Perfect Crimson

This was originally a school assignment for my Creative Writing class, and I think it turned out rather well. This is the edited AND EXTENDED version. I hope you like it!

Thanks for Reading,
Gratia

(P.S. Go read stuff from my friend Silvergage's portfolio!)

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Perfect Crimson


Chapter 1: Dangerous Acquaintances

She stood outside the dark blue door to the small, narrow townhouse. She could feel that she was soaked from the rain, despite the green umbrella hanging from her right wrist. She looked at her reflection in the window. Her tan trench coat rested loosely from her bony frame, her light brown hair hung limply to just above her shoulders. Her once bright gray eyes were now red and swollen, as if she had been crying for half of her life, fueling the icy sheets of rain that tortured her now. But she didn’t try to shield herself from that torment. All she could do was stare blankly at that chipped, blue door.


“Laura! Come on, hurry up! You don’t want to be late again, do you?”

“Coming Mom!” The teenager rolled her eyes, and grabbed her once-baby-blue backpack, which now served more as a notebook than anything else. She looked in the mirror quickly, straightening her new blue t-shirt, making sure that her fiery red hair was in place, before skipping lightly down the stairs. Stealing a granola bar from her Dad’s already waiting hand, she blew a quick kiss, and pranced out the door and into the chilly morning air before her parents could remind her of some after-school annoyance.

“Finally! What took you so long, Lores?” her best friend Jessica said, rolling her eyes.

“The ‘rents wouldn’t let me out…”

“Lockdown again? What did you do?” Jesse said, gaping at her goody-two-shoes friend. She took her friends backpack, reading the latest inscription: Do not as others tell you, but rather what your heart tells you. Next to it read the words that she herself had written on there: Do not trust your mind, for it is deceiving. Rather, trust your soul, for that is what knows you best.

Laura sighed in annoyance, snatching the bag back from her friend’s hands. “No more writing. Not until we get to school. My parents are watching, and probably wondering why we haven’t left yet.” She added, hinting that they should depart.

Jessica rolled her eyes and checked her rearview mirror, and -with an unheard of skill- pulled out of her friend’s driveway, managing to knock over the neighbor’s garbage can, just like every other morning. To avoid confrontation, she sped down the roads of the suburbs, nearly running over a baby stroller and a mother. “Stupid pedestrians…” she mumbled sourly.

“I mean, I didn’t do anything! Nothing at all actually,” Laura ranted about her house arrest for the fifth time that car ride. “I only asked them for a raise in my allowance, but it didn’t work, as you can so clearly see.” Laura gave a wry smile.

“Ha! Well, at least you tried! Just think, if you had succeeded, then we could have gone to that-”

“Evanescence concert, I know,” Laura groaned. “Maybe I can still-”

“No way, it would never work.” Jesse said firmly.

“But don’t you think-“

“Not in a million years.” Jesse said, her mouth set in a grim line, gray eyes flashing.

“Are you-”

“Absolutely, positively.” And that was it. When that phrase was spoken by either of them –especially by Jesse- it basically meant “end of conversation. Drop the topic, because I will probably have a better idea anyway”.

By the time they got to the school, Jesse had devised a plan more brilliant than a million war strategies. Of course, she had had two cups of coffee that morning, which definitely were her accomplices in the forming of this plot. Not that she would tell Laura her scheme. Besides, her friend would probably veto it immediately.

As the two friends fought through the wall of students blocking their homeroom, Laura was nearly pushed over, to be caught by a cold, metal locker.

“Hey watch where you’re going, idiot!” she heard Jesse yell at the fiend. Laura looked up to see a pale hand being slapped away by her best friend. “Don’t try to help her up! You’d probably just drop her on purpose, wouldn’t you? Yeah, I thought so!” Laura sighed. As much as she loved her friend, she could be a little overprotective sometimes.

“I-I said I was s-sorry…” Laura heard an alto voice mumble, a large portion of apology hidden in those words. She struggled to her feet, grabbing onto Jess for support.

