A blind fate

chapter twenty / late night discussions

Once the fire had died down, the lifeless children crawled to their sleeping bags. Ruby had arranged for them to all sleep outside, admiring the stars as they drifted of into their own private dreams.

Almost all of them fell asleep instantly, warming up under their many layers of clothes and blankets. The moon was bright, providing enough light to get a sense of baring, with the air thick of the smoke still coming from the fire.

Anne couldn't sleep. So many thoughts were going through her head. She had had so much fun so far being on vacation, and was just bursting with anticipation for more adventures.

The over excited teen couldn't stay still - she was tossing and turning trying to find a comfortable position to sleep, but couldn't find it. Anne wasn't use to sleeping on the tough ground, as the sleeping bag wasn't doing her any favours.

Usually when Anne was in this sort of predicament, she would go for a midnight walk. Seeing as she was already outside, she stepped out of her sleep bag and rose.

To her surprise, there was another empty spot, however was unable to identify who it was. She brushed it off, thinking that who ever it was had just gone to the bathroom.

As she walked through the woods, her feet were going numb due to the cold. She was freezing; rubbing her arms against her body as an attempt to keep her warm. She could see the cloud of air coming from her mouth as she took a breathe, rising to the sky; melting into the air.

The further she ventured, the more the roofs of the trees were blocking off the moonlights rays, providing less light to her use to see where she was going. She made sure to keep Ruby's house in her sight though.

Anne was lost in her thoughts, of all the future memories that could possibly happen.

I could see Cole in Charletown, oh wouldn't that be just devine. Maybe Diana and ruby could accompany me. Tillie and Jane would tag along of course, and they could find their true love as I have.... I have found my true love. No, I know I love him, but is he my true love?

Anne's thoughts were all over the shop, each leading into the next just as she though of the last. It was extraordinary than she could go from thinking about visiting Cole with her friends to analysing how much she loved Gilbert.

Her thoughts always came back to him.

As Anne was distracted (daydreaming), she hit her head with a twig from a nearby tree.

"Ow!" She moaned to herself, then laughed at her stupidity. Now out of her trance, she heard a faint cry. Anne was confused, so listening more intensely. A few moments had passed, and Anne heard nothing. Did she imagine it?

She decided to keep walking, but then paused when she heard it again. As Anne listened, she made the conclusion that someone was indeed crying.

She followed the cry. The closer she got, the louder it became. She turned from the tree, and as she looked down, noticed a skinny figure, laying against the roots of the tree.

It was Josie Pye.

As she lay there, weak and vulnerable, Anne became automatically confused yet sympathetic, without even talking to her her. She gathered her courage, making sure to speak quietly.

"Josie?" Anne crept to the front of the infamous bully, who, she soon realised, hadn't been mean to her in a long time.

Josie lifted her head from her knees, and looked at the pale red haired.

"Anne... what are you doing here.. did you follow me?" Josie spoke quickly with a tone of paranoia, why did she need to feel paranoid?

"Josie calm down. I couldn't sleep, so decided to go for a midnight stroll amongst the beautiful forest trees, admiring all the lovely nocturnal animals that never get to be appreciated. Oh it's ever so spectacular!"