The Scream of the Haunted Mask

by R. L. Stine

“Get it now,” Laura ordered. “Dig it up. Bring it to me. Or I’ll make these kids suffer even more.”

  “You can’t get away with this!” Clark roared.

  I jumped back as he leaped into the air. He reached out both arms to tackle Laura to the floor.

  But Clark’s hands went right through her! A ghost. You can’t tackle a ghost!

  She rose off the floor. She pointed a long finger at him and gave him a cold, hard stare.

  “NOOOO!” Clark let out a startled scream as she held him in her stare. And he went sailing backward across the room.

  CRAAAAACK! His head slammed into the wall with a hard jolt. He uttered a groan and then slumped in a heap to the floor.

  With a cold smile on her face, Laura turned to me. “See what I can do?” she said. “Would you like to see the kids go flying headfirst?”

  She waved me to the door. “Stop stalling, Carly Beth. You know you have no choice. Go dig it up. Bring me the Haunted Mask.”

  She was right. I had no choice. I ran out the glass door, with the kids’ wails and shrieks of pain ringing in my ears.

  A blast of cold wind pushed me back. Hugging myself, I lowered my head and ran across the backyard toward the stable.

  My breath steamed up in front of me. My shoes crunched on the frosty hard ground.

  The tall grass blew from side to side. Pale silver moonlight made a path in front of me as I ran.

  The lighted path disappeared as I stepped into the darkness of the apple orchard. I hurtled through the blur of tree limbs and branches and dark trunks trying to block my way.

  My side throbbed with pain and my dry throat ached as I reached the stable. I found the patch where Sabrina had buried the mask. I didn’t wait to catch my breath. I dropped to my knees and began to heave up dirt with both hands.

  It didn’t take long. Sabrina hadn’t buried it very deep. I pulled it up from its shallow grave. The mask felt WARM!

  I shook the dirt off it. It stared up at me as I held it in my trembling hands.

  I raced through the orchard to the farmhouse. Would I be in time to save those poor kids? Could I save them? Would Laura really release them from their masks?

  Shivering from the cold, I stepped through the front door. I held the mask in front of me.

  The kids were quiet now. Their screams had stopped. Some were lying on the floor, weakly tugging at their masks. A few were huddled together in a corner, crying softly.

  Laura rushed forward to meet me. Her eyes gleamed when they landed on the mask. “Give it to me!” she cried. “I’ve waited so long! I need it!”

  Breathing hard, my whole body shivered. I started to hand it to her.

  She reached for it. Her pale eyes flashed with excitement.

  I pulled it back.

  The mask will make Laura even more evil, I thought. She doesn’t want it back so she can finally go to her resting place.

  She waited for the mask all this time so she could do more EVIL!

  If she gets the mask, she will destroy us all!

  “Give it,” Laura whispered. She made a wild grab for it. “Give it to me, Carly Beth.”

  I could feel her ghostly powers, so strong and cold. I could feel the pull. Feel her pulling my arm … pulling the mask to her.

  “No!” I choked out.

  I made a terrifying decision. Someone had to save the kids.

  I gripped the Haunted Mask by its sides. I raised it high.

  And I pulled it down over my own head!

  I gasped. The warmth of the mask burned my face. I could feel the mask instantly start to tighten.

  But I knew I had to fight evil with evil.

  I heard the children screaming. I turned and saw them tearing off their paper bag masks. Their faces were red and drenched with sweat. But they were laughing and crying and jumping up and down with joy.

  All of Laura’s attention was on me. She had released her hold on the kids.

  Mrs. Lange ran in. “What’s all the screaming?” she asked. “I had a problem in the office. I —”

  Her face went pale. She saw Laura and me facing each other. She saw me in the Haunted Mask. Her whole body shuddered. Without another word, she gathered up the kids and hurried them out of the farmhouse.

  Laura’s flaming eyes were locked on mine. “You FOOL!” she screamed. “Take it OFF! Give it to me!”

  I could feel the mask shrinking against my skin. Attaching itself to my head. And I could feel its evil pouring down me, like ice water filling my body.

