Series 2000- Horrors of the Black Ring

  Series 2000- Horrors of the Black Ring

  R. L. Stine

  Scholastic (1998)

  * * *

  Rating: ★★★★☆

  Tags: Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Mysteries Detective Stories, Schools, Horror Tales, Horror Ghost Stories, Horror Stories, Monsters, Plot-Your-Own Stories, Specimens, Rings, Schools - Fiction

  Fictionttt Juvenile Fictionttt Mysteries Detective Storiesttt Schoolsttt Horror Talesttt Horror Ghost Storiesttt Horror Storiesttt Monstersttt Plot-Your-Own Storiesttt Specimensttt Ringsttt Schools - Fictionttt

  I stared deep into the ring. A cloudy form shifted inside the jewel. It moved as if -- as if it were alive. Miss Gold turned the ring in the light. The cloud became a face. It frowned inside the jewel. "What is that?" I gasped. "It's a flaw in the jewel," Miss Gold explained. I couldn't take my eyes off the ring. The face inside was so ugly. So creepy. So evil.

  Goosebumps (R)

  Series 2000

  No. 18

  HORRORS OF THE

  BLACK RING

  by

  R.l. STINE

  Copyright 1999 Parachute Press, Inc.

  BOOK JACKET INFORMATION

  Goosebumps

  No. 18

  APPLE FICTION

  Ring around the creature!

  Welcome to the new

  millennium of fear

  Goosebumps (R)

  SERIES 2000

  I stared deep into the ring. A cloudy form shifted inside the jewel. It moved as if—as if it were alive.

  Miss Gold turned the ring in the light. The cloud became a face. It frowned inside the jewel.

  “What is that?” I gasped.

  “It’s a flaw in the jewel,” Miss Gold explained.

  I couldn’t take my eyes off the ring. The face inside was so ugly. So creepy. So evil.

  SCHOLASTIC INC. RL4 008-012

  HORRORS OF THE

  BLACK RING

  “Beth—you promised!” my seven-year-old sister, Amanda, whined. “You promised to take me to the petting zoo after school today!”

  “I didn’t promise you anything,” I insisted.

  It was a warm spring day. Amanda and I were walking to school.

  She buzzed around me like a mosquito. She looks kind of like a bug too. Short black hair, skinny arms and legs like sticks, a pointy little chin, and beady black eyes. I hiked up my baggy cargo pants and swatted her away.

  I’m so different from Amanda, you’d never guess we are both in the Welch family. I’ve got red hair to my shoulders, tons of freckles, round blue eyes, and a round face. I’m not crazy about the way I look. But at least I don’t look like an insect.

  “Be-every-eth!” Amanda zipped in front of me again. “I heard you say it last night. You said, “Amanda, tomorrow after school I’ll do anything you want!””

  I snorted. “I would never say that! Now, get out of my way. You’re going to make us late for school!”

  “Please?” she begged. “I really miss those cute little goats.”

  “You don’t miss the goats,” I shot back. “You miss shooting rubber bands at them.”

  It’s true. She shoots rubber bands at the petting zoo animals. She likes to see how they react. I can’t stand it. I love animals. I hate to see them get hurt.

  “Besides,” I added, “I don’t have time today. I’ve got to work on the Spring Carnival after school.”

  “Oooo—the Spring Carnival,” Amanda teased. “You mean the “I Love Danny Jacobs Fair”?”

  My face suddenly felt hot. “What are you talking about?”

  “I know you have a crush on him,” Amanda said.

  “On Danny Jacobs? You must be crazy!” I shrieked. My voice was just a little too loud.

  “You’re only working on the carnival because he’s the head of it,” Amanda accused.

  “I’m one of the heads too,” I reminded her. “We’re cochairpeople with Tina Crowley.”

  “Whatever.” Amanda rolled her eyes. “The important thing is, you want to be with Danny. That’s why you won’t take me to the petting zoo!”

  “Amanda—shush!” I cried. “You’re totally making this up. I—”

  I stopped as a shrill scream ripped through the air. I whirled around.

  “Anthony—no!” I gasped.