“It’s ok, I’m alri-” she paused mid-sentence. She was facing the most gorgeous face she had ever seen. Short, silver-blonde bangs hid one of his deep garnet eyes. He had a pale complexion; he could probably blend in with the snow of he had wanted to. He was dressed smartly in white from head to toe, except for a black t-shirt under his jacket, though, against his skin, it almost looked cream. He couldn’t have been more than six feet tall; perfect to her five foot nine.

“Are you ok?” Jesse looked at her incredulously. She couldn’t believe it. Her best friend was falling for a guy who knocked her into a locker. She elbowed Laura. Hard.

“Ow! What was that for?” Laura glared at her friend, knowing perfectly well what this was all about.

“Well… If you’re ok…” the perpetrator shuffled his feet uncomfortably. He knew to leave well enough alone, especially if it was an argument between girls. Besides, they never had to vocalize anything; they just knew.

Laura turned to the garnet-eyed figure, and smiled warmly, her green eyes meeting his own. She held out her hand for him to shake. “I’m sorry, I never properly introduced myself. I’m Laura Hartsford. And you are…?”

He stared at the hand dumbly, not sure what to do. He finally took it, and kissed the back, thinking that was what he should do. “I’m Arister, Arister D’Ary. It is a pleasure to meet you, Laura Hartsford.” He smiled back.

Jesse rolled her eyes, disgusted at the two. She could just imagine a pink heart scenery animated behind them. Though, she had to admit, he was kind of cute… Before she could think of what she was saying, she blurted out, “Do you have a brother?”

Arister looked at her surprised, and Laura covered her mouth, turning aside, and trying not to laugh. She could feel her face start to flush as her neck and face grew hot with embarrassment. She couldn’t believe that she’d just said that.

Arister didn’t seem fazed at all. He tried to keep himself from smiling as he replied to her unexpected question. “Actually, I do have a brother; he is one year older than me. His name is-”

“My name is Alisdair. Alisdair D’Ary, at your service, milady.” He took Jessica’s hand in his, and kissed it softly, his deep blue –almost black- eyes never leaving her, the silvery flecks in them seeming to dance, pulling her in. “And you are?”

“I-I’m Jessica. Jessica Jadeston. But you can call me-” and of course, she got pushed over at that moment by some random, rushing student. Great. Complete humiliation. She started to fall, and closed her eyes, waiting for the floor to hit. But it never came. Instead, she looked up into a pair of blue eyes.

“I may call you what?” Alisdair asked, smiling slightly, eyebrows raised in amusement. He set her on her feet.

She brushed off imaginary dust on her dark gray shirt, flattered that he had caught her. “You may call me Jesse.” She smiled at him, almost triumphantly, though she wasn’t quite sure why. Neither of the smitten pair noticed Laura’s odd stare.

The two were just about to start a lengthy conversation, when, much to their disadvantage, the bell rang ominously, reminding them of where they were. They smiled briefly, and then Jesse nearly fell backwards again, for Laura had latched onto her arm, and was practically dragging her away from the brothers, who had somewhat confused looks on their faces. She waved a hand at them apologetically; Laura was definitely not earning her brownie points today.

Jesse twisted away from her friend the barnacle, and turned to face her. “Ok, Laura, what is your problem? Did you see who you just made us leave?” she asked incredulously, her voice rising at least two octaves.

Laura nodded, a grim expression on her face. “Yup. I saw.”

“Then why-”

“Didn’t you think that it was all just a little bit too perfect?” Laura interrupted.

“What?” Jesse couldn’t believe this. What was her friend thinking?

“You know. As if they are too perfect. I mean, look at them.” They turned in sync to look at the brothers, but they had vanished. The girls sighed, and walked to class. They made it to class right on time, and immediately began the note-passing.


J: Now explain y u dragged us away!
L: Couldn’t u tell? They were just 2 perfect! Almost angelic…
J: And that’s a bad thing?
L: U idiot! U asked if he had a bro. Immediately, his brother appeared. U fall for the old, renaissance, gentlemanly type. What is he? A PERFECT gentleman!
J: Well so was urs!
L: That’s beside the point!
J: How so?
L: Gah! U just don’t get it, do u? They can’t be human!


