The Crimson Well by Benjamin Hulme-Cross Page A

She went towards a small wall of stone in the centre of the circle.
    â€œCareful!” 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.
    â€œWhy 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.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” he asked.
    â€œThe well,” Mary whispered. “It was full of blood!”

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    Chapter 3
    A Stone Axe
    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.
    â€œWhat’s that?” Edgar said as he reached down into the stream and pulled out something heavy.
    â€œIt’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.

    â€œLet’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.
    â€œLet’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.
    â€œAre you alright?” Edgar asked. “Come on, we need to get back.” It was getting darker.
    â€œI 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.
    â€œI’ll go and get Mr Blood,” said Edgar.

    â€œNo!” Mary cried. “Don’t leave me here on my own. You heard what he said they were going to do tonight!”
    â€œWell, we can’t just stay here!” said Edgar.

    â€œDon’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 sevenwitches 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.
    â€œWe 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.
    â€œEdgar,” 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. Thenhe 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.
    â€œCan you walk?” Edgar asked.
    Mary tested her ankle.
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    Chapter 4
    The Crimson Well
    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