Insanity

Chapter 1- Familiar Beginnings.

 Rain pattered through the alleyway; a ceaseless plague. The grit slick stone began to grow cloudy with dirt ridden puddles as the sound of droplets atop metal rang out in a song. It was a cold day, the air chill and ruthless, although, that wasn't an uncommon occurrence in the slums of the city; most days were the kind you wondered how you made it through. 

  The rushing water underneath the drains of the broken concrete roads and the sound of hurried footfalls was all you could hear as nearby civilians darted to and from their destinations. The dark alley's, without fail, harbored deep secrets and lives best left unbothered, or so most people thought as they turned their head the other way. Tracing a finger across the gravely texture coating the oily stone, black hair soaked and smeared with grease, a small child sat amongst the filth and rubbish the people left to rot. Her crimson hues were dulled like that of an unpolished ruby, cold and dark sockets traced with lines of exhaustion; the child always thought she could amount to more, and her misfortune consistently made her bitter. Watching the people and passerby she recounted their names once mentioned in conversations long past. They were just faces in a mundane crowd, main characters of their own story yet to be written down on a scratch of paper. Even if that was yet to be written, she remembered them all, she recounted the looks they'd given her, before they moved on in a swift manner; pity, she believed it was. But apparently it wasn't strong enough to warrant a helping hand. 

  As she shifted, she could feel her pale, dirty skin stretch against the willowy length of her bones, she couldn't help but long for the better half of life and the great destiny she felt she was meant for before she'd even been born. She might as well have been cursed to die early, it would be far better than living, she thought, wishing for a swift end and the cold dark, instead of the constant yet festering annoyance of life. The young girl began to trace circles on her knees; an anxious action used in order to distract and declutter her tangled thoughts poisoned with negativity. The skipping of rocks caught her attention, casting a glance up she noticed another child laced with filth, her sister, the more cheerful and optimistic of the bunch; the bright light amongst the dreary days, better left forgotten, she was the reason why she considered the slums not so bad after all. The deathly cold that stirred along the bottoms of the streets, was a tough challenge, but she believed they could brave it together, after all, they were always with each other, through thick and thin. Both sisters could be quite beautiful if they were offered a couple meals to eat and were able to groom themselves properly. Sharp features, winged eyes, and the porcelain skin they were blessed with that seemed to shine in the light, if well taken care of. But no matter the pessimism, she brushed back a strand of cold, wet hair that clung to her cheek, the rain was icy as it rushed down her spine, flushing her skin, thankfully, she had grown used to the sting of it by now.

  "Scarlet! I see mom! I see mom!" The child rose from her daze as if rising from the ashes once she heard the familiar call of her name. Her hands stilled as she uncurled from the fetal position, scraping her knees against the harsh stone, standing at attention, she searched the clotted horizon for a single glimpse of their mothers scraggly appearance. While her sister remained in excited jubilance, Scarlet couldn't help but scowl. Let's just say, her mother wasn't the kindest of people, dragging anyone down so she could ascend to the top. There were many moments the child had witnessed, that showcased her mothers cruelty and carelessness, especially when it came to her life, and the future she still held onto. The continual harassment and treatment as if they were just dross, made her blood boil, and her heart darken. Scarlet was the older of the two siblings, but she couldn't help but be curious as to what her younger sister still saw in their mother. Abruptly, a shadow blanketed the alley in darkness, stretching out like a clawed hand as the lithe woman made of skin and bone hovered at the entrance. Scarlet clutched at the scraps clinging to her body as she surveyed her mother, the woman was once gorgeous, a jewel of the city, or so she had informed them. She had raggedy white hair and bags under her eyes, it was hard to believe they were related, the only thing connecting her origin to that monster was their matching red hues. The youthful girl somehow managed to roll her eyes at every single appearance her mother made, it was the disrespect she held for her that made her so loathsome towards the woman.