Scarlet Aria

Chapter 1

     Pure white blood. That was my first thought. A snow white blanket laid before me. Crimson red liquid dripped from my skin, tainting the pure white field. And then my first clear memory. The red star. The blood red, six-pointed star on the white ground. Did I make that? I crumpled onto the white fluff. Why is it so cold? The heat is leaving with every red drop. Then, a shadowy boy stops above me. His eyes shine an icy glare as he watches me.

     "Do you want to live?" the boy says.

     I wake with a start. Only the moonlight is visible in my dorm. I shiver uncontrollably as the dream still lingers in my mind. Well, not so much a dream, but a memory. My first memory.

     I am frightened to close my eyes again and I quiver, feeling rather cold in this summer night. I stare at the roof and force myself to stay awake. But after three straight days of absolutely no sleep, exhaustion creeps in and I fall into another dream.

     It's Raina. She's running, fast. She seems out of breath as she races through the corridors. Her long blonde hair sails behind her, glistening like a beacon light constantly following her. And I know this is true, because a dark figure creeps behind her. Raina shrieks as she is stopped by a black wall and turns to face the figure. Her amber eyes reveal pure fear. And as the shadowy figure conceals her, she screams.

     I pant as I sit up, sweating in my blankets. Heaving a sigh, I start to pull off the sheets to get ready when my door bursts open with a slam.

     "Good morning, Aria!" Luke, my only childhood friend, stomps right into my room. "God, your room's a wreck, Ari. You're sure you didn't get robbed?"

     "Luke!" I squeal and throw a pillow at him. Realizing I'm only wearing a shirt and underwear, I pull my blankets over me. "Haven't you ever heard of privacy?"

     He waves my comment aside and says before he leaves, "You're going to be late if you don't hurry." He winks at me before shutting the door.  I look at my clock and curse as I jump out of bed. Ten minutes later, I catch up to Luke as he is gobbling down a muffin.

     I pluck out one of his curly brown hair to let him know I'm here.

     "Ow, what was that for?" Luke rubs his head.

     "Your morning punishment for the day," I joke and we laugh. I grab an apple from the cafeteria before leaving.

     "Hey now, you're already red enough. You don't need to eat a red apple as well, Scarlet Aria," a voice says from behind me. I am stunned to see the golden hair with amber eyes, Raina.

     For a second, I just stare. But then Luke breaks the silence. "Raina, don't be so rude to Aria." He gives her a weird look that I can't understand. But whatever the look he gave, Raina backs off. "Whatever, Lucian." She turns to me.  "I'll see you at the visitor ceremony then," she taunts before leaving.

     To a normal person, the visitor ceremony wouldn't be a good way to taunt someone, but to celebrate about. Parents, family, and old friends get to visit the students in Merlot Academy High. Since it's a boarding school, we don't interact with the outside world too much. So days like this are precious to people.

     But for me, it's not. "Hey," Luke nudges my shoulder. He is several inches taller than me, so I have to look up to face him. "Don't mind Raina," he assures. "You're not all red." I smile a little for him, but I know it's true. I have always been teased for my looks. Red hair, red freckles, my red outfits, and my easily blushing face. I am Scarlet Aria, alright. The only thing that is not red is my dull brown eyes.

     "I don't think I can go to the ceremony," I say. Luke stares at me with his sky-blue eyes. Girls are always chasing after him, but he always sticks by my side. Inside, I know I am glad for that. "Nonsense," he tells me. "I know you're not that cowardly."

     "But there's no reason for me to go in the first place," I argue. "It's not like anyone is going to come and see me."

     I barely notice that everyone has already left to the ceremony. Lucian sighs and gives me a hug. A warm, brotherly hug. I squeeze him as I hold back the tears.

     "Did you have that dream again? That snowy white dream of blood?" he whispers. I nod my head against his lean, muscular frame. "Why can't I remember anything before that?" I mumble through his shirt. It smells of eucalyptus and something very distinct to only Luke. "Why can't I remember anything before I was 9?"

     "I don't know, Ari. All I know is that I found you there 8 years ago, at the brink of death, and saved you," he says. I look up at him.

     "But that's only because I said yes," I remind him. He gives a low chuckle. We start walking hand-in-hand down the hall to the outside ceremony.

     "But that is only because I asked if you wanted to live," Luke replies.