THE WOMAN IN RED

 Help me! 

 Quickly!

 Help!

Strop ran and stumbled in the mist 

"HEATHER!" 

 Over here! 

 HELP!

The shouts came from somewhere 

Over here! 

Down there 

Mangrove root tripped him up 

He hit the muck 

A figure flash past 

 Running fast 

Running away 

"Wait stay!" 

It turned 

Strop saw his brother 

A deer filled with fear 

"What did you do to her?" 

No answer 

Into the mist 

Swiftly disappear 

Help Me!

Strop scrambled slipping down towards the muddy estuary 

The mud dragging without mercy

Help me! 

Then he found her 

Heather 

Waist-high trapped in quicksand 

Desperately stretching out her hand 

 He moved closer 

The mud shallowed his feet under 

She stretched with all her might 

But it was a losing fight 

Her hand to far from his reach 

She sank chest deep 

"Wait!"He stupidity cried 

Throws his jacket"Grab it!" 

But still agonizing short 

The mud did creep 

Now almost shoulder deep. 

Your brother left me here! 

He looked around but there was nothing to use 

He jumped in, too much to lose 

Again threw his jacket 

Short damn it 

Must move closer 

"Strop! What are you doing?" 

Harriet asking arriving 

"Quickly get me a branch anything I must save Heather!" 

"Save who?" 

"Heather!" 

"But there's no one there." 

"What do you mean? She's right there! Quickly she's sinking!" 

"You're sinking Strop! There's no one else here." Harriet pleaded. 

Don't listen to her 

She's with him your brother 

It's me she wants to murder 

"You're insane!!" Strop shouted to Harriet,  accusing. 

 "There's my wife! Can't lose her again" 

 "What is she wearing?" Harriet asked wondering. 

"Wearing? Her red dress it's her Sunday best." 

"What woman still has the same dress eleven years past its best?" 

He knew she was right 

Time to give up the fight. 

Strop, please!

I'm sinking to fastHeather held her hand begging 

Then saying 

Don't you see 

 You need to be with me. 

 "No! My wife, it's time you let me be."

"For you haven't aged a day it's time this nightmare went away" 

Strop her hand refusing 

It's me your Heather 

 We belong together 

She's a killer 

Don't believe in her 

 "No!" 

She disappeared slow 

Her hand last to go 

Strop felt the quick sand 

He grabbed Harriet's hand 

She pulled him free 

Then let him be 

He sat watching 

Harriet saying nothing 

"It was all in my head?" 

Strop finally said 

Hand in hand 

She led him back 

Up the muddy track 

And together 

They left the mud, Mist, and Heather. 

The morning sun was rising by the time they got back to their horse and buggy. 

The mist now clearing. 

Revealing the railroad track. 

"It was here that my wife and Hanna were killed." 

Strop kicked the track with his mug caked boot.

"The bandits stopped their train by salt Marsh well." 

He turned to Harriet. 

"I just don't understand any of this? Has my mind snapped?" 

"I don't believe your mind snapped but cured itself." Harriet answered. 

"I guess your mind couldn't cope with the grief of finding out your wife died every month. 

Only to start all over again. 

This was its way of finding a way out. 

Your cured, you can finally move on." 

"She and my brother seemed so real" Strop said. 

"As real as you!"He looked at her. 

She looked perfect.To perfect. 

"Are you real or just a part of my mind's cure?" 

Harriet stood as still as a statue. 

"It would make sense why would a librarian be carrying a derringer pistol?" 

No answer he carried on.

"Show up at my door for no reason at all." 

"Why would you even take notice in this damaged barber" 

Miss Harriet Folio moved in and kissed him full on the lips. 

"Still think I'm not real?" 

She asked stepping back. 

"Still have my doubts." 

He pulled her closer and embraced so passionately he didn't notice his jacket fall to the ground or the letter that slipped from its pocket and blew gently in the wind, down past the old well towards the waiting muddy estuary. 

 The End.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!