Finding Scarlet Read online

  I could feel my face flush. I looked around and there were lots of people staring at me, each one turned away as my eyes met theirs. Then I noticed, the happy chatter that had filled the restaurant as we walked in, was now replaced with hushed whispers and I knew the whispers were about me. I could feel the blood rush through my ears, as tears pooled in my eyes. I quickly tried to blink them back.

  “Scarlet, what’s wrong?” Oliver asked suddenly, and his words made me jump with fright.

  “I want to go home,” I whispered quietly, unable to look directly at him. I tried hard to ignore that the room had grown quiet, and now everyone was staring at me for sure.

  “Why?” He asked and I could hear the panic in his voice. “What’s wrong?”

  “I just wanna go,” I said as I choked back a tiny sob. I looked up at Oliver and he looked around the room. I could tell by his face he knew what had upset me.

  “Scarlet…” he began. I had no idea what he was about to say, but I didn’t care. The overwhelming urge to get out of there was almost suffocating me.

  I hastily stood up and grabbed for my sticks, and somehow managed to knock the glass of red wine over the beautiful white tablecloth. I stood and watched the wine pool around the glass. As it did, an image flashed into my head. It was like a memory, but it was unclear. I could see blood, my blood. The dark red pool was growing on the ground in front of me. My face was in it. I pinched my eyes shut, trying hard to push the image from my mind.

  “Scarlet,” Oliver said, suddenly next to me. His voice jolted me from my memory. I opened my eyes and instantly I found his. “Let’s get you home.”

  “Thank you,” I breathed and tried my best to smile at him.

  As we walked to the door, an old woman stepped out in front of me. She looked at me with such sadness, it almost broke my heart.

  “I know who you are,” she said smiling at me. “I know you are the girl that survived. I am so happy to see you doing so well.”

  “Thank you,” was all I could manage to say. Oliver gripped my arm and tried to move me toward the door, but the old woman didn’t budge.

  “Megan Turner was my granddaughter,” she said as tears danced in her eyes. “She was the first one. Today should have been her twenty fifth birthday. She was so young and beautiful, just like you.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said as the tears I had tried so hard to fight back, broke free.

  “Promise me,” she said as she reached for my hand. “Promise you will live a full, happy life. Fall in love, have lots of babies and live. Don’t let that monster take your future. People will stare, Scarlet. Give them something to look at.”

  Without thinking, I threw my arms around the old lady and hugged her so tightly.

  “I promise,” I whispered as I held her as close as I could.

  “I will keep you in my prayers,” she said as I finally released her. “Take care of yourself, precious girl.”

  “I will,” I nodded and smiled once more before I let Oliver lead me out of the restaurant.

  As we stepped out into the cold night, I shivered once again and once again, Oliver wrapped his jacket around me and held me close.

  “I am sorry,” he said as he drew me into his arms. “I thought tonight would help you. I wanted normal for you. I guess I don’t know what normal is anymore.”

  “You don’t have to be sorry,” I sighed as I buried my face into his broad chest. “I am sorry you went to so much trouble and it didn’t turn out the way you planned it.”

  “Shhh,” he said as he softly rubbed my back. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

  Neither of us talked again until the valet returned with Oliver’s truck. Oliver helped me into the seat of his truck and a couple of minutes later we were heading back to Oliver’s parent’s house.

  As we drove home, neither of us said a word. I leaned my forehead against the cold window and closed my eyes.

  Suddenly, the image I remembered in the restaurant came back to me, only this time it was a little clearer. I could see the blood as it pooled around my head. I could remember the metallic smell that filled my nose and it made my stomach heave. Most of all I could remember the fear. It was overwhelming.

  I shook my head and pushed the images from my mind. I didn’t want to remember, not if the memories came with the terror of what happened to me that night.

  By the time we reached the house, I felt exhausted. Oliver helped me out of the truck and led me up the steps to his parent’s house.

  “I heard the truck pull up,” Tom said as he opened the door just as we reached it. “You’re home early. Is everything okay?”

