Werewolf Weekend by B. A. Frade, Stacia Deutsch

instead of just one.
    This was not the change the story needed.
    â€œCome on, Riley,” Cassie said. Then to my horror, she added softly, “We’re going to Sam’s basement.”
    Whoa! What? The basement?!
    I had no doubt that the Scaremaster was behind Cassie’s decisions. He somehow knew what I was doing and was bending the story to go his way.
    It was a battle to “The End.”
    If I wanted a new ending, it was time for me to create one. Now or never!
    I rushed forward. My adrenaline was pumping. I felt like a superhero flying in to the rescue. I snatched Riley out from under Cassie’s arm and shouted to Sam, “Run!”
    â€œHuh?” Riley was confused, but I gripped her hand tight in mine. “We have to get away. Before it’s too late!” I shrieked at Sam to follow us left toward the park’s playground. My voice echoed in the dark, cool air. “We have to stick together!”
    Cassie leapt forward. In the dark, it looked more like a dog’s leap than a human one. She tackled me to the ground. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Emma!”
    â€œYes I do!” I countered. I cast my eyes toward Sam. “Take Riley away. Far away.”
    Cassie was sitting on me now, teeth bared. “Go ahead, bite me! I’ll sacrifice myself if you leave Sam and Riley alone,” I offered.
    Sam and Riley backed away, but they didn’t run. It was most likely because I was thrashing around and they didn’t want to get hurt. Cassie was strong, but I was determined to save my friends.
    I kneed her in the chest and made a wild karate chop to the side of her arm. It was pathetic, but enough to shock her. I managed to push her off me and struggled to stand.
    Once I was on my feet, I took off toward Riley, snagging her hand once more. “Come on!” I tugged. “We gotta get away!”
    â€œRiley, you need to come with me!” Cassie told her sister. She didn’t try to fight me again, instead keeping safely away from my weapon-like hands. “Hurry. There’s no time left,” she pleaded.
    â€œI’ll protect you,” I told Riley. She must have been really nervous because her hand was warm and slippery in mine.
    â€œIt’s happening, Cassie,” Riley called over her shoulder as I dragged her away, not realizing that I was turned around, going the wrong way. I was in such a frantic state, I didn’t realize which way I was heading until it was too late. We’d entered the wooded part of the park, putting the Scaremaster’s story back on track.
    I heard Cassie shout, “I’ll get help!”
    I ran and ran and ran, dragging Riley along behind me. When we came to the deepest, wooded part of the park, I finally stopped to rest. We were both out of breath and panting hard.
    We were alone.
    Noting that the full moon was directly overhead, I felt a rush of defeat.
    It was midnight.
    I had failed at my one goal. I’d left Sam with her cousin. Now Sam was with Cassie, primed to be bitten and transformed into a werewolf.
    I was devastated.
    If I couldn’t save Sam, I was determined to keep Riley nearby. No matter the tricks the Scaremaster played, this little girl would not “disappear” on my watch.
    Under a shady tree where the moonlight didn’t shine, I tightened my fingers around her palm.
    â€œOuch!” I screamed, and pulled away as the hand I held scratched me with razor-sharp nails. I looked over just in time to see Riley sink down onto all fours on the leaf-covered forest floor.
    â€œGet out of the way, Emma!” Cassie appeared just then. She shoved me to the side. The moon had moved slightly, and now, I could see red specks of blood forming across my palm where Riley had scratched me.
    Cassie shouted, “I knew from the minute I saw you on the driveway that you’d cause problems!” She frantically looked over her shoulder at Sam, who was very much