A Marionette's Dream

November 1, 1902

All I could think about last night was the incident from two years ago. My mother had told me about a woman named Scarlet Afton, but could this woman be the same one she mentioned? I feel drawn to this woman I am not sure why though. I’ve been meaning to ask her about this strange feeling, but I can never really get a word in around her. She keeps speaking of this Adeline woman, I’ve never heard of her before in my life.

“Every night she would come down to the cellar and just torture me. She would always tear my stitches apart, and just let my skin slowly slide off.” Scarlet was describing her pain to me. I could see the fear in her eyes as she spoke about the terrible times. It honestly broke my heart to see her so scared, whoever this Adeline is she deserves the same amount of pain.

“I am terribly sorry that she’s done these god awful things to you love,” I reply with concern. She gives me a small smile and shrugs her shoulders. “It’s not your fault Lucas...not like you knew anything about it.” She says softly. The sadness in her voice splits me in two, I feel like I should have been there for her. “You...must have really needed me then huh?” I ask. She rubs her arm nervously, it’s obvious that she wishes to not answer.

I chuckle nervously and stand from my seat. “I do believe that I shall turn in early...good night Miss Afton see you tomorrow,” I say as I leave the dining room. Her sad blue eyes haunt my dreams that night. I wish so desperately to make her eyes smile, I want to be the reason they smile. “LUCAS!!” I bolt upright in my bed at her screams, I fling the covers off and run to her room. ” All your air will waste away, waste away, waste away. All your air will waste away my fair lady.” I heard a soft feminine voice sang from inside Scarlet’s room. I push the door open and gasp.

~Scarlet~

I lay on my bed in silence, I can’t sleep. I have this horrible feeling laying upon my chest, I’m ecstatic that Lucas is alive, but on the inside, I still feel scared. I hate being scared, I hate being scared of her. A low pitched creak startles me, I sit up and look around the room. I stare at the door in fear, there is no way she is here, she couldn’t possibly know Lucas is alive. My door slowly creaked open, I jump back and glare at the door. A familiar giggle causes my heart to drop.

“Oh my dear little doll, did you really think you could hide from me?” Said, Adeline, as she slowly stepped inside. My breaths came out in short puffs, this has to be a dream. “LUCAS!!” I screamed. I heard Adeline growl as she walked over to me, ”All your air will waste away, waste away, waste away. All your air will waste away my fair lady.” I grip my throat and gasp for air. She’s trying to kill me!

Adeline grinned at me as she watched me gasp in desperate need for air. A loud gasp caught her attention though, “Oh my look he came back from the dead! Don’t worry mate I’ll be sure to kill you again, but this time your little dolly will be going with you.” Her tone was deranged, Lucas glared at her and demanded that she stopped hurting me. Adeline laughed and pinned him to the wall forcefully. “You can’t tell me what to do, you pathetic human.” Her words were harsh as she wrapped her hand around his throat.

His glare deepened, ”A-All your air will be safe, will be safe, will be safe. All your air will be safe my fair lady.” My throat began to slowly open up, I took in deep breaths and coughed. Adeline screamed in frustration, “You bastard! You’re ruining everything!!” She yelled. I stood up slowly and walked behind her. I pulled one of my knitting needles from the pocket of my smock before I could stab her Adeline grabbed my wrist. “Nice try love, but you won’t get away with that this time.” She says confidently.

What happened next shocked me. Somehow Lucas managed to grab my other needle from my pocket and used it to stab Adeline in the chest. “Y-You forgot about me you Irish bitch.” He says quietly and sternly. She began to cough, blood fell from her mouth. She stared at Lucas in shock, “I-I’ll get you both back. Just you wait.” Before we could stop her Adeline had fled. I sit down and try to stop myself from shaking, Lucas sat beside me and wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

I lean into him, it feels good to have him back. “Why...Why did you save me?” I ask softly, he pulls me closer to him. “I may not remember you Scarlet...but my heart and soul tell me that I do. I saved you because I couldn’t let her take away my precious little doll.” He replied. His words make my heart flutter, I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him tight. I wish he had his memories, he’s my Lucas, but then again he isn’t.

“Promise me that you will stay safe in case she does return...I don’t want you to be hurt, Lucas.” I say softly as I cling onto his white nightshirt. He places his hand on top of my head, I look up at him. He’s smiling down at me, “I promise that will be safe Scarlet. You don’t have to worry about me.” He says. I wish that was true, I wish it was true that I didn’t have to worry about him. My heart won’t let me stop worrying, it won’t allow me to truly relax. “I-I wish I could stop worrying, but I just can’t. Not while she is still out there.” I reply softly.

He nods and hugs me tight, “I understand. We will stop her I promise.” He says as he strokes my hair. I’ve missed him so much, even though he did this to me, I can’t help but miss him. He makes me feel safe, with him I feel like my old self. I bury my face in his chest and cling to him tighter. “I miss my brother Lucas...he didn’t deserve to be hurt...neither did his foster brother,” I say softly. He didn’t say anything, of course, he wouldn’t, he probably doesn’t understand. “I am sorry that she stole your brother from you, but he is in a better place now.”

I nod, I hope he is in a good place. He deserves the best, I’ve put him through so much pain, Aidan deserves the very best. Lucas removes his arms from around me, he stands from my bed and holds his hand out to me. “How about you come sleep with me? I can keep you safe.” He says. I smile and take his hand in mine. He leads me to his room. I slowly walk over to his bed and sit down, he lays down on the other side and pulls the covers over him. “Good night Scarlet.” He says. I stay silent as I look out the window, I’m so close to getting you back. I grip the side of the bed tight, “I refuse to let her steal you away again.”