Ruby had a dream. The shed was on fire. The flames licked the starlit sky. The heat of the blaze was intense as the gasoline and wood combusted. She saw the shed burn, and as she did so, she saw two shapes within the fire. One was Sister Abigail, wearing her nun's uniform. Next to her was Bray. They both burned. They burned, and burned, but they did not fall. They did not scream, but they danced in the flames. They both were laughing within the heart of the fire. Ruby understood they danced with joy in the heart of Hell itself. Neither wanted heaven. Then Bray was alone, and he stood in the smoky ruin of the place, looking straight at Ruby. His hair had burned off but for a few long strands. His skin had blackened, and shriveled. Ruby knew fear, then. She recalled that Abigail had told her about the Man In the Woods. Bray had run into the beast while young, once. Ran into it, and learned things. Now Bray *was* the beast. He looked at her, turned his head, and wept. So many tears came from his eyes. Ruby knew, though, that those were *her* tears. In a second, Bray's darkened face was before her own. His eyes were still blue, yet tear-filled, as he laughed at her.

"Are you sure?"

Ruby woke with a start. She could feel her heart pound in her chest, and sweat coated her brow. She slid out of bed, careful not to wake Patrick, grabbed her robe, and went to the washroom. The cool water hitting her face was a pleasure, and it helped her focus on reality once more. A glance at a hallway clock on her way revealed it was around three am. She wondered if Bray was still out there, in the dark, mourning. She had not seen him for the better part of a week, and she worried. No other brother had seen him, either. Ruby fought a silent battle in her heart. The master had said to let him be, but, she mused, he did say 'for a while'. The battle won out quickly as she found herself gathering supplies to take to him. She had already left him out there for too long.

Walking out into the darkness, one lantern lit in her hand, one unlit in a rucksack thrown around her shoulder, she made her way towards that place that held so much power, and suffering. The moon hid behind thick cover, and gave no light, but Ruby only needed her lamp, and the pull she felt in her gut as she came close to the remains of the shed. The dim light she carried fell upon his face. His eyes were closed as he knelt on those charred floorboards. Was he asleep? She quickly put the lamp down, and set her rucksack on the grass next to it. Ruby had to go to him.

"Stay. For one moment, stay." Bray called out. His eyes opened, and he gazed at her for a long time. At this, Ruby felt more naked than at any point in her life. It was not just due to the thin robe she hastily put around her naked body after she rose from her bed. It was deeper than that. "Did you bring water?" Stammering, Ruby opened the rucksack, and found a water bottle. She opened it, then drew closer to hand it to him. "Are you afraid of me, then? After all this time?" Bray said, eyeing her after he took a long draught from the bottle. Water dripped off his beard. Ruby stood nearby, a chill suddenly gripping her.

"No, master. No."

"Liar! You come here to lie to me? There are no lies between us, my sweet sister. My Ruby. Don't you understand? You saw what happened. The dream told you. Now, ask yourself if it was really a dream."

"I saw truly, then." Ruby's voice trembled as she said it. She hated this feeling of weakness she had now. This was just Bray, right? She realized that she was lying to herself now. The weakness she felt in her extended to her knees, and she sank down, to kneel as Bray was kneeling, unsure if she'd be able to rise even if she wanted to.

"You saw me receiving everything that Sister Abigail was. Her spirit, her power, her utter darkness. It is mine now. I am truly the master. You," Bray pointed at Ruby now, still sunken down upon the grass, "you are my slave. I am a generous master, though, my Ruby, my darkest angel, and I will keep a seat at my table for you always. You are mine evermore."

Ruby woke up. Confused, she look around. She was in her own bed. The sun was coming in through the lace curtains on the window. She had no recollection of how she got there. Her robe was in its normal spot, on a hook attached to the door. Patrick must have risen before her, for he was not in bed with her. Ruby needed some clarity, and fast. Reaching over to Patrick's nightstand, where they both kept water, to get a drink, she found a note.

Dearest Ruby,

He could not stay. Not if you are to be mine, and only mine.

Ruby felt bile rise up into her throat. The anger she felt was absolute. Tears came, hot and fiery.

"Damn you, Bray Wyatt. You can have your hell, and stay there, too!"