Monster

by Barbara Steiner

  Monster

  Nightmare Hall

  Diane Hoh

  Prologue

  A soft rustling sound broke the silence around Varsity Pond. The couple sitting on the park bench, enjoying the soft spring night, thought nothing of it. An owl, left homeless when the old Peabody gym had burned, had moved into a hollow oak tree near the pond. Bird-watchers from the Biology I class kept an eye on the tree, hoping the bird was nesting.

  The girl snuggled close as the guy she was with stroked her hair with gentle hands. His first kiss was soft, lingering.

  A groan from behind them caused her to pull back, alarmed. A musty smell grew stronger, became rotten, like a skunk long dead.

  The low growl sent shivers throughout the girl’s body. Her chest squeezed, leaving her struggling to breathe. She wanted to scream, but no sound left her open mouth.

  Before she could get to her feet, before they could run, the beast roared, attacked, slashing out with long, razor-sharp claws.

  Everyone had joked about the monster stalking students on the campus of Salem University. Everyone thought it was a prank by the Sigma Chis.

  The couple could testify that the creature was no prank.

  They had evidence that the creature was real.

  They could put the rumors to rest.

  If they lived.

  Chapter 1

  “College is for geniuses,” Abby McDonald announced to the friends walking to the library with her.

  “Are you still behind?” Jerry Todd teased. “You had all of spring break to catch up.”

  “Believe me, she spent it studying, too.” David Waters grimaced, but he put his arm around Abby’s waist and squeezed.

  Abby couldn’t believe that David was still speaking to her. She had been a total drag lately, turning down all of his great ideas for dates and parties. He had even invited her to go to Florida over break, courtesy of his parents’ generosity, and she’d had to say no. After four years of going out with Abby, he should be used to it. Maybe he was. Or tired of it? Maybe he was that, too.

  “How can it have been only two weeks since classes started again?” Abby moaned. “I have a history paper to write, a book to read for my English class, and that dumb lab project to do for my intro chem class. I’ll never keep up.”

  “You mean you might not make straight A’s.” David smiled. “Would the world come to an end?”

  Abby winced but said, “No, but my scholarship might. And without that money, I’d have to drop out and work in the cafeteria full-time instead of part-time. And my parents would kill me.”

  “Now we get to the real worry,” David said. “They’re too hard on you, Abby.”

  Gina Putnam shook her head. “You did this to yourself, Abby. You’re taking chemistry, a lit course — where everyone knows you have to read a million books — American history, freshman comp, and working part-time? Give yourself a break. Nobody could keep up with that load their first year in college. Or even their fourth year. Have you never heard of easy classes? Like drama? Or communications?” Gina pretended to faint. “I’m going to be a movie star, make a ton of money, and let someone else mix my chemicals.” She started tickling Jerry and he turned on her. Both of them ran ahead laughing.

  “Children.” David smiled. “Want me to wait for you until the library closes, Abby?” They had just reached the huge building. David brushed back the dark hair that kept falling over his forehead.

  “Thanks, David, but I’m going from here to the chem lab. Doctor Curruthers said Griswold Hall would be open and if I could find the janitor he’d let me into the lab.”

  “When are you going to sleep, Abby?” David looked truly worried. “You’ll make yourself sick, and then you really won’t keep up.” David had the most handsome face. Abby hated to see it marred with a frown.

  She reached out and touched his smooth cheek. “What else can I do? I’ll get used to the pace. I’m sure I will. College is just so different from high school, and classes are so much harder.”

  “So is spending time with you.” David leaned over and planted a quick kiss on her lips. The gesture said one thing. His tone of voice said another.

  Abby felt heavy inside, and it wasn’t all due to staying up late studying. David was getting impatient with her. If she didn’t find some time for him, he’d find another girlfriend. They had been going together since they were sophomores in high school. She was thrilled when he decided to come to Salem University with her. Who else would put up with me, she thought. I know I’m too serious. I know I study too much.

