SCARLETT. fear street (1994, 1978, 1666 )

three. a lost cause

NATSUKO WAITS near the sycamore tree, biting her lip nervously as she waits for Isaac. It was the early noon, and each person who lived in the Union was busy at times like these, so she was certain that no one would spot them deep in the woods.

Suddenly, Isaac's large hand grabs her wrist and pulls her as close as he can, firmly trapping Natsuko against his torso where he leans down until their noses nearly touch. "What did you bring me this time, pretty girl? Why meet me here at the brink of the day?"

"You know I prefer the solitude of these woods." Natsuko grinned, until something drops in the pit of her stomach. The momentarily happiness Isaac and his pretty smile gave her was now long gone, and was instead replaced with fear.

"What's wrong, darling?" The boy questions, now concerned of the change of atmosphere.

Natsuko only sighs, shutting her eyes in frustration as she took a seat on a rock. How was she going to say this?

"Pastor Miller..." she starts, taking the same bible that scared her this morning out of her satchel, and handed it over to Isaac. "He broke into our house and put this in my bed."

Isaac read the passage, eyes growing wide at each sentence. Remember them that are in bonds, as though ye were bound with them: and them that are in affliction, as if ye were also afflicted in the body. Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Natsuko blinked rapidly, willing her eyes to find focus on his face. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm the racing of her heart. "He suspects me. He suspects... he suspects our sin."

"No," Isaac shakes his head. "He couldn't. He—"

"He was praying for me, Isaac." Natsuko whispered, sinking to her knees and burying her head in between them. "Mad Thomas was right... there is blight everywhere. I can't help but think—"

"Mad Thomas is a drunk, Natsuko." Isaac interrupted her, knowing well what she was about to impose on herself. "It is not a sin fit it is love. The bible tells us to keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. We all sin — it happens. However, love wins in the battle of evil."

Isaac looked up into her red-rimmed black eyes, heart clenching at the raw pain reflected there. The girl looked lost, in a way she hadn't since she was forced to marry Christopher. Isaac reached out her hand, fingers stroking the inside of Natsuko's wrist, feeling the ragged pulse there.

"I love you... truly." Natsuko never liked showing this much emotion towards anyone, as a woman who's father was from the Far East wasn't given respect, much less a weeping one.

Suddenly, an idea pops up in her mind. It was stupid. Immortal. But she didn't care. "We need to leave this place, Isaac."

Isaac wasn't surprised when Natsuko's breath came out as a shudder and fresh tears began to fall. He reached out with both hands, grabbing both of her shoulders gently. "Natsuko—"

"Listen, Isaac." The girl whispered, wrapping her hands on his cheeks. "I love you very much, and you love me too. But we're out here... keeping our love a secret from the world." Her voice cracks at the next sentence. "I do not know what to do, it's shattering my heart."

"Natsuk—"

"I can ask Christopher for some funds. We could find a place where we can kiss for everyone to see. We can change our names. We can—"