They Call Me the Night Howler! Read online

  One of the meanest, ugliest, ickiest supervillains in all of comics.

  “Stop!”

  I tried to scream. But my voice came out in a raspy whisper.

  They had disappeared from view. But I could still hear the Larva’s thudding footsteps and my sister’s shrill yelps of horror.

  I took a deep breath and ran after them.

  “Put her down! Put my sister down!” I finally found my voice and shouted as I chased them.

  I saw them vanish into the Villains Veranda. The museum map said it was an outdoor terrace where the supervillains gathered.

  Ducking my head, forcing my aching legs to go faster, I burst after them into the veranda.

  I saw Stella standing on the floor. She was straightening her hair with both hands and laughing. The Living Larva stood across from her. He was laughing, too.

  My heart pounding, I rocketed up to them. “Stella—what—?” I choked out.

  They both turned, surprised to see me. “Hey, Mason,” Stella said calmly, still grinning. “So cool. The Living Larva is giving piggyback rides in the Kids’ Lounge.”

  She raised her gaze to him. “That was awesome! Thanks!”

  He gave her a gooey, two-fingered salute. “Stay evil, kid,” he said. That’s his big slogan. “I gotta go. I got a long line of Larva lovers back in the lounge.”

  He spun away and jogged to the veranda door.

  I frowned at Stella. “Mom and Dad started to panic. You disappeared.”

  “You disappeared first!” she snapped back. “I got tired of waiting for you.”

  I led the way back to the main hall. “That Larva dude is nice,” Stella said. “He’s kind of sticky. But nice.”

  “He’s just an actor,” I told her. “The real Living Larva is not nice. Believe me, he doesn’t give piggybacks.”

  “You think you know everything,” she muttered.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I said.

  She didn’t have time to answer. Mom and Dad came rushing forward and showered her with hugs.

  “Where were you?”

  “Why did you run off?”

  “We were so worried.”

  I waited patiently until the whole emotional scene was over. “Is it time to go?” I asked Dad.

  He checked his watch. “Yes. We’ll be in some traffic, but we have to start for home.”

  Traffic is one of Dad’s least favorite things. He talks about traffic all the time.

  I took my shopping bag from Mom and headed toward the front entrance. “Hey—!” I cried out as Stella grabbed the bag from my hands.

  “What’s in this?” she demanded.

  I grabbed it back. “None of your business.”

  Mom tapped my shoulder. “Be nice to your sister, Mason. She asked you a simple question.”

  “Just some gifts,” I muttered. “Souvenir things for my friends.”

  “Seriously?” Stella said. She grabbed the bag again and swung it out of my reach.

  And before I could stop her, she pulled it open—and began pawing through the stuff inside.

  “What is this junk?” she cried.

  She lifted out a Captain Salamander action figure. Then a bandanna just like the one The Amazing Ms. Tortoise wears.

  “I told you,” I said. “Just souvenirs. From the gift shop.” I grabbed the bag back. “Get your paws off my stuff.”

  “Mason, don’t be rude,” Mom scolded.

  I straightened the souvenirs in the bag. I know my sister too well. I knew exactly what she would do when she saw the shopping bag. She’d grab it from me and begin pulling the stuff out and demanding to know what it was.

  If she saw the costume … if she figured out I was now the Night Howler … the costume would lose all its powers before I even had a chance to try it on.

  So I had carefully rolled up the costume and tucked it into my backpack before I went to the gift shop. Then I used the bag for some souvenirs I bought.

  The Night Howler costume was safe and sound, at least for now. My first important job was to find a place to hide it where my sister couldn’t find it and destroy its powers.

  I thought about this problem all the way home.

  I knew my closet wasn’t safe from Stella. And she was always digging through my dresser drawers. She wasn’t looking for anything in particular. She was just being nosy.

  Believe me, I knew what Stella would be when she grew up. She’d be a spy.

