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Took: A Ghost Story
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Chapters 9-12Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 9 Summary
Content Warning: “In Auntie’s Cabin” (Chapter 11) contains physical and emotional abuse.
Daniel returns home, and Erica is not there. He searches the house, convinced she’s playing a trick on him. Mother and Father pull into the driveway. Daniel hopes they have Erica with them, but they don’t.
Mother and Father bring Chinese food. Father tells Daniel to get Erica, but he freezes. Mother asks where Erica is and begins calling her name throughout the house. Daniel explains that they had another fight in the woods, and Erica ran off. Father asks why Daniel didn’t go after her, and the latter explains his side of the story.
Daniel and Father grab flashlights and search for Erica. They call her name but have no luck. When they circle back to the house, they call the police. While Mother and Father comfort each other, Daniel thinks about Bloody Bones.
The police show up with dogs and an ambulance. The ambulance startles Daniel. He wants to apologize to Erica and explain that he’s scared, but he’s uncertain what he’s scared of. The police begin to search the house and the surrounding area. An officer, Detective Shank, sits down with the family to ask questions. Mother tells the detective that Daniel was supposed to walk Erica home from the bus stop, but they had a fight.
Detective Shank asks Daniel about the fight. Daniel explains that he and Erica argued but omits any mention of shadows or Selene Estes. Mother adds that Daniel came home, made a peanut butter sandwich, and played games on his iPad. Daniel explains that he did so because he thought Erica was pranking him.
Mother begins to cry, thinking about Erica alone in the dark woods. An officer comes inside and asks for a recently worn garment and recent photo of Erica. He comments that Erica looks sad in the chosen photo. The dogs sniff Erica’s socks and get to work.
Detective Shank offers to make Mother some tea to calm herself. Father tells Daniel to help Detective Shank find things in the kitchen. Daniel asks Father not to blame him for Erica’s disappearance, but Father replies that there is no one else to blame.
While Daniel is in the kitchen with Detective Shank, she asks if he ever hit or pushed Erica. Daniel feels guilty and admits to shoving Erica. Detective Shank asks more questions and presses him about not letting Erica pick up her doll the day before. Daniel begins to cry, saying he gets scared at night. Mother comes to monitor the discussion because Daniel is a minor; he feels relieved to have her protection. Daniel confesses that he thought there was something in the darkness that was going to get him or Erica, and this is why he made her leave the doll. He worries about the detective directly linking him to Erica’s disappearance.
Mother tells Detective Shank to spend her time searching for Erica, not interrogating Daniel. The detective goes outside to rejoin the search, while Mother and Daniel drink tea. Father enters, holding Erica’s knit hat. The dogs found it a mile from the house, stuck on a tree branch. Father wonders how Erica could have gone so far. Daniel asks if the dogs are still on the scent, but Father says they lost it. The next day, the police will continue their search with volunteers.
Daniel struggles to sleep. He pleads for Erica to come home, apologizing and promising to never be angry at her again.
Chapter 10 Summary
Early the next morning, volunteers gather at the house with doughnuts and pastries. Mother, haggard and restless, serves Daniel hot chocolate and reassures herself that they’ll find Erica.
The police give the volunteers instructions for searching the woods. Daniel sneaks past them to look on his own, thinking he can be a hero and find Erica. He goes to the clearing, sits on the log, and tries to think of where Erica could have gone. He calls out for her a couple times.
Brody finds Daniel in the clearing and tells him that he won’t find Erica by calling for her. Daniel asks what he’s doing; Brody’s father is part of the search party. Brody lowers his voice and tells Daniel that there are things in the woods that no one has told the latter about. He reminds Daniel of the story of Selene Estes, adding that people think Erica was “took” just like Selene. Daniel argues that Selene disappeared 50 years ago, and whoever took her is probably long dead. Brody replies that Old Auntie has Erica, and that everyone in Woodville agrees. Daniel argues that Auntie must be dead, but Brody says she and Bloody Bones are regularly spotted foraging for roadkill along the highway at night.
Brody offers to take Daniel to Auntie’s cabin. Daniel tells Brody about the cabin with the caved-in roof that he, Erica, and Father explored. Brody says the cabin is only like that during the day, and at night, it is restored. He says he’s going to the cabin, and Daniel can follow if he wants. Daniel is skeptical, and Brody explains that Auntie is “a haunt come back from her grave” (123). Despite his disbelief, Daniel walks with Brody anyway. He asks if Brody is pranking him. Brody replies that he just wants to help Daniel find his sister. Daniel hesitates but decides to follow Brody the rest of the way to the cabin.
Chapter 11 Summary
When Daniel and Brody arrive at the cabin, the latter notices someone has been there and points to the items that Father photographed. Daniel explains that his father moved the items to take pictures. Brody warns Daniel about messing with Old Auntie’s stuff, adding that “hardly anyone ever comes near this place” (126). He explains how Auntie takes a girl every 50 years, freeing the previous girl when she gets a new one. He says it’s been going on since people settled in the area—with two girls “took” before Selene. Daniel doesn’t believe Brody.
