“Hello,” I managed to squawk. I cleared my throat. My entire body was now shaking, my heart beating fast in my ears. But the grown-up part of me told me to get it together.
Two girls stood on the small stoop. They were young, probably not even ten years old. They were both dressed in boots, pants, and coats, it seemed, but it was hard to tell; they were covered in mud.
I could see their eyes. One girl’s were brown, the other’s blue.
The blue-eyed girl nodded and blinked at me.
The idea that something here was so very wrong began to solidify in my mind. My focus moved from my own nightmares to the fact that this just wasn’t normal, even for Benedict, Alaska. As if a switch had been flipped, I stopped shaking. I looked out behind the girls and saw no one else, no attacking wildlife, but an urgency filled in all the places within me that had been overtaken by fear only a few moments earlier.
“Come in, come in,” I said.
They didn’t look at each other to see if the other would go. They didn’t hesitate. The brown-eyed girl stepped forward first and the other one followed. I scanned outside again to see if there was anyone else around; there wasn’t. I closed the door, threw the bolt, and brought two chairs to a spot where they could sit beside each other.
They stank. Badly. I tried to ignore the smell. I could feel the cold coming off them. How long had they been out in the elements?
“Let me get you some water,” I said as I made my way to the water cooler. As I filled two paper cone cups, I continued speaking. “Are either of you hurt?”
They didn’t answer, so I looked back at them. They were staring at me with wide eyes and more silence.
I handed each girl a cup. They drank greedily. I had the sense that I needed to tell them to slow down, but I didn’t have time to get the words out.
They finished and then held their empty cups out toward me.
“More?” I asked.
The brown-eyed girl nodded, but the blue-eyed one only continued to stare.
I took the cups and filled them both halfway. “Can you tell me what happened to you two? Where are you from? Can I call your parents?”
Neither of them spoke. I made my way back again and handed them the water. They drank a little slower this time. I tried to assess the situation. The only good news I could suss out was that they didn’t seem to be hurt.
Bottom line, though, this still wasn’t good.
However, I knew lots of people lived out in these woods. I knew baths weren’t a priority for everyone. I knew it was muddy outside. Okay, this might not be as strange an occurrence as it currently seemed.
But it was cold, and these girls were young.
“Can you give me a name or a number of someone to call?” I tried again, gently. “Anyone?”
They looked at me, but didn’t extend the cups again.
“I’m going to need to call the police,” I said, trying to keep my tone gentle. I didn’t want to scare them, but if the threat of calling the police would get them to tell me who I really needed to call, I would use it.
Their eyes were glassy but aware, tracking me, and seeming to pay appropriate attention. They didn’t argue or protest.
“Do you understand English?” I said.
They both nodded once.
“Okay,” I said. They could hear.
Cell phone coverage was stronger by my desk than anywhere else in the shed. I moved back behind my chair and dialed Gril’s number, using the burner phone with the number he would recognize.
“Beth, what’s up?” he said as he answered.
“A couple of young girls just knocked on the door of the Petition. They don’t … something’s not right.”
“Names?”
“They aren’t talking.”
“Are they hurt?”
“I can’t be sure, but I don’t think their lives are in imminent danger. They’re muddy.” Maybe someone had been chasing them. I looked toward the door, glad I’d locked it.
“Beth?”
“I’m sorry. I’m here. What should I do?” I said.
Gril thought a moment. “Stay put. I was headed out that way anyway. I’ll grab Dr. Powder and we’ll be right there.”
“I’ve got the door locked,” I said randomly.
“Okay. Are you worried for your or the girls’ safety?”
“I’m just not sure,” I said.
I heard Gril make noises like he was standing up. “Be right there. I’ll get Powder. Stay where you are.”
“We will.”