CHAPTER 3: Visitors
- One of Anne's quintuplet brothers, Colin. He was standing there bundled up in snowsuits and scarves to the hilt, but the part of his face you could see was red and wore a sheepish expression. Will and Anne both heaved a huge sigh of relief and went to help put the door back on.
There was a monumental snowstorm brewing outside- that combined with the force of Colin trying to get out of the cold and into the house had knocked the much-used door down. The cold was easy enough to explain, the raging snowstorm had taken a firm grip on the house from the moment the door had broken down, but it might have already been creeping in from open windows upstairs, and Will and Anne just hadn't noticed.
Will soon fixed the door and invited Colin in while Anne made cups of hot cocoa in the kitchen. Just as Colin had taken off his massive overcoats and scarves and had settled down on the couch warming himself by the fire, the rest of Anne's family turned up at the door. Derrick, Shane, and Jack also shed their winter wear and took seats by the fire. On the way back to the living room through the kitchen, Will stopped by Anne to help her carry five steaming mugs to her brothers.
What are they doing here?
Are you mad that they showed up?
No, I'm just curious. Did you invite them?
No. I have no idea why they're here- it's odd. I'm not sure what to make of it. I guess we'll find out soon enough, though. Will and Anne entered the living room and set down the hot cocoa on the coffee table. Everyone reached for a mug and started taking sips of the steaming hot liquid.
Will cleared his throat after taking a sip out of his cocoa and said, "Hallo, guys. We, uh, weren't expecting you."
Anne was more direct. "I'm so glad you guys are here- but why? Is there something wrong?"
Anne, we already know one thing- today was scorching! And now- a snowstorm? I don't know what's going on, but something like this could only be the Dark. But I still don't understand! They were vanquished! Totally! Oh, I just can't make sense of it.
It's okay, Will. We can think it over later. It doesn't look like there's any immediate danger or anything. It'll be fine until we can think about it tonight. Don't worry.
"Ooh, that really hits the spot, thanks, Anne." Derrick said as he set down his mug. "And don't worry, nothing's wrong, but Mom and Dad won a trip on the radio and so they're taking it for the next week. They didn't want you to miss them, so they sent us up here to visit you guys before you went back to Washington. It'll just be another week, just a little delay. Is that okay?"
Will smiled. "That's grand. It's great that you guys got up here."
Colin smiled, too. "Yeah. And plus, us four always wanted to come and see England! It's gonna be so fun here, especially the people! We've wanted to come here, the main reason being the awesome accents!! It's just so fun!"
Will broke into a bigger, genuine smile. "Actually, I find American accents quite interesting, also."
Anne grinned. "You never told me that, Will."
Will tried to fake an innocent look, but caught Anne looking at him in a joking manner, and laughed out loud. The night progressed, with seconds of hot cocoa all around, much stoking of the fire, and chuckles often. It was near midnight when they all realized how late it was and decided to turn in. Beds for the four boys were made two in Robin and Paul's old room, and two in James's and Will's old room. As usual, Will slept in the attic room and Anne slept in Barbara's room. The freak snowstorm eluded the minds of Will and Anne until they were both in bed and had time to think. When at first he thought of it, Will tried to contact Anne telepathically.
Anne, what do you think of that snowstorm today? I really don't know what to make of it. Do you think Merriman will know? Oh, I hope the Dark hasn't found some unnatural way to come back, but then again, that's impossible, right? Right? Anne? From the lack of answer, Will figured that Anne was asleep, and eventually shook off the thought of anything happening to her. He was very uptight now that something unusual had happened and it had the slightest chance of being the Dark again, and now that he had Anne, he didn't want anything to happen like that again. He couldn't bear the thought of something happening to her.... He calmed himself down with thoughts of this whole mystery being solved tomorrow when he talked to Merriman about it....
As soon as Anne's head hit the pillow, she was out like a light. The thought of the snowstorm didn't even pass through her mind.
