Head In The Clouds

Red Eyes

I decided since my folio from English last year isn't really needed anymore to put it up here because why not! So enjoy!

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The towering trees casted long shadows, creating an illusion of an endless night, thankfully, due to the unmeasured time she'd spent in the darkness, Laqueta's eyes had adapted to the lack of light quite some time ago.
Laqueta walked on numb feet. Walking forward. It was forward, that's all she knew about the direction she was stumbling. Listening to the birds, the wind in the trees, the running streams, she immersed herself in the sounds, disregarding her aching muscles and torn skin. Reaching a stream, she peeled of the tattered remains of her shoes. Ambling along the side of the stream, the water lapping at her feet, sweeping away the grime, revealing her pale skin. She reached a shallow point, where she was able to wade across. The freezing water a sure sign of spring arriving. After crossing the stream, she decided to follow the meandering banks, until sundown, when she heard voices.
For the first time in days, a soft smile spread across her face. Dipping her hands into the stream she scrubbed at her skin and hair, in a half-hearted attempt to make herself presentable. Standing up she strolled towards the agitated voices.
Coming across a camp. She ran her fingers through her hair, jolting to a stop every few seconds. Dark pieces of who-knows-what fell out of her platinum hair.
After observing the group for a couple minutes Laqueta stumbled into the small clearing collapsing on the second step, simultaneously letting out a strangled gasp.
In perfect synchronization, heads snapped in her direction. Seeing a petite girl, collapsed in a pathetic pile, all but one remained wary, suspicious of the girl. Sympathy bled into his eyes. Walking up to her, he hooked an arm under hers, lifter her up with ease.
Speaking softly, like you would to a frightened animal, he asked, "Are you ok? You know it's not safe to be alone in these woods, right?"
All Laqueta did was nod, giving the truthful impression that she was exhausted. Leaning heavily on the person who picked her up, Laqueta managed to stagger over to the rest of the group before, once again collapsing to the mossy ground. Empathy laced into the gazes of the group as they looked at the crumpled body on the floor, Laqueta only had the chance to briefly see the looks she was being given, for the second time that day, a small smile appeared on her face as darkness took over her vision.
She woke up to hear a crackling fire and an equally heated argument. She lay there listening to the harsh words. After she roughly understood what was going on, she let out a soft moan, once again, the attention of the group was undeniably on her.
A voice, croaky and uneven, spoke:
"Where am I?" A fearful tone infused in Laqueta’s words.
The guy from earlier that day... He spoke soothingly, though his words fell on deaf ears. He tried to calm the wide-eyed girl in front of him but no matter what he did her fidgeting didn't - wouldn't – stop, he tried everything from introducing himself to singing a lullaby before looking back at the rest of his group in desperation, no-one would meet his searching gaze. They just blankly stared at the scene, unaware of the rapid thoughts that were flying through Laqueta's head as she decided how she was going to handle this task.
Turning away from the group, she faced the bright tongues of flame, spiralling in un-replicable movements. Laqueta had always loved fire, it can give a new beginning, it could erase everything, yet is still bright, colourful.
As she stared, entranced by the flames, the group sent questioning glances amongst each other. He stepped forward tapping her on the shoulder. On reflex she flinched away from the contact. 
"Sorry, are you ok…" He questioned, then after a moment of thought added “what’s your name?”
She nodded in response, pleased, yet unwilling to use her voice. She turned back to the group, bowed then began to walk away. Only to be stopped by a hand on her wrist. Her eyes followed the arm to his face. "You’re in no condition to walk, please rest," he begged. Looking over his shoulder, she saw the less than pleased expressions on their faces. Noticing her gaze lingering over his shoulder he turned, facing the rest of the group, blank eyes stared back at him.
"Please... Stay..." He whispered.
Once again, her eyes scanned the area before slowly nodding.
That night was silent.
Only embers remained of the once energetic flames. A crack sounded, stark against the harsh silence.
A reek of iron filled the air. Red coloured the tents fabric. 
Inside the dyed tents, bodies lay strewn, some looked like they had died peacefully, others… did not. Each body had a single finger severed, though never the same one. One might be missing a ring finger while another a pinkie and so forth.

***
He woke up to silence, which was rare considering that he was normally woken up by unforgiving words being thrown from one person to another. He regretfully emerged from his warm sleeping bag to confront the rest of his group about the endless bickering he’d had to put up with the past few days. Yet when he exited the tent, no-one was there. It was like a gory Christmas, green trees decorated with scarlet baubles.
He stood, paralysed. Suddenly his eyes flew over the scene, searching. He couldn’t see them.  Outside each tent there were crosses, one for each person that had resided in the tent. Each of the crosses engraved in the ground had been coloured with crimson.
Apart from the empty cast that was outside his own tent.
His knees collapsed. They should have listened. He should have listened. She would have left if it weren’t for him. Before entering the forest, they had been warned there was a “red eyed ghost” who wandered the woods, she hated anyone who treated her inadequately. You have a chance if you ignore her, or if you acknowledge her presence and respected her. But they made a mistake.
Only he asked her name, and that’s her bottom line.
***
A small girl walked away from the campsite. Her pale skin and silver hair reflected the morning sun's rays. While her blood red eyes drew in and extinguished all light. A string of unevenly cut bones hung round her neck. An eccentric grin graced her face.
She’d done what had always been ingrained in her mind;                                                    
“Don’t tolerate impolite people.”