Jesse threw a scathing look in her friend’s direction. Laura glared back as she watched her best friend crumple up the note, and toss it into the garbage bin. As she walked back to her seat, she heard the door open behind her. She caught a glimpse of Laura’s face as she began to turn. It was paper white. Her gray-blue eyes were large and frightened. Jesse spun around, and found herself facing the topic of their conversation.

It was Alisdair.

Jesse quickly made herself walk to her seat, practically falling into the chair. She just stared at him, ignoring the oohs and ahs echoing around the room. She watched dumbly as the teacher spoke with the statuesque Alisdair, pointing him to his seat. Jesse followed Mr. Dunsbure’s gaze, and drew in a sharp breath as she realized that the only open seat was right next to her. No way. This could not be happening. Her dream guy was walking across the room, his destination right next to her. Maybe… Jesse looked over at Laura’s frightened face. Are you right, Laura? Is he dangerous? She only wished that her friend could here her thoughts, then maybe she could answer.

“Dangerous?” a low voice murmured near her ear. The girl looked sharply next to her, her eyes widened in shock. Could he hear her thoughts? Alisdair chuckled softly. “Oh, yes, yes I can. And may I say, that they are very interesting thoughts. Me? Dangerous? I’m sure you must be wrong.” Jesse started to turn to face the board, and knocked her pencil off of the desk. With lightning-fast speed, Alisdair caught the writing utensil between his thumb and forefinger. He rewarded her with a dazzling smile, as he offered up the pencil to the awed Jessica Jadeston. She just stared at the pencil, shocked at his fast reflexes. “Or maybe I am dangerous…” he murmured as he placed the pencil next to her shaking left hand.

Jesse’s face flushed. “Thank you.” She stated, wary of her knight-in-shining-armor. Or was he? She stole a glance through her short light-brown hair at Alisdair when she heard him chuckle. No doubt he had heard her latest thoughts. Which meant he could hear them now. Which could be a major problem. It wasn’t that she minded it or anything; she actually found it kind of amusing. It would just get annoying. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if she could read his thoughts…

“Would you like to find out, sweet lady?” she turned to Alisdair. She knew that he was taunting her, but she took that comment seriously. Would she? Would it really be all that great to be able to read someone else’s mind?

No. She wouldn’t want to. To know all the plots and scheming and secrets that ran through someone else’s mind… No. It would be terrifying. She shook her head mutely. Alisdair laughed, his voice low.

“What’s wrong? Frightened?” she could feel his breath on her ear, even though he wasn’t next to her.

“Mr. D’Ary, how many wives did King Henry the Eighth have?”

“Six.” Alisdair said, disdain in his voice. He hated to be interrupted. Besides, all of this was boring. He had known Henry personally; this would be a waste of time, except that she was here.


“Did you see him? Wasn’t he absolutely gorgeous?”

“I know! But did you see his brother? I think I prefer Arister any day!”

“Oh my gosh, did you see how sensitive Arister is? When he was accused of knocking over that girl this morning, he looked like he was going to cry!”

“Well, it what it was never his fault, anyway! She was the klutz!”

“And Alisdair… Such a purr-fect gentleman!”

“Both of them are!”

“I know!”

Jessica rolled her eyes as she walked past a group of girls gushing about the two newcomers. They weren’t that great. And Alisdair was a total snob.

“I may call you what?”

“Or maybe I am dangerous.”

“Would you like to find out, sweet lady?”

All of his words that had emerged from that seductive alto voice echoed in Jessica’s mind. Who was he? Or, better yet, what was he? No human could ever have reflexes that fast, she thought to herself, remembering how his hand had practically sliced through the air to catch her pencil.

For the second time that morning, Jessica fought through the crowd, but this time to get to her locker. She stared at the floor as she walked, wary of passing feet. The small granite-like specks of the floor seemed to dance in her vision as she moved closer to her destination. She shifted her bag to her left shoulder as she reached towards the tan locker’s padlock. Now, what was that combination again? I think it was 10-23-17…

“Allow me,” a silky voice said quietly behind her. Before she could protest, a pale hand rocketed in front of her, and spun the padlock with fast, long fingers. Her locker clicked as it opened without complaint.

Without even looking at who it was, Jessica switched her books around. “Alisdair, what are you doing?”