  “You FOOL!” Laura shouted again. “I wanted to DESTROY the mask! I didn’t want to wear it!”

  “Liar!” I cried. My voice came out raspy and deep behind the mask. I knew she was lying.

  With a cry, Laura leaped forward and grabbed the mask with both hands. “Give it to me! It’s mine! It’s MINE! You’ll PAY! I’ll make you PAY!”

  She tugged at the cheeks. Then raised her hands to the top of the mask and pulled.

  “No! Let go! Let GO!” I screamed. The mask was stuck to me. It was part of me. The ugly mask was now my FACE!

  I could feel the hot anger burn my chest. I couldn’t control my rage.

  I let out a furious roar. I wasn’t me anymore. I was some kind of beast. “You’re DOOMED, Laura! Tonight you face your doom!”

  Grunting like an animal, I lunged at her. I made a grab for her. Missed. My hands pushed right through her.

  “You can’t escape me, Laura!” I roared.

  I saw a flash of fear on her ghostly face. She swung away and ran out the glass door to the back. I saw her running across the backyard, and I took off after her.

  Into the cold, windy darkness. My shoes pounded hard over the frosty ground. The tall grass flattened as I plunged through it.

  “You can’t escape, Laura!” I growled.

  She floated over the pasture, her hair flying behind her. I raced after her, arms outstretched.

  Silence fell over us. A deep, frightening silence.

  And then, running hard, I tilted my head back — and roared out a shrill cry.

  Not a cry from me. Not a cry from Carly Beth.

  The cry came from the mask. It was the scream of the Haunted Mask.

  The mask had taken over my mind and my body.

  The mask had won!

  My scream rang out over the empty pasture. It was an animal cry — not human. A scream of pure anger and raging evil.

  I screamed again and again and felt the mask burn itself to my skin. I screamed as I ran — and then the scream stopped with a gasp of surprise.

  I heard a rumbling sound. Panting like an animal, I listened. And heard the whinny of horses. And the soft thunder of hoofbeats.

  And then a dozen ghostly horses came galloping out from the blackness of the orchard trees. Pale, pale horses. Their white manes flew behind their raised heads. Their eyes glowed an icy blue. Their mouths were open as if in a permanent cry.

  The ground shook. The tall pasture grass whipped in all directions. The ghost horses galloped together. They held their heads tall and high. Their glowing blue eyes were trained on Laura.

  Laura uttered a cry. She couldn’t escape.

  The horses swirled around her, galloping faster and faster. I stared in amazement as they became a cloud of white. A loud, frightening blur of ghostly blue eyes and whinnies and screams and pounding hoofbeats.

  And then the cloud faded. The horses slowed and pulled away from their whirling circle.

  Silence now. A heavy, hushed silence. The grass stopped its wild dance. The wind didn’t blow.

  No more screams. Laura was gone. Vanished in the ghostly stampede.

  I watched the horses turn back toward the orchard. They lowered their heads and grunted softly to one another. They could relax now. The girl who had frightened them so many years ago was finally gone.

  I waited until the horses had disappeared into the trees. Then I turned and strode back to the house.

  Sabrina and Clark came rushing across the
backyard to greet me. But they stopped when they saw my ugly green rutted face. I heard them gasp when they saw the glow of evil in my eyes.

  “Oh! Carly Beth!” Sabrina shouted.

  I picked up the wheelbarrow in the middle of the yard. Hoisted it high over my head — and heaved it against the back door. I raised my face to the sky and laughed as the glass shattered.

  “Go away — both of you!” I roared. “I’m not Carly Beth anymore! I AM the Haunted Mask!”

  “No! Carly Beth — we can help you!” Clark cried.

  But I picked up a garden hoe. Pulled back my arm. And tossed it at his head.

  “Nooo!” Clark and Sabrina screamed. Clark ducked, and the hoe sailed over him.

  I searched for something else to throw. Clark and Sabrina turned and darted back into the house.

  I raised my head and howled at the moon.

  I couldn’t control my anger. I wanted to pull down the trees and tear the farmhouse apart board by board.

