Attack of the Living Slime!: Fear Factory

By R. I. Pierce

When Lily's science fair project is sabotaged by the school bully, she sets out to create an extraordinary slime formula unlike anyone has ever seen. But her experiment takes an unexpected turn when the new creation comes to life! With a hungry blob growing bigger by the second, Lily and her best friend Max must join forces to save their town from the sloppy slaughter.

You can run, but you can't hide from the Attack of the Living Slime!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Asylum Books
• Release date: Jan 27, 2025
• ISBN: 9798230597803

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

The cloaked figure sprinted through the darkly lit alleyway, his breath ragged and his sweat-soaked hair sticking to his forehead, as the sounds of his footfalls echoed through the night air.

He wanted to glance behind him, to see how close it was, but there wasn’t a second to waste. Driven by sheer and utter terror, he pushed his body harder than he ever had before, further than he ever thought possible.

The earth itself shook as the monster easily gained on him, getting closer and closer, until finally – it was upon him.

Suddenly, the man could see nothing more than giant, blood-red eyes, and horrible, jagged claws, and the terror he felt nearly swallowed him whole. He was trapped by the weight of his own creation.

Just as the man braced for inevitable doom—

––––––––

How can you concentrate while this is on?

Max snatched the remote, lowering the volume on the TV. The monster on screen bared its teeth with an over-the-top roar, the sound now a muted growl.

Lily barely looked up from her workbench. It helps pass the time, she said, adjusting the bug-eyed safety goggles that sat on her freckled face. She was hunched over her latest creation like a kid genius – or a mad scientist – with her signature ponytail set in place to ensure her wavy black hair wouldn’t get in the way of her work.

Max smirked. As long as you don’t go getting any ideas, he teased, earning a dramatic eyeroll from Lily.

One day you’ll have one for yourself, she teased in return. But come take a look.

The fluorescent bulb in Lily’s garage (and makeshift personal lab) cast shadows over the bubbling concoction that sat before them, and the whole room reeked of chemicals.

Max leaned forward cautiously. Do you think it’ll work this time? he whispered.

Lily’s heart was beating too fiercely for her to answer. She stared at her creation with a mixture of hope and anxiety.

It's turning purple! Max exclaimed, his nose almost touching the glass. His curious eyes glinted with excitement, magnified by the thick coke-bottle glasses that he'd worn for as long as Lily knew him. They tucked into his curly brown hair in a way that looked most natural and sat comfortably on the bridge of his larger-than-average nose. A few curly strands of sandy brown flopped into his face as he looked at his best friend with a grin.

Lily bit her lip, watching the liquid change slowly from pink to a shade of deep plum. Her fingers trembled on the edge of the table. She couldn’t afford another failure—not when she was this close.

Please let it work.

Please let it work.

Please let it work.

The liquid hissed and popped. Then, with a sudden swirl, it turned a vivid, electric green. The table vibrated as the mixture spun into a miniature vortex, quivering everything that sat on the table.

Look, look! Max grabbed her arm, jumping up and down.

Tiny purple crystals began to form in the emerald liquid, expanding and contracting like breathing lungs, and Lily felt an incredible rush of adrenaline. 

It had actually worked!

​ Success! Max shouted, picking Lily up and spinning her around. You made slime like nobody’s ever seen before.

Lily's heart swelled. You really think so? she asked.

Absitively posolutely, he shouted with a smile. Your work is totally gonna take over the Science Fair and beyond.

CHAPTER TWO

I hope you've all been working hard on your science fair projects! Mrs. Jenkins said from the front of the classroom. The celebration is only a week away, and I am looking forward to seeing your creativity, diligence, and true scientific curiosity on display.

The teacher’s encouraging gaze lingered on Lily for a moment, and she scrambled to sit up straight, clutching her notebook to her chest and fixing her pencil case so that each utensil sat perfectly aligned. After yesterday afternoon's success in the lab, she was more determined than ever to impress her favorite teacher.

As Mrs. Jenkins launched into the details of their next assignment, the boy sitting two rows in front of Lily twisted around with a smug grin. Drake was the biggest bully in school, as well as Lily’s next-door neighbor, and he was trying to get her attention.

Psst, he whispered. Hey, loser.

Lily’s grip on her pencil tightened, her jaw clenching. She refused to let him get to her. This year, she and Max were going to win that blue ribbon and prove to everyone, especially Drake, just how wrong he was about them.

Before Drake could taunt her again, Mrs. Jenkins appeared at Lily’s desk, shielding her from his nonsense. She leaned down slightly, browsing over Lily's notes.

This looks very promising, Mrs. Jenkins said softly, her tone filled with inspiration. I can't wait to see what you've been working on. I know it will be brilliant.

Lily felt her face turn red at the praise.  Th—thank you, she stammered. It’s a work in progress, but the latest tests have been really encouraging.

That’s what I like to hear! the teacher sang, shuffling over to another student.

Lily couldn’t stop herself from fantasizing about Drake’s angry little face when she and Max won the science fair.

He was going to be so shocked!

He was going to be so jealous.

This year, Lily wasn’t going to let him or anyone else hold her back. This year, she was going to prove she wasn’t a loser.

She was a winner.

CHAPTER THREE

Max was late that afternoon, which didn’t surprise Lily in the slightest.

As usual, she was halfway through another B-movie playing on the giant box television while scribbling in her notebook. But today, she couldn’t seem to focus on either the movie or her notes.

Sorry, I got distracted, Max said sheepishly as he dropped his bag onto the floor. "How’s it going