Monster Catchers

Chapter #6 Let's Play Ball!

Nicole's POV

None of us were really sure where to go to find the werewolf of fever swamp. There were no swamps in our town, or anywhere remotely like one. We decided to try the local dog park as our first choice. To our surprise, that's exactly where he was.

The werewolf of fever swamp was squaring up with a Great Dane, it's owner was horrified, and so was I. The werewolf would rip that dog apart. I slowly took out the tennis ball I'd taken from the sporting goods store.

"Let's see if he likes to play fetch." I said.

I whistled. The werewolf stopped focusing on the Great Dane and began coming towards me. I held up the ball. The werewolf's eyes widened a bit. He stuck his tongue out, slobber going everywhere, absolutely mesmerized by the ball, like an actual dog.

"Here boy, see the ball? You want it? Go get it!" I yelled, throwing the ball.

The werewolf ran excitedly after the tennis ball. He picked it up and ran back to me. To give it back to me he stood on his hind legs and walked like a human the last couple steps and put the ball in my hand. He stared into my eyes for a couple seconds. His eyes looked like actual human eyes, not those of a dog.

"Nicole, when are you going to-" Carly began to ask, but I held up a hand for her to shush.

"Don't say the b word, they all know what it means. I need to build up his trust first." I explained.

Taking the ball I waved it in front of the werewolf again, who got re-excited about it. I threw it again and the same thing happened. Only this time the werewolf didn't look me in the eyes. It was working. I threw the ball a third time and as soon as the werewolf turned around I dug my hand into my bag. I pulled out the book 'The Werewolf of Fever Swamp'. I had my back turned to the werewolf when he came to give me back the ball.

Quickly whipping around to face him I opened the book. He bounced back physically and mentally. The werewolf became it's old hostile self as it began to get sucked back into the book. Before it turned completely back to ink the werewolf swung at me and slashed my arm. I yelped in pain but hung on until he was completely gone.

Locking his book up tight I dropped it on the ground because of the pain radiating from my arm. The gash from the werewolf's claws was big and starting to bleed. We didn't have any bandages either.

"Fuck this really hurts. Shit." I groaned.

The woman who owned the Great Dane, who had watched the whole thing, came over. She reached into her purse and pulled out some bandages.

"Here sweetheart, let me help you. That was pretty brave of you to take on that thing, and you saved me and my dog. I figure this is the least I can do." She stated.

She carefully wrapped up my arm a few times so the wound was fully covered.

"Thank you...very much." I said smiling.

"You're welcome. Please save the town girls..." The woman replied.

"We will! Stay safe!" I assured, before reaching into the bag and pulled out a new book.

"Next up: 'The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight'." I read.

"So, we go to a farm?" Carly asked, a bit dumbfounded.

"What about the Halloween festival? It has the corn maze!" Ellie suggested.

"Good idea! Let's go!" I cheered.

The three of us ran down the road. On our way to the festival we passed the fast food restaurant where I knew Brad worked. Dairy Queen.

Suddenly we heard yelling. And then that's when I saw Brad, running out of Dairy Queen, his uniform had vanilla ice cream splotched all over it. Behind him a doll came running out, chasing him with a freaking hatchet.

The doll was a girl, white dress with white nylon stockings and black shoes. Her short hair was blonde and curly and her eyes were a very deep blue. She let out a terrifying cackle as Brad backed up and tripped over the curb, falling to the ground. The doll continued to walk toward him.

I took my bag off and shoved it into Ellie's arms.

"Here, find whatever book she came from while I hold her off!" I ordered.

I then took off towards the doll and right before she could hurt Brad, I tackled her to the ground. She began flailing her arms around like a 5 year old, struggling to get free.

"Let me go you little bitch! You'll be sorry!" She wailed angrily.

"Shut up!" I demanded harshly.

"You're going to wish that you never messed with Mary-Ellen honey!!" The doll raged.

"I said shut up! Girls did you find the book yet?!" I called.

"No, we can't find it! The only one about a doll is Slappy's book!" Carly replied frantically.

"You're going to put me back in my book?! HA! Not a chance honey! Slappy, my man, has my book! He freed me so that we could be together!" Mary-Ellen explained.

I raised an eyebrow at the doll.

"Once we destroy the town, we'll rule over the monsters together as king and queen!" She exclaimed.

"Then why aren't you with him now?" I questioned.

"He's playing hard to get. Saying he doesn't want me, but I know that he does. No other woman is for him, he's my man!" Mary-Ellen said.

Suddenly, I got an idea. Maybe I could get her to lead us to Slappy.

"You know Mary-Ellen, I was the one who freed Slappy from his book. And since I did, he called me babe earlier." I smirked.

Mary-Ellen's face twisted with rage.

"He WHAT?!" She shouted.

"Yeah! Doesn't that make you want to go talk to him? Yell at him?" I asked.

"Even worse! I'll show that dumb dummy who's boss!" Mary-Ellen declared furiously.

"Awesome!" I smiled.

Mary-Ellen began storming off down the street, picking up her hatchet as well. Brad, who had watched the whole thing from the spot where he'd fallen over, ran over to me.

"Oh my god, that was amazing! That thing was going to kill me!" He thanked.

"You just have to stay calm with these monsters.....are you ok anyways?" I asked.

"Yeah, I think so....thank you Nicole." Brad breathed. My name sounded like sugar rolling off his tongue.

"You know my name?" I gasped.

"Of course I do. I would need to know the name of the girl I want to date wouldn't I?" Brad questioned.

"Y-You want to date me?" I stuttered, utterly shocked.

"Yeah. I do." Brad assured, smiling.

He stared into my eyes with his warm brown ones, but before anything could happen, Carly cleared her throat loudly.

"Guys, Mary-Ellen is getting pretty far ahead. We have to follow her!" Carly urged.

"You're right, let's go! She's going to lead us straight to Slappy!" I spoke.

"Hang on. I'm coming with you. I want to help." Brad said.

"Sounds good, let's get going. Ellie, keep Slappy's book at the top in my bag. I want to be ready when we get to him." I explained.

The four of us ran up the street, quietly staying close behind Mary-Ellen. We past the festival on the way there. I took out 'The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight' and handed it to Ellie.

"You and Carly go to the festival and catch the scarecrow. Brad and I will keep following Mary-Ellen." I ordered.
With one final nod, my friends took off into the festival. I refocused on the doll. She was leading us right to City Hall.....