  She sighed. She just didn’t have time to worry about David. She glanced around, found a free seat, and hurried to the shelves.

  By the time she’d finished writing her paper, the library was a half hour from closing. She was almost the only student left. No one else was working this hard. But at least she’d finished.

  She turned to stand up with her load of books and the top one started to slide. Before she could grab it, she spilled everything in a noisy avalanche. “Oh.” She slumped in the hard, uncomfortable library chair and wished she could curl up right there and sleep.

  Spinning around, she found herself looking down on a head of curly, dark red hair. “Oh, you don’t have to do that.”

  “I don’t mind,” he said, looking up at her with a gorgeous smile.

  “You’re a lot nicer than most guys, then,” she told him.

  “I’m not most guys.” His blue eyes twinkled.

  He sure wasn’t. And he wasn’t a freshman either. Wouldn’t Gina faint for real if she saw boring, studious Abby with an upperclassman on her arm?

  What was she doing? Just a few hours ago she’d been worrying about David getting tired of her. Now she was flirting with another guy.

  “Thanks,” she said, flipping her reddish blonde hair over her shoulder and taking the load of books he handed her. “Abby McDonald, natural-born klutz.” She slid a few fingers out from under the books.

  “Careful.” He laughed and squeezed her hand but pushed it back under her notebook. “I sort of guessed you were from a long line of Irish lassies. Martin Beecher, at your service.”

  “Well, thanks a lot, Martin Beecher. Now I have to run.” Suddenly she felt her face heating up and her tongue getting numb. She didn’t want to say something stupid.

  She set a fast pace out of the library. But as she crossed the grassy commons, something made her look around. He stood on the library steps, watching her. She jerked her head around and hurried on. Maybe studying makes a girl beautiful. If that was the case, she should be drop-dead gorgeous by now.

  Within minutes of leaving the lights of the library, she wished she’d told David to wait for her and walk her to Griswold Hall, the science building. Or that Martin Beecher would have said, “I just happen to be going your way.”

  Maybe it was too late to work on her project after all. The campus was completely deserted. And she didn’t remember it having so many trees. Or being so dark once you left the main sidewalks.

  Griswold Hall snuggled into a pocket of land beside a small lake, really a pond, called Varsity Pond. The closer she got to the water, the deeper the shadows seemed. To her left something rustled in the bushes. Wings fluttered and a dark shape swooped past her, raising the hair on the back of her neck.

  That was an owl, Abby McDonald. Have you never seen an owl before? No, she didn’t think she had. And she had certainly never heard the sharp squeak that abruptly stopped the rustling.

  Now she heard footsteps behind her.

  Slowly she twisted her head, the same way she imagined the owl moving. Her body kept going forward.

  There was no one behind her. Her own steps echoed through the thick night air.

  She ran the last few feet to Griswold, drawn
like a moth to the lights glowing on either side of the door. She yanked open the door, clutching her books in front of her as if the heavy volumes would protect her. Protect her? From what? Her imagination?

  Inside, the silent front hall was almost as scary as outside in the darkness. There was a dim light, but the hall gave off hollow echoes as she walked up the stairs and towards the lab. Doesn’t anyone else study at night at Salem University?

  “Oh!” She jumped back as a tall, slim man came around a corner towards her. Dressed in overalls, he carried a mop. His long face held a scowl as if he hated his job.

  “Are you the custodian?” she asked. “Doctor Curruthers said you’d open the chem lab for me. I have to finish a project.”

  He stared at her until her knees wobbled. Had no one ever come here at night to work? Finally he turned and walked towards the lab door. Taking out a huge ring with dozens of jingling keys, he selected one carefully, turned it in the door with a click.

  “Pull it shut when you leave. It’ll lock itself.” He hurried away.

  “Yessir,” she whispered, sliding into the lab.

  The door creaked and banged closed behind her. Strong chemical smells filled her nostrils. Yep, this was the chem lab. She froze, leaning on the cool door for a moment. Then she headed for her table.