  Anthony Paul Gonzales came roaring down the street on his bike.

  “Look out!” he shrieked. “No brakes!”

  A truck rumbled toward him.

  He screamed and swerved onto the sidewalk.

  The truck zoomed past. Anthony flew right at us.

  “Watch out!” he warned.

  At the last second, Anthony squeezed his brakes—and veered away.

  Amanda and I clutched each other, trying to catch our breath.

  “You jerk! You almost ran us over!” I gasped.

  Anthony let out an evil laugh. I hate that laugh.

  “Beth, how can you fall for that old “no brakes” gag?” he asked, grinning. “You’re too easy to trick.”

  “I am not!” I fumed. “You just missed us!”

  “You probably didn’t even see us,” Amanda sneered. “Your sunglasses are too dark.”

  Anthony proudly adjusted his dark glasses. “Like ‘em? My brother gave them to me. They cost a hundred dollars.”

  “Your brother wasted his money,” Amanda muttered.

  Anthony is in my sixth-grade class at school. He’s tall and thin with short dark hair. He’s always playing mean tricks. Not just on me—on everybody. He thinks he’s really funny.

  Two years ago he told me that my cat, Benson, had been hit by a car. “I saw him lying in the street!” he said.

  I screamed and ran outside to check. I loved Benson.

  My cat was sitting calmly in the front yard, licking his fur. He was fine. It was only Anthony’s idea of a joke.

  Benson died of old age last year. When I told Anthony, he laughed. He’s totally cold.

  Lately, Anthony had been meaner to me than ever. He wanted to be one of the heads of the carnival. But the class didn’t vote for him.

  He’s been playing tricks on me ever since.

  I’ll get even with him somehow, I thought angrily.

  The trouble is, I’m not the get-even type.

  I mean, I’m not good at thinking up nasty tricks. Maybe I should take lessons from Amanda. She’s great at it.

  “See you at school, fool,” Anthony sneered. He started to pedal away down the sidewalk.

  I noticed something lying on the sidewalk a few feet ahead of him. It was small and black. It twitched.

  It’s a bird! I realized. And Anthony was about to run over it!

  “Anthony, stop!” I screamed.

  He didn’t stop. He didn’t even turn around.

  I dove forward and grabbed the seat of his bike. I yanked on it.

  He jolted to a stop. “Hey! What’s your problem?” he snapped.

  I’d stopped him just in time. Anthony had nearly crushed the bird.

  “Look!” I cried. “Its wing is broken. And you almost killed it!”

  “It’s half-dead anyway,” Anthony groaned.

  I crouched down beside the bird. It struggled to stand up and fly away. But its left wing wouldn’t move.

  “Poor little birdie,” I crooned.

  Amanda mimicked me. ““Poor little birdie.” You’re such a sap, Beth.”

  I didn’t listen to her. I gently picked up the bird.

  “What a goody-goody,” Anthony muttered.

  “Tell Miss Gold I’m going to be late,” I told Anthony. “I’m going to take this little bird home. We’ll get him all fixed up. Won’t we, little bird?” I stroked the
bird’s head with my pinkie finger.

  “Oh, brother.” Amanda sighed. “You really are a goody-goody, Beth.”

  “Just shut up and go to school,” I snapped.

  “Hey, Beth—look!” Anthony’s dark glasses made him appear even meaner than usual. “You know what bikes are good for? Squishing things!” He pointed at a worm squirming on the sidewalk. Before I could stop him, he rolled his front tire over it.

  SQUISH.

  “Anthony!” I shrieked. “How could you do that?”

  Anthony and Amanda laughed their heads off. “You’re so lame,” Amanda said.

  “I am not!” I cried. “Every living creature is important—even worms! You guys are horrible.”

  My little speech made them laugh even harder.

  “Someday you won’t think it’s so funny,” I warned. “Someday someone will try to squash you. Maybe it’ll even be me.”

  Anthony doubled over with laughter.

  “I’m so scared,” Amanda said sarcastically.

