Anne skipped down the road, whistling, a grin plastered on her face. She hadn't been out that much since Jem's birth, her precious baby boy. Her heart swelled just at the thought of him. A man stood ahead of her, staring at the road.
"Sir, are you okay?"
"The man turned around and he had a scarf wrapped tightly around his neck, his hat pulled low. "I – I lost," the man said slowly, unsurely. "I came on boat. I find – Charlottetown?"
"Oh, Charlottetown," Anne exclaimed, she knew where that was. "You're on the outside of Four Wind, if you go that way," she pointed," You should get to the station and can take a train to Charlottetown."
"Show me," he said, taking a step to her.
"I'm sorry but I can't, I've got to go home."
"Home?"
"Yes, my son and husband will be waiting for me. I don't hold much hope for Gil's cooking skills." She let out a laugh that soon died away when the man did nothing but stare at her.
"Husband."
"Anne shivered at the way he said that. "Yes, but if you go that way –"
He suddenly grabbed her, pulling her to him. "Show me," he growled.
Anne twisted, trying to pull herself out of his grip, panic rising in her. "Don't," he snarled, pulling her closer and tightening his grip.
Anne gave a scream, praying for an outside chance someone would hear her though being so far outside the town, the chance was little to nil.
"Stop screaming," he snarled as he shoved her to the ground and she felt something cold press against her throat. He had a knife. She was going to die. Terror rose in her as he shoved his scarf in her mouth and she choked.
Anne's mind flittered to Gilbert and Jem. I love you, she thought, like they would be able to hear her thoughts. Tears spilled from her eyes as she thought of her son who she'd never get to see grow up. Her husband, who had waited years for her only to get her for four years, spending three of them apart.
Suddenly she felt his hand travel lower and panic exploded through her and she instinctively twisted. The man gave a growl and slammed her down and Anne gave a gasp as pain sprinted through her head. Suddenly, from where she was lying she saw a figure. Someone was here!
She twisted again, managing to spit the scarf out and started to scream "Help –" when she saw the glint of a knife flashing as it moved. She jerked away but a scream tore from her lips when something pieced her stomach. Suddenly the weight of the man vanished and the sound of yelling echoed in her ears.
Anne then felt her head being tilted slightly and a face swam in her view. "Anne? Anne?!" the face said as it swam before her. She opened her mouth, trying to answer him but instead just choked out something before everything faded away.
Was this death?
Goodbye Gil, I love you. I love you too Jem, so much, her mind whispered before blackness overtook her completely.
-Gilbert arrived back at his house of dreams, whistling cheerfully to himself. Today had been a good day and now he was arriving home early to his wife and son. Both were doing well after the birth to his great relief. He couldn't stomach a replay of Joy. He opened the door to be greeted by Susan holding Jem.
His eyes brightened as he took his son from Susan who gave a gurgle and grasped at his curls with a chubby little hand. "Where's Anne?" he asked as he came in.
"She went for a walk before dinner," Susan answered as she headed back to the kitchen. "I'm sure she'll be back soon."
Gilbert gave a nod as he shrugged off his coat, heading to the sitting room. He sat on the floor and placed Jem down, playing with him.
He heard Susan setting out plates a little later and couldn't help the slight tightening of his heart because Anne still wasn't back yet. She had probably just seen Miss Cornelia or Leslie. Or got lost in her daydreams again. He smiled softly at that, remembering all the times when they hadn't been talking and he'd wandered up to find her drifting through Avonlea, daydreaming. He had thought her so beautiful back then, still did.
Suddenly there was a banging at the door and Gilbert sighed, getting up, holding Jem. Great, another emergency.
"Mr Marshall, what –"
Susan never finished her sentence as he heard her let out a piercing scream. He bolted into the hallway to see Elliot Marshall standing there, Anne in his arms. Anne soaking in blood. Anne pale and still. God, was she dead? Please let her not be dead!
"What happened?" he croaked out as he hurriedly led Marshall into his study, handing Jem to a faint Susan.
"A man attacked her. Never seen him before. He fled before I could catch him and I decided I should take Anne back here rather than give chase," he replied grimly.
Gilbert took a shaky breath as he listened while examining his wife. The phrase doctors' wives die young floated in and out of his head. He had been back early tonight but if he'd been back by his normal time there would've been no chance of Anne surviving the trip to his clinic. She would've been dead. Ordering Marshall to get him a few things he cleaned the wound, feeling sick at how deep it was before beginning to stitch it up.
Once finished treating Anne he carefully picked her up, heart pounding at the greyish pallor and limp feel. She'd never been so lifeless, not since Joy's birth. He still got shivers from remembering that. Marshall let himself out while Susan hovered anxiously behind him, still holding Jem who was starting to cry, wanting his mother. The sound tore at Gilberts heart. His son could've been crying for a mother who never came back.
Laying Anne on their bed he made sure she wasn't in any discomfort before ringing the surgery, telling his assistant he wouldn't be in tomorrow before taking Jem from Susan and dismissing her. Calming Jem he put him to bed before keeping an eye on Anne to make sure she wouldn't tear her stitches. Yet another night with no sleep, he thought with a sigh as he settled in next to her. He'd rather have no sleep again than no wife at all.
