Always Be Appreciative of Opposable Thumbs

Chapter Six: The Mystery Shadow

 Willow was not so convinced that Henrietta was harmless. The image of that silhouette turning to her and begging for help would not leave her mind. She had to tell Hugo, and she needed to do it before Henrietta took their pictures. Something told her that if she waited until afterwards, it would be too late.

Hugo, I really need to talk to you, Willow said, laying her head on his shoulder and looking up at him pleadingly.

He glanced over at Henrietta and Sera who were chatting over bacon at the other end of the table. Turning his attention back to her, he widened his eyes.

He was right. It wasn't safe to speak with Henrietta nearby. They needed to go somewhere a bit more private. But how could they excuse themselves without looking suspicious?

"Is your goose all right?" Henrietta asked, her gaze fixed on Willow.

"Ah, actually, she's feeling a tad unwell," Hugo said.

Willow caught on and played along. Her head sagging low, she let out a pathetic honk.

"Oh my. Does she need anything? A cup of tea perhaps?" Henrietta asked.

"No, I think she may have eaten too fast. She just needs to rest for a little while. I'll take her upstairs."

Hugo got to his feet and scooped Willow up into his arms. She let her neck hang limply over his elbow and gave another sad honk. Sera furrowed her brow. She didn't say anything, though, but rather continued to eat the bacon set before her.

"The poor thing," Henrietta said. "Well, have her rest up so she's nice and fresh for the silhouettes."

Hugo gave a tight smile and nodded before making his way out of the kitchen and into the hallway. Once they rounded the corner and were out of sight, Willow sat upright.

Over there, she said, craning her neck towards the stairs.

Hugo brought her over and placed her on the bottom step. She climbed up a few more until she was in front of the silhouette of the little girl with the big bow. Examining it carefully, she searched for something out of the ordinary. But it was perfectly normal. Nothing at all askew.

"Willow, what's wrong?" Hugo whispered as he sat close to her.

This picture. It moved. And spoke.

"When?"

When we were coming down this morning. I swear it did.

He brought his face closer and examined the picture from different angles. Twisting up his lips, he turned his eyes to Willow.

I'm telling you, I saw it. And heard it.

"I believe you. It's just I can't see anything strange about it right now."

I have a very bad feeling about Henrietta and these pictures.

"Well," Hugo leaned back slightly to look into the kitchen, "maybe we need to do a little investigating."

Is that safe?

"From what you're saying, I think we're in danger no matter what. At least this way we're actually doing something about it."

Scooping Willow up and taking the picture down from the wall, Hugo quietly made his way back to their room. As soon as the door clicked shut, someone whimpered.

"Who's there?" Hugo said, spinning around and searching for the intruder.

The whimpering continued. It was coming from the picture. Hugo, look.