Mild K.

11-01

Red

A nice pair of brown leather moccasins made a little clicking sound against the pavement

as Ava Bailey, a 16-year-old girl, steadily walked down the boulevard. The breezy breath of a

warm summer wind passed through her wavy ginger hair as usual. Yellow powdery pollen from

the park across the road gently stuck around the freckle on her face like little sparkles from the

stars. She cautiously carried her rucksack which seemed to be somewhat heavier than it used to

and anxiously glanced her round hazel eyes at everyone who came too close to her.

She stopped at the entrance of the school staring stoically for a while and then she started

to walk in.

Hey! Little bonfire, a ringing voice from her back stopped her movement.

She squeezed her eyes at once knowing exactly who he was. Her mind went off to some

places and then another sound dragged her back to reality.

Does the bonfire burn away your brain today? Brandon smirked.

She refused to turn back and continued walking pretending she didnt hear anything. Both

of her hands tightly held the straps and brought them closely to her chest. Her face didnt reveal

anything but emptiness.

Where are you going? he asked and followed her.

Brandons hand grabbed her hair and pulled it vigorously backwards. Her tiny body

couldnt hold such a strength so she collapsed on the floor making a loud noise. A little boy with

glorious blonde hair who was playing hide and seek behind an aspen tree startled. He turned

around trying to find what was going on and started to giggle. Students walking nearby just
glanced at her and whispered to each other. Bailey still clasped her hands on the bag, no matter

how painful she was.

Did I bring some of it back? Brandon said.

She gradually used her hands to push herself up and dust her jean skirt that got some little

brown stains from soil on it.

Yes, totally back. Thanks, she replied with a broad smile on her face ,then she walked

away.

Brandon was puzzled by her unusual reaction. He stood still watching her walk away

further and further towards the building without any response but doubt all in his head. Baileys

eyes looked straight forward on her way not paying attention to anything. Her mind started to

wander around and her face was fully blank.

After Bailey was sure she went far enough from him, her hands started to relax, and her

consciousness returned back. Light passing through little gaps between green leaves highlighted

her gorgeous freckle as it shone faintly onto her face. She blinked for a few times and then she

looked up. The sky was so clear that the only thing she could see was a bright blue colour.

Sorry, she mumbled to herself.

Bailey entered an enormous wooden door of the building. Inside, it was a big long

passage leading her to each room. On the side, a group of popular female students was gathering

together and gossiping about their boyfriends. There were some people walking in front of her

and each of them had at least one or two friends walking by their side. She headed forward to the

restroom and entered the room nearest to a tiny window where she could hear the sound of birds
outside singing a song that reminded her of a Christmas time. She sat there staring at the hand of

her pink Swatch as it moved steadily second by second.

Her mind reminisced the time when she was sitting on a big comfortable couch with her

mother in front of a warm fireplace and cuddling herself with a colourful fluffy quilt made by her

grandmother on Christmas day. She realized how much she missed those lovely old days. She

closed her eyes and drops of tear poured down her cheek. A blurry picture started to appear in her

mind.

A six-foot-tall woman was standing with her right hand holding a gun. Her hair was

gloriously red with a copper highlight making it look even brighter. She wore a black bustier top

with short ripped jeans and red high heels that matched with the radiant colour of her plump lips.

The reflection in her almond blue eyes which covered with sparkling smokey eyeshadow was a

man who was looking back at her furiously. He was a thin guy whose hair was tied up at the back

and looked somewhat messy. His skinny body was covered by a black thick leather jacket which

made him look like a rock star. He wore four black earrings on his left ear and another two on the

right. Bailey was hiding silently in a wardrobe filled with tons of clothes over her head, and

looking out to both of them through a small gap between the doors.

Dont you remember your words? the woman shouted aggressively.

Just forget about it, he replied, I cannot put up with you any longer. Do whatever you

want!

Afterwards, he took off his shiny gold wedding ring which stood out from those dark

punk accessories on his hand and threw it with anger. The ring made a little clinking sound as it

hit the wooden floor and came to stop in front of the wardrobe where Bailey was staring
stunningly. Her body trembled with fear, her heart started to beat faster and faster, and suddenly a

loud noise froze her actions.

Bang! The body of the man collapsed on the floor. Red blood covered his entire face

while his eyes were wide-open. The silence engulfed the atmosphere as if the room is in vacuum.

Suddenly there came a loud scream.

Bang! The woman shot herself at her head.

The picture when she saw the suicide murder of her mother and father always crushed her

heart into little pieces every time she thought about it. Even half a year had passed by, the

memory didnt seem to fade away. Bailey started to open her eyes slowly and looked at her

rucksack which lied against the wall next to her.

Bailey, are you alright? the sound of a woman calling her name from the outside made

her shudder. Her eyes started to look around nervously. Drops of sweat started to stick on her

face which appeared to be redder and redder.

Bailey, what are you doing in there? another calling urged her to stand up, grab the bag,

and open the door rapidly. It was Ms.Laura, a kind english teacher who stood in front of her.

H...h...hey, Ms.Laura, she replied with a tremulous voice and her eyes was looking

down on the floor, Im alright. Just got a little diarrhea.

Are you sure? Ms.Laura asked, You look kind of sick today.

Y..y..yes, I guessed I ate too much yogurt yesterday, Bailey tried to hide her rucksack

behind her back as she replied .

Do you want some medicine? she asked and gave a warm smile to her.
 I think Ill be fine. I feel a lot better now.

Thats good. Then lets go to class.

Bailey kept her distance about two metre away from Ms.Laura as she followed her along

the passage heading to the classroom. She could feel the inside of her body getting warmer and

could hear the throb of her heartbeat. Noise of students playing with each other in the class

reached her ears, as she walked toward the door.

Oops, I forgot my purse in the cafeteria, Ms.Laura said with a high-pitched voice to

her, Ill be back in a few minutes.

Ms.Laura turned and rushed back to the way they had walked together. Bailey gradually

got inside the classroom.

Hey! Look who just came in, a girl with a high ponytail who was sitting in a front row

said with a mocking voice.

Our little bonfire is late today, a boy with round glasses next to her said.

Bailey came to her seat in the middle of the room and sat down silently. She clasped her

bag with both of her arms so tightly that her body began to shake, while clenching her fists at the

zippers, trying not to say anything.

Why are you so quiet today, huh? a girl sitting at the back poked her head in front.

Ive told you. Her brain got burnt by her bonfire, hahaha, Brandon shouted from the

back of the room and walked straight toward her desk.

Are you in a bad mood today? Brandon asked with a mischievous face while glancing

at her fists. He patted her head with his big rough hand as if she was a little puppy. Bailey started

to breathe heavier and heavier. Her eyes were closed so tightly that creases started to appear. She
slowly pulled down the zipper of her rucksack with her clenching fist, and inserted her hand

inside it.

Bonfire is going to get hot-headed like her mommy, hahaha, Brandon laughed with a

granting voice when he noticed her reaction.

Bang! A bullet from a black metal handgun embedded in Brandons chest. The

thunderous sound stopped everyones movement, leaving a hushed moment in the room. One of

the girls standing next to Brandon screamed out loudly after she could realize what was going

on. Bailey glared at Brandons feeble body that gradually collapsed down the floor. Red colour

of blood seeping out of his wound stroke at her eyes and reminded her how much pain she had

been receiving. A storm of memories attacked her mind, as her right hand turned toward her head

without her consciousness.

Bang!