Red Ink

Chapter 1

Her breath began to quicken, sending even more sparks of pain to her chest. Her legs felt like they were trudging through deep snow, or mud, like they each weighed 100 pounds. Her neck was drenched in sweat, and everything felt uncomfortable.

She desired deeply to stop. To stop, and lie on the floor. But she could not. With every step, she came one foot closer to the red ink. A never ending line that continued to move forward in front of her, just barely out of her reach. Surrounding her was white. It forever up and forever around her. She wanted to leave but could not.

On verge of giving up and tripping herself, the girl made a last attempt. She pushed herself to the limit and sprinted five steps but the line sped up, still just out of her reach. She jumped, and fell, the line racing away from her view.

Panting and sweating, Erza Scarlet woke up to Kagura's face. Her lengthy scarlet and tangled hair stuck to random places along her neck and face. Even though she was burning up under the covers, she did not want to show herself being defeated by measly heat, so Erza merely rolled over. Her back was now facing Kagura and she stared blankly at the wall. She was honestly relieved that horrid nightmare was over, but her body ached all over as if she had actually ran.

"Another nightmare?" Kagura asked sympathetically, as she stared down at her older sister.

"Mhmm..." Erza groaned from under her sheets.

"Running still?"

"Mhmm.." Erza replied, shifting around to face Kagura.

"What time is it?" she muttered, squinting past the dark purple hair to see the clock on the wall.

"Its 5 in the morning. You have alot of time to get ready still." With this, Kagura turned on her foot and crawled up the ladder to the second bunk.

"I'm going to sleep for a while. Wake me at 6." The pastel green bed covers ruffled, and soon all that could be heard was the ticking of the clock, and soft pitter-patter of the rain. After a few minutes, Erza pulled herself up and gingerly placed both feet on the floor. As she stood, she pulled down the short white nightgown she was in and slowly made her way over to the drawer. She hastily grabbed her undergarments, a white button up shirt, and a gray skirt. She then head for the shower.

Warm showers were the best way to escape the aches and pains of the nightmare she had been experiencing every now and then since she was six. Erza leaned her head against the shower wall for eternity, then slowly sunk to the floor. Water rained down on her as Erza pulled her legs up to her chest and held them. She began to sing. It always calmed her.

"Silent love, is calling faith, to shatter me through your hallways.."

She stopped, and briefly enjoyed how one note she sang vibrated across the whole the bathroom. She continued and sang and sang. About 10 minutes later she emerged from the bathroom, clothed in what she had brought with her. She sat down at her and Kagura's desk and brushed her hair, resuming singing. The long luscious hair was finally combed through and mostly dry, so Erza put on the rest of her uniform. She pushed her arms through the midnight blue jacket, and buttoned up four buttons. She pulled up knee-high socks that matched her skirt in color. All that was left was the blue converse but she would put those on when leaving.

It was about 5:30 and Erza had nothing to do really, so she went downstairs. She began to bake, for it calmed her mind and her parents owned a bakery in the downstairs half of the house. The main reason was the latter. All the treats in the small glass windows looked delicious but she wasn't particularly fond of anything sweet. During this boring morning, she finished 3 episodes of Haikyuu, and made bland brownies. Kagura was awake and taking a shower. Erza sighed, enjoying the silence, but still worried about the dream. Would she go on like this for the rest of her life?

The serene quietness was soon shattered.

"Good morning swEETY! I CAN SEE YOU'RE UP BRIGHT AND EARLY TODAY." Erza wincing at the high shrilled voice. However she put on a bright smile, glad to see her Dad.

"Hey Zeref." she replied warmly.

"OOOOOO BROWNIES!" he exclaimed, and began to stuff one in his face.

"Erza your such a good cook! I hope you take our small business all the way to the stars!" He managed, with a full mouth. Zeref loved her cooking. Clattering could be heard upstairs.

"OH NO KAGURA!!" Zeref yelled, way too loudly.

"I'M FINE IT WAS JUST BOOKS." she yelled back down to the shop. The house went silent again. But it was scary silence. An eerie one. She was coming. Sweetly and quietly, an sugary voice began to speak upstairs.

"Honey. Zeref dear. SHUT UP I NEED TO SLEEP!" Mavis yelled.

"BUT IT'S 6 FRICKEN 30! EVERYONE IN THE WORLD IS AWAKE BY NOW!" Zeref retorted, as Erza chuckled quietly to herself. Mavis's strictness and Zeref's easy-going-ness often clashed but not too much. And when they did argue, it was mainly playful. Erza loved her life here.

She continued to watch Haikyuu, boredly, as everyone shuffled around downstairs and upstairs. Finally, it was 7:30.

"Kaguraa!" Erza called to upstairs. "It's raining so grab an umbrella." Kagura hopped down the stairs and joined Erza at the door.

"Good bye Mavis, bye Zeref." they recited in unison.

"Bye lovelies!!!" Zeref called out as they opened the door. The little bell at the top of the doorway rang, and the girls opened their umbrellas, greeted by the light showers. And they were off.