Red like Blood and Roses

Prologue: The end is just the beginning

This is the end.

The night sky was dark and angry and the navy blue canvas speckled with twinkling stars was completely covered by angry storm clouds. Rain poured down in heavy sheets, raindrops relentlessly pelting the gravel road and the surrounding buildings. Streetlights dotted along the road filled the street with an eerie glow. Shutters were drawn over store fronts and all the outdoor tables and chairs of cafes that were filled with people chatting, laughing and working in the day have all been tucked away indoors. The sidewalk that was bustling with people a few hours ago was now desolate apart from the single figure standing in the rain. Me.

As the sky sobbed continuously and let out occasional groans of thunder, I couldn't help but notice that it strongly resembled my mood at this moment, after I had recently come to a sudden realisation.

I am a shitty person, and I hate myself.

I stood at the empty bus shelter completely drenched, not even bothering to seek shelter under the roof of the shelter. My frizzy dark brown hair that would usually flow down my back in loose ringlets was now matted to my face and clothes. Amber eyes which were once bright and filled with life had turned dull and were ringed with dark circles, reminders of many sleepless nights. My black top and jeans clung to me like second skin and my light windbreaker jacket did nothing to protect me from the shower. My small suitcase beside me that was hastily packed with a bunch of random clothes was now just as soaked as me, and I was sure there was a lot of stuff I had left behind, but that fact didn't bother me.

I was bound to get sick from the rain and the sharp frosty wind but I really couldn't care less. A cold would be the least of my problems right now, and I probably deserve to get sick anyway. The pain it would cause me would be nothing compared to the amount of pain and grief my presence has caused ever since I got here.

My mind suddenly flashed back to the events that have happened over the last couple months. There were so many good moments and memories I will cherish with me forever, people I have come to love like family. The smiles, the laughs and the deep moments where we opened up our hearts to each other. They made my high school experience unforgettable.

But then came the other reasons that made this year one that will be etched into my mind for the rest of my life. The bad ones. I've caused too many problems for the people care for. I was a burden upon them all and I will never forgive myself for dragging them into this mess. They trusted me, put their faith in me. They believed in me.

Too bad I let them down like the disappointment I am.

The most horrible moments played in my mind like a broken record that I just couldn't stop.

The body... the blood... so much blood.

"Gianna, you have to go now. Please, one of us has to make it out of here,"

Tears streamed down my face as I leaned forward and gave them a kiss on their forehead.

"I love you" I whispered hoarsely, and it was softly murmured back with laboured breath.

"And I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry,"

And with that I stood up, gave them a wobbly smile to try mask the pain in my eyes and ran.

Tears spilled down my face at the memory, mixing with the rainwater dampening my cheeks which were flushed from the cold. My heart squeezed tight at the memory as my soft sobs were muffled by the downpour.

I'm so so sorry...

Thats why you're leaving, my subconscious voice said, so you can never hurt anyone again.

Especially him.

My heart panged at the very thought of him. All I wanted to do was to run back into the safety and protection of his open arms, for him to brush my hair away from my face and give me a soft kiss on the forehead, to be wrapped around in a blanket with a mug of hot cocoa and for him to tell me everything will be okay, and to look into his eyes and see the raw sincerity that would make me believe his words without a second thought.

I shake the thought out of my head. No, I have to stay strong. I can't give in to my selfish wants, not when I'm so close to freeing them, freeing him, of me.

A shiver ran through my body from the freezing rain, so I moved my bags under the bus shelter and took a seat. I quickly dried my puffy eyes and composed myself, trying to put on the most passive face I could muster, but I could tell that there were obvious holes and cracks in my facade. I checked my bus times app to see when the bus would arrive. The next bus to the airport appeared to be coming in 2 minutes.

2 minutes until I could say goodbye to this hellhole and make a fresh start somewhere new with nothing weighing me down. I struggled to muster up as much optimism as I could.

This wasn't the end, it was only the beginning.

I leaned back in my seat and let out an exhausted sigh and closed my eyes to try and find peace in the pitter patter of the torrent.

Now you're probably thinking that I'm crazy and wondering what on earth is going on and I guess to explain that we're going to have to go back to the beginning.

No, I don't mean as far back as when I was born, I mean to the beginning of this mess.

So buckle up folks because this is gonna be one hell of a ride.

My name is Gianna Grayson, and this is my story.

A/N

And that's the prologue done! There are so many unanswered questions here I know but patience my young grasshoppers, all will make sense in due time. In the meantime, just enjoy the ride :)

And because I'm hella nosy and just want to get to know any wonderful soul who reads this story, I'm gonna ask a question at the end of every chapter. They will probably be random AF but I'm a random person so...

We'll start basic.

Okay question number 1:

What is your favourite colour?

Mine is purple but I love black, grey, blue and dark green and red and pastel colours are really pretty too

Anyways, feel free to vote comment and share

Or don't. Thats totally okay too :)

Until next time my friends!

~Zahra