The Memory Of Crimson Calderoy

The Screams That Awaken

It was the shrill, sick, bloodcurdling screams that awoke him. Shock and confusion, the room is paralyzed with it. Struggling to detangle myself from the pale sheets, I stare at the strange man with lively eyes, ones that dart across the room and examine certain details. He is nothing but dull, blue eyes and fear.
"Is, something wrong?"

Silence.

"Did you have a bad dream?" I frantically back away, realizing that this is not a dream but real life.

Fast breaths.
Exchanged glances.
Nervousness.
Tension.
Screams.

"WHO ARE YOU? WHO ARE YOU? WHERE'S CALIX? WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO CALIX?"

Tears.
Collapsing.
Rushed movements.

The man nears me, walks around the bed we were asleep in and comes face to face with me. He tries to be tender, strokes my pale face, as he coos soothing words. I shiver at his touch, disgusted by his calmness.

"It's all right, you're alright." I scream and swat him away.
"No it is not! WHERE IS CALIX?"The soft expression on the man's face hardens, frowns. I feel my lungs fail as I begin to take in quick paced, shaky breaths.
"There is no Calix, only me. Remember? I'm Xavier." He grunts, closing in on me, forcing myself further into the wall. Closer. Closer. Closer.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!"
I hit him, taking advantage of his buckled knees and small grunt and sprint away from him. Struggling with the door, I eventually open it and run out into the hall.

All I do is run, escape from the mysterious man. I don't care that I'm barefoot and only wearing a shirt and thin undergarments. I don't care about the people in the motel lobby that give me a strange look. I just want to get away. I push open the doors and run out into the night.

The pavement is jagged, rough on my feet. Cold air nips at my neck, sends unwanted fear and uncertainty down my spine. Darkness and shadows engulf the entire area. The tears, they're still apparent, softly grazing down my cheeks. I move on, confidence in my walk, sadness in my heart.

The streets are lit with shining lights, ones that stab at my eye. Why do they keep them on? It's dark; no one is out. They're wasting energy.
I walk past alleys one filled with stumbling men and putrid odor. People whistle as I walk by, rambling illegible words. Some words I can barely make out.
"Come here pretty. Wouldn't want those looks to go to waste." I spit on the one who grumbled those desperate words. What does he mean? What happened to my old city? Where am I?
More alleyways and rambling men.
More whistles and delighted cackles.
The cold attacks my bare skin, sends me into a fit of uncontrollable shivering. I linger for a store to go into, one that would gladly let me in. There are promising lights up ahead, the signs on them blinking with a neon glow.
Gentlemen's Club
XXX
They read. Wide, destructive looking men stand outside the door, tough expressions on their face.
"Please, I'm so cold. Is there a place I can stay?" I scrunch up my toes, hunch my back. The two of them study me, questions leaking from their eyes.
"Are you a dancer?" The man asks. I cock my head, bewildered.
"What-what do you mean?"
They shake their heads and push me away. I cuss as I fall to the pavement, rocks cutting my exposed hands and knees.
I run until I find an alleyway without the aimlessly wandering men. My feet ache and bleed intensely, my head bruised from the fall before. Shaking, I collapse, not caring if I damage myself any further. "Where's Calix? Where's Calix? Where's Calix?" I can't stop repeating it. Instead of going to sleep I shake impulsively, muttering those useless but powerful words.