“Just lending a helping hand.” The smooth voice replied, a smug edge in it.

“I’m sure you are.” Jessica couldn’t resist the call of sarcasm.

“Oh?” Alisdair asked innocently as she turned to face him. “What- you don’t believe me?”

“No.”

“Ouch! Burn!” A basketball-playing passerby shook his hand in exaggeration. “Man, you better get yourself a new girlfriend!” he chuckled as he went on his way.

“He’s not my boyfriend, you-” Alisdair clamped his hand over the angry girl’s mouth.

“Tsk, tsk! You really should watch your tongue, you know. Besides,” he gave her a mock-serious look, “his brother’s on the wrestling team.” Jessica just glared, and bit the ice-cold hand smothering her. “Ouch! What was that for?” the surprised school-idol drew back in shock.

“I don’t like being restrained or silenced. I can take on anyone.” She said with superiority. Inwardly she knew that wasn’t true, but she wasn’t about to admit that to the likes of him.

“You can, can you?” Alisdair said teasingly. Then, more seriously, almost to himself he was so quiet, “but can you take on me?” He turned on his heel, abruptly walking away at a quick pace.

“Wait-” Jessica began to call after him, then stopped, figuring that he might actually let her be this time. The final bell rang, and she swore. It was chiding her for her tardiness again. She slammed her locker shut, and sprinted to her classroom. Little did she know that she was being followed.


Laura seemed to skip out of choir, humming a song as she made her way to her locker. She spun the lock a few times, and backed away as the long metal door swung open, knocking some of her books out of her hand. She sighed, and bent down to pick them up. As she reached for them, a pale, long-fingered hand mirrored hers. She looked up, meeting the garnet eyes of Arister. He smiled, and handed her her books.

“Oh, th-thank you…” she stammered, dazed by his eyes.

“It is nothing.” He said politely. They both rose to their feet in unison; Laura tore her eyes away from his penetrating gaze- with eyes like that, he could probably see into her soul. She quickly switched her books, and grabbed her paper-bag lunch, skillfully balancing everything in her arms.

“Will you eat lunch with me, Laura?” Arister asked, a strange light in his eyes.

“Umm… Sure, of course!” She said, her heart leaping inside, though she wasn’t sure why. “Normally I eat with Jessie; you don’t mind if she joins us, do you?”

“I’m sure that won’t be a problem today. I heard that she’s in the library for all of the lunch hour.” He smiled reassuredely.

Not sure what to say to that, Laura glanced towards the library uncertainly. “Oh; ok then.” She smiled falsely. “Let’s go eat lunch then!” Inwardly, she couldn’t help but wonder why Jessie was in the library; she never went there. Laura shrugged as she and the handsome, animate statue walked towards the commons. She would ask Jessie about it later. Right now, she was going to publicly eat in the commons with Arister, and make the whole female population of the school insanely jealous.


Jessica sat down on a small bench outside of the library side-entrance which was seldom used. The bench itself was hidden from view by all of the untrimmed bushes, creating a small hideaway for her. She took a sip of her vanilla-bean-coffee, and opened her fantasy book happily. She was reading Stephenie Meyer’s new novel, New Moon. She had been waiting for this book for months, and now she finally had a spare moment to read it. She began, and was immediately absorbed in the life of Bella and her vampire friends.

“Oh! Jessie- I’m sorry. I’ll leave.”

“Yes, maybe you should-” Jessica looked up to see Alasdair’s strained -face. “Oh, Alisdair! I’m so sorry! You don’t have to leave. I thought you were someone else!” She scooted over on the bench, making room for her knight-in-shining-armor.

“Well, if you’re sure-” Alisdair shifted uncomfortably.

“Yes, of course! Please, sit!” Jessica waved a hand over the vacant seat in welcome. He sat down a bit reluctantly.

“They follow me everywhere!” he blurted out suddenly, surprising the smitten teen.

“Who?”

“Those girls! They think I’m some sort of god or something!” he sighed in exasperation.
Jessica giggled, then caught herself. She never giggled. “Well, of course they do, silly! You and your brother are somewhat of a novelty around here…” She wanted to add on, Even to me, but didn’t want to scare him off so soon. She liked Alisdair, and found him intriguing.

