Salem awoke abruptly. On his left was Alina, seeping peacefully and on his right, Ruby had awoken and her hands began roaming his body.
Salem looked around him. There was no castle of bone and machinery, no big, four-poster bed, and no servants.
He laid back down and returned the actions of Ruby with enthusiasm, trying to forget his horrible dream.
Ruby, seemed to be able to read his thoughts. "Bad dreams?" She whispered into his ear.
He nodded.
"Why don't I help you forget it?" She asked, tracing her hand from his shoulder slowly down to his groin.
Alina woke shortly after and they enjoyed their morning together.
Salem explored the small cottage that he had no memory of ever living in.
Every pot, dish, chair, pen, and stone seemed to be made by him.
This confused him. 'If I made everything here, I must have some memory of doing so.'
He was so deep in thought that when Alina approached from behind him and ran her hands through his hair, she startled him.
"What are you thinking about, Salem?" She asked, continuing to run her hands through his hair.
He hesitated and decided to tell her the truth. "I have no recollection of building this house, despite it having signs of being made by me." He said, troubled.
"Thats worrying." She said, her voice distorting slightly. "It's almost like you don't want to remember us."
Her nails dug slightly into his scalp.
"It's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't." He said.
Her fingers dug deeper. "Then REMEMBER!" She shouted in his ear.
He turned and saw Alina's head split in half, revealing a massive mouth lined with multiple rows of sharp teeth.
That was the last thing he saw before he awoke once more.