  “It’s a long story,” Oliver said, and I saw them exchange a look that made me feel even worse. I had ruined Oliver’s night after he had gone to so much trouble for me. “I am just going to get Scarlet up to bed.”

  “Okay,” Tom said stepping back out of our way. “Goodnight, Scarlet.”

  “Goodnight,” I said as Oliver took me up the stairs slowly.

  By the time I was changed from my beautiful new dress, to my pyjamas and removed all my make-up, I was completely drained.

  Oliver pulled back the bedclothes and I climbed beneath them.

  “Are you okay?” Oliver asked as he pulled the bedclothes up over me. “Can I get you something to eat or drink?”

  “I’m not very hungry,” l replied. “Thanks anyway.”

  “Okay,” he said and stared at me for a moment. I was surprised he hadn’t wanted to talk about what had happened at the restaurant, but I could tell by the look on his face, he was as lost for words as I was.

  “I will let you get some sleep,” he said as he bent down and kissed me softly on the lips. He didn’t stand up, instead he stared deep into my eyes. I could see he had a million thoughts running through his mind. “You know I love you, right?”

  “Yes,” I said, but something in his voice made me feel sad.

  “I will talk to you in the morning,” he said as he stood back up. “Sweet dreams, Scarlet.”

  He turned and walked to the door, and I felt an overwhelming desire to cry. Had he changed his mind about us? I really didn’t know. Maybe I was just too much trouble.

  When he walked out the door, I turned over onto my side and began to cry. I had never felt more alone than I had right at that moment.

  Chapter 20

  Oliver

  I stood outside Scarlet’s door, feeling like the biggest asshole in the world. I stood there for what seemed like forever and listened to her cry and it nearly killed me. I reached for the handle but hesitated. I wanted to go back in there and hold her, but I didn’t know what to say. It was my fault she was crying, and I didn’t know how to fix it. I pressed my forehead to the door and sighed.

  It had been my idea to take her out, my idea to drag her to that restaurant. She was so uncomfortable, and I hadn’t even noticed until it was too late. Why didn’t I listen to my dad?

  That’s because you are a moron, I scolded myself in my mind. I loved her more than anything else in this world, but I just couldn’t seem to get it right. I listened until the crying stopped, and I figured she had fallen asleep. You really are an asshole!

  I turned and walked into my old bedroom, my mood dark and my heart heavy. I sat down at my old desk where I had sat so many nights studying, back when I was still in high school and buried my face in my hands. My head was filled with both Scarlet and Seth. I needed to get myself together before I went to face Seth the next morning, but all I could think about was Scarlet. I lifted my face from my hands and my eyes fell on a picture of Clea and me, taken the night of our graduation from college. It was the night I asked her to marry me. She had just said yes, when my dad took the photo. She was looking up at me, smiling. I remember the words I said to her that night when I proposed.

  “Clea, I never thought I would be lucky enough to fall in love with my best friend. I want to spend the rest of my life making you smile, making you laugh, being your hero. Will you do me
the greatest honour of becoming my wife?”

  I stared at the picture as I repeated the words again and again in my mind. I looked at her face. She was so happy, and I let her down. The night she needed her hero, I wasn’t there. I set the photo down and closed my eyes, instantly Scarlet’s beautiful face filled my mind. It was too late for me to make things right for Clea, but it wasn’t too late for me to make it right for Scarlet.

  Without even thinking, I stood up and headed for the door. I paused briefly outside Scarlet’s door before I opened it as quietly as I possibly could. I carefully tiptoed into the room, being careful not to wake her. I just needed to see her, needed to know that she was okay.

  The light from the moon filtered through the crack in the curtains on the window and lit up her face. I moved closer to the bed, still taking great care not to wake her. I stood there and watched her as she slept, watching the rise and fall of her chest. I believed I could never love someone the way I loved Clea, and I was right. What I felt for Scarlet was completely different. It was deeper, stronger, and almost primal. I loved her with not just with my heart, but with my entire being.

