NaNo: The Hauntings of Garenger Manor

By Dark

He kept the radio on and right up on the upper ledge of the desk, so it was near his ear and unobstructed, hissing softly on the empty channel as he worked. What time was it now? Jonathan didn't know nor think of it, he was busy writing everything from short hand notes in one collection of notes, to full on breakdowns in another, and even more writing down upon slips.

Then there was a tickle to the frequency and Jonathan sat up, looking directly at the squawking box before turning around in his seat to look at the study door. The radio grew worse then as he laid his intense gaze upon the figure standing there, but it was little Ellie who seemed to shy away from his angry look.

Jonathan breathed as he realized who it was, and his face softened as he watched her start to hide back around the corner, the sliver of her little, sad face shrinking away.

"Ellie," he called. "Where are you going?"

"You're mad at me," she peeped.

"Mad? Oh no, Ellie, I couldn't be mad at you..." he said, shifting around more. "I was only- a little startled. I didn't know you came back. Please don't go."

He could see she was unsure, and that she also was giving a look around herself. But the shy little thing did come stepping out and into the alcove outside the open door. "Are you sure you aren't angry?" she asked.

"It would seem I startled you more," he sighed, dealing with Mrs. Garenger and reaccounting the experience had done a number on his nerves. He then pushed himself up from the chair, the first time since sitting down this morning, and walked over to her. She tried to hide behind the closed door with a squeak when he did, but Jonathan picked up the locking pin from the floor so to open it and squat down to her level. "Ellie... it's okay."

She looked so tiny as she stood in shame and fear, hardly wanting to look at his face. "You're not angry?"

Jonathan was only a kind smile now. "Do I look angry?" He could hear from her her own nerves upon the radio settling down again. "Hum?"

Jonathan had tilted his head to only match hers at first, but then he started being his silly self and going further till he started to see the world upside-down. It worked as it would for any young child, and she smiled before giving a few giggles. He then righted himself again and she settled again.

"Ellie, you have done nothing wrong," he then said to her softly, making sure to stoop lower so to catch her eyes as she grew shy again. "Not a single thing."

"But I woke mommy," she whispered.

"Na aha aha," he said with a shake of his, being almost as quiet. "Not, a single, thing."

It took a little time but Ellie started to come around and put her little hand into his of which he had been holding out for her for some time.

Jonathan smiled. "Friend?" he then asked.

"Friends," she repeated, giving him a smile in return. "What are you doing?"

"I'm working on my research and book," he replied.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I am writing a lot of boring, adult stuff for work."

"Oh. You are busy?" she then asked.

"No, not anymore," he replied. "What would you like to do, Ellie?"

She smiled, but then wasn't sure what to do.

"What about you, Ellie? What have you been doing? You were gone for a long time."

Of course she would grow shy again at the question. "I was hiding..."