Red Ink

Chapter 6

Erza awoke with a jolt, suddenly remembering how bitterly cold it was. She shivered, and pulled the worn out jacket closer to her small frame. Up and down the dingy alley way she resided in, not a person was there. No one. No one except for the old man who had given her this jacket. The one she was curled up next to, on this frigid winter morning. She peered up at his face. He wasn't breathing anymore. He wouldn't move at all. What did that mean? Leaving the man to continue his sleep, Erza thanked him for the jacket, covered him with it, then slowly ventured out into the busteling street.

With no idea where she was going, she put one foot in front of the other. In fact, she did so while staring at her feet, and didn't notice someone was directly ahead of her until too late. With a small 'oomph' Erza tripped backwards onto the hard cement.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" A woman's voice rang out. Erza was immediatly alert. If anyone spoke to you first, they were bad. Without a word, Erza jumped up, and turned to run, not looking back at whoever had sputtered such kind words. However, her small legs didn't get her very far. Her wrist was caught by the adult, who was stronger, and Erza was quickly stopped in her tracks.

"Miss, do you have a home?" Erza turned back to the lady, squinting up and studying her face. Her soft brown eyes crinkled with concern, while Erza's attention was brought to the small blue flower in her short white hair.

"Home?" Erza questioned aloud. What was that? Home. Did she have a home?

"I think you should come with me," The mysterious woman advised with a small smile. She dragged Erza down the street by her arm, which was met with little resistance. Erza knew she had already been caught. If this lady was bad, and Erza put up a fight, the consequences could get worse.

After a couple minutes, the two girls arrived at an old building. Weeds grew where the cracked walls met the ground, baby blue paint peeled off the wall in spots, and one window pane was missing. Erza was ushered in. Her feet. Under her feet it suddenly felt weird. Like she was stepping on grass - but softer. She stared down, wiggling her toes, before the lady guided her forward.

"Sorano, look a new one." The woman called, and another one turned her head. Erza was shoved foward a bit, from behind.

"Yukino, what did I tell you about picking up kids off the street! We already have enough!" She complained.

"But she looked so miserable," The lady, Yukino apparently, wailed.

"Ugh, fine. But she better help out around here." The other one, Sorano, muttered.

"You hear that? This will be your home!" Yukino patted Erza's shoulders and motioned towards the other half of the room. A few other kids were scattered everywhere and joyous laughter rang out. Someone of the same size as Erza, approached her.

"Hi, I'm Jellal. What's your name?" He asked, a smile stretching across his face. Name? Oh wait, she remembers something like that being mentioned before.

"Um, Reza. No, Ezra."

"Ezra? Okay then-"

"Wait no... it's Erza." Erza corrected. The boy looked at her funny. Did she do something wrong? If anything, he looked weird with that red stuff on half of his face.

"Come meet my friends," He suggested and turned away, heading towards some others. Erza glanced back at Yukino behind her, who gave a thumbs up. She followed him.

~~

"My old?" Erza asked aloud.

"No, your age. How old are you?" Jellal inquired. Kagura nodded and added,