  Anyway, as we drove toward home, Stella seemed very excited about the museum. She kept jabbering away. I didn’t really listen. I was concentrating on thinking up a safe hiding place.

  But I suddenly paid attention when I heard her say this:

  “I’m going to start drawing my own comic strip. Just like Mason, only mine will be better.”

  Stella is such a total copycat.

  “Who is your superhero going to be?” I asked.

  “The Living Larva,” she answered. “Only, in my comics he’ll be nice.”

  I groaned. That was the worst idea I’d ever heard.

  “And what will his power be?” I demanded.

  “Giving piggyback rides,” she said.

  I groaned again.

  “Mason, stop making fun of your sister,” Mom said, turning around in the passenger seat. “You should encourage her.”

  “Why?” I said.

  “Don’t be a smart guy,” Dad snapped. “I’m sure Stella has a lot of art talent.”

  “For sure,” I murmured.

  Stella gave me a hard shove in the ribs, but I ignored it.

  At home, I carried the shopping bag and the backpack up to my room. My head was spinning. Where was the best place to stash the costume? Everywhere I looked, I saw a place that my snoopy sister could find.

  How about the basement? I asked myself.

  It seemed like a good idea for a minute or two. But then I realized it wouldn’t work at all. What if there was an emergency? What if I needed to change into the costume and get moving immediately?

  The basement was too far away. Also, it would look totally suspicious if I kept disappearing into the basement all the time. My family would figure out very quickly that something weird was going on.

  I sat on my bed, gripping the backpack in my lap. I gazed all around the room. Behind the bookshelves? Under my desk? No. No.

  I jumped up and began to pace back and forth. My bedroom is long and narrow. Perfect for pacing. I walked holding the backpack in front of me. Thinking … thinking.

  And then a squeak beneath my shoe gave me the answer.

  The loose floorboard.

  Why hadn’t I thought of that sooner?

  I dropped to my knees and grabbed at the board. I dug my fingernails into the crack and pried the board up. Then I peered down into the empty space below.

  Yes! There was enough room to drop it in and push it under the floorboard next to it. Stash it completely out of sight. I could keep it down there, and it would be close to me at all times.

  My heart started to race with excitement. I felt so good. The problem was solved. My superhero secret would be safe.

  I turned to the bedroom door. Closed. No way Stella could see me.

  I pulled the costume and mask from my backpack. My hands trembled as I rolled everything up and shoved it into the narrow space. Then I carefully replaced the board and pressed it into place.

  I walked back and forth on the board a few times, just to make sure it would stay down. Then I tossed my backpack onto my bed and carried the shopping bag with all the souvenirs into my closet.

  If Stella wanted to snoop some more in the shopping bag, fine. No problem.

  She could snoop in my closet all she wanted. She wouldn’t find anything interesting.

  Feeling a lot better, I pulled open the door to my room. I could hear Stella whistling to herself in her room across the hall. She’s a much better whistler than I am. But so what?

  “Dinner! Come downstairs!”

  I hea
rd Dad’s shout.

  I started to the stairs. I heard Stella stop whistling. “Coming!” I shouted.

  I was halfway down the stairs when I saw a blur of movement out of the corner of my eye.

  Was that Stella? Did she just run into my room?

  No. That wasn’t possible—was it?

  You’re just nervous, I told myself.

  Shaking my head, I made my way downstairs. I had just entered the kitchen when I heard Stella’s shouts from upstairs.

  “Hey—look what I just found! Hey, Dad—look what I found!”

  I made a loud gulping sound. I felt my heart leap up into my throat.

  How could she have found my secret so soon?

  Mom and Dad were staring at me. “Are you okay, Mason?” Mom asked. “You suddenly went pale.”

  “I … uh … am just excited about dinner,” I stammered.

  I turned and started to race toward the stairs. But Dad was already halfway up. “What did you find up there, Stella?” he called. “Where are you?”

  “In Mason’s room,” she shouted back.

  My heart leaped around again. My knees started to fold as I followed Dad. “Hey, wait—” I choked out.

