone pillars.

  A murmur of wings, probably an owl. Or some other night bird hunting? What kind of birds searched for food at night?

  Aren’t you hungry, Lenny?

  Food. His own stomach rumbled. Why hadn’t he brought a huge supply of chips, some sandwiches, a thermos of hot chocolate? Nourishment. If he wasn’t going to sleep he could eat. Why hadn’t he brought a book? He could have used his flashlight to read all night.

  Next there was the sound of footsteps. Footsteps? He sat up again and listened. Nothing. His imagination again.

  Okay, he’d go to the bathroom. Even though it meant getting out of the sleeping bag. He had all his clothes on. Just in case he had to make a quick getaway.

  Getaway from what?

  He pulled himself out of the snug bag with the rustle of parachute silk, or whatever this bag was made of. He’d borrowed it, since his was old and not very comfortable. Slipping on his running shoes, he stood up and walked away from the nest he’d made.

  What he fully expected was some of the frat members to show up. Try to scare him. He heard footsteps again. There they were, earlier than he’d expected. The luminous hands on his watch face read eleven-thirty.

  “Foster, is that you? Come on in and have a cup of cocoa.” He’d pretend he had some. “I can use some company.”

  No answer. He didn’t expect one. But the footsteps grew louder. The steps were heavy, dragging. Pour it on, Foster. I’m ready for you now. I’m not even scared. Much.

  Lenny turned and headed back to his bag. A gasping, panting sound came from the shadows of one crumbling wall of the gym. Pretty good. Great sound. Authentic.

  He waited until they were close. So close he could smell the garlic and moldy socks they were using so he’d know they were comi
ng. Don’t spoil their trick, he thought. When he couldn’t stand the suspense anymore, he grasped the black rubber tube of his flashlight more firmly and slid the ON button forward.

  The beam spotlighted a huge hulk. It hunched forward, curling short arms in front of its chest. It kept shuffling towards Lenny. Long nails reached for him.

  His feet froze in his size eleven Reeboks. His heart thudded until he could feel it throbbing in his temples. He tried to speak, tried to shout, “No! No!”

  He raised both hands to ward off the beast. With a snarl the monster attacked, threw him to the ground, raked his face. He felt the welts sting. Blood ran freely down his face.

  That was the last thing he remembered.

  “What did I tell you? What did I tell you, Abby?” Abby and Gina found Jerry and David waiting outside the Quad Caf the next day. Sissy was with them. Abby noticed that Sissy moved back a step from David when Abby appeared.

  Sissy lived in the same dorm with David and Jerry, Devereaux Hall. More and more Abby wanted to scream at her mother for being so conservative. Abby’s mother had been adamant about Abby being in the all-women’s dorm for a year. “By then you’ll be used to the freedom of college, Abby,” her mother had said. “Then I can’t protect you anymore.”

  Abby couldn’t help but wonder what Sissy’s mother was like. Had Mrs. King ever tried to teach Sissy any social graces? Like, one does not steal a friend’s guy. Then again, was Abby friends with Sissy? Yes, reluctantly, since Sissy had attached herself more and more to their crowd.

  Abby gave her attention to Jerry’s question. “I don’t know, Jerry. What did you tell me? Am I supposed to remember all the gibberish you come up with?” She smiled, grateful to Jerry for keeping them all from being too serious. For keeping them sane when they were all under pressure from tough classes.

  “I told you that monsters really existed. I have the biggest collection of monster comics and movies of anyone in my hometown, but I’ve never seen a real one. I wish I could.”

  “Careful what you wish for, Jerry,” said Sissy. “You might get your wish.”

  “Lenny Latham wasn’t hurt badly. Mainly just scared. At first he thought the monster was a frat joke. But then it attacked him.”

  “He wasn’t hurt?” asked Gina.

  “Just scratched up some. And he banged his head when he fainted. He has a slight concussion.”

  “Wait, guys,” Abby protested as they went into the cafeteria. “You mean someone saw this rumored monster? It’s real?”

  David smiled at Abby. She wanted to grab him and hug him. He never said much in the morning, but he sure was cute. “He not only saw it, but it attacked him,” David said.

  “The Sigma Chis made him stay overnight in the ruins of the old Peabody Gym.” Sissy said. “You know the one that’s haunted, except now that the gym burned, the ghost haunts the ruins. When the monster first appeared, he figured it was one of the upperclassmen dressed up. But it was real!” Sissy laughed and scrunched up her shoulders. “Isn’t that super-scary-awesome? Let’s go over to the ruins tonight and see if we can find it. We’ll be safe if we stick together.” She was inviting everyone, but Sissy looked only at David.

  “I don’t think I want to.” Gina took a tray and started looking over the breakfast selections.

  “You scared?” Jerry asked. “I’ll protect you.”

  “Oh, that relieves my mind considerably.” Gina took a deep breath and pretended to relax all over. “I’ll have a ninety-pound weakling for a bodyguard.”

  “Do you have any Wheaties?” Jerry called to the girl behind the counter. “The Breakfast of Champions? And ninety-pound weaklings?”

  Greta Lyons smiled, knowing he was teasing. “Sorry, Jerry. All out. Hi, Abby. Can you work for me this weekend? I need to go back home.”

  “I think so, Greta.” Abby could use some extra hours, even though she had planned to study all weekend. She was almost caught up. Of course, some teacher would probably spoil that by giving them another paper to write or extra reading. “I sure don’t have time to go home until the semester is over.”

