Daughters of Silence by R.L. Stine Page A

looked up.
    Then she screamed.
    A face hovered in the shadow-shrouded corner of the room.
    Jenna gasped and jumped backward. With a shock, she realized the horrible, staring thing wasn’t a face at all.
    It was a skull. A human skull.
    Jenna suddenly felt faint. The room began to spin and her sight grew blurry. She felt her legs give way under her and she grabbed the back of a chair.
    She had to get out of here. She pressed her hand to her forehead.
    Jenna took a breath, gagging on the rank, putrid-smelling air. She lifted her head and looked up.
    The skull stared back at her through vacant eyes.
    Long, white teeth glistened in its fleshless jaw. Moving slowly, numbly, like a person in a dream, Jenna lifted the candle from the table and stumbled toward the door.
    The flickering circle of light spread, bringing moreof the room into sight. Shelves lined the walls, and every shelf held bones. Arm bones and leg bones, skeletal hands lying stark and white against the wood.
    She turned in one direction, then another. The candle spat wax onto her hand, but she didn’t notice. She didn’t feel anything but fear.
    Bones. Bones. Bones everywhere.
    The story! The story Hallie had told in the graveyard that first night. Julia and Hannah Fear, their bodies buried without bones. Their skeletons walking …
    â€œNo!” Jenna gasped.
    Whirling, she ran from the cabin. The candle sputtered and died in the rain. She flung it from her. All she wanted was to get away from that horrible place. Because now there could be no doubts, no sensible explanations. Now, she knew the truth.
    The Fears were evil.
    Pure evil.
    She had to get to Rob. For his help, yes. But also to warn him. He might be in danger, too.
    She dashed along the line of trees. Rain pelted into her face. Please let me find him, she thought frantically. Please!
    Finally, she caught sight of a faint glow in the trees ahead. A light!
    The flickering yellow glow gave her the strength to stagger forward. Gasping with effort, she stumbled toward it. Soon she spotted another building tucked beneath the rain-heavy branches of the trees. The yellow glow spilled from the single window.
    She approached slowly, ready to run at any moment. Holding her breath, she peeked in the window.Then she saw Rob. He sat up in bed, his back propped up against a nest of pillows. A white bandage was wrapped around his chest. His face looked a little pale and drawn, but other than that, he seemed fine.
    â€œAt last,” she breathed.
    She rushed around to the front door. Finding it locked, she rapped sharply with her fist.
    â€œWho is it?” Rob called.
    â€œJenna,” she replied. “Hurry, Rob. Let me in!”
    It felt like forever before he opened the door. The moment it swung open, she rushed inside. Slamming the door behind her, she quickly latched it. “Close the curtain,” she ordered.
    â€œWhat’s the matter, Jenna?” he asked.
    â€œPlease, just do as I say.”
    He did what she asked. Now that she was safe, she started to shake. To her embarrassment, her teeth started to chatter. The noise seemed loud in the quiet room.
    â€œCome sit down,” he ordered, leading her over to the table.
    She sat heavily in the chair he pulled out for her. Her legs felt rubbery and sore. Rob brought her a cup of water. She held the cup with both hands and sipped gratefully. After a few minutes, she felt her breathing and pounding heart slow down.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” he asked.
    â€œIt’s going to sound incredible,” she burst out. “But I swear every word is true.”
    She told him the story about the Fear girls’ deaths. She told him about Hannah Fear’s necklace and the way Hallie had been acting since she started wearingit. She told him about the bruise, and the ominous shadow that had enveloped the barn.
    â€œThere’s a cabin right here on the estate,” she continued breathlessly. “And it’s full