Five years later.

Alastor

"Well, that's all for today folks! Thank you for tuning in, and remember to lock your windows and doors at night, hahaha! Stay safe out there, this was your host Alastor, signing off until next time."

I received the all clear that I'd been signed off and removed my headpiece.

The news had been slow lately, so I had plans tonight to... spice up tomorrow's broadcast.

My smile widened as I waved to my coworkers, grabbing my coat and heading down towards the front lobby.

As I left, I gave a wave towards the receptionist, who acknowledged me with a nod.

It's time for me to head over to the diner for Juliette. She should be wrapping up by now.

While I was walking, I noticed the chill in the air, and looked up just as snowflakes started to fall. Snow in Louisiana? I can't recall the last time that's happened.

Juliette will be thrilled, she's told me how much she adores snow. She said she loves the way it glitters in the sun, and I love the way her smile lights up when she speaks about it.

After a short walk, I'd arrived at the diner and I opened the door to see Juliette sitting at a table, surrounded by young ones.

She seemed to be telling them a story with wild hand gestures.

Slowly I crept over, not allowing my footsteps to make a noise. She spotted me and smirked, but the children had no idea I was there.

"And then... the big bad wolf crept into little red riding hoods house and—"

I slammed my hands against the table and all the children screamed.

"Gobbled her grandmother up!"

I laughed as the children scrambled away from me. They ranged from ages 5 to 16, most of them orphans from the depression.

Juliette started to giggle as well, holding the littler ones as they crawled up into her lap.

"Now now, you silly little scaredy cats, it's just Al."

The smile on my face relaxed and I leaned against the bar, winking at my wife.

"Just Al? Oh come on, dear, give me more credit than that!"

"Credit? For what, being a buffoon?"

Some of the children giggled, and I rolled my eyes before my smirk became devilish.

"No... for being the big bad wolf!"

I reached over and snatched one of the small ones, holding her up in the air as she squealed. She couldn't have been older than six.

Her squeals descended into uncontrolled giggles when I tossed her in the air and caught her before putting her back on her own two feet.

Despite trying, my darling doe and I were unable to produce children of our own. I was willing to become a father for her sake, since I could see she really wanted to be a mother, but alas it wasn't to be.

Thankfully, she has them.

These children know me as well as Juliette, after all we're together every single day.

With that, I made my way over to my wife and shooed away the little gremlins from her lap.

"Alright, kids, it's time for miss Juliette to head home. You all scatter, and take care of one another."

I looked towards the older ones when I said that and they gathered up the little ones and waved goodbye as we left the store.

As we walked, Juliette noticed the falling snow and gasped.

"Snow?! Oh, how lovely!"

Humming, I looked over to see the flakes catching in her hair.

"How lovely indeed. I knew you'd be happy when you saw it."

She smiled up at me, beaming with joy.

By the time we made it home, there was already a thin film of white dusted on the ground.

Juliette sighed as we entered the house and removed her coat.

"Any ideas for dinner tonight, love?"

She spoke casually while shaking out her hair, smoothing it back once she was finished.

I hummed in thought and walked around her, putting my hand on her waist before taking her hand into mine and leading her into a twirl.

She happily complied and spun herself back against my chest, swaying with me.

"How about venison? We should have some leftover from hunting season in the cooler."

She snorted softly and tilted her head back to look up at me.

"You're going to turn into a deer if you're not careful."

I rolled my eyes and then gave her no warning before I dipped her, causing her to yelp and hold onto me.

That earned me a glare and I simply smiled as I pulled her up.

"Careful, or I'll just end up cooking you."

She threatened as she started to walk towards the kitchen, to which I simply reached out and popped her on the bottom.

"Don't threaten me with a good time, sweetheart."

She giggled and shook her head, disappearing into the kitchen.

~*~

Later, when night had fallen, I was preparing to go out "hunting".

Juliette came out from the bathroom dressed in her white night gown, hair flowing down her back.

"Going out tonight, darling?"

I nodded and hummed, checking my outfit to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

She walked up behind me and wrapped her arms around my middle. I took her hands in mine and smiled at her through our reflection.

"You look handsome as always, my love~ who is it tonight?"

Turning around, I look down at her and casually toyed with her hair. It was always so soft.

"Oh, no one in particular. I'm sure I'll find someone while I'm out, and when I do I'll make a nice big mess to report on later."

I chuckled darkly and she giggled when I booped her nose.

"Okay, don't be too long, the bed will be cold without you."

She pouted softly and I kissed her forehead.

"Wouldn't dream of it, my dear. Now, I'll be off."

