|||Chapter 02 - Scarlet |||Author - Aki1

She didn't know why, but she could sense something was very, very wrong... _________________________________________________

"Hey Hiiro! I'm sorry for calling you at 12 but Sara said that-are you all right?"

'No', he wanted to answer. The stinging pain was radiating throughout his entire back, making it difficult and utterly painful to make even the slightest shift in his half-leaning position. "Yeah, I am...why wouldn't I be?" He didn't know why Meili would call him at such a time, or why she would be awake for that matter. On second thoughts, why would *anyone* be awake at this time of night...or morning... "So why'd you call?" he changed the topic, forcing himself to inject his usual, cheerful tone into his voice.

"Oh? Well, I...just wanted to ask you if...you finished that Lit essay, yeah. It's due at noon, not at 5 like we were told before. Um...just thought you might like to know."

"Noon?" Hiiro looked at the half-finished draft he'd made just lying haphazardly on the night table beside the phone and let out a mild curse. "Another lunchless day...anyway, thanks."

"No problem...you sure you're all right?"

Why did she keep asking him that? Sure, they were in neighboring apartment buildings, but that didn't mean she could actually see him, right? Not that he was doing much of anything - "Never been better. See you at school, Mei."

"Same here. Bye!"

The sharp click echoed in his ear, a bit too close for comfort. He winced slightly before forcing himself to get up, his feet hitting the carpet sending waves of pain throughout his whole body. Maybe Meili was right...maybe there did seem to be something wrong with him...

Shaking his head, he walked over to the bathroom with every step seeming like sheer agony, switching on the light and twisting the knob of the faucet on. The water poured out in a torrent, drenching his waiting cupped hands and splashing off into the sink as it overflowed. His gaze held the purity of the liquid seeping between his albeit tightly set fingers, running like rivulets around his thumbs and onto his wrist, somehow captivated by the sheer clarity -

'It's just water.'

He splashed the water onto his face, still shocked by the wet coldness he had already been expecting. He straightened out and rubbed his hands down his face tiredly, too lazy to reach for a towel. Soothed by the coolness, he opened his eyes -

His eyes in the mirror were pure, dark red.

A strangled cry escaped his throat, his hands trembling as he blinked furiously. There...they were back to the deep blue color he had known.

His breathing came in laborious pants, trying fruitlessly to calm the mad racing of his heart brought about by that horrifying sight of his own crimson eyes...

'I'm hallucinating', Hiiro thought. 'Just hallucinating...'

The chilling breeze blew into the open bathroom window, sending shivers down his spine.