Excerpt: Lovell Woolfe Academy

The moon came out from behind the clouds one last time ahead of the storm, casting the wood in a pale light. The bushes were shaking violently with the passage of some large animal—what animal Drew didn't want to find out. He ran hard, lungs aching, heart racing. Only a few more yards to the safety of the buildings. He heard someone yell; where was Fendrich?

Drew turned to see him sprawled out on the grass, flashlight still clutched in hand. Horrified, he realized that a large, dark shape was careening across the lawn toward his friend!

"Fender!" he shouted, "Look out!" Fendrich rolled over on his back, terrified at the black mass looming over him. The flashlight was his only weapon, and he brought it to bear on the threat.

The light startled the wolf-like creature, causing it to rear back on its hind legs and throw its paws in front of its face. The fur was matted with wet, dark streams. It let loose a snarl, then stumbled aside with a blood-chilling howl. Fendrich scrambled to his feet and ran toward Drew and Sam in a panic, totally forgetting the light still clamped in his fist. The light played wildly across the landscape as they pumped their arms, running for the nearest building.

Sam, having the longest stride, reached it first. All the windows were dark, and the door didn't budge as he cranked down on the handle. Fendrich, in a terrified state, crashed into the door a second ahead of Drew.

"Wait!" Drew said breathlessly, trying to restrain Fendrich from rushing out into the campus again. "Wait! You dazzled that thing with your light—I don't think it followed us. Wait here." The three huddled in the dark, arched entry way, trying to still their hearts and their breathing while listening for any sounds of movement.

It seemed like an eternity they waited there, though in reality it must have only been a few minutes. Drew carefully peeked around the corner, surveying the campus. The empty pathways lit by the dull yellow lamps provided no hint of pursuit. He pulled back and whispered to his friends, "All right, it looks clear. We can stick to the buildings and stay in the shadows as much as possible. First we'll get back to our rooms, then we'll find someone in charge and tell them about the wolf." The others nodded in agreement.

Again Drew checked to see if the coast was clear, then the three made a dash for the nearest building. They crashed up against the wall in the shadow of a large oak, pressed their backs to the brick and ivy, and watched for signs of the creature. The clouds were back in force, and the wind was ripping through the tree tops now. A hint of the rumble of thunder rose from a distance.