  Every table in the Quad Caf buzzed with last night’s events. Abby overheard snatches of conversation as she looked for an empty space.

  “Monster attack.” “Furry.” “Long claws. You should see Lenny’s face.” “Terrible smell, like sewer water mixed with garlic.”

  “I thought monsters were afraid of garlic,” Abby said. “I just heard someone say this thing smells like garlic.”

  Jerry loved showing off his expertise. “Well, vampires don’t like garlic. And werewolves hate nearly the same stuff as vampires. But I’m not sure there’s anything that will repel a monster. There are so many different kinds.”

  “Ohhh, I love it.” Sissy squealed. “I’m going to need protection on the campus at night. Any volunteers?” She didn’t look at David, but since she sat beside him, he was the one she leaned on.

  “There comes Stan Hurley, Sissy.” Jerry stood up. “I’ll go ask him if he’s busy.”

  “Don’t you dare.” Sissy’s dark eyes shot daggers at Jerry. “I wouldn’t be caught dead with that weirdo.”

  Jerry hummed creepy music. “You may get your wish, Sissy-babe. First he’ll drug you with one of those awful potions he mixes in the chem lab. Then he’ll murder you in his monsterden. You will truly be caught dead with him.”

  “You think he could be involved in what’s happening?” Gina asked. “If we’re going to take this seriously, there must be someone behind the stunt.”

  Abby stared at Stan. She was glad he’d sat with his back to them. She had never found out what he wanted the other morning when he’d followed her. And she had caught him staring at her a couple of times since.

  Now she felt someone else staring at her. Her eyes met those of Martin Beecher, the guy who’d picked up her books in the library. He smiled, then got up and left. Abby felt her face getting hot. How could she be in love with David, but attracted to another guy?

  “Listen, it’s Friday,” Gina said, sipping her second cup of coffee. “I have an idea. Let’s get together tonight and look for this thing. Like Sissy says, we’ll be safe together. It’ll be fun.”

  “Tell me where to meet you,” Abby said. “I’m on clean-up at the cafeteria tonight, and then I have one more thing to finish in the chem lab. I started it yesterday, but I’m having trouble figuring it out.”

  “Abby, didn’t you hear me? It’s Friday. You sure are a party pooper.” Gina pretended to pout.

  “I’ve worked too hard this semester to blow it now.” Abby insisted on meeting them. “Where will you be?”

  “How about the Tower?” said Sissy. “We can see all over the campus with those telescopes.”

  “Hey, great idea.” Jerry smiled at Abby. “You won’t get involved with Hurley and forget to come, will you?”

  Why did he have to say that? “If Stan Hurley is in the lab this evening, I’ll finish my extra-credit project tomorrow.”

  “He’ll be there. Covered with dust and cobwebs.” Gina grinned. “I think he lives in the chem lab.”

  This time, Abby wished David would say he’d come help her finish her experiment. But he didn’t. And she sure wasn’t going to ask him for help. “Okay, I’ll be there about nine.”

  “Be careful walking across the campus.” David looked at her as she picked up her breakfast tray. He still didn’t offer to come get her, though.

  Then Sissy had to put in, “I’ll take care of David till you get there.”

  I’ll bet you will, Abby thought. She left for her early class, determined not to worry about Sissy or David. If he wanted an overly dramatic, clinging vine, he could have her.

  But if Sissy didn’t keep her hands to herself, Abby would tear her into bite-size pieces and feed her to the monster herself.

  Chapter 4

  Abby was exhausted when she finished cleaning up in the cafeteria. She wished she could just go back to the dorm and sleep for about twelve ho
urs. The idea that her bed was only a couple of floors away nagged at her. How could she go to the lab and then out with David? A little voice inside her said, no wonder he’s attracted to Sissy. She has a lot of energy and a lot of time to pay attention to him.

  She sighed, grabbed her chem book and her notebook, and forced her heavy feet to climb the stairs and leave the Quad.

  A lovely spring evening greeted her. The whole campus smelled of freshly mowed grass and lilacs. Friday evening — there were people everywhere, throwing Frisbees, sitting on the grass laughing and talking, just hanging out. Who would have had any idea that there was some kind of beast loose on campus?

  Abby still had trouble accepting that there was. She still suspected that “the monster” was a Sigma Chi fraternity prank. She hadn’t seen Lenny Latham’s face. Everyone said it was scratched badly. But he could have fallen, trying to escape the guys who were teasing him. She knew Lenny. He was a world-class nerd. She wondered why Sigma Chi was pledging him. Maybe they just needed an underdog, someone to hassle or play tricks on.

  The campus was much quieter near Griswold Hall, and shadows grew long around the pond she had to pass to get there. Despite her doubt about the existence of a supernatural beast, she still quickened her steps, glancing all around.

  Once inside the building, her steps echoed off the high walls and up and down the stairwell. She would never get used to coming in here without swarms of students running up and down.

  To her surprise, the lab wasn’t locked. Maybe the janitor was tired of opening it for people. As predictable as Friday pop quizzes, Stan Hurley was huddled over a Bunsen burner in the back of the lab. Abby didn’t even acknowledge that she’d seen him. Eyes straight ahead, she hurried to her table, took things from her drawer, and looked over her notes. Her eyes blurred.

  Did she really need to do this — try it again? Yes, she did. Dr. Curruthers had announced that anyone who needed to pull up a sagging grade or assure an A could do extra-credit reports or experiments. He had suggested some, but told the class to be creative. “Just don’t blow up the place,” he warned with a laugh. Apparently someone had done that a few years back.