  I dropped to my knees. Am I doomed to be like this forever? To act and look like this? I asked myself. Is there no cure for me?

  I remembered that first Halloween. I remembered what the store owner told me about the mask.

  “It can be removed only by a symbol of love.”

  I gazed around. “There is no love here,” I muttered. “There is only fear and anger. Besides, the store owner said the mask could be removed only once by a symbol of love.”

  But I’d defeated the mask then. I’d survived. The store owner said I was the only one…. He said he didn’t know what would happen….

  On my knees on the frozen ground, I screamed at the moon once more. I screamed long and hard. When I lowered my head, I saw the horses returning. Stampeding over the tall grass. Once again, their ghostly white manes flew, and their eyes glowed an icy blue.

  Galloping straight at me. Coming for ME now!

  I shut my eyes. Gritted my teeth.

  And prepared for the pain.

  Kneeling on the ground, I listened to the thunder of hoofbeats. I steadied myself … steadied myself … and felt a tingle on my cheek.

  I opened my eyes. A horse nuzzled my cheek. Another ghostly pale horse lowered its head and nudged me. It wanted to be petted.

  The horses formed a close circle around me, whinnying softly, bumping me gently.

  I wrapped my arms around a horse’s neck.

  And from some faraway place, I heard a soft voice. Laura’s voice. “Carly Beth, you were the only one to care for them in all these years,” she called to me. “The only one to show them any love.”

  It took me a long moment to realize what Laura was talking about.

  The carrots!

  I’d brought them carrots — a symbol of kindness and love.

  My heart pounding. I climbed to my feet. And with a cry of joy, I ripped off the Haunted Mask. Yes! It came off! It came off!

  The cool air greeted my burning face. Slowly, the anger and rage floated away. I could feel the mask release its hold on my mind.

  The horses quickly began to fade. They vanished except for their glowing blue eyes. The eyes floated above me, shimmering against the black sky like stars. And then they vanished, too.

  I turned and saw Sabrina and Clark standing outside the back door. I ran to them and threw my arms around Sabrina in a hug.

  “Sabrina, I can’t stop shaking,” I said. “But I’m so happy! The nightmare is over. For everyone. It’s finally over!”

  I glanced down. I suddenly realized I still had the Haunted Mask gripped tightly in my hand.

  I raised it in front of me. I turned to Sabrina and Clark. “We have to bury it again,” I said. “Right away. We —”

  I stopped when the mask wiggled in my hand. The ugly green head started to quiver and shake. The fat rubbery lips began to move up and down. And to my horror, I heard its whispered rasp:

  “You’re my favorite, Carly Beth. See you next Halloween….”

  Ordinary kids are receiving mysterious invitations to HorrorLand, a popular SCREAM park filled with ghoulish rides and attractions. Each “very special guest” is promised a week of scary fun — but now the scares are becoming a little TOO scary.

  Two girls — Britney Crosby and Molly Molloy — disappeared in the Black Lagoon Water Park, and Billy Deep was horrified when his sister, Sheena, suddenly became invisible. Then, she went missing, too.

  A park guide — a Horror named Byron — warned the kids they were all in danger. He tried to help them … until two other Horrors dragged him away!

  Why are the kids in danger? Where are the three missing girls? Maybe Byron knows the answers — if the kids can find him.

  When Carly Beth and Sabrina received invitations of their own, they had no idea they might be stepping into a REAL horror story!

  What’s next? Turn the page to join Carly Beth and Sabrina in HorrorLand….

  Nothing can scare me. Not after my horrifying battles with the Haunted Mask.

  So when the envelope addressed to Carly Beth Caldwell arrived in the mail from HorrorLand Amusement Park, I wasn’t afraid at all. I knew I would have a great time there — even though everyone says HorrorLand is the scariest place on earth.

  The invitation said I could bring a friend to the park for a week — absolutely free! So when summer arrived, I was ready to put the real scares behind me. And enjoy some fun scares for a change.

  Our first day at the park, Sabrina and I took our seats in the Very Special Guests section of the Haunted Theater. Creepy organ music played. Shadow ghosts slid across the purple curtain onstage. Evil laughter poured out of hidden speakers.