As if he read her mind –which he may very well be able to do- he replied, “As long as you don’t start stalking me; then I’ll definitely know that the world has gone insane!”

She slapped him lightly on the arm. “You don’t have to worry about that! I think you’re stalking me, anyway!” she joked.

“Ha! You may be right! I do seem to be everywhere you are!” he laughed good-naturedly.
After their traded jokes, the air around them lightened, and the tension evaporated.
From then on, while Laura and Arister shared lunch in the commons, Jessica and Alisdair would always sit at their own private table next to the library. The two brothers were slowly separating the pair, and drawing out their differences. In their case, their plan was falling into place, and the net had been cast.


A pale, black-trench coat-clad figure leaned up against the side of a townhouse, just out of sight of the blue-door. He smiled mischievously, and looked up to the sky. The moon was a perfect floating orb, seeming to hang from the strings of Fate. The stars shimmered, weaving a net of light. Everything was in sync that night, waiting for the statuesque teen to perform his task, and in full support.

Except for the wind.

The wind howled its fury at him, throwing curses and hexes, protesting against his silent movements. It refused to let him pass. The boy glowered darkly at the air in front of him, and sighed. He peered into a window. The two girls were heading upstairs, the red-head’s arm slung loosely around the other teenager’s shoulders. They both laughed at something; oh, if only he knew what brought that sweet laughter out of the lighter-haired ones mouth. What was it that she loved to laugh about? One day, he would find out, and make her laugh by saying it. If only he knew when that day would be…

A sudden force flew out of nowhere, pushing the stalker back.

“Alisdair, what do you think you’re doing?” Arister hissed, slamming his brother against the outside of the house, digging his nails into his shoulders until Alisdair bled.

“Hunting.” The other replied casually, pushing away the restraints. “What do you think you’re doing?” he shot back.

Arister shifted uncomfortably.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Alisdair said sarcastically. “You’re supposed to be hunting the other girl, right? So why aren’t you?”

“I like her. She’s a pretty cool person. She understands me- something that you, brother, can never do.” He shot back, spitting the word at Alisdair’s face. “Please, Alisdair,” he whined, “don’t make me kill her…”

“You’re the one who wanted this life, remember?” he snapped. “So deal with it. Now, go!” he waved his hand, motioning for him to leave. Arister just glared at his brother, and stalked off, his form fading into the night until there was nothing left.


The two girls were at Laura’s townhouse, which was badly in need of a paint job. Her parents were out for the weekend, so Jesse was staying over to keep her company. It was a second home to her, a place where she could be herself without worries, so she was more than willing to be there. Besides, Jesse needed to get Laura to watch at least one horror film, and she knew just the one.

Jessica sat on the floor with her friend, watching the vampire horror movie, tossing popcorn into her mouth. It was the 1992 version of Dracula, and Jesse could hardly keep herself from yawning as Laura clutched her arm tightly. She had a mind to tell her that she was probably cutting off her circulation, when she heard something bump against the house. Laura was too absorbed in the movie to notice when Jesse rose from her seat, shaking her friend off of her arm, and left the room. She silently made her way down the stairs, to the front door. Before she even reached the eyehole, someone knocked on the door. She froze. It was eleven pm. Who could possibly be showing up here at this time of night? Without even bothering to look, she opened the door, to be abruptly tackled by a rather disheveled looking Alisdair.

“A-Alisdair?” she stammered, trying to push him off of her. “Alisdair, what is it?”

“You!” he rasped. “It’s you! I can’t do this anymore. Three weeks have passed since we first met, and I can’t stand living without knowing if you’ll say yes!”

“Yes to what?” she turned, startled as the door slammed shut, though no one had pushed it. There goes my only means of escape from the possibly-madman… she thought dryly.

“I’m sure you’ll say yes… But how to ask…” Alisdair mumbled to himself, trying to convince himself of something. He took a sidelong glance at the girl backing away from him and towards the umbrella stand. Backing herself into a corner. He smiled inwardly to himself. She was buying his act, hook, line and sinker. Now, if he could just get that one opening… There it is.

