"Sometimes terrible things have to happen so beautiful things can happen."

The hill of the crossroads rose up, one side leading far to the sparsely-wooded heathland outskirts of Avonlea and the other snaking into the thick forest which crowded the bottom of the hill, leading to the centre of town. The day was darkening, the sun heading across the sky to afternoon and dark clouds gathering for unsettled weather.

Gilbert and Detective Ellwyn had just reached the crossroads when the figure appeared out of the hills at the bottom of the hill. He must have been coming from further out of town. As the figure rode up the hill path they caught the urgency in his movement and it stopped them in their tracks.

Getting closer, Gilbert recognised him. It was a boy from school named Cole. He was fairly new, only having joined a few months before and hadn't been seen in school for the past two weeks. He was quiet and reserved, his nose always stuck in a sketchbook. As he got closer he saw Gilbert and his pale, worried face brightened.

"Gilbert Blythe? Is that you?" He gasped, pulling the reins of his horse to stop and squinting through his tousled blond hair.

"Yes, it's me. What's the matter, Cole?" Gilbert asked. "Has something happened?"

"It's my family - I thought they'd get better but it's getting worse every day. It's the fever, Gilbert. My little sister, she... please help." Cole's voice sounded choked, fear alive in his eyes.

Gilbert was torn. He had medical skill, he could help Cole, possibly save his family. This fever was wicked, he'd seen it before whilst helping Doctor Rooke. It caught easily and worsened rapidly without proper treatment, making it a deadly illness. Cole's family could die... But Anne was in danger every moment Scarlett was out there too.

Gilbert swallowed hard and looked at the Detective. He had to trust him.

"You need to go on to Avonlea alone. My friends are searching the woods - the ones where it all happened. You must help them. Find her. Fix this. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Gilbert's eyes held such sincere worry that for once the Detective didn't speak. He merely nodded, understanding the grave situation.

"Don't let me down. This is your chance." Gilbert said vermently.

Cole looked between them, suddenly aware something serious was happening. He'd heard rumours about things that had happened in the Winter just gone involving Gilbert and Anne Shirley Cuthbert. Cole had never known the details but he wondered if it had anything to do with this exchange...

"I'm coming back with you, Cole. I will do my best to help you." Gilbert told the boy.

Cole's wide eyes filled with hope. "Thank you, thank you truly."

Jerking his reins, the blond boy set off down the hill towards the outskirts of Avonlea. Gilbert turned and watched the Detective ride in the opposite direction towards the centre of Avonlea where the woods were, where his friend were, where Scarlett was... Gilbert wished he could go with him, ensure it would all go to plan and guarantee that Scarlett would be put away. He wished he could be the one to tell Anne everything when it was over, to see her joy come back. Swallowing his regret, Gilbert jerked his own reins and set off after Cole.

...

The woods had seen enough conflict and sadness to last a year but it would witness even more before the day was over.

The Wolfsden friends had been searching all morning, having started as soon as the sun rose above the treetops and shed it's light over the woods. They'd had no luck by the time they met with Jerry and James at the crossroads at midday. Jerry had told Marilla and Matthew that he needed to run errands for his family so he didn't have to work at Green Gables for the day. Diana was on duty watching Anne and as far as they knew Gilbert would be heading back by now with the back up...

The gang were getting frustrated searching the woods with no sign of Scarlett's hideout and eventually they stopped to eat lunch at around two o'clock. The previous night they'd slept at the table and left before Bash had woken up. They'd grabbed some bread and cheese from the cupboard so they wouldn't have to cut their search short.

They sat in the shady grass by the road, eating quietly. Nobody spoke for a while, as everybody contemplated their fruitless morning search and the prospect of the afternoon searching.

"I don't reckon we're gonna find anythin'." Kes said eventually, voicing what everyone was feeling.

"It's a secret hideout, it's not gonna be easy to find!" January pointed out encouragingly.

"How do we know her hideout is even in the woods?" James asked.

"Or that she even has a hideout?" Jerry added.

"She must be staying somewhere! She can't exactly stay at a hostel, she has a gang it would look too suspicious." January sighed, annoyed everyone was losing hope. She was too, but she didn't have any other options.

"What if she's gotta house?" Kes asked suddenly. "There are plenty in Avonlea."

"Who would let her stay in their house? She doesn't exactly have any friends!" James laughed.

"Nobody would... Nobody alive, anyway." Peggy spoke up suddenly.

Everyone looked at her in surprise.

"She's staying in Guardinia Cottage." Peggy realised.

...

"This is it." Said Cole, approaching a farmhouse and dismounting.