I gave her one last kiss before parting with her to head out into the night.

Snow crunched under the soles of my shoes, and I hummed to myself as I walked. It was always so peaceful on winter nights, and the cold air really helped to clear the mind.

Once I made it into the main town area, I started to stalk around my hunting grounds.

It didn't take long at all before I found my target.

A man stumbling through the night, hardly able to stand on his own two feet. How pathetic, truly.

I waited, and watched. Following him as he hobbled and teetered down the street and then finally he veered off into and alleyway.

Stalking behind him, my smile was wide as my prey cornered himself, unaware of the danger he was in.

Reaching into my coat, I pulled out my knife. I'm wearing many layers to keep warm, so this will probably need to be a quick kill. I can carve him up after he's dead.

It was over within a second.

The man finally turned around, only being able to be surprised for a moment before there was a knife in his neck.

I slit his throat and blood poured from the wound like a waterfall down his front. Oh, how lovely.

I just watched as it dripped, holding the man up by the front of his ratty clothing. It cascaded down my hand and onto my sleeve, dripping onto the snow and leaving beautiful patterns.

Then, everything stood still.

The smile on my face disappeared when I heard the soft crunch of snow beneath a boot, and slowly I turned, letting the man fall dead at my feet as I faced the maw of the alleyway.

My eyes widened, the world around me moving slowly.

Standing there was a woman, wide eyed and horrified. The flickering light in the alleyway bounced off the snow and let me see her face.

It was the receptionist. The one that I see every single day when I walk into work.

What the fuck is she doing out this late, in this part of town no less?!

My blood turned to ice and my throat nearly closed as I immediately took off towards her.

She screamed and ran.

Fuck.

Fuck!

"No, wait! Stop, don't scream!"

Of course she didn't listen, and in my panic I slipped and went down on my hands and knees into the snow, scrambling to stand back up.

"Murderer! Murderer! Someone please help! Constable! Murderer! I know him, please, someone help me!"

She was so far away from me, running after her would be useless. I stood and stared blankly as her form disappeared and her terrified screams faded.

Headed to the sheriff's doorstep, no doubt, with my name and an accusation on her tongue.

Despite this realization, I turned and headed back to my house. I was oddly calm considering the dire situation I'd found myself in.

For some reason, my brain was completely silent.

This is a small town. The moment they get her out of her hysterics and calm enough to rat me out, they'll be busting down my door.

I made it home faster than I'd anticipated, or perhaps it just felt like it. I honestly can't recall most of the walk.

Knife still in hand, I entered the house.

My eyes were drawn immediately to Juliette sitting on the couch, reading next to the candlelight.

Only then did my heart start to pound, and the chill set into my bones.

Juliette... Juliette...

No, no no no, no... they can't have her. They can't have my doe.

I won't let them hurt her.

She looked up, ready to greet me, but when she saw me her smile dropped and she stood up.

She was still in her night dress, completely unaware...

"Alastor? Did something happen, you're as pale as a ghost..."

She came up to me, and reached out, feeling my face and my forehead.

"Have you gotten sick?"

"...the police are on their way."

Once I'd spoken she stopped dead still. Her eyes were wide, set on mine. We just looked at each other and I could see the emotions flashing through her eyes.

"A-are you... sure?"

I nodded.

She seemed to have a moment of internal panic before she calmed herself and turned away from me, pacing.

"Okay... we'll be alright, we can pack up and go before they make it here. The sheriffs office is all the way across town, we have plenty of time..."

She continued mumbling to herself, but her voice faded way and I looked at the knife in my hand.

My glove and clothes, covered in blood.

Fear gripped my veins and I felt my pulse throughout my entire body.

They can't have her.

I won't let them have her.

She's mine.

The ringing in my ears cleared and her voice faded back in as she turned to face me once more.

I'm not even sure what happened, but whatever she was saying got cut off when I lunged forward and buried my knife in her stomach.

The silence in the air was thick, and I held her body against mine, feeling her get heavier and heavier in my arms.

I lowered to the ground with her, letting her fall into my lap as I removed the knife.

I couldn't think. I didn't know what to think. I just wanted to protect her.

She looked up at me, and I could see that her heart was broken.

"Alastor...?"

She spoke weakly, blood dripping from her lips as I watched her eyes grow glossier by the second.

Finally, a tear fell from her eye.

And then she was still, eyes open and gazing at me, frozen in a state of heartbreak and betrayal.

Lifeless.

The entire front of her previously white night gown was stained red, her body feeling like lead in my arms.

She's dead...

Juliette is dead...