  “What are you doing here?” a voice growled from one dim corner.

  Abby jumped. Her books slid away again with a whoosh and a crash. Great.

  And of all people to be here, after her wishing someone — anyone — would show up, the class creep makes an appearance.

  Stan Hurley looked like a comic book version of a mad scientist. Or a young, disturbed Albert Einstein. His hair was a peculiar shade of blond and was steel-wool curly. Jerry had dubbed him Professor Brillo Pad their first day of class.

  She wished Jerry were here now, making her laugh.

  Word was he really was a genius — Stan, not Jerry — and one of her classmates had whispered that some people thought he was just a little bit crazy. Over the first three months of the semester, she’d heard several strange stories about him.

  He was short but looked as if he lifted weights in secret. He was certainly no ninety-pound weakling. He wore those glasses with no rims. Now, with a white lab coat on, she waited for him to say, “Since you’re here, come see this body I’m sewing together with spare parts I dug this evening from the cemetery.”

  What was he doing? Abby set her books down and moved towards him. As long as they were going to be here together, she’d try to be friendly.

  “What’s that weird brew you’re cooking up, Stan?” Abby reached for his notes. “It smells awful.”

  “None of your business!” Stan snatched up all his notes and stuffed them into his notebook. “What are you doing here at night?”

  “I could ask the same thing of you. I came to work on my extra-credit project. Dr. Curruthers said it was okay. Does he know you come here at night and mess with those chemicals?” Abby could be nasty if she felt like it.

  “I have a key.” Stan continued putting his work away.

  “Oh.” Abby moved back to her table. A lot more questions ran through her mind. Does Prof. C. know you have a key? Who gave it to you? Did you pour wax in the keyhole and make it yourself? She heard the door slam and was glad when he had gone — for a few minutes. Then she began to wonder why couldn’t he keep working with her there? She had to admit she preferred to be here with him rather than all alone.

  Abby concentrated on her experiment. She finally got the Bunsen burner lighted — Gina often did that for her, since Abby was a bit afraid of the thing — and had heated one test tube, when she heard a click at the door. She looked up, but no one entered.

  Reaching for a beaker, she paused. Should she mix these two before or after she heated the test tube? She couldn’t remember what she’d planned. With her elbow she tried to turn the page in her notebook.

  The lab door opened. She dropped the beaker at the same time she bumped the test tube. Maybe she hadn’t gotten the holder tight, maybe it burst from the heat. Whatever, the whole mess splashed across the floor at her feet.

  “Oh, no. Not just as I was finished.” Abby couldn’t have felt more disappointed. All that work.

  She glared at the janitor who stood at the door. He didn’t say a word, just peeked in, shook his head as if to say I’m not paid to clean up after you. He let the door swing closed by itself.

  Grabbing some paper towels from over the sink, she ran back to mop up the mess she’d made. It smelled awful, almost as bad as that stuff Stan was mixing. The fumes stung her nostrils. She coughed, laughed — what else could she do? She tossed the whole experiment into the wastebasket. No, she changed her mind. Better not.

  Quickly she moved into the bathroom attached to the lab. The one with the shower where they’d get scrubbed down if they spilled something caustic. She dumped the whole mess into the toilet and flushed.

  “I give up,” she quipped, waving good-bye to an hour’s work.

  “I hope so. What are you doing?” A voice behind her said.

  She jumped and dropped the wastebasket. The metal can crashed and clattered, echoing through the empty lab.

  “Oh, David, you scared me. Ms. Klutz strikes again. I was almost through when I dropped the whole mess.”

  “Give it up, Abby. You’re too tired to be working here. Jerry and Gina are outside. We came out for you. And because Vinnie’s is calling us. You’ll feel a whole lot better after a double cheese and pepperoni with olives and mushrooms.”

