Crimson Eye

Part 1

The world around Grey melted into a living nightmare. Rain poured down in relentless sheets, drenching him to the bone as he stood frozen before his mother's lifeless form.

"This can't be happening. What am I going to do without her?" Despair gripped his heart, a raging storm threatening to swallow him whole.

Shivering, not solely from the cold rain but also from the depths of his despair, Grey doubled over. His hands trembled violently as he clutched at his throat, struggling for breath, his chest heaving in silent sobs.

Next to him, a young boy, no more than ten, clung to Grey's side, his small hands covering his eyes, shielding him from the horror before them. His small body trembled with fear, and Grey, despite his own agony, draped an arm around the boy, whispering reassurances, trying to soothe his panic.

Holding him close, Grey endeavored to protect him from the harsh reality that lay bare in the cold night. Tears mingled with rain, blurring Grey's vision, yet he fought to remain the pillar of strength the boy needed.

An electric tension filled the air, the hair at the back of Grey's neck standing on end. They were not alone. He could feel a presence, a familiar energy that vibrated with the same power dormant within him.

The boy, Ashton, sensed it too, his aura fluctuating, sending visible ripples through the air around them. Grey's heart raced with panic.

He shook the boy gently, desperate to keep his burgeoning powers in check.

"No!" Grey's plea sliced through the rain.

But it was in vain. In a spectacle of crimson flames, Ashton was suddenly aloft, encircled by a fiery aura. His hands reached out, his eyes wide with fear, pleading for Grey to save him from the uncontrollable power surging within.

As quickly as they had appeared, the flames extinguished, whisking Ashton away into the night.

Pulse hammering in his ears, Grey watched, helpless, as his brother vanished. 'He's young; his powers wouldn't have taken him far,' Grey reasoned, panic propelling him towards their motel, their temporary haven in this unfamiliar city.

Grey peered into shadowed alleys, his inquiries about a young child met with shakes of heads or shrugs from the few passersby brave enough to face the storm.

"ASHTON!" His voice cracked, desperation lending strength to his legs as he navigated the rain-slick streets.

The downpour twisted the city into a neon-lit maze, each corner a potential hiding spot, each face a potential ally or foe. The chill of the rain seeped into his bones, a constant reminder of the nightmare unfolding around him.

Suddenly, a collision from behind nearly toppled him. Spinning around, heart in his throat, Grey found Ashton, soaked and trembling, his eyes wide with fear.

Dropping to his knees, Grey enveloped Ashton in a fierce embrace, attempting to shield him from the relentless storm with his own body.

As they clung to each other, a voice, sinister and smooth, cut through the rain. "Looking for him, were you?" The question, casual yet made Grey's blood run cold.

He glanced up to see a group of young boys, their faces half-hidden in the shadows. They loomed like ominous specters, emerging from the cars that had pulled up behind them, their intentions veiled in uncertainty.

Their towering stature dwarfed Grey, and a gnawing sense of dread clawed at his insides. He instinctively adjusted Ashton's damp hair to obscure his eyes.

"Yes," Grey managed, his voice betraying his fear. "And who might you be?"

"Cale," the speaker declared with a smirk, offering a hand. "And you?"