  She sighed softly in her sleep and my body instantly reacted. Why had I walked away from her earlier? Why hadn’t I stayed and held her in my arms? I stepped closer to the bed, and leaned down slowly, letting my lips softly meet hers.

  Once again, she sighed, and I could feel my cock twitch. What was it about this girl that let her affect me the way she did?

  I promised myself that from now on, I would do whatever it took to first keep her safe, but more than that, to make her happy.

  I turned slowly and walked towards the door.

  “Please don’t leave me,” Scarlet whispered in the darkness, just as I reached for the handle of the door. I instantly stopped and turned back to face her. The minute my eyes met hers in the darkness of the room, I could hold back no longer. I rushed back to the bed, lay down next to her and quickly claimed her mouth.

  “Oliver,” she softly groaned against my mouth, sending a thrill through my entire body. I stood up and pulled my shirt over my head and I kicked off my shoes. I stood for a moment and watched her as she lay there, staring up at me, her breathing was rapid, but the look in her eyes told me she wanted me as much as I wanted her. I pulled open the belt on my trousers and made short work of the zipper. As I dropped them and my underwear to the floor, freeing my swollen cock, Scarlet gasped, and I couldn’t help but smile, knowing she was as affected as I was. I pulled back the blankets and quickly climbed over her, crashing my lips into hers once more.

  I slowly ran my hands up her body, allowing the tips of my fingers to softly brush against the bare skin on her stomach. As I did, I could feel her tremble beneath me with anticipation. I eased her pyjama top up her body, still allowing my thumb to brush against her bare skin. I could feel the tiny goose bumps of excitement on the curve of her breast. As I pushed it up further, I let the pads of my thumbs brush over her erect nipples, making her cry out softly once again. Her back arched off the bed, pushing her perfect breasts into my hands.

  I quickly pulled the pyjama top over her head and discarded it on the floor before my mouth found hers once again. This time my kiss was deeper, hungrier even, as my tongue dipped into her mouth and danced with hers. Releasing her mouth, I eased my way down the bed, stopping as I moved to place soft kisses down along her beautiful body.

  When I reached the waist of her pyjama bottoms, I ran my tongue along her stomach, dipping it into her belly button as I passed over it. Scarlet bit her lip to stop herself from crying out.

  Then, very slowly, I eased the bottoms down her hips, kissing her body as I moved, until I had them down her legs and threw them down on to the floor.

  I tenderly pressed my mouth to the inside of her thigh, as the need inside me was almost animalistic. I wanted her, and I was going to take her. I kissed her once again, moving further up her thigh. When I reached the apex of her legs, I glanced up at her and my eyes met hers. Her beautiful chocolate eyes looked like they were ablaze. I could wait no longer.

  I moved back up her body before I slipped my legs in between hers and kissed her deeply.

  “Oliver,” she whispered to me as our lips finally parted. “We are in your parent’s house, we shouldn’t.”

  “I don’t care,” I breathed against the soft skin of her shoulder, then kissed it. “I need you, Scarlet. Please.”

  “I… I need you too,” she whispered, but I could still hear the doubt in her voice.

  “Trust me,” I whispered, looking down into her eyes. She smiled and nodded. I leaned in and kissed her softly. When her lips touched mine, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I moved again and I could feel the head of my erection pressing against her. I pulled my mouth from hers breathlessly and stared down into her eyes. I could barely breathe. The love I felt for this girl had all but consumed me. She had become my world.

  I moved slowly, pushing into her, my eyes never left hers. She gasped as I filled her completely, and her head rolled back in pleasure. I kissed her neck, before she dropped her head back down and she crashed her mouth to mine.

  Slowly I withdrew, almost all the way, then I stilled. Scarlet held her breath as she waited for me to move again. I smiled before I pushed back into her.