  I wheeled around and took the bird home. I had to admit, I could see why they were laughing. Maybe I am kind of a goody-goody. But I don’t care.

  “I’m sorry I’m late, Miss Gold.” I walked into school about an hour later.

  Miss Gold smiled at me. “Anthony told me why you were late. How’s the sick bird?”

  “I think he’s going to be okay,” I reported. “My mother is taking him to the vet this afternoon.”

  “Good. That was very responsible of you, Beth.” She smiled at me as I sat down in my seat. Her smile is really beautiful. Her teeth are white and perfect and her eyes twinkle.

  “Some things are more important than being on time for school,” she went on. “Saving a life is one of them. Even if it’s only a bird’s life.”

  I beamed as I sat in my seat. Everybody loves Miss Gold.

  She looks just like her name sounds. She’s young and pretty. Her shiny golden hair comes down to just under her chin. She’s even got some freckles sprinkled across her nose. They make her look as if she’s still a kid, almost.

  “I’m returning your short stories now,” Miss Gold announced. “I’m very proud of all of you. This week’s stories were excellent!”

  Miss Gold began to hand back our papers. When she passed mine to me, I noticed something flash on her hand.

  “What’s that?” I asked, staring at her finger. “Is that a new ring?”

  “Why, yes,” she replied. “Do you like it?” She held her hand in front of me so I could see the ring.

  It was the strangest ring I ever saw. All black. A large, shiny black jewel was set in a thick black band.

  I stared at the jewel. It flashed in my eyes at first, so that I couldn’t see it clearly. I grabbed Miss Gold’s hand and brought it closer.

  I gasped. “Miss Gold—something moved in there. Something is alive inside that ring!”

  I stared deep into the ring. A cloudy form shifted inside the jewel. It moved as if—as if it were alive.

  Miss Gold turned the ring in the light. The cloud became a face. It frowned inside the jewel.

  I shuddered. It can’t be a face! I thought. It looks so—so evil!

  “What is that?” I gasped.

  “It’s a flaw in the jewel,” Miss Gold explained. “A cloudy spot. And if you catch it in the right light, it looks like a face, doesn’t it?”

  I nodded. I couldn’t take my eyes off the ring. The face inside it was so ugly. So creepy.

  “Such a strange optical illusion,” Miss Gold said, almost to herself. “Do you like it?”

  I gulped. “Um, I guess so. I can’t stop staring at it.”

  She smiled. “I know. I have the same problem.”

  “Where did you get the ring?” I asked.

  “I found it in the school parking lot,” she replied. “I thought I’d wear it until someone claims it.”

  “Has anyone claimed it yet?” I asked.

  “No,” she said. “And it’s a good thing. Because the ring is stuck on my finger. I-I can’t get it off.”

  She tugged on the ring, showing me. It stuck at her knuckle. “It’s almost as if it shrank on my finger,” she explained.

  Miss Gold passed out the rest of the papers. My eyes kept going back to her ring.

  She returned to the front of the room. “I know you’re all getting ready for the Spring Carnival,” she said. “You’ve got projects to make for the art sale. And the food committee has a lot of cooking to do. So”—she paused and grinned at us—“I’m not giving you any homework this weekend!”

  We all cheered. Miss Gold is the greatest.

  We settled down to study geography. Miss Gold pulled a map over to the chalkboard.

  Her black ring flashed in the light. I kept thinking about the face in the jewel.

  Sure, I thought, it’s just some kind of smoky flaw. It only looks like a face.

  It only seems to be moving.

  So why is it so creepy?

  Why can’t I stop thinking about it?

  “How could I be so stupid?” I grumbled. I tossed my paint brush onto the table. I was trying to paint two hands clasped together—a symbol of brotherhood. But I forgot how hard it is to paint hands.

  “I ask myself the same question every day,” Anthony said. ““How could Beth be so stupid?”’”

  I glared at him but didn’t say anything. He’s so mean. And no matter what I say to him, he always gets the last word.

  We were in the art room, working on our projects for the carnival art sale. I was in charge of the art sale. Danny was working on games and activities. Tina Crowley was organizing the food.