Brody advises Daniel to quietly return after dark to find Auntie and Erica in the cabin. Daniel asks if Brody will come with him, but the latter wants to leave. When Brody is gone, Daniel enters the cabin and hears movement. Thinking it might be Erica, he follows the sound. He spots a hidden girl. He calls out to her and stumbles through the cabin, but the girl tries to escape him through a window. Her foot gets caught. Daniel grabs the girl and pulls her back, wondering why she’s running from him. Finally, he sees her face and realizes it isn't Erica. The girl is dirty, pale, sickly, and wearing Erica’s clothes.
The girl struggles to get away from Daniel, but he holds onto her and asks where she got Erica’s clothes. The girl doesn’t know who Erica is but says Auntie gave her the clothes. She doesn’t remember having a home before Auntie’s cabin. She also doesn’t recognize the cabin in its current state, speculating that a storm destroyed it. Daniel asks for the girl’s name, but she just wants to be let go. Daniel assures her that he won’t hurt her and asks for her name again. The girl replies that Auntie only called her “Girl.”
Reflecting on Brody’s stories, Daniel asks if the girl knows the name Selene Estes, but she replies that she doesn’t. Daniel brings her outside. The girl pleads to retrieve her doll first. Daniel allows her to do so, and to his surprise, the girl retrieves Little Erica. He explains that Little Erica belonged to his sister. The girl says that Auntie gave her the doll. Daniel asks about Erica again and then, Auntie’s whereabouts. The girl begins to cry, as Auntie apparently discarded her in favor of a new girl. Daniel convinces her to come home with him.
On the way home, Daniel asks the girl more questions. He learns that she lived with Auntie for a long time and doesn’t remember anything before their life together. Daniel doesn’t understand why she’s still a child if she’s been with Auntie for so long. He asks if she knows of Selene Estes again, but the girl doesn’t. He then asks if she’s pretending or if she and Brody are pranking him, but the girl is frustrated with the constant questioning. Daniel wonders if the girl is Selene, and if Brody was right about Auntie freeing her old girl when she takes a new one.
“In Auntie’s Cabin”
Old Auntie watches as Daniel leads Selene away from the cabin, happy to be rid of her. Selene can no longer see Auntie, but Auntie can see her. Auntie expects Selene will die soon.
However, Auntie is dissatisfied with Erica. The new girl struggles with chores, breaking and spilling things; she cannot tell weeds from vegetables and doesn’t know how to make soap or sew. Auntie beats and scolds Erica, hoping she’ll eventually improve. When these tactics fail, Auntie brings Bloody Bones, telling Erica that he’ll eat her if she cannot do things right. Erica cowers and promises to do better.
Auntie reminds herself to be patient with Erica, as she is new and needs to learn. She hopes to never see Daniel or Selene poking around again.
Chapter 12 Summary
When Daniel and the girl approach the house, he asks her if it looks familiar. She shakes her head and speculates that only rich people could live in such a large house. As they walk up, Mother throws open the door and runs to the girl, thinking she’s Erica.
Mother realizes the girl isn’t Erica and asks who she is and why she has Erica’s things. She snatches the doll from the girl and interrogates Daniel as to why he brought her. Daniel explains where he found her and what he knows—but leaves out his suspicions about Old Auntie and Erica. Mother hugs Little Erica and cries.
Daniel tries to coax more information from the girl, but she is only concerned with getting her doll back. A stranger enters and sees the girl. Daniel tells the woman the same story he told his mother. The woman asks for the girl’s name, but the girl repeats that she’s just called “Girl.” She cries over Auntie not wanting her anymore.
The woman cradles the girl’s face and studies her, seemingly recognizing her. She introduces herself to Daniel as Mrs. O’Neill, the wife of the man who drove him home one night. Everyone goes inside, and Mrs. O’Neill serves the girl some soup and toast, which she devours. Mrs. O’Neill offers to give the girl a bath and takes her upstairs.
Daniel watches it grow dark outside, reflecting on the family’s second night without Erica. Mrs. O’Neill and the girl come back downstairs. She asks if the girl can sleep in Daniel’s bed. Daniel agrees, especially now that the girl is clean. They tuck the girl in, and she falls sleep. Mrs. O’Neill quietly questions where the girl has been all this time. Daniel asks if she believes the girl is Selene Estes. They go downstairs to discuss it.
While they set out food for the search party, Mrs. O’Neill tells Daniel that she and her husband knew Selene Estes because she was friends with their own daughter. Mrs. O’Neill was struck by the girl’s resemblance to Selene, only to confirm it upon seeing a birthmark on her shoulder—the same as Selene’s. She admits that it sounds unlikely, but she “can’t think of any other explanation for [Erica’s] disappearance and this child’s appearance” (146). She adds that after Selene’s disappearance 50 years ago, a search party found a different girl in the woods. The girl didn’t recall where she was from and refused to eat or drink, eventually dying in an orphanage. Daniel becomes more convinced that the stories about Auntie are true.
