Lady in Red

Chapter 2

     She had just arrived in the trees when he was done making the promise. She didn't know what it was about but she knew it was the worst mistake he could ever make,making a promise using the redwood was a must to fulfill and the consequences were unimaginable,if he failed his task,once he dies,he would be trapped in redwood for all eternity and this is the worst place to be trapped she knew that better than anyone.
    They were arguing with each other, telling him to take back but one minute passed and that was the time given to take back the promise. She counted the seconds slowly,this is the most stupid person she has ever seen,she couldn't see his face for his back was to her but either way she could tell he was a spoilt brat used to get everything he desired.
   "4..3..2..1..." The boy collapsed with pain,the promise was being sealed and the closer he is to death the stronger the curse will be. A self inflicted curse. As the others realized he was in pain her time to leave arrived, she took one last look at him and left.
   Christian was the first to realize that Xian was in pain.
   "Xian...Xian what's wrong.. Xian!"
"Xian..." They all called him but he was clutching his chest. Gabby pushed him down and opened his shirt to look at his chest and they all looked surprised to see the redwood tree on his chest. It was magnificent and as natural as it could be.
   "What's this?" Sandra asked.
    "A contract, between Xian and redwood,If he dies before fulfilling his promise,he becomes apart of redwood not to leave or be born again. It will only continue being darker as his dying days continue to come closer but will completely disappear as soon as he fulfills his promise. When he finishes the first task it will be lighter but the only cure is to see and learn Red's name and face."Mara said.
    "How do you know this?" Christian asked and Mara looked uncomfortable.
    "That's not important, what's important is to find out how to find out Red's identity."
   "It won't work." Mara said.     "What do you mean?" Sandra asked.
  "That would be considered as cheating,he has to do it on his own."
   Christian was furious "What else is there?"
    "We have to get out of the forest."
  "Why?"
    "It would try to kill Xian since he brought himself." That was the only thing needed to get out of there.
   "Now I guess I got the sage's answer, Xians unruly mess is the course of all the sins, he'll separate himself." Christian walked ahead of the others angry. Xian was sad to see his brother angry but either way he still had no chance at life he just wanted an adventure.
   When they got home they found their mother and father at the door,his father was upset but his mother was beyond angry she looked to make sure he was okay then left,his father called him to his room and left.
    "Close the door." He said and Xian was instantly scared the last time he closed the door he was told he was going to die at 25. "Why?" His dad asked.
   "I just want to have an adventure before I die"
  Tahoe looked at his son with sadness he had caused this when he refused to abolish those damn laws.
    "I'm sorry dad"
    "It wasn't your fault,I should have done something in the beginning so I guess we all did some mistakes and I'm also sorry."
    "Please excuse me."Xian said and left. He has never cried not ever since he was eight when he overheard the elders conversation and they had to tell him. That was the last time he cried for his life but no one knows why he cried for three whole days,after that he just laughed and started being carefree.
   It has been six months since he took the vow in the forest and not much progress has been made his tree was getting darker as time went and Sandra was getting worried,he was walking down the river when he heard a girl's scream. He rushed and reached just in time to catch a girl falling down the cliff.
  She was the most beautiful woman he has ever seen in his life apart from his mother. Her eyes were closed tightly braising herself for the fall.
    "There are better ways to die than jumping off a cliff." He said and her eyes snapped open,she pushed him away "Way to say thank you."
    "I wasn't trying to kill myself you physco I was pushed down."
She said making her hair."
"What's your name?"
  "Who cares what my name is?"
    "I just saved your life way to say thank you."
   "Mmm... That fall wouldn't have killed me."
    "Way to show it." Xian said walking away.
    "And where do you think you are going?" She asked.
   "Do you think I just stay here and wait for girls to fall of the cliff?"
   "It sure does look like it." She replied.
  "Ungrateful ass." Xian murmured to himself as he walked away.
    "I heard that."she said.
    "Great, then go your merry way." He said continuing to walk.
    "Thank you." She said making Xian to stop.
  "Oh she knows her etiquette,your welcome."
   "What's your name?" She asked.
    "Xian."
    "I'm Red."
     "Yeah right."
   He said not believing her and she didn't argue with him.
   "I'm going to the flower session do you know where it is?"
   "Yeah follow me. Or you can just go north and you'll find the castle at the highest point you'll just know."
   "Ok bye." She said and left.
   Red arrived at the gate of the castle just when her fellow disciples were,they created their normal formation and she was left at the center just like the master always wanted them to,she wasn't the first disciple nor the last just the sixth one.
The first went and introduced them and Red listened to the conversation.
    "Greetings to the Hikes from the disciples of Hailing we are here to partake in the flower session."
    "Oh, welcome to our castle we will just need your name tags." A soft voice said and the first agreed showing his and our invitation card. Just then a commanding voice spoke making all of us to stop for a minute.
   "Sandra where is Xian this time round?" Red raised her eyebrows when she heard his name being said. Before she could answer someone else did.
    "Probably drinking liquor somewhere in the peach trees."
    "Gabby stop it, you'll anger my brother more." A soft voice replied.
    "Sandra I told you to stop spoiling him,you are the last born between us not him."
    "He promised to help us today remember,he might be helping somewhere else."
   "He is not in the castle Sandra."
    "Maybe that's because he is trying to show those who have never been the way to the castle."
  A voice said making Red freeze, that was her biggest tormentor, the person who made her what she is now,the person who ruined her,her personal nightmare.