Chapter 1
It was a calm evening that Halloween night. There was a full moon and each star twinkled like a miniscule diamond. A cool breeze brushed through the trees and the leaves danced the patterns of the wind landing one-by one in a still pond.
Inside the house was a series of fanciful décor. One after another was a demonstration of wealth and high class. First entering the house felt like stepping into a ballroom surrounded by expensive vases and coated with imported carpets.
In the midst of the massive lobby was a collection of costumed adolescents dancing the night away. This party was hosted by none other than Alicen Harper, a model student, daughter, and friend. She receives straight A’s while winning over the title of “Homecoming Queen “ for the 4th year in a row with her dazzling crystal eyes and long, luscious blonde hair. Her skin is somehow immune to pubescent acne and her figure seems to be kept with little to no effort. Needless to say she was the most popular girl in school and yet she is not the heroine of our story…
Outside, in the backyard, centered in a giant grass maze sits another young maiden. She gazes up at the stars recalling all the constellations her father taught her. Though she was 16, but a mere two years younger than her sister, she was not the blooming socialite and star child Alicen was. She was quiet and introverted, and preferred to be alone either staring up at the stars, or, if it is daytime, curl up with a good book. They call this girl, “Red”.
She’d earned this nickname by her fire-engine tresses. Everyone was stunned at this phenomenon since her whole family was blonde-haired, blue-eyed and she was red-haired, green-eyed. Her parents even got a paternity test to make sure she was with the right family despite the controversy it came back positive.
Red was wearing a personalized version of Dorothy’s dress in the Wizard of Oz, courtesy of Alicen. The classic blue dress had been shortened, frayed, and staffed with multiple red underskirts to give it a tutu-like appearance. The sleeves were removed causing the dress to be supported by a combination of her chest (or lack there of) and a red-laced black corssette. The ol’ ruby red slippers had now become ruby red flats with lacy black straps tying up mid-skin.
Though Red could care less what she was dressed in, Alicen would rather cut your throat than let you attend her party looking unfashionable.
Red chuckled at the thought of her sister committing murder. She peered through the window to see Alicen fitting her dress as an angel, dancing beside Jack Woods, the hottest guy in school and social counterpart of her sister.
Red turned and walked back towards the maze when a small white furry blur caught the corner of her eye. It’d come and gone so quickly she’d assumed it was a bird or even less significant another of her sisters “friends”. She continued through the green brush to where the bench awaited.
Lost in her own thoughts, Red found herself wondering for several minutes. She knew it didn’t take this long to get to the center. She’d gone through the maze millions of times ever since she was a little girl and had never once gotten lost. For some reason, this time everything was different. Her paths weren’t getting her anyplace and with every turn she was faced with another wall of green.
She was about to call for help when she caught a glimpse of that furry white sight. It had a tail and two big floppy ears.
