Forbidden Course

Red really is a dreadful color

Giving a shy smile I offer a hand, after a moment's hesitation he replies, " My name is Ethan." his voice is rich and honeyed, as if it were warm blanket that wraps around you. But something about it makes me uneasy, I pry my hand from his grasp and turn to the little girl. She seems to be attached to Juju, arms wrapped around her and her head down, making her look much younger. Juju shrugs as she catches my eye then gently says, “Eyislee, this is my best friend Kara. Kara this is Eyislee.” huge violet eyes the color of a stormy sky when lightning strikes peek up at me and suddenly just like that I had a deep seeded need to protect her. Gently I say, “Hi, Eyislee my name is Kara, do you mind if I ask how old you are?” A soft soothing melody of a voice that runs over my ears like silk replies, “No, I don't mind. I'm sixteen but my birthday is tomorrow.” the sadness in her voice is so overwhelming it's almost palpable. Before I can say something to make her feel better, the room is bathed in red light. The Cold chill is back and panic chokes me as I forget how to breathe for the space of a heartbeat. Then the light is gone and instinct kicks in five minutes and I must play for my life. Five minutes and my life changes forever. Pulling myself together I square my shoulders. “Right,” I say, “We can do this, as long as we don't give in to fear and work together. This is not the time to think of the what ifs and what was. Now is the time to pull together and find the will to survive, to play, and to WIN. We may not all know each other well and we may not know what's going on, but we are a team and I promise to give you my all. WE WILL SURVIVE, WE WILL PLAY, AND WE WILL WIN!” realizing I just went on a rant part of me thinks I went too far, but seeing the look in Dean's eyes reassures me that I have just given them the little bit hope that they needed. Unfortunately, that didn't last long as we're bathed in red light again and mentally I know I will forever hate this dreadful color.