The Crimson Trail

Chapter-1

He walked along the path that held captives in bars at both the sides. Having entered inside from an almost unnoticeable entrance, he felt he had transcended to some another world. Loose, small stones, that must have been the part of those same walls in a bygone time, lay scattered on the floor. The only sounds to be heard were of the wind trying to enter the barred place, the dancing, flaming torches and his footsteps rubbing against the uneven, grubby floor. Wicked smiles and cursory glances made him nervous. He walked and walked, and finally stopped. There she was, sitting silently in a pose as if someone was going to capture her in a frame. How quickly had the sand dunes of time swept and changed!
His little princess who once used to envelope him into a ferocious hug- just because she was afraid of nightmares; was now living one. She came forward and smiled at her father. Teary eyed, he held her hands which somehow managed to grasp hers; as if trying to rescue her from the realm she had created for herself. His eyes were sympathetic; hers unapologetic. Choice. Such a small word with such magnanimous consequences.
"Come back."- Her father tried to persuade her and reverse her life's path. "I am there. Just there."
His reassurance was sound enough to let his pity be reflected.
"If you are there, just walk along. Don't drag me back to the place where I don't wish to be anymore." One reply dashed all his plans.
"Why are you doing this? What will you achieve?"- His patience had dried out.
There lies a thin permeable wall between requesting and forcing. His wall had just broken. Bouts of agitation started surfacing.
Her eyes turned cold; as if they amassed all the deadly freezing of the world. The blue iris heightened the effect. They spoke for her even before she moved her lips.
"Satisfaction." He had never heard her, this much calm; this resolute.
"Have you lost your mind? Where are you gone?" The pitch increased along with the growing disappointment.
With a simplicity that could stab, she asked wearing a chuckle, "What is the fun in being found? What is the point of knowing your track and your destination?"
"You need some sense in your brain!" Tones ascended.
"And what is that?" Her vengeful smile was worth a bitter taste.
He let go off her hands and stepped back. The creaky cavern which had been showing off a gilded hue when he had entered, had suddenly transformed to radiate the shades of a flaming orange which was about to extinguish and soon leave the cavern with a muddy blush.
"You might not see me now Claire." His sigh echoed sweeping the entire place.
"I will... whenever I wish to." Her lips managed to curl enough to give out a slight smile.
Disgusted; Jim Flangton left.