Today marked the day where Arthur Grimwood's humble life took a complete u-turn.
Rain pattered on the rusted windows as Frederick Grimwood wore his worn-down leather coat, preparing for yet another trip to the village. Although his confident demeanor gave the impression of an invincible giant, Alice had doubts.
"Are you sure you need to go today?"
Alice's voice was shaking with worry. She stood near the door, tightly holding Arthur in her arms. Though he was unable to speak, he could feel the tension stirring in his mother.
Frederick turned, offering a reassuring smile.
"I'll be alright Alice. We are just running a little low on supplies, and the elders wanted an update on the soil enchantments."
He leaned down and kissed her forehead as usual.
"I'll be back by sundown, but keep the door locked."
Alice hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. She reached up and adjusted Frederick's coat, her fingers reluctant to let go.
"Please Frederick, stay safe," she quietly whispered.
Frederick ruffled Arthur's short, hazel hair with his rough, yet gentle hands.
"Look after your mother for me, you're the man of the house now!" he said with a grin before stepping out into the rain.
His large silhouette faded quickly into the foggy forest, as if he was being swallowed by the storm.
Arthur's infant body tensed with uneasiness. He couldn't explain it, but something about this trip felt different.
...
As the day went on, Arthur noticed his mom's behavior was different than usual.
Alice spent the day keeping herself busy, humming while folding clothes, keeping the fire going, and preparing food, with an occasionally glance outside the window, hoping to see her love.
Arthur wasn't a baby, he could tell that she was trying to mask her anxiousness by comforting him in his crib.
By afternoon, the sky had darkened. The clouds gathered, heavy and full of rain, turning the light drizzle into pounding rain.
Alice lit a candle, a mere substitute of the true warmth that Frederick brought, in an attempt to imitate him, trying hard to cope.
She paced in front of the window muttering to herself:
"Maybe he stayed in the village, it's raining quite hard.."
Her voice shivered, not because of the cold, but because of the absence of her light, Frederick.
She moved to the window, peering into the void, willing for him to appear, but the forest remained silent, the storm's intensity drowning all her hopes.
Eventually, she grew restless, bolted the door, and sat by the fire, embracing Arthur closely:
"He'll be back, trust your father," she murmured, more directed to reassure herself rather than the child. Arthur could feel her hands shaking as she tightened the embrace.
That night, Arthur dreamt of the faint hum—a sound that grew into a roar, splitting through his skull like a knife. When he woke up, the hum lingered at the ends of his consciousness, a very subtle yet persistent reminder that something was wrong.
...
The next morning, Alice had enough.
She bundled Arthur in a thick blanket, put on a old, ripped raincoat, and set off for the village. The main storm had passed, but it was still drizzling and freezing. The forest was eerily quite, sending shivers down Arthur's spine. The mud stuck to Alice's boots as she trudged on the path, her pace quickening with nerves even with a child in her hands.
The village was quite active due the need to repair damages from the storm, but the cheerful banter of the village folk faltered at the sight of Alice and her child.
She asked every single villager for any information about Frederick, but their responses were all the same with a sympathetic look on their faces.
"He left the village before the storm got worse," he said, scratching his head. "Said he wanted to get home before nightfall."
Alice's face paled, but forcefully put on a smile and thanked them. With determination, she kept asking losing a little hope with each negative response. By afternoon, she returned to the cottage, her body slumped under the grief.
...
Days turned into weeks, and Frederick remained missing. Alice made trips back and forth to the village, holding on to the sliver of hope that she still had. But each visit ended with the same results, breaking her mind little by little.
Arthur watched her very closely as she was mentally unstable. Though he couldn't speak, he understood the storm of emotions she was feeling right now. She didn't move or even touch Frederick's belongings, as if she was afraid it would erase his existence.
Despite her state, Alice continued to care for Arthur with unwavering love. She smiled for him, sang lullabies, and held him close when the nights were cold. But Arthur could see through this mask when she stared out the window for a moment too long or wiped her eyes when she thought he wasn't looking.
After seeing this and truly realizing what had happened, Arthur wasn't just angry, he was furious.
F*ck. This was my second chance and I ruined everything. I failed to protect the people most important to me. I don't care if this is a game or a dream or the f*cking afterlife. F*ck the system. F*ck the Occult. F*ck all this.