"I've met her," Marie recalled the dolls. "She is very sheltered. Diana's idea of love is a benevolent tyranny."

"Well, I don't know about that," her eyes more past Marie to that night, "but I asked her to come inside. Jacob is fun, and I didn't want to be mean, so I invited Alice inside. Wow, did I regret that," she crossed her arms.

"Alice has an odd demeanor."

"That's putting it mildly," she laughed, though it rang hollow. "She came inside, but was quiet for a long time. The little weirdo started talking about my girlish features. It set me on edge, that creepy smirk. She never made any threats, not really, but I think she was mad at me. Jacob and I broke it off."

"Why did you shoot?" Marie relaxed.

"She kept trying to touch me," she blushed, "and I just got sick of her. I shot through the open door to scare her. I have to give it to her, she held her ground. Probably should have gave her a beating, but Alice is feeble. I called Jacob to come get her."

"He came to get her," Marie said, "because she is supposed to be watched."

"Yes, he came quickly. Jacob was already looking for her," she wiped away sweat. "He said Alice wanted some hair to make a doll," Carol trembled at the memory. "I called Jesse and Seth," she added, and tears rolled down artless cheeks.

Marie let the storm in her pass. "Why was your trailer in shambles?" she asked low, soft.

"Someone showed up," Carol leaned against Tim's truck.

"Someone," she repeated.

"I don't know who" she looked up at the storm. "I was in the back, changing, when they showed up. Jesse," she burst into tears, "he pushed me into the bedroom, while Seth fought them."

"They are…were stout men," she said, watched the shadows move. The dream surfaced, but she pushed it back down. "Whoever they fought, they must have been tough."

"I slipped out of the window, and hid in the bushes."

"Did they search for you?" she asked. "Did you see them?"

"They broke into the bedroom," Carol looked at her shoes. "The police came, after the gunfire. Their gun was large caliber, I'm sure," she wiped away tears. "No way was it Jacob."

Marie nodded. Jesse and Seth were larger than him, "I don't think this will change the Sheriff's mind," she glanced at Tim, who had watched the exchange in silence.

"I have a favor to ask," she said, but cast a glance at the darkness.

She frowned, "There is little I can do for you."

"Can I hide out at your house?"

"Excuse me," she blinked.

"Everyone is afraid of Sabbath Branch, I mean, Ashless Hollow," she blushed, "it is the safest place."

"Did your father ever mention finding one of the missing girls?" Marie wondered aloud.

She jerked, memory rose in a flash. The Sheriff had been shaken, when he'd searched for one girl. Harriet Bertram was loved, and had a full scholarship to some school on the coast, Carol recalled. Her disappearance had shocked the town. "Dad, he went searching for Harriet," she said slowly, "he had stayed out late one night. He had come home, finally." She looked at Marie, "I never seen him scared, but he was that night."

"What did he say?"

"He wouldn't say anything," she shivered. If it scared Rutger, then Carol knew it was horrible.

Marie nodded; eyes wondered towards the whispers, "I guess you can stay at Eleanor."

"Thank you," she smiled, though fresh tears welled up.

"You'll have to follow us there," she looked at Tim, "I would hate for you to get lost in Ashless Hollow." Carol nodded, and walked back to her jeep.

"That'll give me some time to think," She glanced at Tim, "and bounce some thoughts around."

Both got into Tim's truck, and pulled back onto the road. He checked to see Carol followed. She studied the road, as she ordered the events. His hand was near the shotgun, and Marie thought of Eleanor. They drove in silence with their thoughts to keep them company.

He blames himself, she thought, and felt the sting of tears. Marie had latched onto the story, as she always done, but he needed her. She blushed, "Tim, do you want to tell me about Eve?"

"Huh," he swallowed, but kept his eyes on the road.

"I know when you're scared," she forced a smile to ease him, "and I know when you feel guilty."

Tears rose, but refused to fall, "She is different than you, not in a bad way. Eve had a guileless way about her, and was very steady in her heart.

"She sounds swell," she touched his hand, "and has good taste in men."

Tim's bitter smile lingered, for Eve had disliked her. She would tighten up, when the subject of Marie came up. "I see her everywhere," he said in an odd, flat tone.

"You miss her," she replied.

"Yes," he sighed, stomach knotted, "I do. Everywhere I go, I see her. Hemlock Hurst is filled with her ghost."

Marie jerked, but it went unnoticed, "Memories of the ones we love tend to linger."

"I…haven't slept in my house, since," he shook his head.

"Tim," she squeezed his hand, "you can stay at my house too."

"Thank you," he whispered.

"You know, I never pray for much," Marie smiled, "but I hoped you'd have a great life."

"That's gone now," he said in a flat tone that cut her heart.

"You need to leave this place."

"I don't know."

"Hemlock Hurst is hard on people," she said. Bethany had suffered, because of Eleanor, Marie was sure.

"Eve…lived here," he pleaded.

Marie unbuckled her seat-belt, and moved next to him, "Leaving would help you, and I know everyone wants you to be happy. All of her is in your heart, Tim." She put an arm around him, and laid her head on his shoulder. Gingerbread rose from her bronze skin.

A pearlescent-white mote hung above the road. They passed it, but only Marie could see it was the same ball of flame, which had guided her in the mire.