  But Dad was already stepping into my room.

  I hurried up behind him and stopped in the doorway. Stella was down on the floor. She had the loose floorboard in her hands.

  “What’s that?” Dad asked.

  “I found a loose floorboard in here,” Stella answered. She held it up and waved it at Dad.

  He scratched his head. “How did you find it?”

  “What were you doing in my room?” I cried. My voice came out more shrill than I intended.

  “I just came in to return your scissors,” Stella said, pointing to the scissors on my desk. “And when I started to leave, the floor squeaked under my foot. And I saw that the board was loose.”

  And did she also see my costume jammed down there?

  No. Because she would have pulled it out. She would be asking a million questions about it.

  Maybe Stella wasn’t such a great snoop after all. The costume was right below the floor—right under her snooping nose—and she didn’t see it.

  I realized I was holding my breath. I knew I wouldn’t breathe again until the board was safely back in place, and my secret was safe, too.

  “Put the board down,” Dad told Stella. “And I’ll be right back.” He spun around, moved past me, and left the bedroom.

  Stella sat there with the board in her hand. She turned to me. “What’s your problem, Mason? Why are you staring at me like that?”

  “Uh … I’m not staring,” I said.

  Please put the board down. Please …

  And don’t look into the space.

  She kept her gaze on me.

  “I’m just glad you found that,” I said, pointing to the board in her hand. “I didn’t know it was loose. I could have tripped or something and hurt myself.”

  Stella laughed. “Guess I saved your life. You owe me, Mason.”

  Just put the board down.

  I let out a long breath as she lowered the board to the hole and pressed it hard.

  She didn’t see the costume. I’m safe!

  Dad burst back into the room. He had a hammer in one hand. His other hand was closed in a tight fist.

  I moved toward him quickly. “Whoa. Wait. Dad—what are you going to do?”

  He didn’t answer. He dropped down to the floor beside Stella. “Which board is it?” he asked her.

  Stella pointed.

  Dad opened his fist. He had a bunch of long nails in his hand.

  “No. Wait—!” I cried again.

  He looked up at me. “What’s wrong? I’m just going to nail this board down so it won’t be dangerous.”

  “Well …” My brain froze. Totally froze. I couldn’t think of anything to say. I couldn’t think of a single reason to convince him to take away his hammer and nails.

  I watched in silent horror as he pounded four nails into the ends of the board. Stella had this weird smile on her face. Maybe she really did believe that she’d saved my life.

  “Now, let’s go have dinner,” Dad said. Stella followed him out the door. I took one last look at my floor. Then I made my way downstairs to the kitchen.

  Dad spent most of dinner complaining about how the house was falling apart. “The house is only five years old, and it’s a tumbledown wreck,” he said.

  Mom tried to calm him. “It was only one floorboard,” she told him. “One floorboard doesn’t mean a wreck.”

  He grumbled and grouched. I didn’t pay any attention to most of it. Actually, I hardly heard a word Dad said. I guess I was lost in my own thoughts.

  I knew that tonight was my night for adventure. Tonight wasn’t an ordinary night. Tonight my life was supposed to change forever. But that would be impossible now. No way I could reach my costume.

  * * *

  Sure enough, at a little after nine, I was just finishing up my homework, filling in the last part of my science notebook, when I heard a sharp tapping on my bedroom window.

  I spun away from my desk—and saw the Night Howler in the window.

  He was in a costume. How was that possible?

  His dark eyes peered through his mask into my room. His hands held on to the window frame. He swung his legs into the room and landed hard. His boots made a heavy thud.

  “Hey—” I uttered a cry.

  His cape was caught on the windowsill. He tugged it free and swept it behind him. Then he turned to me and squinted through the mask.

  “You’re not ready,” he said.

  “I know.” I sighed. “There’s a problem.” And then I added, “I thought you gave your costume to me. But … you’re wearing the Night Howler costume.”

  “I found a spare in my closet,” he said. “But … why aren’t you ready? You knew I was coming tonight.”

