A Light in the Dark: The moon

Chapter 14: Mrs T

Mrs T was doing her best to calm Etta down in her strong Scottish accent.

-"There there dear, the men are gone. Whatever they are, they didn't follow you here."

She handed Etta some tea.

-"Drink up, it'll settle yer stomach."

Etta sipped her tea with little interest. Her father was probably dead. He'd known that this would happen. If he was still alive, Etta didn't know what she'd think. Had he planned this? Who were those men? If they were after her dad's fossils, they would have taken them, and left a mess in the house. Etta did not remember any clutter in the small kitchen before she ran to her room and it caught on fire. If they didn't want the fossils, what were they after?

Time must have flown by, because soon Etta noticed that Mrs T was coaxing her to stand up, and Hansengrove was entering the room. After that, Etta didn't remember much, just that before long, she was on her way back to her boarding school with Hansengrove. When they arrived, Etta went straight to the barn. It was almost like she was sleepwalking, because she didn't even look at Hansengrove, or think about the school building. Her teacher followed her, concerned. Stella was still kicking. Mrs Harvard tried to warn Etta that the mare could be dangerous, but she didn't listen. She didn't even acknowledge her presence, and went straight into the mare's box. Stella immediately calmed down, and Etta spent the rest of the afternoon grooming her and petting her. The adults decided to give them some space, and went into the office.

-"What's wrong with her? She's not acting like she usually does!" Exclaimed Mrs Harvard, concerned.

-"Well, based on what I have gathered, she has just lived a traumatic moment..." Said Hansengrove.

Dr. Sara nodded.

-"She has just lost her father, she must be hurting..."

-"What has happened?" Asked Mrs Harvard.

-"All I can gather is that she woke up, smelled smoke, went downstairs and saw her dad with his hands tied up, and ran to her window. From there she jumped off the roof and probably ran to her neighbor's, Mrs T. She also said it was cold...?" Said Hansengove.

-"This could be because she ran outside," said Mrs Harvard.

Dr Sara looked increasingly worried.

-"We can't cut to conclusions that easily..." She said.

Hansengrove and Mrs Harvard turned to look at her.

-"What are you saying?" Asked Hansengrove.

-"I don't know, I am not entirely sure. I would have to speak to her, but I am wondering if this may have to do with dark magic...?" She said carefully.

It was agreed that Dr. Sara would speak to Etta later that afternoon.

Hansengrove stepped out of the office, and headed towards Stella's box. Etta was hugging the mare. She looked up at the sound of footsteps. Her expression was sad, and the spark in her eye that had once been so present and bright was now dulled. Her face was dirty and wet with tears.
Hansengrove went to her, and Etta remained fixed on something in the distance. She looked lost.

-"Etta, do you want to put your bag in your dorm and wash up?" It wasn't exactly a question, and Etta nodded, wiping her cheeks.

Hansengrive guided her to the dormitory, and Etta took a bath. Hansengrove sat in the armchair by the bathroom door. After she'd washed up, Etta changed into her fuzzy pyjamas, and went to see Hansengrove.

-"Dr Sara wants to see you." She said.

Etta looked at her wide eyed; she didn't like doctors.

-"She only wants to talk with you." Said Hansengrove, gently.

Etta nodded, and then there was silence, while Etta tried to calm herself with thoughts about ice-cream and stuff. Those were her favorite thoughts. Then she spoke.

-"Tell me it was a bad dream.." she whispered, seeking reassurance, and clutching her cupcake pillow tight.

Hansengrove could not give her any, though she knew exactly how Etta felt. At that point, her thoughts trailed off to some distant memory of hers. She was at her home, the place she was raised in, and she was coming back from her ride with Éclair. As she neared her home, the air got colder, and she knew something was not right. She heard her father scream, and ran to her house, only to see men dressed in dark cloaks carrying her father away. Then her father yelled to her to run, and she did. She mounted Éclair and left at full gallop.

-"Hansengrove?" Asked Etta, "What are We going to do now...? What are you going to do with me?"

Hansengrove hugged the child, suppressing tears.

-"I'm sorry... I didnt want this for you." She said, mostly to herself.

The two sat there for awhile, tears streaming down Etta's face. Then, they headed to the sitting room, where Dr Sara was waiting for them.