Creeped Out Read Online Free Page A

the monster for the Task had already been released into the school grounds. Who knew what was creeping and crawling without a sound around him?
    Jasper entered the forest, heading towards the lantern that hung from a tree branch, illuminating the starting point for the penalty course.
    There were three boys and two girls from other year levels waiting to begin the penalty course. Jasper recognised one of the older boys as Mac, who sat at his table in the food hall. Mac was a hunt captain, and he seemed to love Monstrum House. He was one of the best monster-hunters in the school, and Jasper didn’t want to let on how much the forest gave him the creeps.
    â€˜Hey, Jasp,’ said Mac. ‘What’s your best time on the penalty course? I reckon I’ll beat you hands down. You all right? You’re looking a bit nervous. Don’t worry, you’ll be tucked up in bed before you know it.’
    Sometimes Mac could be just a little bit annoying.
    Jasper was about to reply when a dog’s harsh bark cracked through the night and a tall, thin, man stepped from the shadows.
    Jasper wondered how long he had been standing there. His body seemed to hunch and twist around like a gnarled old tree. It was the perfect camouflage.
    â€˜Good evening,’ the man said calmly.
    â€˜Good evening, Mondrag,’ they replied.
    Mondrag was the guard dog trainer and in charge of the penalty course. Behind him, two vicious-looking guard dogs strained on their leads. They looked like German shepherds crossed with wolf hounds or something. They were huge. Jasper took an involuntary step backwards.
    â€˜The hounds will be released in ten minutes,’ said Mondrag. ‘I suggest that you start running now.’

    Jasper tried not to think of the dogs’ sharp teeth as he followed the other kids along the path through the trees.
    Jasper was a strong runner and the penalty course wasn’t particularly long, but tonight it felt like his feet were on the wrong legs. He was tripping up all over the place. He caught his foot on a tree root as he ran, and went flying headfirst into the undergrowth.
    â€˜Are you OK?’ Mac stopped to help Jasper up.
    Jasper nodded. ‘Thanks. I’ve lost my shoe, but it’s no worries, you keep going. Seriously, I’ll overtake you in a minute anyway,’ he added, trying to sound confident.
    â€˜Righto, see you later, speedy,’ said Mac, and ran off into the shadows.
    Jasper scrambled around in the dark. My shoe has to be around here somewhere , he thought.
    He stooped under a branch and felt a spiderweb cling to his face. He wiped his face frantically and stumbled backwards, tripping over his shoe in his panic.
    He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He knew that being scared of spiders was stupid, but they still got to him. Just the thought of their black eyes, their hairy legs, the way they scuttled … it gave him the creeps.
    Jasper jammed his shoe on and took off after the others. All he could hear were his own footsteps cracking over the frozen ground.
    The words of the Task clue ran through Jasper’s mind again. I creep and crawl without a sound. He tried to push the thought away, but it was too late. The Grubbergrind could be out here right now. If the poem was right, he would never hear it – not until it was too late.
    He couldn’t see Mac or the other kids anywhere. He guessed they would be reaching the school soon and crawling back into bed.
    Jasper had run this course before, but he had never been quite so creeped out. He tried to run even faster, but stumbled and tripped again. Then he froze to the spot. He suddenly knew that something was there, watching him.
    And he hadn’t heard a thing.

7
    Jasper turned around slowly. Snow had begun to fall, and moonlight shone down. And what Jasper saw in the moonlight made his breath catch in his throat.
    A guard dog stood directly in front of him. It wasn’t a monster,