Far Out!

The Nightmare

Here's a little headcanon about how Scarlet's traumatic past might manifest once in a while during her time with Herb in their fortress.

Unlikely Friendship by @Aqualive and elements from another book I was reading at the time inspired me to explore Scarlet's childhood a bit more. I guess you could say one of those creative fusion moments hit me and I ran with it!

Content alert: coarse language, alcohol use, descriptions of child physical endangerment, physical and emotional abuse, mature themes

A bloodcurdling scream jolted Herb awake. Whoa...what? The bed jostled. Strange. He rubbed his eyes to get alert as fast as he could. His first coherent thought concerned the safety of his wife, because it was her scream he'd heard. Was someone attacking her?

Something hard jabbed into his back, knocking the breath from him. Shit, that hurt! What the hell? Was someone attacking him, too?

"No...not the coal hole...please, no!"

Scarlet?

Herb threw off the sheet and flipped over, only to discover Scarlet thrashing violently on her side of the bed. Moonlight streaming in from the high window illuminated her body. Her arms and legs thrust outward as if warding off some kind of attack. A nightmare! That explained things. She must have hit him accidentally.

"No...no...stop it! Get away from me!"

"Scarlet? What's wrong?"

A strangled mix of grunts and cries surged from her throat.

"Scarlet," he said in a loud voice, "wake up!" He searched for just the right time to intervene. If he wasn't careful, Scarlet might inflict serious damage or even knock him unconscious. She was just as dangerous asleep as she was awake.

He raised his voice, hoping to distract her from whatever horrible dream she was having. "Scarlet, babe. It's me, Herb. It's only a dream. Wake up!"

"Old hag!" Scarlet shoved her hands forward at something known only to her. "Leave me alone!" she cried, and then leapt from the bed.

Oh shit! Herb quickly followed, but Scarlet was too fast. She ran toward the door—the closed door. She slammed against it with a resounding thud and crumpled to the floor.

"Scarlet!" Herb turned on a lamp and then rushed to her side. He knelt beside her and assessed her body for injuries.

Panting hard, she rose to her knees and backed up against the wall, eyes wild, darting, and unfocused. Perspiration plastered her lacy pink babydoll to her skin. No blood or visible wounds that he could see, thank goodness.

Herb spoke in a soothing voice. "Sweetheart, you're safe. I'm right here." Ever so slowly, he reached out his hand and rested it on her shoulder.

Scarlet blinked a few times and then her gaze met his. "I...oh."

He gently rubbed her shoulder. "Another nightmare?"

She hesitated, and then nodded.

"Need a drink?"

Scarlet sank to a sitting position and drew her knees to her chest. "Yes," she said in a low voice. "Thank you."

Herb went to the mini bar and fixed her a Scotch. This situation called for two fingers, at least.

He handed her the glass. Scarlet drained it in one long gulp. Made a slight face as the alcohol seared her throat.

"Another one?"