It had taken them about forty minutes to reach Cole's abode and every minute of it Gilbert felt anxious. What if he didn't have enough skill to help Cole's family? What if they died despite his efforts? What if Anne was getting hurt or worse while he was there?

Gilbert followed the boy into the dark house, uncertainty trickling into his veins.

Cole led him through the hall and kitchen into a room with a small bed. Packed inside was an unconscious woman and two young boys around five. A makeshift bed had been created on the floor beside it, upon which lay a young girl of around twelve who was muttering in her sleep. The room was hot and smelt of illness. Uneaten food sat on a plate on the bedside cabinet and a cup of water.

"That's my Mother, with the twins Rudy and Arthur and that's Maisie on the floor." Cole explained. "Mother came down with it after tending the twins last week. Then Maisie caught it too. I was out of town last week and I just got back on Monday -- they were so sick. I did what I could but they haven't woken up since they slept last night and I can't rouse them. They're burning up and I'm worried they're going to d--" Cole was panicking.

Gilbert grabbed the boy by the shoulders and looked him in the eyes. "Listen to me, I know this is frightening. Believe me, I understand. More than most."

This whole scenario was a flashback to Gilbert's own childhood losing his siblings and then his Father. He was right, he understood Cole's position better than anyone.

"But I can help if you can try to stay calm." Gil told him firmly. "I need you to get me water - fresh and cold. I need a plant, from by the stream - it's got yellow flowers that look like stars. Get a whole bunch, we need to make a remedy and a poultice. Hurry."

Cole took deep breaths, nodding. He took a fleeting glance at his family before rushing out to fetch the items. Gilbert busied himself opening the windows, letting in fresh air, clearing away the dirty plates and cups and finding some clean cloths and a pestle and mortar. By the time he was done Cole was rushing in with a pail of water and a jug. Panting, he put them down on the cleared side table and pulled a glass jar full of yellow flowers from his pocket triumphantly.

"This them?"

...

In the woods, January, Kes, Peggy, James and Jerry were making progress to Guardinia Cottage. They'd asked around for directions, seeing as none of them knew Avonlea very well aside from Jerry who had never been there before. Detective Ellwyn had ridden from memory all the way to those hateful woods, following the main road until coming across the mismatched group up ahead. He recognised one of the boys, who had long dark hair and scruffy clothes. He was a farmhand at the Cuthbert residence. As the group rode, a different member of the party glanced over his shoulder, hearing the approaching horse hooves. A young man with hazel curls and a blue coat. It was James Riley, the irishman who'd killed Joseph Bines... This must be the friends Gilbert had spoken of...

"Hey, stop!" The Detective shouted after them.

Slowing, they turned their heads to spot their assailant. James Riley cursed loudly. Jerry looked shocked to see him.

"What the blasted hell are you doing here, pig?" James sneered at the older man in distrust and dislike. He knew all about Detective Ellwyn and he wasn't a fan.

"He's a copper?" Kes asked, exchanging worried looks with Jan and Peggy.

"Not anymore." James said with satisfaction. "He's banned from working a case in Avonlea."

"I'm here to help. I'm sure you've all heard bad things about me, but Gilbert Blythe told me about Scarlett Bines and her gang. I can arrest her." The Detective explained hurriedly, trying not to rise to their jibes.

"Him?" Jerry gestured at him and looked at his friends. "Not good. He took Anne away."

James and January looked at each other doubtfully.

"It was you?" January asked the Detective. She thought of Wolfsden and how horrible it was, what she'd do if she came face to face with the person who put her there... would she accept their help?

The Detective sighed. "Yes. But I know it was a mistake. I'm going to help you now."

"I don't like this. I don't like him." Jerry frowned, mistrust clear in his face.

"Me neither." January nodded, jaw tight in determination.

"How do we know we can trust you?" James asked the Detective. He knew they needed somebody like him to arrest Scarlett or things would escalate again and he was afraid of that. He didn't want anyone to die.

"You don't," The Detective said gruffly. "But I'm the only one with a badge to arrest people. So you need me."

"We have to go." Peggy said quietly. She knew they didn't have any choice to make. He was right, they needed him.

January looked at her, assessing her reaction. She didn't trust the Detective but she trusted Peggy implicitly and her judgement.

"Alright. We think Scarlett is staying in Guardinia Cottage," January told him. "So we're going there."

"What about her gang?" Ellwyn asked. "Gilbert said that she had a gang of criminals working for her."

"Gangs stick together." Said Kes, sarky as ever.

"Come on, time is ticking. We gotta go." January said impatiently.

"She's right, we're wasting time."

"Lead the way. Let's go finish this." Detective Ellwyn said firmly.

