The Awakening Evil Read Online Free PDF

room, careful to stay clear of the hot granite millstones. So huge. So powerful. She had heard the stories. Workers who had lost fingers, whole hands.
    The stones moved ever so slowly. But Thomas hadonce told her that there was nothing that could stop them. Nothing.
    Sarah spotted Thomas over by the cistern. Sarah knew the farmers’ horses always stopped to take a drink from the huge pool of cold water.
    She headed toward Thomas. It felt strange to watch her husband when he didn’t know she was there. Thomas had taken off his suit jacket and vest, and rolled up his white shirtsleeves to the elbow.
    Sarah was struck—harder than she had been in a long time—by how handsome Thomas was. The dark hair, the strong jaw, the flashing eyes.
    But what was this?
    Thomas and the foreman appeared to be arguing.
    Sarah froze. She felt her heart begin to race. They both appeared so angry.
    Their voices rose to a shout. The foreman gestured angrily. His hand caught Thomas across the chest.
    Thomas staggered back. The foreman reached for Thomas’s arm.
    But it was too late.
    Thomas fell backward.
    He landed with a loud splash, right in the cistern of water.
    Sarah’s heart seemed to stop beating.
    Thomas flailed his arms, his mouth open wide in a silent scream.
    Sarah wanted to run to him, to help him. But she couldn’t move.
    Sarah heard a loud hissing sound. Then a cloud of steam rose from the well.
    Steam? she thought stupidly. How could the cool water of the well give off steam?
    The steam filled the room, coming at Sarah in hot waves. Hot steam. Burning her face, her hands.
    And then the pool of water began to churn and bubble, like a pot of water that has been on the stove for hours!
    The bubbles came faster, faster. The well churned and gurgled.
    Thomas was screaming. Screaming in agony.
    He was burning alive!

Chapter
6

    S arah tried to run to Thomas. She had to pull him out of the boiling water.
    But she couldn’t move—not a muscle!
    Sarah tried to open her mouth to scream, but she could not even move her jaw.
    What was happening to her? What was wrong with her body?
    â€œHelp!” Thomas shouted, his voice filled with terror. “It’s—it’s burning!”
    The foreman knelt next to the cistern and stretched out his hand toward Thomas. Thomas tried to grab it. But his wet fingers were too slippery.
    Thomas disappeared under the surface of the bubbling water.
    Help him! Sarah screamed at herself. Why are youstanding here like a statue? Run and help Thomas! Move! Now! Go!
    But it was as if she had died. She couldn’t even turn her head.
    Thomas’s head burst through the surface of the water. He gasped and choked. His skin had turned bright red.
    Sarah began to sweat, great waves of terror crashing through her.
    Terror for Thomas, and terror for herself.
    Helplessly, she watched the water boiling and spitting and bubbling around Thomas. He stared at her pleadingly.
    Then Thomas went under again.
    And still she could not move. Still she was helpless, forced to watch her husband burn, drown, die.
    The foreman flung a rope into the hissing water. Sarah saw Thomas’s red hands reaching for the rope’s frayed edge.
    Please let him catch it, she prayed.
    He grabbed the rope in both hands! Yes!
    The foreman’s neck muscles bulged with the strain as he slowly pulled Thomas from the scalding water.
    Sarah stumbled forward. She could move again!
    She ran toward Thomas and dropped to her knees beside him. Large white blisters covered his face and hands.
    Was he alive? Could he have survived the scalding water?
    Sarah was afraid to touch him. She was afraid hisburned skin would peel away from his body if she did.
    â€œThomas,” she whispered. “Can you hear me?”
    He did not answer.
    â™¦Â â™¦Â â™¦
    â€œYou were frightened, Sarah. That’s all,” Thomas told her.
    His cracked lips began to bleed. She could tell that speaking was