  “This is totally awesome,” Sabrina said. “How did you ever get picked to come here for free?”

  I shrugged. “Beats me. No idea.”

  A deep voice came over the speakers. “Attention, everyone. Mondo the Magical is backstage casting a spell on himself. Unfortunately, he turned himself into a pigeon. The show will begin as soon as he turns himself back.”

  Everyone laughed. I gazed around. The theater was about half full. Kids and families were still pouring in.

  The room was long and narrow, with rows of ghost-white seats. Photos of screaming faces lined the purple walls.

  Sabrina bumped me with her elbow. “Look. Those two boys are going to sit with us.”

  I turned to the aisle and saw a Horror — that’s what they call the park guides here. He was dressed in green and purple, and he was showing two boys to the chairs next to us.

  Sabrina smoothed down her hair and adjusted her pale green T-shirt. “They’re kind of cute,” she whispered.

  The boys dropped into their seats. They both had dark hair and dark eyes. Sabrina leaned forward to say hi. But they totally ignored us. They seemed to be stressed about something.

  “Billy, I saw them drag Byron into this theater,” the taller one said. “I’ll bet they are holding him backstage.”

  Billy’s face was red. He kept glancing at the Horror ushers in the aisle. “Stay cool, Matt,” he whispered. “Just act as if we’re here to see the show. Maybe when the lights go down, we can sneak out and search for Byron.”

  I stared at them. What was their problem?

  “But maybe we should search for Sheena, Britney, and Molly first,” the one named Billy said.

  Matt shook his head. “Don’t you get it? Byron said he would help us. He knows what’s going on. We’ve got to rescue him from those Horrors who dragged him away.”

  Billy slammed his hands on the arms of the seat. “Where is my sister? How can this be happening?”

  Matt had something in his hand. I squinted to see it better. It was a tiny piece of a mirror. The two boys sat there, staring into it.

  Okay. I’m not a nosy person. But this was too much.

  “What’s up with you guys?” I asked. “What are you looking at?”

  Their heads shot around. “Oh. Hi,” Matt said.

  “Didn’t see you,” Billy said.

  “W
hat’s up?” I asked again. “You both look totally stressed.”

  They glanced at each other. They were trying to decide whether to tell me or not.

  “Well … we have a weird problem,” Billy said finally. “My sister, Sheena, is missing. And two other girls we met.”

  Sabrina’s mouth dropped open. “Missing? For real? Did you tell the park people about it?”

  Billy rolled his eyes. “Like they want to be helpful?”

  “A Horror named Byron wants to help us,” Matt said. “But some other Horrors dragged him away.”

  Matt saw me gazing at the mirror. He held it up to me. “What do you see in there?”

  I pulled the tiny piece of mirror closer. “I see two girls on some kind of carnival ride,” I said.

  “Those are the two missing girls,” Matt said. “Britney and Molly.”

  I studied the girls in the mirror. “What is it? Some kind of optical illusion?”

  “No. It’s real,” Billy said. “We have to find that carousel. Maybe my sister is there with them. But she may be a little hard to find. She’s invisible.”

  I glanced at Sabrina. She looked as confused as I did. Their story didn’t make any sense at all. Missing girls inside a mirror? An invisible girl? They seemed too upset to be joking. But could it be true?

  Matt turned to me. He was very good-looking. Billy was skinny, but Matt looked like he played sports. “Are you special guests, too? Did you get free invitations?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I said.

  “We had scary things happen to us before we got here,” Matt said. “Billy and his sister had to fight a bunch of zombie pirates. And I had some problems with this terrible stuff called Monster Blood.”

  I pictured the Haunted Mask and my temples began to pound.

  “We think they invited us to this park because of the scary things that happened to us this year,” Billy said. “Did something scary happen to you?”

  Should I tell them? I don’t even know them.

  I decided I’d better not.

  “Uh … no way,” I answered. “Nothing scary ever happened to me.”

  Sabrina poked me and started to say something. But I gave her a look that made her stay quiet.