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Bobby sed audibly “O-okay Well go together”
The two brave heroes set their bulging bags of trickor-treat candy on a big rock at the end of the ay and squared their shoulders And then, so close together they were al, they moved slowly toward the deserted, reportedly haunted inn
They’d gotten only halfhen they saw so move on the porch
Two figures stood there looking at thee dark suit And a s, floaty white dress
The boys could see right through them
For a long moment, they were paralyzed with fear, their mouths open as they stared at the apparitions Bobby let out a shriek, which iftly echoed by his companion
They turned on their heels and bolted down the path as though the devil, himself, were after them
ANNA CLUCKED RUEFULLY “Poor dears We frightened them half silly I didn’t know they would see us”
Ian’s scowl deepened “Reduced to this,” he er are we supposed to go on this way, Anna?”
“I don’t know,” she murmured syainst the shadowy, less existence they’d been forced to endure since that deadly night in the garden “But at least we’re together I can’t bear to think what it would be like to be alone like this Here—or at that other place The gray place” She shuddered expressively
Ian seemed to take some solace from her words She had always been the only one who could truly soothe him
“You’re right, of course,” he said,a faint smile for her “I don’t knohat I would do without you It was bad enough when Mother died I only regret that I could
n’t protect you from this I still blame myself that your life ended with mine, when you had so much ahead of you”
“How h “This was ether And now it appears that we’ll spend eternity together”
“Frightening children,” he grumbled
She laughed softly “At least we aren’t forced to rattle chains”
He responded with a reluctant chuckle “You find the best in everything, don’t you, Anna?”
“I try”
His smile faded “You don’t deserve this You should have had more”
She touched his face, and though neither of the to both “I have you, Ian That’s enough for me”
August 1, 1996
IT WAS A CLEAR, late-suhtly overhead, and the scent of fresh-bloo heavily in the air