Crimson

Prolouge - Best Friends

"I'm going to get you! You can't run forever!" Crim heard the voice yell from behind him. He ran faster, avoiding roots, and stones he had jumped over a thousand times. His heart was pounding, his breathing heavy, and loud. The sun was beating down on him, and it was at this moment, he wished he hadn't worn his favorite Hoodie. It was much too warm for his red jacket in the dead heat of summer. He pushed branches out of the way feeling them grab at his clothes as he ran past them, until he got to the clearing. He made it to the center of the field, when he felt something grab him, pushing him into the tall grass. He held up his hands in defense, waiting for the chaser to attack. But of course, it never came.

"Told you idiot! I always catch up!" Rudy said, looking down at the laughing blond on the ground. Rudy turned and collapsed onto the ground right next to Crim, as the two boys tried to catch their breath, though their constant laughing led to them coughing out their lungs. The dark skinned boy ran his hands through his spiky brown hair, pulling leaves and twigs out with his fingers. Crim looked up at the clear blue sky, watching the clouds drift silently across. The sun shone on the two, lighting up their faces. Crim started to pull at the grass, pulling it out of the ground and ripping it into pieces. He turned to Rudy to see his eyes closed. He broke into a smile, holding the handful of grass clippings. He held it high above his best friends face. 

"Don't look now," Crim said. Rudy's eyes opened with sleepy confusion, but were quickly widened with surprise as Crim dropped the bits of green onto his tan face. 

Rudy sat up quickly spitting bits of plant out onto the ground. Crim was laughing so hard, the back of his head was beginning to hurt. He was rolling on the floor as Rudy joined in, wiping his face.

"You piece of shit!" Rudy laughed. "You're so gonna regret that."

Crim sat up smiling at Rudy, "Really? What are you gonna do-"

Crim's sentence was cut off as Rudy pushed him over into the grass and stood over him. He carefully lifted a foot right above Crim's face.

"Any last words?" He said smiling. 

Crim covered his face while laughing. "I have no regrets!" Suddenly Rudy stomped his foot right next to Crim's face. The two boys laughed as Rudy held out a hand to Crim, pulling him up quickly. Crims long blonde hair fell onto his face, and he pushed it away with his pointer finger. He smiled at Rudy, but that was quickly replaced by a confused expression. Rudy was staring at something in the grass. He followed it with his eyes which were darting around randomly. Crim watched for a second as Rudy took a step forward and watched his stare look ahead, as if what he was watching darted forward to the end of the meadow. He was about to run after it when Crim grabbed his shoulder. 

"Rudy?"

"Hmm?" He asked looking at Crim, "Oh sorry! There was a mouse," He smiled but it seemed like his mind was somewhere else.

"Ok..?" Crim said taking his hand away. Rudy looked at his watch and his eyes widened. 

"Oh! It's almost 12:00. We need to get back before Clara gets mad. We don't wanna miss lunch," He said grabbing Crim's arm.

Crim smiled slightly, "Yeah, we don't wanna make Aunt Clara angry." But even though they had dropped the whole mouse ordeal, something about it didn't make a lot of sense to Crim. What was Rudy going to do?

What would he have done?