Father and the rest of the search party return. Mother comes downstairs, hoping they found Erica, but cries upon learning of their failure. She says they need to confront the girl upstairs and make her talk. Father questions this, and Mrs. O’Neill informs him and her husband of the situation, saying they’ve found Selene. The search party goes silent and trickle out. Father asks what’s going on. Mr. O’Neill informs him that the men in the search party believe Auntie has Erica, and that there is no use in looking for her. Mr. O’Neill asks Mrs. O’Neill to get Selene so Daniel’s father can meet her.
Daniel and Mrs. O’Neill go to retrieve Selene but find her gone—and the window open. He speculates that she returned to the cabin. Mrs. O’Neill warns Daniel that no one will brave the cabin at night, not even the police, as they all believe the tale of Auntie; she goes back downstairs. Daniel notices that some of his clothes and Little Erica are missing. He gets dressed in a parka and sneaks out. He intends to go to the cabin but worries about going alone, so he plans to ask Brody to join him.
Chapters 9-12 Analysis
Chapters 9-12 deal with the immediate fallout of Erica’s abduction and Daniel’s guilt regarding the situation. These chapters also follow through on the foreshadowing in the first eight chapters. In Chapter 5, Mr. O’Neill explains that his family knew Selene Estes, which is followed up on in Chapter 12, as Mrs. O’Neill is the first person to identify the mysterious girl whom Daniel brings home as Selene. The identification of Selene is an important plot point because it validates the tales of Old Auntie. In Chapter 11, Brody tells Daniel that Auntie “takes a girl and keeps her fifty years—then lets her go and takes another one. It’s been going on since folks first came to this place” (127). Daniel has been skeptical about the tales of Selene Estes, Old Auntie, and Bloody Bones—yet finds himself increasingly faced with evidence. Though he doubts Brody’s stories, he begins to reconsider when he runs into Selene herself. Daniel believes Brody is a liar but begins to connect unfolding events to the local folklore. With Mrs. O’Neill confirming Selene’s identity in the following chapter, Daniel has no choice but to open his mind to the possibility that Auntie has kidnapped Erica.
The parallels between unfolding events and the local folklore are not the only parallels that emerge in these chapters. There are many similarities between Selene and Erica: Both girls are around seven years old, have red hair, and have an attachment to the same doll. There are also parallels between how Daniel treats both girls, which further highlights his guilt regarding Erica’s disappearance. In Chapter 11, when Daniel believes he’s found Erica, he grabs Selene and holds her tightly, despite her struggles. He continues to hold onto her, even after realizing she isn’t his sister, and attempts to drag her out of the cabin. This echoes Daniel carrying a thrashing Erica out of the woods in Chapter 7. However, this parallel diverges when Daniel allows Selene to retrieve Little Erica before he leads her out of the woods. This change in behavior shows that he has learned from his earlier roughness.
Little Erica continues to symbolize isolation. Now in Selene’s possession, Little Erica acts as a comfort item to the girl, who feels lost. Like Erica, Selene suffers from an abrupt change. All she remembers is life with Auntie, but now, she has been completely isolated from it. Though Selene is initially resistant to leaving the cabin ruins with Daniel, she becomes more cooperative once she has Little Erica—a reminder of her lost life. Selene reacts poorly when Daniel’s mother takes Little Erica from her but spends the rest of the evening being fed and bathed by Mrs. O’Neill—giving the characters hope that she can be reintegrated into the town. However, with Selene’s escape, Daniel discovers that “Little Erica was gone too” (150). This symbolizes Selene’s reluctance to give up her lost life despite the possibility of living a new, healthier life. She clings to the doll and runs into the woods, much like Erica did in previous chapters. The more these girls wish to separate themselves from those around them, the more they look to Little Erica for comfort.
The Effects of Abuse are explored through Selene’s desire to return to Auntie and the perspective shift in “In Auntie’s Cabin” (Chapter 11). In “The Secret” (Chapter 6), Auntie disguises herself as Selene and tells Erica that her parents will turn on her. She invites Erica to live with her and her “auntie” “before they start into beating you and scolding you” (81). However, “In Auntie’s Cabin” reveals that Erica struggles to follow Auntie’s orders, resulting in the latter “[scolding] her and [beating] her and [shutting] her up in the hidey-hole under the cabin floor” (137). Erica’s life with Auntie mirrors that described by Auntie herself. Terrified of Auntie’s abuse, Erica “cries and promises to do better” (137). The effects of this abuse are also seen in Selene’s behavior. Selene has been abandoned by Auntie and can no longer see her cabin the way she remembers it. She explains that she’s “scairt to leave the cabin. I don’t remember none other home” (131). She “never see anyone but Auntie” and explains that Auntie “don’t want me no more because I can’t do the work she needs done” (133). Despite being subjected to Auntie’s abuse, Selene is devastated by her abandonment. She fears life without the witch, as it is largely unknown to her. Eventually, this leads to Selene’s escape at the end of Chapter 12.
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