Alisdair seemed a blur as he moved from where he was standing to appear in front of Jesse, grinning devilishly. “Yes to becoming a vampire,” the whisper tickled her ear.

She gasped. “Are you insane?” She put her hands on his chest, trying to push him away, but it was in vain, for he was like a rock. She met his dancing blue eyes, her own grays pleading. Then, before she knew what he was doing, he lowered his mouth to her throat and bit her. Jesse gasped, and closed her eyes, sinking into oblivion.


All there was, was darkness. Bleak terror of all. Night’s shadows closing in on me, surrounding me. Can’t breath! The shadows sliding down my warm flesh, chilling me to the bone. I opened my mouth to scream. Darkness rushed in, choking me, suffocating me, blocking my air. Daggers of the night thrown at me. Screams of Banshees struck the air. The screams announcing my death to the world. No more thoughts, memories erased. Strength gone, used up in the struggle for life.

Give in, there is no hope for you now. No one can save you. No one will save you. You have already succumbed to me. To immortal life. You are alone. No one loves you…

No! That is not true! Anger welled up inside of me, feeding me new found strength. Must fight. Fear, eating away at my soul. Death, calling to me, mocking my name. It would never do that again.

White, blazing light erupted from my soul, surrounding my being, protecting me like a shield of fire. It burned the night’s eyes, and Darkness fled from my domain. The Banshees’ screams stopped abruptly, as if cut by a knife of silence. Life flooded back into me, my strength growing stronger. Death had left, and I was cured.

I awoke.


Jesse blinked, a few times, and her knees buckled; she leaned against the wall for support. She looked up, her eyes wandering, dazed, until they locked onto silver-flecked ones that belonged to him. The immortal creature of the night that had haunted her faint. The one fixed on turning her into a monster.

Jesse pushed Alisdair off of her angrily. “No, I will not be an immortal with you! I do not wish to be a vampire!” She spat the words at him; his face was now an ugly mask of rage.

“Why not? There’s nothing here for you now-”

“Jesse, what’s going on?” Laura stood at the top of the stairs, watching the battle, confusion showing clearly on her face. “Jesse?”

“It’s fine Laura, go back upstairs. I’ll be there in a minute.” Jesse smiled at her worried friend confidently, and made sure she was gone before she dropped the façade. “Nothing is here for me? Is that what you said?” Jesse scoffed. “She’s here for me. And so is my family. And that is all I need. That is everything I need. Now, if you wouldn’t mind…” she held the chipped, blue door open for Alisdair.

“You should have said yes.” He replied, his voice tight. A scream came from upstairs. Jesse looked at him incredulously, and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

“Laura! Laura, what is it? Laura-” she stopped mid-sentence at the scene that lay before her. Blood was splattered all around the room, on the furniture, the bed, the floor. The movie was still playing, interrupting what should have been silence. She looked into the corner, and saw what she was afraid of. Laura’s dead blood-soaked body laid there, her green eyes glassy with death, seeming to stare at Jessica. “Laura.” She whispered.

“Laura.” Someone echoed. “Laura, Laura…” Arister was kneeling over the girl’s corpse, cradling her in his arms. “Laura…” he convulsed into sobs. Jessica stared dumbly at the picture before her.

A sobbing, broken vampire who had lost his last hope of humanity. His last connection to the kind part of the human world. His only love.

A murdered girl who had been watching a Dracula movie only moments before.

And the friend who could not save her standing in the blood covered doorway.

A hand grabbed her shoulder firmly, but gently. Jessica didn’t even bother to look at who it was. She already knew.

“Why? Why did you do this?” Her voice cracked. She wheeled around, tears streaming from her face. “Why? Why her?” she screamed at him, pounding her fists against his chest until, exhausted, she fell to the floor, sobbing. Alisdair sank down with her, hugging her against him, placing a soft, sympathetic kiss on her forehead. He hated to see her like this. He had hated convincing Arister to kill the other girl, Laura, if anything went wrong. If Jessica refused his offer. But it was the only way. This way, he killed two birds with one stone, in a sense. He had destroyed Arister’s contact to the human world, so now he could fully immerse himself into the vampire world. But even better – or perhaps worse- he had taken away the thing Jessica cared for most besides her family. Or, rather, the memory of her family. He had murdered them a while ago. He had now taken away her best friend. She would have to join him as a vampire now. There was only one other path left, and that was death; he was positive that she wouldn’t take that road.

