Night of the Werecat (6 page)

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

A
s 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

W
endy 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

W
endy'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.