Took: A Ghost Story

Old Auntie angrily enters her cabin. She slaps Erica, knocking her out of the chair that she was sleeping in. Erica begs Auntie not to hit her again, but the latter instead hits her with a stick to punish her for letting the fire go out. The girl tries to light the fire again, but Auntie shoves her out of the way.

Auntie tells Erica that Daniel came to get her, but she chased him off. Erica doesn’t remember having a brother. She feels like she’s lived with Auntie all her life; she wonders if Bloody Bones is her brother.

Auntie tells Erica that Bloody Bones has seen to it that her brother won’t return, despite knowing that the girl doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She adds that Erica wouldn’t go with him anyway, because she loves her “auntie.” She forces Erica to reiterate this love and say that her “auntie” is good to her, while pinching her cheek hard.

Erica is afraid of the poisonous plants, rats, and spiders in Auntie’s cabin. Most of all, she’s afraid of Bloody Bones—but loves Auntie and knows she will keep her safe from him.

Bella leads Daniel and Selene out of the woods. Daniel worries that Bloody Bones might be after them. When they emerge from the woods, Bella returns home and Daniel takes Selene back to his house. Selene cries about having no one. As the two approach the house, Father throws open the door, angry and worried because Daniel ran off in the night. He looks at Selene. Daniel explains that he went after Selene to ensure she didn’t die in the woods. Mother is angry at Selene for taking Little Erica again. The O’Neills are still at the house. They have explained Selene’s story to Mother and Father, but both struggle to believe it. Mother returns to her room, this time leaving the doll with Selene.

Selene explains to Daniel’s father and the O’Neills that Old Auntie told her to be Daniel’s replacement sister. Daniel tries to further explain the situation to Father, but he is frustrated and can’t believe what he’s hearing. When Father follows Mother, the O’Neills suggest taking Selene to their house for the night. Mrs. O’Neill invites Daniel to see them the next day because she has something to discuss with him. The O’Neills leave with Selene, and Daniel struggles to sleep, ruminating over the events of the evening.

The next day, Daniel finds Brody and Bella at the end of his driveway. Brody asks what happened in the woods. The sky threatens to snow. Daniel explains what happened at the cabin but struggles to talk about Auntie’s appearance or Bloody Bones. Brody and Bella join Daniel as they head to the O’Neills’ house; it begins to snow as they walk. Mrs. O’Neill welcomes the boys and Bella inside. The O’Neills have a photo album open for Selene, showing her pictures of her childhood—but the girl doesn’t pay attention. She is more interested in her doll. Mr. O’Neill asks Brody about his father; Brody’s father is struggling to find work. Mrs. O’Neill tries to get Selene to greet Daniel and Brody, but she remains detached.

In the photo album, Selene and the O’Neills’ daughter, Eleanor, play and attend school together. Mrs. O’Neill wants Selene to remember who she is, but the girl is adamant that she already does. The older woman takes the boys aside to talk to them privately. She informs them that Eleanor plans to visit to try and help Selene, as long as the snow doesn’t impede her. She also mentions a woman named Miss Perkins, who is known as a “crazy old lady.” Brody thinks she steals pets for food. It is rumored that she is a descendent of Auntie and knows about magic. Mrs. O’Neill wants to visit Miss Perkins to see if she can help Erica and Selene. Brody refuses to go, but Daniel agrees to accompany Mrs. O’Neill. Selene was eavesdropping and asks if she can come too, hoping Miss Perkins will be able to reunite her with Auntie. The three plan to see Miss Perkins the next day should the roads be plowed by then. Mrs. O’Neill makes grilled cheese sandwiches and hot chocolate for the children. Selene sits away from the boys and stares out a window. The boys eat their lunch and head out.

Daniel returns home to his parents, who both look haggard in their grief and stress. They are upset because there have been no developments; the police don’t want to look for Erica anymore. Mother lights a cigarette, which causes an argument between her and Father. He storms out to check his email, hoping for news. Mother begins to cry. Daniel can tell “Their marriage [is] collapsing” (191) and hopes bringing Erica home will fix things.

