Bray Wyatt had a dream. He was standing inside of a slaughterhouse. Millions of sheep stood before him, and each one had a human face. Dark, formless beings would herd them onto belts that carried them away to shining, slashing blades. Bray was silenced by fear. All he could do was watch as the sheep rode to their bloody demise. Then the corpses would be shoved into ovens, where, as they roasted, they flailed, as if dancing. He saw the faces of his parents in that fire. He saw so many faces. The blood from the slaughter almost came up to the ovens, and threatened to put the fire out. It didn't quite make it, however many sheep were slaughtered. Bray, in his dream, knew of the only thing left to do. He felt the sharp pain of metal being dragged along his wrists, and he felt the spray of blood leave his veins in a geyser. His blood would forever put out the roaring fire. No more sheep would have to perish. He felt his body start to die, and as he did, he saw an angel rise from the blood. She was covered in gore, but as she rose, the blood seeped off, leaving her clean, except her hair, which dripped dark, rusty blood. Her brown eyes gazed upon him sadly. She raised her hands to him, and her palms glowed. He raised his hands, reaching in vain. The dark beings turned into black wolves, and howled. He woke with a start.
"Bray? Bray, what happened? Bad dream?" The woman next to him pulled him close. He shivered despite her warmth.
"Yes. All just a bad dream. Sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep." He said as he kissed his wife's cheek.
The morning Ruby found out Bray had married, she had been out gathering flowers for the main dining table. A whole cluster of them resided in her grip as she made her way back to the house. She heard laughter, and all manner of excited talking coming from there, so she quickened her step. She saw Bray, and something in his eyes darkened. He motioned to her. She followed him into the house, and started looking for a vase for the flowers.
"I have some news." Bray said, quietly.
"Oh?" Ruby said, wondering why he had sounded so happy before. She had found a vase underneath the sink, of all places, and she started filling it with water. Bray just watched her for a bit. Putting the vase down, she grabbed a towel to wipe her hands with, and stood close to him. "What is it, Brother?"
"I needed to integrate more with society, you see. I need to be one of them. The sheep. They need to trust that I am one of them so I can lead them into our dark paradise. I am married, Sister Ruby."
Ruby had felt out of body a few times in her life. She felt it when she was looking at Sister Abigail's rocking chair, and she felt it now. Ruby felt like no tether would keep her inside her body again, except that instead of floating, she was being dragged downward. Her soul was filling her shoes, and seeping into the earth below. She desperately wanted to say something. Anything. She tried so hard to break the silence. He must not know how much this hurt her. He was never hers to have. She knew this, but the pain was incredible. Bray noticed she kept on wiping her hands absentmindedly on the kitchen towel, eyes cast downward. He felt her pain, sharp was talons upon his heart. He had no choice but to leave her there, to somehow make her way out of the fugue of a broken heart. He directed one of the brothers to lead her to her room, and made sure she lied down. He directed them to make sure she ate, drank, and was well. He left right after that. Swallowing hard, he knew Abby had known this was to be, but did it have to be such a hard thing to do? Yet, he had his life now. His destiny was the important thing, right? It had to be.
Ruby ate, but only when food was placed directly on her tongue. She drank, but only when it was poured down her throat. Centuries could have passed before her eyes, and she would have known none of it. Mountains could have crumbled, and she would not have cared. Thankfully, the compound ran smoothly, even without her, but everything felt wrong. The brothers whispered to themselves that Bray and Ruby belonged together, and thought the whole thing was a mess. That would be kept to themselves, though. They could never go against the master in deed or thought. Ruby was cared for, with one brother in particular, Patrick, asking to be her personal caretaker.
Patrick had been a quiet, shy boy, and was still so as a man. He only wanted to help others, and so he did, chipping in on extra tasks he did not need to do. Abigail had remarked to Ruby once about him, and they had agreed he was one of their favorites. Now, he knew his skills in quiet helpfulness would come in handy. Also, he adored Ruby. He would never harm her, or put his hands upon her. He had remembered the other boys being so cruel to her as she grew, and Patrick would get so angry. Bray would always save the day, though. He was always there for her, it seemed. He thought it crazy for Bray to have married someone else. Now, though, maybe he could prove himself. His hands would slide against her body, carefully, always with great respect, when he would bathe her. She needed his help, not groping hands. He would feed her, pressing foods against her lips until she would nibble on it.
One day, as he sat by her, reading from the bible, she looked up at him. He had a kind face, with hazel eyes, and curly brown hair. He looked younger than twenty nine. By now she was twenty six, and alone in the world. Alone save for this new friend to her. She reached her hand up to his face, and caressed it.
"Thank you, Brother Patrick." He smiled down at her, setting the bible down on the bed.
"You're very welcome, Sister Ruby."
"Patrick?"
"Yes, Sister Ruby?"
"Kiss me." At those words, Patrick turned crimson. He felt his cheeks burn. She was not in her right mind still. She couldn't have been. With strength that surprised him, she pulled him down, and she kissed his soft lips. Moaning, she pulled him closer, and closer, until he was on top of her. Her sudden desire scared him, and exhilarated him. He felt himself grow with every kiss she stole from him. Soon, they both were naked, and together in ways he had only dreamed about with her. The bible had fallen to the floor, forgotten, as the two passed the night in each other's arms.
