Authors: Benjamin Hulme-Cross
The Crimson Well (2 page)
They reached the stone circle. There were twisting patterns carved into the stones. Edgar and Mary stared up at them.
“These stones were placed here hundreds of years ago,” said Mr Blood. “This should be a place to worship the light, not to call evil into the world.”
They walked on towards the smaller circle of wooden posts. The carvings in the wood showed beasts with huge, savage fangs. Edgar looked at a carving of a monster which was half human, half snake.
“Did the witches put these here?” asked Edgar.
“That's right,” said Mr Blood. “They believe that all the evil in the world comes from a giant snake. They hope to call him from under the ground and set him loose. We
must
stop them.
Mr Blood breathed deeply. “If the witches raise the giant snake it will travel the world killing people,” he said.
“Can nothing stop it?” asked Edgar.
Mr Blood shook his head.
“Once it is loose, the only way to stop the snake is to spill its blood in the place where it was called into the world.”
“I'm thirsty!” said Mary. “Is this a well?” She went towards a small wall of stone in the centre of the circle.
“Careful!” Mr Blood snapped. “Don't drink from that. That is where they will make the sacrifice.” Edgar drew back. Mary looked down into the well.
She gasped and jumped back.
“Why don't you both go and get some water we can drink?” Mr Blood said. “There's a stream a bit further down the valley. But make sure you're back before sunset. The witches will arrive soon after dark.”
Edgar was happy to leave the stone circle for a while. He thought Mary might say that she wanted to stay. She liked it when things seemed scary. But she just nodded her head and ran off down the valley.
It was a few minutes before Edgar caught up with her.
“What's wrong?” he asked.
“The well,” Mary whispered. “It was full of blood!”
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Edgar and Mary walked for a mile or so before they found the stream. Mary sat on a rock while Edgar filled their bottles. He was just about to step back from the water when he saw something.
“What's that?” Edgar said as he reached down into the stream and pulled out something heavy.
“It's a stone axe!” Mary cried. It had a smooth wooden handle and a dark green stone blade. On the stone they saw the twisting patterns they had seen carved back at the stone circle.
“Let's take it with us,” said Edgar. They began walking back up the valley. It was beginning to get dark and they were still a long way from the stone circle.
“Let's run,” said Mary. “I don't want to get caught on our own by those witches after sunset!”
They began running but suddenly, Mary tripped. She fell sideways off the path and onto a large rock. She tried to get up but she couldn't.
“Are you alright?” Edgar asked. “Come on, we need to get back.” It was getting darker.
“I don't think I can,” Mary groaned. “My foot is stuck!”
Edgar looked down. Mary's ankle was trapped between two big stones. Edgar tried to push them but they would not budge.
“I'll go and get Mr Blood,” said Edgar.
“No!” Mary cried. “Don't leave me here on my own. You heard what he said they were going to do tonight!”
“Well, we can't just stay here!” said Edgar.
“Don't leave me Edgar. I'm scared,” said Mary. “You are never scared!” said Edgar. “I'll be quick. We're about ten minutes away from Mr Blood. That's enough time for me to be there and back before dark. It's the only thing we can do,”
he said.
Before Mary could argue, Edgar ran off along the path towards the stone circle.
As he got near, his heart nearly stopped. Mr Blood was there with a group of seven
witches around him.
The witches moved in a circle, twisting rope around Mr Blood. “
They're tying him
up!
” thought Edgar.
He hurried back to Mary and told her what he'd seen.
“We have to help him!” Mary said. “See if you can find something to push away one of the stones so I can get my foot free.”
Edgar searched around for anything useful but could see only rocks.
“Edgar,” Mary cried. “The axe! We can use the axe!”
Edgar picked up the stone axe. He pushed the wooden handle in between the two rocks next to Mary's foot. Then
he pushed the top of the axe as hard as he could.
The rock moved just a little, but it was enough for Mary to squeeze her foot out.
“Can you walk?” Edgar asked.
Mary tested her ankle.
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By the time Edgar and Mary reached the stone circle, the sky above them was dark. They hid behind one of the huge standing stones and watched what was going on.
The seven witches danced around the well, singing and chanting. Mr Blood was tied up and lying across the top of the well.
“What can we do?” Mary said softly. Edgar shook his head.
One of the witches stepped towards Mr Blood. She drew a knife across his cheek. Blood ran down his face and dripped into the well.
The witches stopped chanting. For a moment everything was still. Then the ground began to tremble. The witches howled with joy.
