The Red Light

Prologue-- Cori, you're just not ready

The cold of the floor caresses my body. Blood flows from my nose and my head pounds. The popcorn ceiling spins in all directions. My lungs hurt as I take in deep, shallow breaths. My pulse is thready and my eyes are throbbed with heat and moisture. If I could go back, I would change everything about that day. Everything.

7 months ago, Miami Florida....

I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling. Everything is bleak and lonely. Mom is off at work attending to an emergency call downtown. My mom is the chief of the Miami police department, so she isn't home very often anymore. When she is, we mostly just sit in separate rooms and do separate things.

The latch on the front door opens and I get up to greet my mom and talk to her about my plan. "Mom! We've gotta talk." I walk down the slim hall and greet her at the door. She looks up at me with her blue eyes through her hectic blonde hair.

"What, Cori?" She asks irritated.

"I want to move out. I think I'm ready to tackle the beautiful world of Miami on my own." Her eyes grow huge.

"No way, you have no idea what's going on out there right now. Its not safe. Besides, you are nowhere near ready to be out there on your own. The answer is no." My nose crinkles at her answer.

I dont recall asking, but to keep the peace I take in a deep breath, smile, and walk away. When I get to my bedroom, I grab my purple suitcase from the top shelf in my closet. There still hangs a tag from our trip to cuba- our last trip. I trace the name on the claim sticker. Travis hunt.

My father died 5 years ago, two days after we got home from Cuba. He was a victim of the drug trade, the very organization mom has been working to take down. He got too close to the truth, and that was the end of that. Since his death, mom has been impossible, salivating at the mouth to catch the people that caused her misery. During all that justice, she managed to neglect me and my needs. I learnt how to cook, clean, and keep responsible for myself and my grades very young. Which is why I think I can move out. I graduate in a month, I'm an adult and I want her to treat me like one.

I pack my clothes up into my suit case and put it by the door. I'm nearly ready to leave when I realize that I lost my headphones on my way home from school. Somewhere between the parking lot and my car lay my headphones. I sigh and grab my wallet, deciding I would run to 7/11 then come back for my stuff and kiss my mom goodbye.

The walk is swift and I find myself with music in my ears the rest of the way home. I plug the headphones in and put them in my ears. Britney spears '3' plays in my ears. My head bobs as I walk down the street.

A shadow catches the corner of my eye. I turn my head to the left to see what is behind me. I see a tree branch move, but no person. I turn back around and continue walking. The shadow gets closer, my heart pumps louder. I clutch my wallet closely and put my keys between my fingers.

Suddenly I feel moist, warm air on the nape of my neck. I urge my feet to move faster. Soon, I see two shadows behind me. I spin around and bring my key filled knuckles up only to be met by darkness.