I lean down and pick up the crumpled note.I look around if somebody might have just dropped it but there is no one here. I throw a quick glance again, filling a bit guilty and

I unfold the little piece of paper.

I promise I will come back

for you Mark

S.

I freeze for a moment, a bit dazed. I look around again as If there were hidden cameras somewhere and this was some kind of a joke. I look at the note, shaking my head and taking a deep breath. This was my name...and the love of my life...Samantha...I close my eyes and try to calm myself. Just a coincidence, nothing more. I lift my hand and without thinking I put it to my nose, inhaling deeply... daisies and roses.She smelled like that.Exactly like that.I open my eyes again. This couldn't be true.I look at the gentle handwriting and the small letters.Not possible.

I haven't seen her for years...because she disappeared, just like that.Without any warning, no signs. She was gone.All of her family, friends and the police looking and searching for her, for months.Without any result. It's been 5 years and no one has seen or heard anything about her. Her loved ones still believing that she would come back.There was no body...so there was no death.That's how they saw it. That's what I hoped for but pretended that I didn't. It was easier. Denial was easier.It made the breathing thing more bearable. It made it possible to survive without her in my world.

I stand there in the middle of the sidewalk,not moving, or blinking. Standing there like a statue. Lifeless...and then my hand loosens up, my fingers losing tension.

The little note falling to the ground. I stare at it without thinking, the wind gently moving it and lifting it in the air. The note making little circles, as if it was dancing, toying with me. Mocking...and disappearing behind the corner of the building.

A shiver runs down my spine and I shake out of my dead state.I start to walk, catching speed with every second, breaking into a run. My legs caring me faster than ever before. I almost lose my breath running, but I don't care. I have to catch it.Now.I reach the side of the building and notice the little piece of paper, swirling on the sidewalk, like it was already tired and needed to take a rest. I run to it in just a couple of swift strides and quickly pick it up before it can fall into the drain.I grab it and unfold it.

"...I will come back for you..."

I swallow hard and my eyes start to sting. My heartbeat starting to rise. This couldn't be true. She was gone. This note could have been for anyone...and it could be from some named Simone, Sara or something ridiculous and cute like Sally.I smell it again and there it was. Her smell.That could only belong to her. No one else.

I guess you found my note?

My whole body stiffens when hearing that voice.The voice that I thought I would never hear again. I close my eyes, considering insanity and other unwanted possibilities. Confused at what really going on around here. If it was a dream, or was it a nightmare that was about to crash me?

That's not... - I start uncertain and here a long sigh filled with pain.

I know, baby...but it is.Even in this crazy world that we live in, miracles still happen.

I don't say anything, let alone manage to think straight.I was going mad and need help from a professional and quick...and then I hear her voice again, like soft velvet against my ears.Gentle and apologetic.

I'm sorry that the note got so late to you. I wrote it years ago...But something failed and they couldn't send it then.It took so long before it broke through the wall...

I finally look up at the source of the sound, too tired to fight with the basic instincts that told me I needed to see her...even if she was just an illusion, a figment of my imagination.Even if everything was happening only in my head and I was going to wake up in some kind of asylum tomorrow.I had to see her, just once...The images of her blurred by the years gone and the passage of time...my heart starts to pound faster as I look at her beautiful face. My eyes grow wider with every second trying to take in the bigger picture. her long brown curls cascading down her beck,resting on her slender shoulders...she looks thinner then I remember, her face more tired, dark circles under her eyes. And yet she never looked more breathtaking.

How is this even...? - I start to ask, once again lost for words.

It's complicated Mark, I wouldn't know where to start...At times I don't even believe it myself.

You can't be real...you're gone...the police...

I know, but I'm here now...and you have no idea what it took me to get back to you.

Where were you all this time? - I ask, for the first time toying with the idea that this could be true and yet not let myself truly believe it.

You probably have someone else in your life now... - her voice cracks at the last word and yet she still manages to smile at me - but I just wanted to say that I'm back...

I stare at her,disbelieve that this was the thing that she was worried about,I move swiftly to her without even thinking and wrap my arms around her tiny body and inhale deeply, deciding I will never let go of her again. She leans in and starts to sob.

I can tell that she has been through a lot. I lean down and kiss her lips. Feeling the happiness sipping through my body and for the first time in five years, I feel like I can breathe again.

Emily's husband left her after 26 years. The kids were adults making their own way. Morton left her a note on her car windshield the day he refused to be her husband any longer. Shocked, she released it into the windy streets of Chicago.

