Wolf waited anxiously outside the door. "Hurry," he begged Scarlet, "Please, I-I want to see you." Inside, he knew his wife was supposedly getting ready for their date. They were going out dancing, where he would take her into his arms and kiss her and their love would be renewed. She never would doubt marrying him again.
But she didn't answer.
Suddenly, Wolf heard a large crash from inside of the house. Howling, he ran inside and tore through the house like a rabid gone. He looked in the master bedroom, the broom closet, and in the kid's room. Scarlet was gone.
Wolf sat down near the abandoned cradle, the only item in the empty room. It swayed back and forth in the breeze coming from the shattered window. Glass danced near his feet and the curtains moved wildly, but he just sat there. Scarlet was gone, his unborn son with her. He was alone.
Just like the best of beast.
Gasping, Wolf shot up. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and turned over. He had had this nightmare many times since he had married Scarlet. Always, though, he saw her and knew that it couldn't be true. The way her eyes shined...Wolf was sure that his expression must mirror hers.
Except Scarlet wasn't there.
Wolf felt his heart break, the pieces piercing his insides a thousand times over. Had the dream been real? Had Scarlet really left him?
Every breath choked him until he was gasping for air. Outside. He needed to be outside. He needed to breath fresh, clean air.
Wolf tumbled clumsily down the stairs, the bumps and bruises nothing compared to the pain in his heart. Blind in the inky darkness, he fumbled for the doorknob. Scarlet, oh, Scarlet. His only love, the only one he would ever love, gone?
His hand connected with the cool metal. He twisted it ferociously and burst through the door. The cool wind and wet grass were things that he knew. Finding his footing, he ran through the night, past the barn, past the stables, and into the woods.
Air coming harshly into his lungs, Wolf stumbled down onto a rock, the cool, wet surface soaking his pants. He stayed there long after the dew had begun to mingle with tears. He stayed longer, even past when the sun showed it's first cascade of colors and the birds started to sing in their harmony.
Slowly, he pushed himself from the rock. His bones popping, Wolf began to move toward the farm. When the house began to appear in the distance, Wolf was able to see the sky through the treetops. It was as gray as a faded old shirt, devoid of even the bravest birds. A low roll of thunder boomed in the distance, followed by a blindingly bright flash of lightning.
Wolf winced, jumping out of the way as a family of squirrels ran past. He picked up his pace and continued towards the house, where a light shined in the bedroom. Wolf shook his head at his carelessness. That would mean it had been on all night, which would raise the electricity bill even higher than it already was.
Wolf paused at the doorway, peeking inside. Heart hammering, he started to run through the house. Wolf stomped up the stairs and into the nursery, spying the empty cradle. The window was open, just as in the dream, but it wasn't shattered. He closed it, watching the curtains gentle sway to a stop, the dance ended.
He turned around and moved through the hallway, opening door after door until finally he was in the bedroom. A women leaned out the window, her red hair flying in the wind. Another roll of thunder sounded, but she made no move to close the barrier between her and the storm.
Wolf moved over to the woman and put his hand on her shoulder. "Thank the stars," he whispered, kissing her cheek.
Scarlet smiled slightly but made no move from her post. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I needed to clear my head." Lightning flashed outside, illuminating her face so that it looked almost ghostly.
Wolf put his hand over her's and looked out the window, trying to see what she was. Except, Scarlet wasn't seeing anything of this world. She was seeing images of the present, things that might've been and may still be. Her grandmother cradling a newborn boy in her pale arms. She was seeing Wolf pushing the child on the swing, feeding him a piece of cake, and holding her as she faded from this life.
No, Wolf could not see what she could.
"I-" Wolf cleared his throat, "I thought you left."
"I did," Scarlet said softly, "But I came back. I always come back."
And so she did.