...

While their friends were racing to arrest a criminal and saving the lives of sick townsfolk, Anne and Diana had had a calm morning. They'd walked in the meadows and woods and talked. It wouldn't last.

Although it was nice to catch up and spend time together after so long being caught up in their daily troubles, Diana was unable to completely relax due to her mind was really on the danger Scarlett and her gang presented. The danger Anne would be in if she went further out of the farm boundaries so they weren't within a safe distance of the house if anything happened.

The sky was clouding over as they approached the edge of the woods, almost a dark omen of something bad about to happen and Diana had a terrible forboding feeling. She suddenly realised they were beyond the boundaries of Green Gables and the safety Diana had felt before faded away. It was the late afternoon, the sun was falling behind the treetops and it was dangerous to be out after dark with a criminal on the loose.

"Anne, I think we should head back." Diana said, trying not to sound as worried as she felt.

"You're probably right," Anne sighed, staring up at the sky. "Marilla will wonder where we've got to. I'm so glad she didn't stop me staying home today from school, I just know I'd never have been able to face the--"

Just then a high pitched scream echoed from the woods. Anne and Diana turned, wide eyed and alert.

"It's a child." Anne exclaimed and sprinted into the trees, not pausing for thought.

"Wait, Anne!" Diana hurtled after her, dark hair flying.

Deep into the woods they ran, following the screams. It sounded like a young girl, Anne was right. Anne ran and ran, her own safety left for Diana to panic about. Branches whipped at her as she pushed on, tripping and leaping over fallen trees and streams until at last she came to the gap in the trees overlooking a small clearing.

Anne shoved between the trees, searching.

"Help me! Help me! Oh no, oh please, somebody--" The childish screams dissipated into uncontrollable laughter.

The source of the screams and the laughter was not a child, it was an adult merely impersonating a child. An adult wearing a dark, hooded cloak. They were standing in the centre of the clearing, facing Anne. They dropped down their hood and revealed a scarred face and long crimson hair. It was her... the red-haired rider Anne had seen.

"So nice to finally meet you." Said the woman, grinning.

Anne was instantly on her guard. She must be the only other woman in Avonlea with red hair which connected her to Joseph Bines' grave and burial... and what was she doing here in the middle of the woods? Whoever she was, she meant trouble.

"Who are you? Why were you screaming?" Anne asked, putting on a brave face despite the sinking feeling of dread rushing through her.

"Awh, poor Anne. Left in the dark." The woman cackled. "You have to be the hero, don't you? It's so simple."

The woman's features were strangely beautiful yet there was something in her eyes, in her smile that wasn't the true beauty of kindness and love, of goodness. Her beauty was corrupted by ill-intent and resentment. She wasn't truly beautiful.

"What are you talking about?" Anne demanded, her patience wearing thin.

"All of your friends know who I am. They worked it out together." The woman said. "Yet they didn't tell you... that's interesting."

Anne felt an uncomfortable twist of uncertainty and doubt in her stomach. "What? Which friends?"

"They know my name." She ignored Anne's question and laughed again, as though Anne's ignorance humoured her.

"Well what is it? Tell me then, if you're so important." Anne snapped. She could tell this woman was tormenting her and it triggered her defensiveness from the orphanage.

"Scarlett Bines. Perhaps you knew my father, Redmond?" Scarlett smiled sadistically.

"You're his daughter?" Anne gaped. "So you knew--"

Joseph.

It hit her like a wave of icy water, chilling her to the bone, coursing through her veins. It wasn't over. It had only just begun.

"That's right. Time's up, Princess." Scarlett leered and suddenly clapped her hands.

Appearing from nowhere a gang descended upon Anne like a swarm, dropping from the canopy and running out from behind trees and bushes. There must have been a dozen of them concealed around the clearing. Anne was overcome before she could say or do anything, her hands bound behind her back.

Scarlett watched happily. "Oh, your friends do love to make it so easy for me."

Anne was trembling with shock and fear, all of her nightmares and trauma coming up to the surface to make her legs weak and her throat go dry. She struggled against the two men who held her bound arms behind her back. The others circled the clearing, watching Anne and muttering amongst each other, snickering and gesturing. Hooded, their faces were inexplicable which made them even more ominous.

"They've all left you. Alone, vulnerable..." Scarlett grinned. "You fell for the trap easily. It was almost no fun at all it was so easy."

I'm not alone. Anne thought to herself, but said nothing. She prayed Diana had hidden herself as soon as she saw Scarlett. She prayed her best-friend didn't get caught by these criminals as well. They were clearly dangerous, vindictive and insane. If Diana had any sense she'd have hidden and would run to get help.