  Everyone in the sixth grade was making something for the sale. I stared at my painting of lumpy, stumpy fingers and sighed. Nobody would want to buy this picture.

  Anthony peeked over my shoulder. “That’s great, Beth,” he said. “What’s it supposed to be? Why are those worms crawling over that sandwich?”

  I could feel my face turning red. I glanced across the room at Danny Jacobs, to see if he’d heard. He was busy molding something out of clay.

  Danny is so cute. He’s got honey-brown hair, big brown eyes, and really long eyelashes. He’s a little taller than I am, and very athletic. He’s one of the best players on the soccer team.

  “Or maybe you painted two plants shaking hands?” Anthony teased.

  “If you’re so great, let’s see what you’re painting,” I replied.

  He flashed me a mean grin. “You’re going to love it!” he promised.

  I stepped up to his easel and gasped. He was painting a round-faced girl with red hair and bulging, crossed eyes.

  “Is that supposed to be me?” I cried.

  “Ding ding ding! We have a winner!” he crowed. “You guessed right!”

  I swallowed. The picture was really ugly. But I didn’t want to let Anthony know it hurt me.

  “I don’t look like that,” I sniffed. “Maybe if you took off your sunglasses you’d see me better.”

  Anthony tugged the dark glasses down his nose and stared at me. “Nope—sorry,” he said. “I can see better with my sunglasses on. It must be the glare bouncing off your pasty skin.”

  I opened my mouth to say something back—something good and mean. But the meanest thing I could think of was “Oh, yeah?”

  I closed my mouth.

  Someday I’ll get him good, I fumed. If I could only think of a way …

  I decided to ignore him. I had no other choice. I glanced across the room at Danny. He was washing the clay off his hands.

  Maybe this is my chance to talk to him, I thought. I crossed the room and stood beside him at the sink.

  “Hi,” I said.

  He dried his hands. “Hi. How’s your art project going?”

  “Not so great,” I admitted. I cleared my throat. “Um—do you think you could help me with something? I’m trying to paint hands, and I can’t get the fingers right. Could I use your hands as a model?”

  D
anny nodded. “Sure. I’m waiting for my clay pot to dry, anyway.”

  He came over to the table and set his hands flat.

  “Like this?” he asked.

  “That’s good,” I replied. I picked up my brush and started fixing up the worm fingers. I could feel Danny watching. It made me nervous. I had a hard time concentrating with him sitting right there.

  What if he thinks my picture is lame? I thought.

  “Oo, look at the lovebirds!” Anthony poked his head around his easel. He made juicy kissing noises. SMACK, SMACK, SLUUURP.

  Oh, no, I thought. I should have known this would happen.

  “Shut up, Gonzales,” Danny snapped at him.

  Nothing could make Anthony stop. “Beth is painting her true love. Can I come to the wedding?”

  “Anthony—stop it!” I cried. He’s ruining everything, I thought. Just as he always does.

  Anthony puckered up and made the kissy sounds again.

  Danny leaped to his feet. “You’re looking for major trouble.”

  “Hey—watch out. I know karate!” Anthony shot back.

  Danny threw himself at Anthony and knocked him to the floor. Anthony’s sunglasses flew across the room.

  “Danny—don’t!” I pleaded.

  They rolled around on the floor, kicking and punching and crashing into chairs.

  “Hey, hey, HEY!” Mr. Martin, the art teacher, raced over to pull the boys apart. “What’s going on here? Have you lost your minds?”

  Anthony leaped up, wiping his nose. “He jumped me. For no reason at all. He’s crazy! He just attacked me!”

  “Not true!” Danny protested. “He asked for it.”

  “All right, all right.” Mr. Martin sighed. “Danny, go back over there where you were working before. Anthony, you stay here. Stay away from each other. And if I catch you fighting again, you’re both going to the principal’s office.”

  Danny frowned and went back to the clay table. Anthony leaned close to me and whispered, “Wave bye-bye to your boyfriend!”

  “Anthony, you stink!” I muttered.

  “Ouch! That hurt!” he teased.

  I can’t stand him.