Emily, goddamit you got fat. Your hair is not cool now. I can eat at Hardy's on the way to work or at the coffee shop where I met Julie. Thanks for the support as my career grew from nothing to local celebrity, but you just don't fit into my future plans.

Julie is hot. She is agreeable and sexy..something you let go of many years ago.

I've grown tired of your predictability. You are boring me. You are in the way of a life I've been wanting; the one without you as my wife.

Good-bye, we'll stay friends for the kids. right?

Gary found the fallen note pausing between breezes by his foot. He read it, crumpled it into his fist and threw it away.

Deera Freedom (Mother Black Draginucous) sat in Iris' room, crying on Iris' bed with her stuffed animals of horses and other creatures. Tara Diera (Father Elf) placed the floor, downstairs plotting his revenge against The Flame Wolf. He knew that the Flame Wolf was invincible within his wolf form but, not in his human form. Deera sat up and saw a corner of white paper, she picked it up and knew exactly that Iris wrote that note. "Hey, Honey Bunches of War!! Come in 'ere prease!!" Deera yelled as she picked up a note from off the floor. Tara ran up the stairs and into Iris' room. He sees Deera holding some kind of paper with a worried face upon her face. "She must have wrote it yesterday while we were gone. Prease, read it. I... I cannot read it." Deera said as she handed the paper to him. He grabbed it and she started crying. He read aloud, without shedding a tear.

"Dear Ma and Pa,

I knew this day would come. Please, don't grieve for me. I took your places so you guys could live on. I fought hard but, failed. I will miss you guys so much. Thank you for the life you guys gave to me.

Your Loving Daughter,

Daru Daru/Iris"

He set the note on the desk and looked at Deera. "I... I cannot believe that she... she gave herself up for... for us to live on. But, at what cost?" Tara said as he leaned his hands on Iris' desk. "I know but, come sit. We need to grieve and it's alright if you cry." Deera said as she wiped away tears but, more rolled down her rosty cheeks. "I cannot cry. I have taken an oath to my people not to cry since I was of age. Now, I must be going now." He said as he walked out of the room. "Where are you going now?" She asked as she followed him out of the room and blocked the entry to their room, where his staff and book was. "I am going to find my own daughter. Move, Deera. I don't want to hurt you." He said as he bowed his head with respect to her. "Why do you elves have to be so cold hearted and selfless? How can YOU be so cold hearted even after OUR daughter went either missing or is dead, huh?" She asked as turned toward him, still blocking the way. "We elves are 'cold hearted' because we don't attatch ourselves to anything other than family and yet we still don't cry. I am not cold hearted, I am only honoring the Oath I took." Tara replied. "I cannot let you go find our daughter alone. I am going with you, whether you like it or not." Deera said as she turned into her Black Draginucous form and stepped out of his way. "That is fine. I do not mind if you go with me. I would love for you to come with me." Tara said as he walked in and grabbed both the Book of Norwind and the Staff of Riles. He walked out of the room and smiled at her. They used the magnificent front doors and walked to the park. Deera went to touch the grass when a forcefield of some sort burned her, she screeched and she stepped back. She turned into her human form and held her hand and winced at the pain. "Are you Ole Right?" Tara asked as he looked back at her. "I... I will be. I cannot go through there. You will have to do it alone. I wish I could help more than what I did." Deera said as she looked at Tara. "Hmm. Some kind of forcefield. You go back home and treat your hand, sweet heart. I've got this." He said as he looked at his book. Deera stood up and left, while Tara walked through the forcefield. He looked at his book, turned to the page he needed and spoke these words to summon The Flame Wolf of the Under World:

Cometh Forth Demon of the Under World!!

Cometh and Taketh my Soulen for HIM!!

The Flame Wolf rose from the ground, stood up tall and looked at Tara. "Whyen did youen wake meen from aen wonderful napen I wasen havin'?" The Flame Wolf growled at Tara in Elven Tongue. "Do you think I am that dumb to fall for that? Well, I am not that dumb! I want my daughter back, now. Get her to me now." Tara snapped at The Flame Wolf. "Oh? Isen that soen? I cannoten get heren to youen. She nowen belongs toen the Devil Himselfen!!" The Flame Wolf snarled back at Tara. "Fight me, Human to Magical Being. Come and get me you, cowardly Wolf Demon." Tara yelled as he took his stance with a ball of magic with in his hand. The Flame Wolf growled and took his stance as his wolf form.

To Be Continued...

Rosty- Rosy Color cheeks but, feels scaly when touched

Book of Norawind- Book of Advanced Spells for Experienced Masters

Staff of Riles- Contains magic within the orb; Helps keep control over the Draginucous