The next day, Mother keeps Daniel home from school to save him from the torment of other children’s questions. She smokes, and Father frequently checks a website that he set up to find Erica. Mrs. O’Neill picks up Daniel in the afternoon. Selene is in the car, only paying attention to her doll. They drive to the far side of town, where buildings are boarded up and abandoned. At Miss Perkins’s house, they wait a long time for her to answer the door. Mrs. O’Neill tells her that they need help, but the latter refuses until she is introduced to Selene. Miss Perkins examines Selene and can tell she lived with Old Auntie. Selene asks Miss Perkins to bring her back to Auntie, explaining that she was rejected. Mrs. O’Neill tries to comfort a crying Selene, but the girl pulls away. Miss Perkins invites the group inside.

Miss Perkins’s house is filled with clutter and cats. She reiterates that Auntie has taken Erica and released Selene because Selene is overworked. She tells the group that Auntie has been doing this for 200 years and has no plans to stop. Daniel asks if Miss Perkins can trade Selene for Erica, which upsets Mrs. O’Neill. Miss Perkins tells them to come back the next day, and she might have a few ideas. She explains that Selene is under a spell and will die if the spell is not broken. She then leads them out. Mrs. O’Neill is uncertain whether or not she can trust Miss Perkins but believes she is their only hope. In the car, Selene looks out the window and stops paying attention to her doll.

Mrs. O’Neill invites Daniel over for dinner, as her daughter Eleanor will be present. She waits in the car while Daniel goes into his house to ask for permission. Father sits alone in a dark room, watching the fire. He gives Daniel permission, adding that Mother probably wasn’t going to cook anyway. Mother is upstairs napping, which upsets Daniel because it’s 5:30pm. Father pours some wine and tells Daniel to go. Daniel almost cries in the car.

At the O’Neill’s, an almost 60-year-old Eleanor is shocked to see Selene. She worries Selene won’t remember her, let alone recognize her. Mrs. O’Neill worries that if they cannot get through to Selene, the girl will let herself fade away.

Eleanor sits next to Selene and speaks to her gently. Selene introduces herself as “Girl.” Eleanor tries to tell Selene about how they were friends as children, but the girl lashes out, saying she’s “sick to death of hearing about that girl! My name ain’t Selene” (206). Mrs. O’Neill tries to comfort Selene, but she runs upstairs to her room and slams the door. The group can hear Selene crying.

Eleanor doesn’t believe “Girl” is Selene. She doesn’t believe the stories about Old Auntie and suggests her parents get Social Services involved. Mrs. O’Neill believes Selene will die if they cannot get through to her, but Eleanor thinks her parents are being irrational. Mr. O’Neill asks if Eleanor will stay for dinner, but she is too upset and refuses to stay. She apologizes for not being able to help but acknowledges that “there’s something very wrong with that child, and it scares me” (208).

Selene refuses to eat dinner, so Daniel eats with Mr. and Mrs. O’Neill. Daniel wishes Eleanor had stayed, that Selene would eat, and that Erica were sitting beside him. Mr. O’Neill drives Daniel home and asks about his parents. Daniel lets on that things are not good. Mr. O’Neill walks Daniel to the house and comes inside with him. The house is dark. Father emerges from his study and greets Mr. O’Neill. The men pour drinks and sit down. Father tells Daniel to go to bed.

Daniel finds Mother in her bedroom. The house is freezing, so she can only get warm in bed. Daniel asks if Mother is well. She says she is but then begins to lament about buying the house and moving to Woodville. She asks if Daniel saw “that girl” at the O’Neill’s and adds that “She belongs in an institution” (212). Mother tells Daniel to get her some wine, handing him her empty glass. She wonders aloud if Erica will come home and begins to cry. Daniel attempts to comfort Mother, but she tells him to go to bed, changing her mind about the wine. He leaves the room, feeling as though nothing is right in the house.