Red

Part 4: Suspicions

Chapter 4:

As I stood there, facing my father's dead corpse; I began to remember all the times I had cursed him out. I remembered all the times I wished that he was dead, and there he was, dead. I felt like I had died inside. The shining lightbulb in my heart, that was hope, had been dashed. I had nothing left. I scurried up the stairs, the image of his dead corpse burning in my skull.

He was dead.

I couldn't believe it, but I knew it was the truth as I stood in the solace of my room, stuffing my bag with all my belongings. I was going and never coming back. Alex didn't want me, Seff didn't want me. My father was dead. My grandmother was insane, she wouldn't notice the difference.

I looked at my things, they were scattered all around my floor. Just like my life!

Tears streamed down my face, covering my skin and causing me to shiver violently.

I sat myself down.

Downstairs, in the living room, was my father, dead. All because of me. Everything Seff had said to me was being played back now.

"Soon, there will be a casualty and the one important person to the newborn will be outed through that death. They won't kill the important person."

I was the important person. I was the very reason that my father lost his life. I was a terrible daughter, the worst kind of child; no wonder he hated me. I was sobbing so hard as I mentally tormented myself. The image of my dead father would never leave me. I could never leave this village, I couldn't now. Not when the new-born wanted me.

The newborn would hunt me down, it wouldn't kill me. It would just kill my grandmother, my friends, the fruit seller, Seff, Alex... And it would all be my fault.

I didn't know what to do as I stood in my room, staring at the blank wall. Trying to think of a game plan.

Who could the new-born be?

Maybe if I found him, talked to him and told him that the beast inside them was controlling him, but the only link they had is me. I could save everyone. I could leave with the new-born by my side and tame it. Could I tame such a monster?

If I could, I would change the whole order of events. I tied the red cloak around my neck; placing the thick boots my father never let me wear on my feet. I went to the outside of the house, refusing to glance at my father's dead body. But as I was thinking about where I would bury it, I hazarded it a glance only to find that the body was gone.

I gasped.

This was so much worse than having a dead body in my house. I wasn't safe any longer if someone; no matter how pure their intentions were, could sneak in and clean the house. I swallowed a ball of fear as I considered living in this whole cabin on my own. I couldn't do that.

I picked up the suitcase I had packed, placed it outside my door but out of sight.

I wasn't going to rest until my father's killer, the new-born was found. What I would do to him after I found him; that was just for me to know...

When I got into town, I expected everyone to be mournful. I expected stares; but they were going about their lives without knowing. My blood began to boil when I considered that one of them, had killed my father, but was going on about their lives. I wanted to scream, to shout, but for the first time in my life. I kept my temper in control.

"Red!" The fruit seller, Zane, shouted. I looked at him.

"The money Alex gave me helped finish the payment for my sister's medication and she's recovering really fast." I smiled at him, genuinely happy.