The Endless Night

Chapter 14

“And you said your name is Annie Marsh?”

“Yes,” Annie hesitates as she responds.

Mom is really confused. She acts as though she knows Annie; or at least her name.

“Marsh, Marsh. I know that from somewhere! Gerhard, do you remember?” She turns to my dad and questions him.

“Charlotte, I wouldn't remember. If it would be anyone it would be you. I can't help you here.”

“I know. Jason, would you by any chance remember that name?” She turns to me.

I shrug and shake my head. “Only Annie.” I point to her. I can tell she's feeling slightly nervous and out of place: shifting her feet, absentmindedly playing with her fingers, arms crossed in front of her body. I don't want her to worry.

“Gosh, I can't remember! Oh well, Jason why don't you get Annie something to eat, she's probably starving.”

“Uh...We have some fruit. If you like fruit that is.”

She looks at me with such relief as she nods her head. “I love fruit.” My parents watch us as I walk her towards the kitchen. “Thanks, I was feeling kind of pressured. I mean, I want to assure them I know how to get Nessie back, but it's kind of hard to gain someone's trust almost instantly, you know? I-I didn't know what to do.” She sighs and it almost sounds as though she is about to cry from pure frustration.

I take her hand in mine again and say awkwardly, “I'll stay with you when they're around so you don't have to feel that nervous.”

She looks at me with the biggest, roundest, most innocent, most knowing brown eyes I have ever seen. “Thank you,” she whispers. I have never liked girls. Ever. Except my sister. But Nessie is different. And Annie isn't my sister. She's like a year younger than me and she's so nice and quiet and caring and selfless—the total opposite of all the girls in my class. I push these thoughts aside—I've just never met anyone like Annie before, that's all.

I get Annie some food, and then I take her to Nessie's room and pull out some clothes too small for Nessie and give them to Annie. I kind of destroyed her room but that's okay for now. I leave Annie in Nessie's room to change. As I leave, Piddle rubs against my legs and

then stalks into Nessie's room and sits in front of Annie.

I walk back downstairs. My mother is pacing the floor, thinking hard. My dad is watching her, one eyebrow raised. He was born in Germany, so he is fluent in English and German; he's lost most of his accent however. He moved away right after he graduated high school. In college in the U.S. he met my mother, and the rest is history (at least as far as we were told).

“Jason,” my dad takes my elbow and leads me to the living room. “Do you know what all this is about? Who's Annie, where did she come from, and where is Nessie?”

I can't tell what he's feeling; his voice is steady and even and his face is expressionless. “Annie said that something followed and chased her around in our woods for two years or something crazy like that. Then she said Nessie went outside at night and the thing started chasing her until they found each other—”

“Your daughter sacrificed herself to save me sir. I begged her to come to, but...she said...that this was the only way...and...” Annie had sneaked into the room without our knowing and now she is standing there in my sister's old clothes that are a bit big on her, almost crying. She quickly wipes her eyes on her sleeves and tries not to let any tears out.

My dad is watching her, still impassive. “What is this 'thing' you keep talking about that chased you?”

“You wouldn't believe me if I told you Mr. ...”

“Mr. Görtz; and I guess it doesn't really matter. Do you know how we can get Nessie back? I am not leaving my daughter out there alone in those woods. It was bad enough that both of you were alone out there with it—”

“Dad. Stop,” I mutter and step in front of him. Annie bites her tongue—she's nervous.

A look of despair and apology comes over his face and he walks over to Annie. “I'm sorry, I'm just not sure what all is happening. How about you tell us everything you know, and then maybe we could come up with something.” Her face brightens up, and I can see she is getting more and more confident.

“Actually sir, I may already know how to get her back.”

“Even better.”

He leads her out of the living room and I follow, almost instinctively.

“Hey Charlotte,” Dad calls, “I think Annie is on to something!” When we find her she is still pacing.

“Mom, Annie thinks she knows how to get Nessie back.” Mom seems to calm a bit at this and finally gives up on her pacing and allows Annie to explain.

“Alright, so me and Nessie were both captured because we went outside alone right?”

“Right,” Mom says.

“So what if we weren't alone? The shadow man would be outnumbered and would stand no chance. I know it's not much of a plan, but...it's something.”

“Huh...We could definitely work something out,” Dad states gleaming.

“So, when should we start looking?”

“Hold on, we are going to need a lot more people, these woods aren't small, and she's invisible; it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack...well, an invisible needle...” his voice sounds a little pained.

“So, what should we do?” Mom asks.

“We will find ways to communicate with her, but for now, get your phone and address book, we're gonna have a little scavenger hunt.”

Annie's smile is now very mischievous; she's ready for this. “Hang on Nessie, we're coming...”