The Dollmaker

XII.

Jason was mad! As soon as he seen his sister walk through the door, he slammed his cup down, and marched over to her. Annie braced herself for a smack. 

"Where have you been?!" he demanded. "I was worried sick! You said you were going to be back hours ago!"

Annie bit her lip and squirmed nervously. She didn't want to tell him where she had been, but she knew she couldn't keep it a secret forever. Saturday was only two days away after all...

"I'm sorry.." she said, hanging her head. "I got busy and forgot..."

"Oh!" Jason said, his sudden outburst making her start. "I found out you did not go to work, too. In fact, when I went there I found out that you're not even quitting. You're staying here, aren't you?"

Annie squeezed her eyes shut, wishing they could calmly talk this over with a cup of coffee. It wasn't supposed to happen like this...

"I'm staying, Jason. I'm happy here. I have friends. I love this town. It doesn't have everything I fancy, but that's okay. I've found somewhere I feel safe and loved."

Jason threw his hands to his head and suppressed an angry scream. He tapped his foot a couple times to let some steam out, and then he began again. 

"I found a box of chocolate and a rose in your room," he said bitterly, "You found love? Is that why you're staying?"

Annie crossed her arms and shook her head. It wasn't love it was... enchantment.. 

"What happened?!" Jason exclaimed, ripping the shawl away from his sister's shoulders.

When she crossed her arms it had exposed her bandages. Jason examined it and the blood that had leaked through, and gave her a worried glance. He picked up the events from this morning again. 

"Did you do this to yourself?" he asked, hyperventilating. "Where's that knife? Maybe you shouldn't work at the asylum anymore. I think that-"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "I accidentally slipped outside. It's a little cut, it just bled a lot. This man was kind enough to bandage me."

"Is it the same man who gave you the rose?" he asked, a look of concern on his face. "Is that who you were with yesterday?"

Annie tried to avoid the question by saying she was hungry, and started for the kitchen. Her brother grabbed her wrist, however, stopping her. She wasn't going to get out of this. 

"It was Vincent," she said. "I went to his house today. "