Turning Crimson • Jasper Hale

Turning

Never in my life have I felt pain like this. This searing, burning sensation taking over me. I can feel my body shutting down. I never got to tell him. Never got to tell him that I love him.

24 hours earlier

I never really felt like I belonged here. In this time. In this world but I guess you can't help when you're born and you certainly can't prolong your life past death.

So I'm forced to live in 19th century Texas; where disease runs rampant and gun fights are a regular occurrence, I generally try to avoid the main streets at all costs.

"Hey, Adeline." I stop in my tracks when I hear my older brother calling my name,

"Hey, Shepherd, what's up?" He looks at me with a smile on his face; my brother is the one who has raised me through most of my life, since our father is a chronic drinker and our mom died giving birth to me, it's just me and him most of the time,

"Oh nothing, just wanted to see how you were," he put a hand on my shoulder and sighed, "you know since the army came to town you've been lookin' a little out of it, Ade."

Well you'd be out of it too if one of them came up to you asking for your services thinking you were some cheap whore.

"It's nothing Shep, I'm fine." He gave me a skeptical look but dropped the matter anyway and we started walking down the alley way with his arm on my shoulder,

"Well alright but if something is bothering you, you have to come and tell me straight away, am I clear?" We stopped again and he looked me in the eye waiting for an answer,

"Yes we're clear Shep." A huge smile spread across his face, he looks so proud of himself,

"Alrighty then Ade, I gotta go or else the Mrs is going to give me a good lashin' if I ain't home on time."

"Okay, see you later, say hello to Charlotte for me." Shepherd gave me a pat on the shoulder then kissed my forehead,

"Of course I will, see ya later kicker." With that he was on his way so that meant that I could carry on towards the market - which wasn't the best place on the planet but it certainly wasn't the worst place to get your veggies on a Sunday afternoon.

Once out on the market place, I set out to find my ingredients for the stew I was going to make for my brother and his family. My brothers wife, Charlotte, couldn't cook for the life of her and Shepherd refused to even try, so it was down to me to feed them, even if my cooking wasn't the best they've tasted, it sure is the best they've got so they'd just have to deal with it.

With the assorted vegetables in my woven basket, I started my way back my brothers, well not before I got knocked down by a man with the most curious eye colour I've ever seen- not that I was lookin', you can't miss them,

"Oh I'm sorry miss, I was in a rush to get to town and I guess I didn't see you," he had the most endearing smile I've ever seen on a man, I couldn't help but stare a little, "miss? are you alright? Hope I didn't hurt you too badly." I finally snapped out of my stupor,

"Oh no, the only things you hurt were my 'taters, think there's going to be a fair few bruises on them." He gave a low chuckle,

"Well I'm sorry about that, I'd be happy to pay for some new ones if you'd like?" He gave me a small smile that I couldn't help but return,

"Thanks but no thanks, they'll just have to deal with it." He cocked an eyebrow, sudden curiosity spiking even though I don't even know this man,

"Oh yeah? And who would 'they' be?" I gave him a mildly surprised look,