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

lifted a hand to protect her eyes.
    â€œSo you know Christina, Matthew,” Mistress Peterson commented. “I didn’t realize.” Her voice sounded sweet, too sweet, like sugar syrup. Christina felt her stomach roil.
    â€œI don’t really,” Matthew answered simply. “I came upon her in the road and rescued her from the storm.”
    â€œA daring rescue,” Mistress Peterson purred. “How fortunate. And how fortunate that you brought her here. It will save me the trouble of fetching her later.”
    â€œWhat do you want with me?” Christina demanded.
    â€œYou mean your aunt didn’t tell you?” Mistress Peterson said, her voice growing even sweeter. “You are to work for me. This will be your home from now on.
    No! Christina thought. It can’t be true. That means I’ll be her slave. Now I’m just like those other girls from the village. The ones who never returned.
    Christina thought back to the conversation between Mistress Peterson and Aunt Jane. She remembered the soft clink of coins that meant money changing hands.
    She thought Aunt Jane had paid Mistress Peterson to kill her. But Mistress Peterson had paid Aunt Jane! Her aunt had sold her as if she were a cow or a sheep.
    How clever of Aunt Jane, Christina thought. She got rid of me—and earned some money at the same time.
    â€œYou come down from off that horse, now, Christina,” Mistress Peterson said. Her voice sounded warm and welcoming. “Your journey has been a tiring one.”
    Christina wasn’t fooled. She knew it was all an act for Matthew’s benefit. It was exactly the way Aunt Jane talked to Christina in front of her father. She had to be on her guard.
    â€œCome into the house,” Mistress Peterson went on. “I’ll get my daughter, Emily.” She started toward the house, her lantern throwing wild shadows.
    â€œYou come in, also, Matthew,” Mrs. Peterson called. “I’m sure Emily would hate to miss you.” Then she vanished inside.
    Dread filled Christina’s body. I don’t want to get down. I don’t want to stay here, she thought. I don’t want to be under Mistress Peterson’s control.
    But Christina knew she didn’t have a choice. Her aunt sold her. She belonged to Mistress Peterson. And there wasn’t a single thing that she could do about it. At least not now.
    Matthew slid off the horse. He took Christina by the waist and swung her down. He didn’t release her for a long moment.
    â€œYou mustn’t worry,” he said. He brushed a damp curl off her cheek. “Mistress Peterson will treat you fairly. Everything will be all right.”
    Nothing will be all right, Christina thought. How can it be?
    But she didn’t share her fears. She did the only thing she could. Her footsteps dragging, Christina followed Matthew into the house.
    The place was dismal. A single lantern on a table near the front window gave the only light. The walls of the room were filthy. Blackened and stained with soot.
    How can anyone stand it? Christina wondered. I’ll die if I have to live here.
    Die here. Die here. I’m going to die here!
    The words echoed inside Christina’s head. She fought to hold her panic down.
    Matthew took her arm and led her to a wooden chair. “You’re tired,” he said. “You should sit down.”
    Matthew settled himself in a chair next to her. “You needn’t worry,” Matthew said again.
    Christina stared down at her hands. He hopes if he repeats that often enough, I’ll believe it, she thought. It’s so sweet of him to try to reassure me.
    â€œI know things look bad now,” Matthew continued. “But I’m sure the Petersons are good people. When I was in trouble, they aided me.”
    Christina looked up at him. “They bought me,” she said bitterly.
    â€œI know it is hard,” Matthew said. “But the practice is not