"Freeze!" screamed the girl. I opened my mouth to say something back, and knowing me it was probably supposed to be a witty remark of some sort, but all that came out was a strangled whimper. I swallowed my fear as I slowly realized that there was nothing else to live for. I certainly didn't want to die, but as I looked death in the face, it didn't seem all that menacing. I'd get to be with my father and my older sister, Oriole. I wouldn't have to be weeping in a crumpled heap on the floor right now. It would be, quite frankly, nice. Peaceful, almost. I smiled. "What are you smiling at, you idiot? I'm about to shoot you!" And oh, how right she was. I looked at her and smiled some more. Maybe if I acted completely insane she would just pass me up and be on her way. So far my theory was working. "What's your name?" she asked me, with more than a hint of unease in her voice. "Wren!" I cried, still smiling, and stuck my hand out. "Go on," I said. "Shake it! I don't bite when I first meet someone!" Then I collapsed into hysterical laughter as if I had just said the most hilarious thing in the world. Leave, I thought. Leave me alone this second and let me mourn in peace. "Well, Wren--" started the girl, but I didn't let her finish. "What, I don't get to know your name? I just told you mine! Now, I don't think that's very cordial, do you?" I said very evenly. The girl seemed quite unnerved by my sudden calm demeanor. "The name's Crimson." I had to resist the urge to wrinkle my nose at the sound of her name. Mainlanders give their children such ridiculous names. I had to admit that it did seem to fit her, though, with her ruby colored hair that stuck out in all directions. While I was wondering if her hair was dyed or not, I continued to grin and laugh insanely. "Well Crimson," I said in the way a person might talk to their old friend, "this is the old cabin!" I gestured around our small house and turned in a circle. "Oh, and this is my family!" I pointed proudly at the two corpses on the floor, like I was a four-year-old who had just finished a painting. Just for good measure.
