Ridgewood Town

Chapter 1

Sophia 

June 20

Sunday, 2:03PM

"Would you miss me?" he asked in a teasing tone. I snorted and dip my paintbrush on the pallet. I rolled my eyes when I feel him still staring.

"Aw. Really?" he asked once again. "Come on Sophia, stop ignoring me."

I admit defeat. I stop painting and look at him in his eyes. "Why would it be so far away, Luis?"

"It's what the WIC Company suggested. Besides, it's just at the end of the border."

"At the end of the border, you mean you are at the end and I'm at the starting point in a map. Make it make sense, Luis Mason."

He lets out a throaty laugh as he kneels in front of me. I continued to frown. I felt his calloused fingertips on my forehead when he straightens my eyebrows.

"Stop frowning, I'll always come back home for you, I promise."

"Fine. I wonder why these rules are set? I've always found it odd."

"Maybe, WIC Company just wants us to be better Ridgewooders?"

"I bet. Did you tell Taylah you're going to attend the training? I remember she didn't permit you."

"I'll talk to her."

"Wait, let me get my phone. I'll just ask how are the boys up the summer camp."

"Okay. I'll just finish this. I'm gonna beat you up this time."

I continued painting, thinking about Ridgewood Town and how far away my Luis would be.

3:52PM

I tap on my phone screen; it flashes that it's 8 minutes before four pm. I glance at the circular wood table full of used paintbrushes and two palettes smeared with different colors. I'm already done with my piece, a painting of our tiny town. Luis painted Taylah's favorite flower. We're bringing it to Taylah as she always has been our judge in every contest. Taylah loves it when we paint things for her and we love to see her smile.

"Luis," I called him out. "Would you be nice today and clear those things on the table, please?" I pointed at the table in the corner. I heard him hum a reply. When I look at him, he was nodding his agreement and immediately walked to it.

"I think I'm gonna win this round, Soph," he suddenly blurted out as he took the paintbrushes in a tub of water. He was smiling and busily cleaning the palettes carefully. He looks at ease and happy, I feel happy too.

"No. I bet Taylah would choose my art. She loves daisies," I retorted. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling. I felt the butterflies in my stomach every time Luis Mason talks to me. I guess that would never change.

"Then, four am?" he asked me and pulls out his phone. I carefully walk behind him and tried to peek at his phone. My heart felt full when I saw his wallpaper, it's our first picture in Lake Srori when we were seven. He was typing some message for Peyton, bragging about us and he attached some of our pictures and some snaps of our paintings for today. I can't help myself from smiling, he's just too cute. I softly caress his hair and I felt him startled. He suddenly looks behind him and our eyes met. I saw how his eyes widen in shock. He panics as he clumsily pocketed his phone. "Oh! Sophia." He gave out a deep sigh. "You scared the s**t out of me."

I gave him an apologetic smile for peeking at his phone. "Woops, sorry!"

"You haven't answered me yet. So, four am?" he asked once again as he tugs his shoulder to mine. I didn't answer and kept staring at him. His brows suddenly raise teasingly and I saw how his lips curve into a smile. "Babe, stop staring. I feel so love right now."

"What?"

Damn, his smile is bewitching!

"Stop smiling."

I lost. I immediately broke out eye contact. I felt my face heat up so I don't have a choice but to hide my face by looking down.

Damn. Another staring contest with the birch wood floor.

"Come on, Sophia, stop ignoring me," his voice came soft as he pleads. I immediately tug my hair down trying to hide my ears when I felt them hot.

"Please, stop teasing me, will you?" But then warm hands suddenly cupped my cheeks and before I can react, his eyes met mine. I tried to find a way out by looking at everywhere in the treehouse but him. But damn. Luis Mason knows me so damn well.

I felt his face getting closer, his warm breath fanning my face. I unconsciously bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling. I even heard his phone ding but he ignored it. Just when I thought he was about to kiss me; his throaty laugh filled the room once again. My hand immediately met his shoulder with a slap. He loves teasing me for his fun and I hate it.

"When will you stop doing that?"

I bet with the heavens; my face looks sour at this moment. He destroyed the moment.

"No matter how bad I want to kiss and hug you right now, I still have to ask your Dad's permission."

"Yeah. And will you please include the teasing part? Please, stop teasing me, will you?"

"Just say yes to my request first. So, four am?"

"Fine. If I didn't see you here at four am, I'm gonna break your bones." He answered me with a throaty laugh once again.

He is Luis Mason, the second person I can put my trust in this town. Despite our contradicting personalities, we immediately clicked. We've been dating for six months and I love every moment with him.

"We need to get home before dark. I bet Mr. Chase is trying to hunt me down right now." He lets out another throaty laugh as he packs his art materials in his satchel. He was busy packing not realizing that he drops some of his things.

I watched as his WIC badge drops and it keeps circling under the table till it stops. Almost everyone in our town receives their badge but I still haven't. I'm not capable. Only people who pass the WIC Company's test can be given a badge. The badge is thin steel that shapes like roses and has thorns adorned around it. This badge serves as to what your level in the town signifies. I don't know how your town's system works but this is how our town work. Every town has its secrets and Ridgewood town isn't different. With having a zero-crime rate, I bet that rate wasn't even possible.

I got up from my seat and carefully drop my knees to the ground to reach for it. Once my hand touches it, I accidentally dropped it within seconds when I felt stings from its thorns. I stared at it for a while as it drops on the floor once again. The roses are colored with nothing but as seconds flash by, it suddenly has colors of red.

How did that happen? Does this have anything to do about touching it? Does it change colors?

"Sophia, you're bleeding!" his loud voice cuts me from my thoughts. I felt his hands on mine and realize that my fingertips felt wet with some thick fluid. I glance at my fingertips and saw drops of blood coming from them.

When did I cut myself? Did those colors come from my blood?

My heartbeat suddenly starts beating fast. My breathing felt ragged and it felt like I feel suffocated. My eyes became blurry and I felt my body weaken. Memories flooded my mind. I blink, I saw a kid holding a bloodied stone while a small frame of body lays on the ground. I heard it crying, and he is calling my name.

"Sophia? Hey."

I blink. I saw someone calling me. The face is blurry but I know his voice.

"Luis..."

I blink once again. I saw them pointing at me. I saw how my parents stared at me like I'm a monster. Everyone is avoiding me. No.

"Sophia. Wake up!"

No.

"How could you kill him?"

No. Stop!

Please.

"Sophia!"