  “I’ll feel a whole lot better when the summer comes. But you’re right. This night is finished. I’ll try to do this over tomorrow.” Abby gladly picked up her books. With her free hand she grabbed David’s arm and pulled him close. “Want to know who was here when I came in? Acting weird as usual?”

  Abby laughed as they dashed out of the silent, creepy building and tumbled into the backseat of Gina’s car. Thank goodness for friends to remind her of the important things in life.

  Chapter 2

  The next morning Abby paid for her late night — another late night. She’d gotten very little sleep since she came to college, it seemed. She thought college was supposed to be fun. So why was she so worn out — exhausted in the morning, frantic by day, desperately trying to keep up?

  As she sat on her bed, trying to shake off the heavy, soggy weight of her body and pull herself to her feet, she finally noticed that her roommate’s bed hadn’t been slept in — again.

  Why didn’t Carrie Milholland have to study? And where did she go every night? Abby hadn’t gotten to know her very well. Her first semester roommate had dropped out, and Carrie had entered school in January. Abby had liked Carrie the few times they’d talked. She thought they might be able to be close friends. But Carrie seemed to be with her boyfriend most of the time.

  “May you flunk out your first year,” Abby said, venting her frustration on someone who couldn’t vent back.

  Dragging herself into the shower, she stood under cold water until her brain was shocked into a low level of function. It was better than nothing.

  Gina waited for her on the front steps of the Quad. “Oh, Abby, why did we stay out so late last night? Don’t ever let me do that again.”

  “Let you? You and David and Jerry lured me away. It’s not my fault.”

  “Someone in this foursome has to have some discipline. You seem best suited for that job.”

  “Do you really think I’m a disciplined drudge, Gina? Is that what everyone thinks?” Abby groaned. She wanted people to think she was fun, not “disciplined.” But she had to study a lot to maintain her scholarship. How could she balance out the two?

  “Yes, Abby, you’re a drudge, but we love you anyway.” Gina laughed, her eyes squeezing shut. “Actually I admire your discipline. I just can’t do it.”

  “Have you ever tried?” Abby smiled at Gina. With her short-short hair, her heart-shaped face, and those crinkly eyes, she look
ed like a mischievous pixie.

  “No.”

  They entered the dining hall arm in arm, still laughing.

  “So, you’ve heard the news.” Jerry’s face registered exaggerated disappointment. “I wanted to be the one to tell you.”

  “What news?” Gina took the tray Jerry handed her as they got in line. “We’re having huevos rancheros with hot, hot salsa for breakfast at last?” Gina had come to Salem University from Texas, and apparently they didn’t eat like normal people down there.

  “Do you really eat that chili pepper stuff for breakfast, Gina?” asked Abby. “My stomach would turn somersaults all day.”

  “Yes. It lights a fire that gives you energy all day.”

  “I’ll light your fire, Tex,” Jerry said, “but it may not last all day. You’ll have to meet me again after second period and then at noon and then —”

  “Dream on, Romeo. So if a real breakfast isn’t the news, what is?”

  “Apparently there’s a monster loose on campus.” David spoke for the first time, other than a nod and a hug for Abby. There were dark circles under his eyes as if he’d stayed up even later than their pizza rendezvous.

  Abby burst out laughing. “You’ve got to be kidding. A monster — like Frankenstein’s? Or Alien?”

  “Or like that monster in Forbidden Planet. Boy, that was a great movie.” Jerry was practically drooling and rubbing his hands together. “Or the original version of The Thing. The remake was a disaster. That gooey glob wasn’t scary at all.”

  “Everyone in my end of the dorm was talking about strange noises down near the Sigma Chi house behind the pond.” David heaped his plate with hash browns and then took three pieces of buttered toast. He was always carbo loading for tennis practice.

  “Well, that’s easily explained.” Gina shook her head. “Probably some of those fraternity animals skinny-dipping in the dark.”

  “I’ll bet it’s some kind of prank.” After talking about monster breakfasts Abby settled for toast and black coffee. “You know, hazing or trying to scare the girls at the Omega house on that same block.”