Chapter Twenty-Six




"They just let you out of the hospital?" Carter asked as Annabel and Clear joined him at the hole in the fence.
"I'm sure they were more then happy to get rid of me." Clear answered and gave Carter and quick hug.
"Wait, you two know each other?" Annabel asked, confused.
"Yeah, old friends." Carter answered.
Clear shot him a look that suggested 'old' wasn't the correct word but didn't say anything. "Do you know who Annabel is?" Clear asked, her face becoming serious again.
"Annabel is….Annabel no I have no idea who she is." Carter said, trying to sound smart but failing.
"She's Alex's cousin." Clear said, nearly whispering the words to Carter.
Carter looked surprised at first but quickly brushed the look off his face with an 'I knew that' sort of look and studying Annabel like Clear had just told him that she was the missing Princess of Paris. If there even was a princess in Paris, Annabel thought.
"What's the big deal?" Annabel asked, surprised that both Clear and Carter cared so much about it.
"Does she, I mean can she…?" Carter asked and Clear nodded and quickly related bits of the story Annabel hold told her to Carter. Many things Clear left out and only told Carter the most important things like the overhang collapsing and the deaths of Randy, Sara and Cody.
"So, is that why you came here? Why?" Carter asked, it was clear he was jittery in Annabel's presence all of the sudden.
"I just hoped Clear would be able to help me but so far you both have just made me more confused." Annabel answered.
"We need to go somewhere and sort this out, do you have somewhere to stay Annabel?" Clear asked, looking at her.
"No, I didn't think of that." Annabel answered.
"Okay, I think I know somewhere where we can go." Clear said.
"Whoa, you can count me out. I'm not dealing with this again, now that Alex is gone I'm next so I'm getting as far away from you and anyone related to Alex as I possibly can. Have fun Clear, welcome to Long Island Annabel." Carter said and without another word or backward glance he turned and left the two.
"What's his problem?" Annabel asked, even more confused then before.
"It's a long story, I'll tell you on the way." Clear said and begun walking back through the woods. Annabel walked beside her, listening as Clear began to tell Annabel abut everything that happened a year ago.