10. Tall Dark Strangers
After dinner, it was time for the girls to go to bed. It took coaxing from Dan and Gretchen to get Hildegard to go to sleep. Finally, Dan and Gretchen made their ways to their beds. "Goodnight, Dan." called Gretchen, quietly. "Goodnight Gretchen." came the reply. Gretchen hopped into her cot and snuggled into her pillow.
A few hours passed by peacefully. Gretchen, a sound but light sleeper, was awakened by a snapped twig. The sound was followed by the rustling of leaves, like an animal was nearby. (Impossible,) she thought. (I was sure I closed the gate to the animals.) Careful not to wake anyone, she got up, took the tea light from the shelf and crept out into the night to investigate.
Marcel was trying to avoid making any kind of noise. He prayed that none of those kids were light sleepers as he made his way to where the girl might be sleeping. He stepped on another twig. "Dammit." he muttered. Another crack of twigs immediately followed, but the sound was ahead of him. He pushed passed leaves and branches as Gretchen also made her way towards the sounds she heard, unknowingly inches away from the initial poor master of stealth. Seconds later, the two finally met face to face. "Good lord!" cried Gretchen. Marcel slapped his hand across her mouth. The last thing he needed was the whole lot of them coming out to get a look at him. Gretchen struggled to remove his hand. She hated to have anything touch her face. It made her very uncomfortable. Her attempts caused her to back up against a tree. Marcel let out an exasperated sigh. "Would you quit it already?" Gretchen squirmed. "Look. If you promise me that you won't make a peep, I'll tell you who I am." Hearing this, Gretchen complied.
Marcel slowly took his hand away. The girl remained silent. "I am the Boogeyman. Marcel actually. I have already met your friend, Daniella." Silence. "Based on your reaction, I don't think she's told you about her hand has she?" "She said she tripped." Gretchen mumbled. "Oh did she? Clumsy little thing." he sneered. "Good thing I was nearby to set it properly, hm? You have to know these things if you're a pirate." Gretchen went pale. "A...pirate?" She whispered. Marcel sarcastically looked at her in awe. "Why yes, my dear. You don't think any law abiding citizen would dress like ME, do you?" Gretchen was so scared she couldn't utter a sound. "Well now, seems you were eager for a chat a minute ago." he chuckled, cruelly. Gretchen glared at him. She also hated getting belittled by people. She may have been from Scotland, but she was just as much of a person as everyone else and apparently more than her tall dark haired stranger. "You broke it, didn't ya?" Marcel smiled. "A fracture, but guilty." Gretchen remembered her tea light and held it up to his face. "Ugly lookin' mug if ever I saw one." Marcel frowned. "Are insults all you have for me?" "No," replied Gretchen coolly, "I also have a five-fingered friend on me right who wants to meet your jaw." Marcel leaned in so close that she could see every detail of his features without the tea light. "What?" he growled. Gretchen gulped, but stood her ground. "You heard me." The pirate straightened himself and stepped back a bit. Gretchen was starting to think she was done for, till she heard his gravelly voice ring out another laugh. "I like you, kid. You have spunk. You're not afraid of getting hurt." He motioned in the direction of the huts. "You can tell her that I exist. But, I am really a nice fellow once you get to know me." Gretchen shuddered and used every ounce of self control to not deck this creep. Marcel bowed politely. "Pleasant dreams, mademoiselle." He turned to disappear into the darkness. "Oh, and let her know I appreciated her help with the barnacles." Gretchen huffed and returned to her bed, shaking.