“Okay, so I think that we should just focus on getting into my house and then we'll get you to your actual home. Got it?” Annie nods, focused, listening to every word I say and soaking it in as though it were a new flavour of ice cream she'd never had before and loved. “I think what we need is a confrontation and lack of fear.”
“How are we not gonna act scared around him? And what's confrontation mean?”
“We need to go out there and challenge him. Make him come out and face us.”
Annie's eyes grow round. “He'll kill us Nessie! There's no way we'd survive for even a second!”
“Only if we show fear. If we make it clear that we're not afraid then he might consider giving us what we want: an appearance, a conversation, something!”
“But we are scared! Your plan is sounding pretty impossible Nessie.” Annie doubts me. I saved her, she saved me and now she doubts me.
“It will work Annie. It's got to. We just have to prepare.” I am determined that this is going to work. That this will get us back to my house—safe.
“Okay...” she still sounds doubtful. “I guess we can try...So, where do we begin?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I creep around behind a tall Bradford pear tree and rustle the lowest branches softly. Annie whips around trying to see me. I can tell she's scared by the look in her eyes. I try again but this time I creep around to a different tree, haul myself up a little ways with one leg and mostly my arms, and drop a rock near Annie. She jumps. I sigh and lean back against the trunk.
Annie sighs. “I don't think I can do this Nessie. I'm not good at concealing my emotions. You may as well go and get safe without me. Maybe you could find me in the morning...” Her voice trails off in defeat.
I hop down from my tree and walk up to her. “I'm not doing this without you Annie. You're crazy if you think I'm just going to abandon you like that. There's no way I am going to let you stay one more night in this haunted forest.”
“But I can't not be scared! I'm gonna fail us Nessie, I know I am.” She sinks down onto a patch of soft pine needles and starts to cry into her dirty hands. I crouch next to her and wrap an arm around her.
“It's okay Annie. We'll figure something out.”
“I just wish we could 'confront' him without having to face him. No pun intended...”
We sit in silence for a moment.
“Hey, wait a minute. What did you just say?” I start to get an idea as Annie repeats herself. “What if you don't have to face him? What then? Do you think you could help then, Annie?” I get up and hobble around. “What if we ran towards my house together then when the wind starts to blow we split up and run towards the woods while getting his attention. Then while hiding behind the trees we challenge him and while he's distracted we meet up at the back of the house and somehow get to the back porch! It's brilliant!”
“Is your back door unlocked though?” Annie looks up at me, her angelic face illuminated in the moonlight.
My face droops and I hang my head. “No.”
“We could just keep a hold of the house and go around both sides until we reach the front door. Would that work?”
I jerk my head up. “It could work as good as the rest of the plan!”
Annie gives me a little smile; it lightens my heart. “Let's try it.”
“Okay, now here's what we should say...” I beckon Annie closer and whisper to her all that I'd thought up when I was pacing.
YOU ARE READING
The Endless Night
Aksi"...never walk out alone..." Rumors have haunted the property around the little cottage for years. Vanessa Görtz and her family have just moved in and her parents are taking these rumors seriously. Vanessa decides to take matters into her own hands...
