Samuel cursed. He had forgotten something at the Hawthorne cottage. He told his father he would be back late and said farewell. Samuel laced his boots and headed toward the little infirmary southeast of his family mill.
It was early evening, but he did have quite a way to walk. Samuel heard Teresa discussing with Anne today; this was the day she was set to return home with her newborn daughter. Samuel was grateful that Teresa had been there the past few days; it gave Anne company and someone to distract her mind since Ravenna had vanished. But Samuel also knew Teresa had a husband and son at home, and she could not stay at the Hawthorne infirmary forever.
Samuel wondered where Ravenna could have gone. It was very unlike her to go anywhere without telling her grandmother. Anne always knew where to expect her granddaughter to be, whether it was a trip to the forest for plants, a trip to the Canden market, or an outing with someone like himself.
Samuel sighed. His outing with Ravenna had been a wonderful afternoon, and he hoped to ask her to spend another day with him. He had feelings for her since they were children, but he always worried that he did not make enough money to support her how she deserved to live.
Far off in the distance, Samuel thought he saw a carriage heading toward the Hawthorne infirmary. –Could someone from the village need help? Or better, could someone be kind enough to return Ravenna to her home?– He hoped his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. It was an awfully far distance. He decided to wait until he got closer before he let his emotions take over.
Samuel walked for about ten more minutes before he could view the Hawthorne cottage properly, but it still not quite within reach. There was a carriage there; his eyes had not lied to him. –But what is happening at the door? – Samuel ran towards the infirmary to get a better look. A man had barricaded the door and set fire to the door and the barricade.
Shouting, Samuel began to sprint. "Stop! What are you doing?!" He tackled the man and landed on him, rolling around in the dust and dirt. Samuel was big, and his arms were thick from years of physical labor. The strange man was smaller but he had a weapon, a small dagger, which he plunged into Samuel's ribs. Screaming, Samuel ripped the dagger from his side and threw it as far as he could. He pounded his fists into the man's face and rolled, bringing his knee into the unknown man's stomach. "What have you done? Why are you doing this?" Samuel groaned, the wound in his ribs causing significant pain.
"This is where the woman came from! Peter went missing, and now I don't get paid! She must pay!" The strange man spat.
Samuel roared. "This is about money? All these women have done is help people! You are absolute scum!" Samuel stood, raising his foot, and crushed the man's jaw. He heard Anne scream inside, and he tried to break through the burning barricade.
The Hawthorne cottage was stone on the exterior, but the inside was completely wooden. Samuel cursed; he knew the flames would quickly lick the walls of the home. There was little time. He heard a shattering sound and saw a thick leather-bound book fly through the window. He continued to pull at the barricade, ignoring the man he had fought with, who had crawled to find the dagger Samuel had taken from him.
Samuel broke a part of the barricade free, feeling the burns seeping deeper into his flesh. He did not care about the fire that seared his skin- he needed to get to Anne. He pulled at a second part of the barricade, his ribs bleeding profusely. He removed his shirt and tied it around his ribs to stifle the bleeding. Anne needed him. The flames grew intense, and the smoke burned his eyes. He could hear Anne's screams grow more intense. There was only one door to the cottage, and this bastard had barricaded it.
Samuel nearly pulled the second part of the barricade free and felt the dagger sink into his left thigh. He screamed and lashed out at the man attacking him. The man pulled at the dagger, lengthening the wound in Samuel's leg. Samuel backed up, removing the blade from his thigh. He grabbed the first part of the barricade he had torn free and swung it at the man, finally knocking him unconscious.
Samuel grew desperate. He was bleeding badly, and Anne was growing more frantic. He yanked on the front door's second part of the barricade, finally pulling it free. One last part to go. He shouted for Anne, letting her know she was not alone.
"ANNE! I'M ON THE WAY! PLEASE DON'T PANIC! I'M WITH YOU!"
Breaking through the door, Samuel found Anne on the ground. He winced, the agony in his ribs and thigh causing his vision to fade; black spots appeared at the corners of his vision. – No! I must push through! – He picked up the older woman and carried her out of the burning cottage. He carried her as far as he could, collapsing to the ground, Samuel and Anne laying in the grass side by side. Heavily breathing, he turned his head to look at Anne.
"Anne...Anne... are you okay?"
He grabbed her hand. Breathing in the smoke had taken its toll. Samuel's heavy breaths turned more shallow as his wounds painted the grass red.
"I'm sorry… I couldn't help you… in time, Anne. I'm…sorry…I loved… you and Ravenna…. both."
Samuel choked, his lung collapsed, and his wounds bled out. The Hawthorne cottage burned before them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Anne stood sadly before her body, as if she was waiting for Samuel. She helped him stand, and embraced him gently as they stood before their bodies.
"Thank you for everything, Samuel. I know you did your best. You died a hero. Your father will be so proud."
Samuel sobbed onto Anne's shoulder as they embraced, and Anne gently rubbed his back. She knew it was not his time, and he had been taken entirely too soon. She pulled back from their embrace, and pointed toward the bright white pathway that shone next to the burning infirmary.
Together, their hands joined, Anne and Samuel walked into the Forever.