"You know your so-called friends have all gone on a wild goose chase to find me while I'm all the way on the other side of town with you." Scarlett walked to Anne and clutched the girl's face in one hand. "But don't worry, I left them a message and they'll be here soon. Then we'll have a real good time."

"Don't touch me!" Anne yelled, trying to turn her head away.

"Come on Princess, don't be sad. As soon as they hear about this they'll come." Scarlett pinched Anne's face tightly, her bright eyes wide. In that moment she looked devoid of all sanity.

"They're not stupid. They'll know it's a trap. They'll bring police." Anne threatened, squirming against Scarlett's pinching grip. "They'll take you away!"

Scarlett chuckled in a patronising tone and let go of Anne's face. She shook her head. "No, they are too impulsive for that. Then it'll just be you and me. The way it was meant to be. And I'll get my revenge."

"How did they find out about you?" Anne demanded.

"Oh it was your little Prince, of course. I warned him not to say anything, but he couldn't cope. He cracked. Pathetic." Scarlett spat.

"What? Gil-- he knew about you? He knew you were here? Why didn't he--" This was a shock to Anne. Her heat beat faster at the revelation, her mind whirled as she tried to understand.

"Why didn't he warn you?" Scarlett was gleeful as she prodded Anne's chest with a finger. She behaved like a child who was proudly showing off something she'd made. "It was all part of the deal. As long as he wanted your heart still beating in your chest he had to keep quiet."

Her gang members started to laugh amongst each other. The sound echoed through the clearing like the beating of a war drum. The birds in the treetops fled, taking off into the darkening sky and left Anne alone there with the criminals.

"Unfortunately, now that he's blabbed..." Scarlett said slowly, a smile curling her lips. Her hands danced to her belt and she fingered a large, gleaming dagger.

Anne felt like her world was crashing around her again. She didn't understand anything anymore. What did this mean? Gilbert knew that Redmond had a daughter and he knew that she was here in Avonlea? Dangerous and on the loose... but he couldn't say anything because it would put Anne in danger? But he didn't care... he told her he didn't...

"I love that expression on your face..." Scarlett mocked. "Trying to put the pieces together are we? But there's still one piece that doesn't make sense, isn't there? Why would he keep it all secret if he didn't care about keeping you safe? Little old Anne... unlovable Anne..."

Anne felt sick as the realisation hit her. "It was you." Her voice shook. "You made him say those things... you blackmailed him. I -- I knew-- I knew it wasn't--"

Anne's head span, she nearly fell but the gang members held her tightly. Anne's eyes swam the second wave of realisation hit her in the heart... In the fragments of her broken, aching heart. It was all a lie. It wasn't true, none of it was true. None of his words, those cruel words... Gilbert had lied to protect her. Which meant he still loved her...

He still loved her.

"You made him lie." Anne trembled.

"There it is." Scarlett clapped slowly. Now the resentment bubbled up to the surface and her voice was thick with injustice. "My plan was to torture you with it. You had to lose somebody you loved too, just like I did. You had to lose somebody in the woods. Suffer like I have."

"Well I did. Congratulations." Anne's voice quaked too as her rage grew and blinded her. She felt so furious, confronting the person who put her through that heartbreak and pain. She shouted, "You succeeded. Losing him was torture. Are you happy now?"

"Oh it's not over yet... That was the beginning. Round one, as you like." Scarlett spoke with all the excitement of a circus ringleader presenting their carefully-planned show. "The next round involves some of your little friends. It won't be long now."

"You can't win." Anne spoke venomously. "You can't beat all of us. You'll never win. We beat Joseph before, we can beat you too--"

"Oh, if you're thinking your little Prince Charming will come to save you. I'm sorry to say, it's not gonna happen." Scarlett snarled.

"He'll find me." Anne said evenly, trying to keep up the brave face. Despite the utter relief of the news that Gilbert had lied, it still seemed like part of the trap. Could it be true? Or was it part of the ruse? To break her down all over again. That doubt clung to her heart and was laced into her words.

"No he won't. He's gone out of town again."

She must be lying. Anne thought.

"Just kill me then... Why drag it out? Just end it. Get your revenge."

"No, that wouldn't be fair. A nice, quick death? That's not fair at all." Scarlett took Anne's face in both her hands, her eyes swelling with intensity. "You're going to watch all of your friends die, then I'm going to kill you."

Scarlett's words sent fear flooding through Anne's veins like fire, burning away her brave face and any confidence she had had. This was her nightmare, she was living in it. Her nightmare was waking, breathing. It was here to finish what it's family had started.

"That's my revenge." Scarlett said.