  I crossed the room to the floorboard and pointed down. “My costume. I hid it under the floor. And then my dad nailed the board down. No way I can get it.”

  He rubbed his chin with one gloved hand. He stared at the floor. Then he sighed. “Oh, wow. I’m so sorry. I’m truly sorry it didn’t work out.”

  He raised his eyes to me and lowered his voice. “Now I have to destroy you.”

  Hahaha. This story turned out a lot shorter than I had imagined.

  What a loser. I thought Mason would at least give us a few adventures before the whole thing came to an end.

  Maybe he should forget the costume and just go out in his underwear.

  He could change his name to Captain Underpants! Hahaha.

  Or has someone already done that?

  A terrified squeak escaped my open mouth. My breath caught in my throat. My legs started to tremble.

  He put a hand on my shoulder. “Sorry, dude. That’s my idea of a joke.” Cory raised both gloved hands. “I admit it. I have a cruel streak. Something I’ve gotta work on. I’m not proud of it.”

  “You mean—?” I started.

  “We can get the costume from under the floor,” he said. “No biggie.”

  I let out a long whoosh of air. My heart started to beat again. “Should I go get a hammer?”

  He shook his head. “No way. I want to show you some of the powers you have. Call your father. Tell him to get up here. He’ll get the costume for us.”

  I blinked. “Huh? What do you mean?”

  “Just call him,” Cory said.

  “But … he’ll see you!” I cried.

  “Call him.”

  So I shouted for my dad to come up. He was in the den watching some kind of reality dating show with Mom. Dad hates those shows. But Mom doesn’t like to watch alone.

  I heard Dad’s thudding footsteps coming up the stairs. “What’s the problem, Mason?” he called.

  He stepped into my room and stopped. His eyes went wide when he saw the Night Howler standing beside me. “What—?”

  Cory raised his right ar
m slowly. He gestured with his fingers.

  I gasped as a dark shadow formed above our heads, like a small cloud. The shadow floated quickly, silently over my dad.

  For a moment, Dad was hidden behind the dark cloud. Then the cloud lifted and he stood there, covered in a charcoal-colored shadow.

  His mouth remained open in surprise. His expression didn’t change. He appeared frozen at first, like a gray statue. Then he began to turn his head, gazing around, confused.

  Cory said, “I used my shadow powers to cloud his mind. Quick, Mason. Tell him to go get a claw hammer and pull up the floorboard.”

  “Will he do it?” I asked, my voice tiny.

  “Would I lie to you?” Cory replied. “Hurry. We have a dangerous criminal to capture on your first mission.”

  “D-dangerous?” I choked out.

  “Hurry.”

  “Dad,” I started. My voice cracked. “Go get your claw hammer and pry up that loose floorboard.”

  I squinted into the gray shadow. Dad was all black-and-white, as if the color had been drained from him.

  “No problem,” he said. He spun to the bedroom door. “I’ll be right back.”

  I listened to him hurry down the stairs.

  “Will he remember any of this?” I asked Cory.

  Cory shook his head. “No. When I lift the shadow, he won’t remember a thing.”

  “That’s a totally cool power!” I exclaimed.

  Cory nodded. “That’s why they pay me the big bucks, kid.” He patted my shoulder. “And now, as soon as you get your costume on, the power will be yours.”

  I swallowed. Have you ever been excited and terrified at the same time? It was a whole new feeling for me.

  Well, Cory’s plan worked perfectly. Dad returned to my room, still in shadow. He dropped down to the floor and pried the floorboard up with his hammer.

  “Tell him to take out the costume,” Cory ordered.

  I told Dad to pull it up and hand it to me. Dad obeyed perfectly. A few seconds later, I held the blue-and-black Night Howler costume in my arms.

  “I forgot how heavy it is,” I told Cory.

  He pointed at it. “That’s where the magic happens,” he said. He motioned to my dad. “Tell him to go back downstairs.”