Is This Safe?

Chapter 10

The sudden chill of the air caused my blood to run cold.

The woman. The child. They both looked awfully familiar. That's why the names of Joan and Andrea seemed to pop into my brain. Why though? There must be a reason, but it most certainly couldn't have been them. This was almost a century ago!

"Jennifer?"

I felt a sudden nudge in my side that causes me to jump in fright.
"Hey, sorry! It's just me!"

"Yeah, yeah, it's okay! You just startled me just a bit."
I assure Ann.

"Just a bit?"
Ann asked while raising her eyebrows high.
"You should gaze at yourself in the mirror. You look pale as a ghost!"

"Am I?"
My hands raise to touch my face as my fingers brush up against my cheek.
"Aren't I always though?"

Ann didn't seemed fazed by my added humor,
"I'm serious, Jennifer. Are you okay?"

To be honest, I didn't know.
"I--I think so. I think I just might have had a flashback."

"About what?"
Ann asked me softly after a minute of silence.

"About Joan. And Andrea."

Recognition flashed across Ann's face,
"What about them? Why do you think they crossed your mind?"

"Well--"
My voice cracked as I swallowed down the lump that was beginning to form in my throat.
"Look inside the house."
Ann seemed hesitant at first but when I pointed in the direction of the window, she took her eyes off me and pressed her face against the window.

"What am I exactly seeing here, Jenn?"
A hint of sarcasm played in her voice.

"Look to the right."
I instructed her.
"See those paintings on the wall?"

"Yeah--"
Ann's voice was muffled just a bit before turning back to me with a confused look.

"Who do they look like to you?"
I asked nodding towards the window again.
Again, Ann pressed her face against the window while shading the shadows from behind her with her hand.
A small gasp escaped her lips before turning back to me with a pale face.

"They're almost identical!"
She exclaims.
"That's not possible though because this cabin was around long ago."

"Well, maybe this cabin was, but maybe the people that lived here wasn't."
I suggested.

"You're not saying that this is them?"
Ann asked me.
"Remember what Joan said? She said that they moved away from the city to the country. This is not the city and besides, why move from Canada to Washington? Isn't it the same environment?"

"You would think."
I add.
"Maybe Joan wasn't telling the entire truth. She was an interesting type of person, I'll tell you that."

"Besides that, look at what they're wearing."
Ann informed me.
"They're not wearing modern clothes."

Frowning, I crossed my arms in defeat.
"I still think something is up with those paintings. This all just can't be one big coincidence."

"Well, maybe it is."
Ann told me after a few silent moments.
"Come on, we've been here long enough. The others might be worried."

Walking away hurriedly, I was forced to follow Ann back to the dock.
"And--"
Ann stopped midway causing me to bump into her.
"Don't tell--"

"--anyone."
I finished for her.
"I promise."

Ann perked up a smile,
"How'd you know that's what I was going to say?"

"You know,"
I chuckled before smirking,
"Twins do know each other well."