necromancer• enoch o'connor

5

———

marlene had skipped out on the next day's events. she'd also had a conversation with frank, one about her going to the mainland sometime during the trip. jacob had told her about how the kids had died and no one was left.

she was suddenly glad she'd come on the trip, if only to keep jacob looking for answers and eventually helping him to the loop. they woke up early and jake led marlene down the path he'd taken in the spitting rain.

"so what are you looking for?" the blonde asked.

jacob sighed, "letters, photos, diaries, anything that will help me find answers."

"alrighty then, i'll take the basement you take upstairs, seeing as you've already searched the first floor." marlene commented, moving toward the stairs.

jacob nodded and they wished each other luck before heading in separate ways.

downstairs was dark but marlene could still see somewhat.

there were shelves full of tiny organs, animal hopefully. there were little clay sculptures and marlene smiled at the tiny things, "you're kinda cute." she picked one up thinking a souvenir couldn't hurt.

slipping it into her pocket she moved on to a different room, finding some crates full of newspapers. she picked one up reading some passage about WW2.

suddenly a huge crash sounded and marlene could've sworn she almost melted through the floor in fright.

"jacob fucking portman, what in birds name was that?" she shouted. jakes hurried footsteps followed hers as she peered up at him through a hole in the floor.

she looked down as he responded, "it wouldn't open."

"so you risked crushing me with a trunk to find answers." marlene chuckled knowing her body would've gone incorporeal to save her anyway.

jake shrugged, "sorry."

——

once jacob had joined her, even in the dim light she could see his red rimmed eyes.

together they looked through the contents of the trunk, photos mostly. marlene smiled at the peculiar photos, knowing they would most likely meet them soon.

and just as that thought had crossed her mind there was another crash.

the two looked at each other as one more crash came. voices floated through the house in tandem with footsteps.

"abe? is that you?" a girls voice sounded.

immediately marlene crept away, going invisible in order to tail the children who'd obviously exited the loop for some reason.

she almost forget jacob was meant to go with her.

almost. suddenly there was a chase and she was running alongside jacob, who couldn't even see her.

deciding it was easier to just float alongside him, she almost laughed as he tripped along the bog following after the girl.

jacob called out every now and then and marlene couldn't help but wonder if she should help him.

she decided against it, enjoying the show, only going to interfere if he was in serious danger. and he wasn't. eventually they made it to a cairn and she knew this was it.

the girl was gone of course, having run into the loop.

jacob looked like he was having a crisis, his shoulders falling when he saw she wasnt there.

when he started to leave, she stayed back, following him out in her full form, "jake?"

"marley!" he shouted back, turning around, "how'd i not see you?" the blonde shrugged, smiling, "dunno jake. i followed you right in."

he crinkled his face for a moment then frowned, "i'm ready to go back now. i think i just had a psychotic break."

she nodded, sympathy clouding her face.

as they walked marlene worried. even if it was a loop the chance of them not being caught by townspeople within the day was low.

she frowned when jacob still hadn't noticed that nothing was the same.

he tried going up the stairs but the 1940 barkeep stopped him, "where do ya think yer going?" jacob continued arguing with the man and eventually marlene stepped in when they began talk of torture.

she pulled on jakes arm, "there you are jacob." the blonde looked to the barkeep, using the same faces she used on men in the sixties, "i'm dearly sorry sir, you see my ward here is just lost."

taking a step toward the big man she whispered under her breath, "you see sir, he ain't quite all there. y'know in the head?"

she backed up taking a few steps away.

"and you're from the mainland then." the man narrowed his eyes.

"yes sir, straight from yorkshire. we came for a trip. my ward here, american he is. he doesn't have much time left." as she spoke she took continuous steps backward, moving toward the door with jacob.

thankfully her friend went along with it, until they bumped into a patron.

obviously drunk he took a swipe at them, marlene ducked, "run jake!"

they bolted, walking for a while once theyd hit back alleys.

marlene pulled jake into an old outhouse frowning at the smell, "oh my gods, you are so lucky i know what i'm doing."

"what's going on marlene? why isn't anything the same?" jake questioned.

"it's too complicated for me to even try to explain."

she could tell he had so many questions, but she appreciated that he didn't ask them.

when jacob finally decided to leave he was grabbed instantly.

marlene sighed, rubbing her brow, letting the girl take him for now. she followed him out. "what are you?" the girl spoke, a knife to jacobs throat.

———