Sabrina Rose Hutchins hadn’t expected to be violently yeeted out of Dreamland by her own subconscious, albeit less because the violence part was particularly shocking and more because she expected to die down there. Not that even the finest preparations could have kept the wind in her lungs of course, nor that that should even have been in her top 10 priorities; though the momentary incapacitation did give Alfred enough time to close the distance. His arrogant hug had a certain molten warmth to it that fanned the flames of the fire in her belly; and steeled her resolve against the embers calling out from below. 

Still, either by shock or obedience she would continue to lay there, until finally Alfred pulled away to look into her eyes. Rage, betrayal, love, remorse, guilt, need and shame, all danced as one in her eyes, and Alfred found he couldn’t look away. His own eyes were equally as mesmerizing, themselves betraying a wonderful bond of love with a terrible mix of guilt for his actions and the traces of subconscious self-knowledge that he would do this again. That no matter what sweet lies he told her or himself, in the end he will do this again.

A: “I’m sorry.”

S: “Get away from me.”

A: “Sabby please… I love you.”

S: “Get away from me.”

A: “I’ll be better, I promise.”

S: “Get away from me!”

Alfred took a small step backwards and flashed his love a sad smile. It was not reciprocated. 

S: “Get. away. from. -”

A: And go WHERE? Sabby, the world is fucked. You wouldn’t survive five minutes in the city and you know it, just as you know that I can protect you from all of them! 

Alfred grabbed Sabby’s hand and squeezed it tightly to show his affections, and; reunited with her touch, his smile returned

A: We’re in this together, just as we’ve always been. 

S: To…gether?

For a split second Alfred found he was blown away by the joy and relief of potential forgiveness. He hadn’t ruined everything, they could still be together, this might just be the happiest day of his life! Then he blinked…

and saw the fire in her eyes replaced with a glassy stare. The crushing realization of what he was doing hit him like a brick.

Alfred

So this is who you are, is it? Everything about loving and protecting her all leads up to this? You know, I don’t remember the part of Sleeping Beauty where Prince Charming gaslights his love into not justifiably hating him; then again I can’t recall a scene where he rapes her either so I guess you really are a visionary. 

No. This isn’t me. I can't do this, but I also can’t lose her. I just need to get her to see reason, explain to her that I can still protect her, but how can I do that if I can’t even talk to her without her becoming a puppet? 

She wasn’t seeing reason, she didn't understand! The world is fucked, and she needs me. Such a beautiful flower wouldn’t survive the day out there, and I promised to protect her. I have to protect her

even if it costs me my soul.

A: Yes Sabby, together. That whole event, that thing, just a momentary indiscretion, and I’m so glad you’ve forgiven me for it already. After all, I’m doing a lot for you, so I’ve already made it up to you many times over. Together we can get through this, and I can keep you safe…

and now that you know how I feel about you, perhaps we should try going out on a date? If there’s anything this wild ride of the past few months has taught me, it's that we have to stick together, we belong together. I belong with you and you…

you belong to me.

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The Next Day

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Sabrina

I don’t think I realized until now just how beautiful the world really is. 

Perhaps I knew at one point, I’m sure I did once, looking back at my happy face only a number of months ago, but then everything happened and I slowly forgot. 

That I think is what I’m really realizing now, that beauty is nothing without hope. I’ve seen this flower bed more times than I’ve seen my own shadow while I’ve been stuck here, but it wasn’t until something good finally happened that I was able to appreciate it. 

Or perhaps I just wasn’t able to appreciate him, my handsome, caring, wonderful (boy?)friend. For as long as I can remember he’s been there for me, and now that the world has decided I’m a walking fleshlight he’s become my savior too.

God I feel like a Disney damsel!

There was of course the thing, but well, don’t all couples have their low moments? Shit happens ya know? Besides, he later explained that part of why he made that momentary lapse was just because I’m “the most beautiful girl in the world” and that made me feel so special it basically erased the thing on its own! God I think I might be falling in love.

Alfred

For the second time in only a short while, Alfred found himself standing at the door of his own cabin for what felt like eternity, only this time everything was different. What was once was a downpour was now a breeze, the harsh drum of rain replaced with the soft melody of the birds. His handsome tux was doing a paltry job of hiding his jittery demeanor, just as the facade of formality failed utterly to hide the gravity of the day. Finally, he opened the door.

Lost in contemplation, he almost passed over the path of dandelions, each half a meter between the door and the dinner table being graced with a pair of the distinguished wish granting weeds, twisted into the shape of a heart. Almost. 

At the end of the dandelion road Alfred looked to find the dinner table was equally well dressed for the occasion, its splintered face entirely obscured by the silk cloth which draped it, itself partially covered in its outer ring by flowers. Three plates adorned the table: the first two at each chair were full of spaghetti, while the one in the middle contained a shared appetizer of dates. Just before his mind had time to wander, he was interrupted by a pastel princess doing her best to quickly shimmy across the hall towards him in her bright pink heels.

S: “God I’m sorry about that, I know it isn’t my place to make you wait but-”

A: “Shhh. I can stomach waiting a few seconds if it means at the end of it I will get to witness you once more.”

A flushed Sabrina responded to the compliment with a curtsy whereupon she remarked

S: “Alfie, I must confess that even though I’ve long known that we’re connected, and that you have always been the best friend a girl could ask for, it wasn’t until the world fell apart that I came to fully appreciate you. You are my air and my sunshine, my substance and my joy, my protector and my champion, the love of my life.”

Listening to her speech was like medicine for poor, nervous Alfie, calming his nerves and steeling his conviction in his plans for his little pastel princess. 

Perhaps she will finally accept subjugation willingly just as I grew to accept my own natural role in this new world. 

Perhaps I won’t have to sully my last night with the old her with a more forceful conversion.

If I have to push her I will, but I think we’d both far prefer she jumped.

A: “Sabby my love, that was beautiful. I love you too, so much. I think you make me a better man really, every time I see you you bring out a whole other side of me I didn’t even know was there. A braver, protective side. I know with every fiber of my being that we will be together forever.”

Though I try I can’t help but notice her breathing seems to change utterly after I voice my approval, as if she was previously being strangled from within her own mind. I wonder how literal she was being before?

S: “I couldn’t agree more, my love! When this whole payload apocalypse thing is over we should get married.

Though Sabrina is too ecstatic to notice, Alfred’s face visibly darkens at the mention of going back to the before times. Even after everything, she still remained blind to the reality of her situation. 

A: Y-yeah. When all this is over, Till death do us part.

Sabrina

With their vows complete, the new couple promptly settles into their seats by the table, and so begins the most special night of their lives. For just a short, magical moment, everything was both fresh and familiar; and the world seemed to fall away as if the cabin itself had gone back to a simpler time. 

For hours they got drunk off liquor and laughter, reminiscing about fond memories and silly stories, and trading words of affection between bites of their fine meal. Sabby shared the stories she had read in her rare moments of true lucidity, and Alfred told of the wonders of the world beyond the four walls of home. 

At the crescendo of the night, Alfred revealed that he had bought a gift for his love while back in the city, a gift she would treasure until the end of her days. With bated breath, an enraptured Sabrina asked what it was, to which Alfred responded with only a single word as he pulled out a small, velvet entombed iron collar.

A: Freedom.