Autumn's Alex

Chapter 2 - Sarah

You came to see me today. I still don't know your name or why your here, but I know you're the one I was sent here to save. You look just as you did in my dream. Your brown eyes and pale skin, I feel as if I know you already. I will get to know you. And I promise you, I will save you.

Today I was on washing duty; I liked this best because the smell of clean clothes almost made me forget my throbbing cheek.

I have an hour free later and plan to go and see Sarah. Sarah and her husband William have lived in a beautiful house on the edge of the woods for as long as I can remember.

They are the only good thing in my life. If I had any friends then Sarah would be one of them, I could talk to her about anything or anyone and she would smile and listen. When I was younger she told me all about fairytales, we would sit and talk for hours and hours about Snow White and how her Prince Charming came to save her. Sarah told me that my Prince charming would come and save me one day too. I used to think it was true but now I know better. Sarah already had her Prince Charming; she and William had been married forever, they told me how they met as children, fell in love and got married. For me it was comforting to know that two people can be so in love, so in tune with each other.

My perfect day was to sit silently with Sarah and William as they told me silly stories about when they were young, finishing each other's sentences and smiling at one another with such love it brought tears to my eyes.

I walk as fast as I can so I have more time to spend with her. I see her sitting on her front porch as I run up and sit down next to her. She didn't smile at me as she usually did.

"Are you okay, Sarah?" She gasped as she saw the bruise on my face.

"What on earth has happened to your cheek?"

"I disobeyed Marge. A man has broken in and I was told not to talk to him, but he was asking questions and Marge hit me." There was an awkward silence.

"It looks worse than it is."

"Oh dear, this couldn't have come at a worse time. Autumn, William is sick. We have to leave; we're going through the forest to the Unknown."

"What? I'm sure there is no treatment for him there, we are not allowed to go into the Unknown, it is too dangerous!"

"No dear. There is no treatment for William; time is running out for us. William and I have always wondered what is beyond the forest and now is our last chance to find out."

"When do you leave?"

"This is the last time you will see me, my sweet. We must leave soon. William will get no better and time will not wait for an old lady like me." She smiled at me and my eyes stung.

"You do not need me anymore, dear. Good things are coming for you, I promise you. But for now we must say goodbye." I had started to cry silently, the last thing I had expected today was to have to say goodbye to Sarah. I had thought she would tell me everything would be okay with Marge. Everything would be just fine. But now I knew I would never be okay again.

"Don't cry, I'm sure we will meet again someday. If it is meant to be then it will be."

I nodded and we hugged.

"Give William my love." She smiled.

"No need for me to do that dear, he already has it."

I walked back to work with my head down, wiping away any sign of tears from my eyes. I was sad that I hadn't had the chance to say goodbye to William. I knew I would miss them both so much, nothing was good now. I had nothing to look forward to, nothing good in my life anymore. And to make things worse it was now time to take 'the prisoner' his food. That's what I had overheard Meg and Hannah calling him anyway.

There was no lock on his door because apparently he couldn't move due to his broken arm so luckily I didn't have to waste time struggling with unlocking the door and holding his food tray. The sight his diner reminded me I had missed lunch again to go and see Sarah, it was unlikely that I would eat now until breakfast because the wash room was so far from the food hall that I was always the last to get there and all the food would be gone. Tonight it was pasta, my favourite.

He was sitting up when I came in, I took care not to look at him and placed his trap next to him and turned to leave. His hand caught my wrist and held me in place.

"I'm really sorry; I didn't mean to get you in trouble. Does that happen a lot? You getting hit, I mean?"

I didn't answer, just waited patiently until he let me free, which eventually he did.

"I bet you would be beautiful if you smiled."

I turned and left.