  “Mmmm,” she moaned as I pulled out again but this time, I slammed straight back into to her. She wrapped herself around me, her arms around my neck, her legs around my hips, as I pushed into her deeper still. Our bodies had become one and the feeling was unlike any other in this world.

  I rocked in and out, over and over again, each thrust bringing me higher.

  “Oliver!” She cried as she pulled me to her tighter, and I knew she was close. She pressed her legs against me harder, drawing me into her as deep as she could. Suddenly she began to shake, as she came hard. “Oliver!!”

  The sound of my name leaving her mouth as she climaxed was possibly the most erotic sound in the world. It was also my undoing. I slammed into her hard once again and stilled as I exploded inside her. I pulled her to me tighter, as my orgasm washed over my body like a tidal wave.

  I collapsed on top of her, both of us sweating and gasping for air. When I finally caught my breath, I lifted my head and looked down into her eyes.

  “I’m sorry for earlier,” I whispered.

  “You’re forgiven,” she smiled.

  “How was I ever so lucky to find you, Scarlet?” I said as I kissed her softly on the lips.

  “I think I was the lucky one,” she said staring into my eyes.

  “Well I think you are kind of perfect,” I said as I rolled to the side and wrapped her in my arms. I closed my eyes and breathed her in. God, I was so addicted to this girl.

  “I know you are perfect,” she whispered in a sleepy voice. Slowly I could hear her breathing change, and I knew she was asleep. I smiled and kissed the top of her head before I closed my eyes and let sleep take me too.

  “NOOOOOO!!” Scarlet screamed suddenly, nearly killing me with fright. I sprung up in the bed and tried to calm her, but she was fighting hard, kicking and hitting out.

  “Oliver!” I could hear my dad say through the door, as he knocked softly. “Is everything alright?”

  “Yeah, Dad,” I replied as I shook Scarlet again. “Just another dream.”

  Suddenly her eyes opened, and pure terror stared back at me.

  “It’s just a dream,” I said as I quickly wrapped her in my arms. “I have you, Scarlet. You are safe.”

  “Oliver, he is coming for me,” she sobbed quietly. “He is never going to stop until I am dead.”

  “I will die myself, before I let him hurt you again,” I said, as my heart broke.

  “I remember,” she whispered.

  “You remember?” I asked, holding my breath, my heart almost stopping.

  “I remember what he said,” she said looking up into my eyes. “I have done for a couple of weeks now. I thought it was just my mind imagining things, bu
t I know now it’s not. I don’t remember anything else, but I remember what he said. He said, ‘It’s almost over now’ I can hear him whispering it in my ear.”

  “Are you sure he said that?” I asked as suddenly the interview with the old woman crashed into my head. Was this the key I was missing, the one thing that will clear Seth?

  “Yes,” she nodded. “At first, I could hear him talk, but couldn’t remember the words. Then little by little they became clearer.”

  “That’s good,” I said hugging her tighter to me. “It means your memory is coming back.”

  “I don’t know that I want it to come back,” she cried. “I don’t want to remember him. I don’t want to remember what happened.”

  Suddenly her expression changed.

  “Scarlet, what is it?” I asked sensing something was wrong. “What’s wrong?”

  “Tonight, in the restaurant,” she said, staring into space as if remembering something. “When the wine glass fell over. I remembered the blood.”

  Tears trickled down her cheek, but she quickly brushed them away.

  “Why didn’t you say?” I asked, feeling like a complete dick for walking out of the room earlier and leaving her crying alone.

  “I don’t want to remember, Oliver,” she cried harder. “I don’t want to be this girl. I don’t want to be a victim.”

  Suddenly, her eyes rolled, and her body began to shake.

  “SCARLET!” I cried out as her whole body began to shake violently. “MOM! DAD!”

  I lay her back then rolled her on to her side, but my heart was racing, and I had no idea what to do next. She just kept seizing.

  “Oliver, what’s happened?” Mom asked as she hurried into the room, followed closely by my dad.

  “She is having a seizure,” I explained. “It’s her epilepsy. I don’t know what to do.”