- One of Anne's quintuplet brothers, Colin. He was standing there bundled up in snowsuits and scarves to the hilt, but the part of his face you could see was red and wore a sheepish expression. Will and Anne both heaved a huge sigh of relief and went to help put the door back on.
There was a monumental snowstorm brewing outside- that combined with the force of Colin trying to get out of the cold and into the house had knocked the much-used door down. The cold was easy enough to explain, the raging snowstorm had taken a firm grip on the house from the moment the door had broken down, but it might have already been creeping in from open windows upstairs, and Will and Anne just hadn't noticed.
Will soon fixed the door and invited Colin in while Anne made cups of hot cocoa in the kitchen. Just as Colin had taken off his massive overcoats and scarves and had settled down on the couch warming himself by the fire, the rest of Anne's family turned up at the door. Derrick, Shane, and Jack also shed their winter wear and took seats by the fire. On the way back to the living room through the kitchen, Will stopped by Anne to help her carry five steaming mugs to her brothers.
What are they doing here?
Are you mad that they showed up?
No, I'm just curious. Did you invite them?
No. I have no idea why they're here- it's odd. I'm not sure what to make of it. I guess we'll find out soon enough, though. Will and Anne entered the living room and set down the hot cocoa on the coffee table. Everyone reached for a mug and started taking sips of the steaming hot liquid.
Will cleared his throat after taking a sip out of his cocoa and said, "Hallo, guys. We, uh, weren't expecting you."
Anne was more direct. "I'm so glad you guys are here- but why? Is there something wrong?"
Anne, we already know one thing- today was scorching! And now- a snowstorm? I don't know what's going on, but something like this could only be the Dark. But I still don't understand! They were vanquished! Totally! Oh, I just can't make sense of it.
It's okay, Will. We can think it over later. It doesn't look like there's any immediate danger or anything. It'll be fine until we can think about it tonight. Don't worry.
"Ooh, that really hits the spot, thanks, Anne." Derrick said as he set down his mug. "And don't worry, nothing's wrong, but Mom and Dad won a trip on the radio and so they're taking it for the next week. They didn't want you to miss them, so they sent us up here to visit you guys before you went back to Washington. It'll just be another week, just a little delay. Is that okay?"
Will smiled. "That's grand. It's great that you guys got up here."
Colin smiled, too. "Yeah. And plus, us four always wanted to come and see England! It's gonna be so fun here, especially the people! We've wanted to come here, the main reason being the awesome accents!! It's just so fun!"
Will broke into a bigger, genuine smile. "Actually, I find American accents quite interesting, also."
Anne grinned. "You never told me that, Will."
Will tried to fake an innocent look, but caught Anne looking at him in a joking manner, and laughed out loud. The night progressed, with seconds of hot cocoa all around, much stoking of the fire, and chuckles often. It was near midnight when they all realized how late it was and decided to turn in. Beds for the four boys were made two in Robin and Paul's old room, and two in James's and Will's old room. As usual, Will slept in the attic room and Anne slept in Barbara's room. The freak snowstorm eluded the minds of Will and Anne until they were both in bed and had time to think. When at first he thought of it, Will tried to contact Anne telepathically.
Anne, what do you think of that snowstorm today? I really don't know what to make of it. Do you think Merriman will know? Oh, I hope the Dark hasn't found some unnatural way to come back, but then again, that's impossible, right? Right? Anne? From the lack of answer, Will figured that Anne was asleep, and eventually shook off the thought of anything happening to her. He was very uptight now that something unusual had happened and it had the slightest chance of being the Dark again, and now that he had Anne, he didn't want anything to happen like that again. He couldn't bear the thought of something happening to her.... He calmed himself down with thoughts of this whole mystery being solved tomorrow when he talked to Merriman about it....
As soon as Anne's head hit the pillow, she was out like a light. The thought of the snowstorm didn't even pass through her mind.