The Sign of Fear by R.L. Stine Page A

tightened on the pticher. The blue veins stood out along the back of her hands.
    What if Matthew doesn’t come back for me? she thought. What if he comes back for her?
    The pitcher shattered into a dozen pieces. Christina cried out as the sharp pieces of pottery sliced into her hands. Bright red blood spurted from her cuts. So much blood.
    Christina rushed to the door. But her hands were too slippery to pull the door open. Slippery with her own blood.
    Christina wrapped one hand in her skirt and opened the latch on the door. She dashed down the corridor, blood dripping from her fingers. She felt dizzy and light-headed as she forced her feet to carry her down the stairs.
    She burst into the sitting room, bloody hands stretched out before her. “Matthew! Help me!” she cried.
    Matthew, Emily, and Mistress Peterson leapt to their feet. Matthew started forward. But Emily pushed him aside. She darted over to Christina and seized one of her bloody hands.
    Christina screamed. Emily squeezed her hand, her sharp fingernails digging into Christina’s bloody palm.
    â€œHold still!” Emily commanded, her blue eyes wild. “Hold still or you’ll spoil everything.”
    Blood oozed from Christina’s cuts. Emily cupped one of her hands, so she could catch every drop. Christina’s ears began to buzz. Spots danced in front of her eyes.
    Emily squeezed her hand again.
    Christina gasped in pain. She’s going to bleed me, she thought. She’s going to bleed me dry.
    â€œBlood,” Emily panted. She stared down at the red liquid she held in her cupped hand. She raised it to her nose and took a deep sniff. “Fresh blood.”
    Still panting, Emily ran from the room.

Chapter
16

    C hristina’s knees buckled. The world whirled around her. Matthew caught her before she struck the floorboards.
    â€œDid you see her, Matthew?” Christina gasped out. “She wanted my blood. She took some of it.”
    â€œNonsense!” Mistress Peterson cried sharply. She hurried forward to look at Christina’s hands. “You misunderstood her actions, that is all. Emily was just trying to cleanse your wounds. You’ll heal faster if you bleed freely.”
    â€œChristina, what happened?” Matthew asked. He helped her up into one of the chairs. His touch was gentle and comforting.
    â€œI broke the pitcher,” Christina said. Her ears still buzzed a little. Her head felt strange. She couldn’t think clearly. “I didn’t mean to. It just exploded in my hands.”
    â€œThere now,” Mistress Peterson said. “Thepitcher’s not important. But we must tend to those cuts. I’ll fetch some bandages.” She bustled out of the room
    Matthew grasped one of her hands in his. He carefully removed the slivers that still remained in her cuts. “We’ll take care of you,” he said.
    Fresh blood welled up. At the sight of it, Christina began to shake uncontrollably. All her fears about the Petersons returned.
    I’m not wrong, she thought. I know Emily Peterson wanted my blood. But why? Why would she do such a horrible thing?
    Christina shivered. It has to be for some strange, unnatural ceremony! The rumors in the village must be true. Emily must practice the dark arts!
    Horror gripped Christina. “Matthew, I can’t stay—”
    Mistress Peterson strode back in the room. She gave Christina a sharp look. She heard me, Christina thought.
    â€œCleanse her hands in this water, Matthew,” Mistress Peterson said briskly. She set a basin down beside him along with several strips of fresh linen. “Then bandage them with these.”
    Matthew carefully bathed Christina’s hands. The water in the basin turned a bloody rose color.
    â€œThere,” Matthew said to Christina, when he had finished. “You should heal nicely now.”
    â€œThank you, Matthew,” Christina murmured. She wanted to throw herself into his arms. But