Read Online The Sign of Fear by R.L. Stine - Free Book Online Page B

discover your secret, Emily, she thought. You won’t do so much laughing then.
    â€œWhat a pity you can’t come to the village with us,Christina,” Emily said. “What a shame you’re only a servant and have to stay at home. But I’m sure Matthew will understand the reason you can’t see him.”
    Matthew! Christina thought. Are they going to visit Matthew?
    Emily smiled when she noticed Christina’s upset expression. Her teeth were sharp and pointed, like a cat’s.
    Oh, Matthew, Christina thought. Don’t be fooled by Emily’s beauty. Remember your promise to me.
    â€œI expect this room to be perfect by the time we return, Christina,” Mistress Peterson said. She drew on her cloak. Tenderly, she wrapped Emily up against the chill spring air.
    â€œYes, ma’am,” Christina answered once again. She followed the Petersons into the yard and drew a bucket of water from the well.
    â€œCome along, Emily,” Mistress Peterson commanded as she climbed into the wagon. “We’ve wasted enough time.”
    Emily marched past Christina with a swirl of pale blue skirts. Her golden hair glowed in the sun. Christina fought down an impulse to toss the bucket of water over Emily’s head.
    Mistress Peterson clicked her tongue to the horse. The wagon rumbled out of the yard. Christina returned to the sitting room. When she could no longer hear the wagon, she picked up the bucket and threw it against the sitting room wall.
    The bucket burst with the force of Christina’s throw. Dirty water streaked down the walls.
    I hate you both! she thought. I will be so happy the day I leave this house forever!
    Christina dashed up to Emily’s room. Taking the steps two at a time.
    She pressed her ear against the door. Complete silence.
    Her hand crept toward the doorlatch.
    I shouldn’t do this, Christina thought. Emily told me to stay out. She warned me to stay away.
    But her hand kept moving, in spite of Emily’s warning. Christina swung the door open—and stuck her head inside.
    Huge faces stared back at Christina. Their mouths open wide.
    Christina shrieked and stumbled back into the hall. She expected the creatures to come after her. But they didn’t. The house remained still and silent.
    She slowly stood, then cautiously inched back to Emily’s door. Still perfectly quiet. Christina peeked inside.
    Mirrors! Mirrors covered all the walls—and the ceiling. I was frightened by my own reflection!
    Christina stepped into Emily’s room. It’s like a shrine, she thought. A shrine to her incredible beauty.
    The thought made Christina feel sick.
    Holding her breath, Christina crept forward. Her mirror images crept with her. Halfway across the room, she saw it.
    A human hand.
    Christina gagged and covered her mouth. All around her, the mirror images did the same.
    The hand sat on a shelf above Emily’s bed. The wrist had been nailed to a block of wood. The fingers extended upward into the air. They appeared black and withered.
    Merciful heavens! Christina thought. What kind ofevil is this? Her eyes ran across the shelf. A jar of spiders. A jar of rat tails. A jar of round white balls with darkened centers.
    Eyeballs! Christina thought.
    And then the moaning began.
    Christina covered her ears to block out the horrible sound. A thousand panicked Christinas did the same in the mirrors all around her. Christina could see their eyes staring in terror. Their mouths gaping wide open.
    Christina followed the moaning sound to a clay jar on the shelf. Nothing can make me look into that jar, she thought. Nothing. Not even if it will make the moaning stop.
    The moaning grew louder. “Christina. Christinaaaaaaa. ”
    The thing in the jar is calling my name!
    It knows my name!
    Christina turned to run.
    I’ve got to get out of here! I’ve got to run away and never come back. This is an evil, unnatural place.
    She stumbled to the doorway. The