Redder Than The Rest

Prolouge

Rain drips down onto my already wet face. I sobb into the endless night. I play the image of my mother slamming the door in my face, leaving me alone forever, too many times to bare. It's my turn to shut the world out now. My head pulls me into a dark unknown place. My body shakes in the cold, my cries echoing in the dark sky. What am I going to do? Where am I going to go? I ask myself. But I'm just me. I'm not smart, I don't know how to answer questions. Because it's just who I am. A broken boy, on the broken streets, in a broken world.

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"What are you doing, boy?" A gruff voice asks me. Strong hands pull me up onto my feet. "I said what are you doing boy?" The man asks again.
I look up at his scowling, old face, "I'm sorry sir," I tell him.
His scowl deepens, "get off the streets, boy," he spits at me, shoving me off the side walk. I fall into the dusty road, left alone, once again. After getting up, I make my way out of the village and into the neighborhood. The houses are small but look like all I need right now. Tears rest in my eyes, daring to slip and moment. But I keep calm, knowing my fate rests in my hands. The hands
of a small boy. A small red boy.

I walk along the river. A small breeze picks up, blowing the cold air in my face. Several others pass me by, paying no attention to me. They don't care about me. They are suffering just as I am. If only they knew the true meaning of suffer. I do.

By the end the day, my legs are filled with almost as much pain as my heart. I've found a place to stay. It's a small house with a view of the river, and an unlocked shead. I creep inside just before the sun sets.

The floor boards creak as I walk over them. I find the only empty corner and settle in. I look around, disturbed by the silence. It makes my heart have a sudden burst of emotion, and I start to cry again, the memory of my mother comes rushing back. I hate her sorry little soul. I miss my father. And I miss what I thought my mother was. I try falling asleep while still shaking with sobs.

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"What are you doing?" A voice hisses in my ear. My eyes fly open. I awake to see a girl around my age staring down at me. Her dark brown hair falling around her face.
"I'm sorry," I say, "I needed a place to stay."
She stares at me, taking in my batterd clothes and my eyes, red as my blood.
"You've been crying."
I nod reluctantly.
Then she gives me the slightest smile, "you can stay."
I chuckle nervously, "What?"
She extends her hand to help me off the shead floor, "I said you can stay."
I look at her and let my grin slip,
"I'm Kilorn," I tell her.
"Mare."