“How could you do this to me?” the shattered, worn girl peered up at him through teary eyes. He looked at her, stunned. She had aged immensely in the last few minutes. “Why?” she whispered.

“Because I love you.” He watched as she turned her face from him, and towards her deceased friend. He put his hand to her face, and turned her gaze back on him. “Because I need you, Jessica Jadeston. I need you.” He emphasized. She just broke down into sobs.

“No. You don’t need me. You need someone with humanity to complete yourself.” Jesse said, her voice hard with hate. She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. She leaned up, and kissed his cheek, but not with care. No, as a stony promise to never let him hurt her again.

“Now, get out of this house. Do not return. I never want to see you again.” She turned away from him, feeling him rise to his feet, hearing him stride over to his brother, and take him by the arm.

“I love you, Jessica. I will try again, and one day, you will love me, too.” Alisdair promised. With that said, he and his brother faded away, leaving her alone.

“I do love you, Alisdair. That’s why I can’t be with you.” She replied to the empty air, and the body in the room. She knew that if she had stayed with him that it would be for eternity. She wouldn’t be able to handle being in love with her best friend’s murderer. If only he could have seen that…

She sighed, and fumbled for her phone, and dialed the number to Laura’s parents, planning to call her own after them. Little did she know that her own parents were dead as well.


It was the day after the funeral of Laura Marie Hartsford, and all of nature mourned her passing. Over the past week, storms had been brewing on the horizon, the dark clouds floating menacingly over the San Francisco bay. The fog rolled down from the hills, shrouding the city in its mist, leaving tears on windows. The bay had risen, upturning any vessel that dared sail upon its angry surface. The breezes had grown sharp as knives, cutting at the peoples’ soft flesh, throwing little pieces of sand and broken bottles, until, in surrender, they climbed into their cars to escape its torture. In truth, nature was searching out its greatest enemy, the one that dared to live forever in defiance, while this girl lay in her grave. But it didn’t know where to look.


The wind blew her hair off of her shoulders as she watched her only love walk away from her. She could feel the heavy raindrops fall from the sky, but she did not look up. She could only watch her enemy leave her. She could not call for him; things had become too complicated. He had thought that by taking away her best friend, her one true advisor, that she would choose him, and eternal life. Eternal darkness. But she had told him no, and to leave her. Now she regretted that.

Alisdair and his ghost –no, shell- of a brother boarded the train bound for nowhere on this earth. He turned back to her, his pained eyes meeting her stony gray ones.

Won’t you come with me? They pleaded.

I can’t. Not now. Not after what you have done. Her own silently replied. He opened his mouth, and made to step towards her, then thought better of it. He took a last fleeting glance at his sweetheart, his face reflecting his pain and bitterness at her decision. Then he turned his back to Jessica, and guided Arister to an empty seat. Aware that she was still watching, he maneuvered himself so that he wasn’t looking out the window. All she could say goodbye to was his marble profile as the train left the station.

Jesse walked back to her car, holding back the tears until she got inside. “Dammit!” she slammed her fist down against the steering wheel, ignoring the stares as people turned to stare at the driver who had honked at them for no reason. She broke down into sobs, leaning her head against the wheel, gripping it tightly, her knuckles white. After a few minutes passed, she calmed down, prying her fingers off of the helm, and shifted her car into drive. She knew exactly where she was going. The one place where she had always felt safe. Always been herself. Always been alive.

Soon, she had arrived.

She stood outside the dark blue door to the small, narrow townhouse. She could feel that she was soaked from the rain, despite the green umbrella hanging from her right wrist. She looked at her reflection in the window. Her tan trench coat rested loosely from her bony frame, her light brown hair hung limply to just above her shoulders. Her once bright gray eyes were now red and swollen, as if she had been crying for half of her life, fueling the icy sheets of rain that tortured her now. But she didn’t try to shield herself from that torment. All she could do was stare blankly at that chipped, blue door.