“Don’t take my brother. Please. Ayden!” a desperate voice called out trying to tear through the mob of people, the mob of red. “Please. No!” Arria yelled as loud as she could, trying to get through what seemed to be an endless sea of people in red cloaks to the one black blur that was moving slowly out of her sight. Every time she passed one of the red cloaks, it seemed two more would be there to replace him and be right in front of her keeping her ever farther away from the black blur.” Ayden,” her voice cracked as warm tears flowed down her face. Her whole body began to feel as heavy as lead but she kept trying to get through. She had to get to her brother. She couldn’t lose him to the red people like she had lost Agatha.

As she pushed between two of the people in red she saw the black blur turn. She saw Ayden’s so familiar face. His black hair sticking up in a million directions, his crystal blue eyes that for the first time in her whole life held a single tear. She watched as he gave her one of his soft smiles and said in a volume that was so low she almost couldn’t hear it, “Be safe.”

“Don’t go. Please. Ayden!” Arria screamed ignoring the pain that it caused in her throat as she saw her brother vanish in to the mob of red.

Arria hit her knees and without the strength to stand back up she cried into the ground. “It’s just the way it is, sweetheart. When you turn sixteen, I’ll explain it all to you. I’ll tell you the whole story. But until then, forget about Ayden and Agatha. Just until you are sixteen, honey. Then you can join them.” Arria looked up knowing that was the voice of her Aunt Virginia, but all around her was red cloaks. “Aunt Virginia,” Arria cried out. Horrific laughter filled the room, filling Arria’s entire body with fear more than anything else had in her life, so she screamed louder than she ever had.

Arria jumped, looked at her alarm clock and was for once thankful it woke her up. Wiping the sweat off her face and turning her alarm off, she tried to leave the memory of her dream behind her as she climbed out of bed.

Throwing on an old gray t-shirt, a pair of faded jeans, and her favorite sneakers, she felt a little bit better then she had a few moments before. Still she knew today would be—avoid red day—a keep busy day so she could not allow her dream to return to her mind.

Yet she knew that wasn’t going to happen. After all, today was her and her twin brother Arthur’s sixteenth birthday. Meaning those red cloaks may be taking me away instead of Ayden. The thought caused a shiver to flow through her whole body. Arria shook her head and decided she wouldn’t think about her brother, the red coats, and being sixteen just yet. Right now she would think about something really scary.

Looking into her mirror, she saw what she had feared was actually true. Her long curly hair had gone wild from all the tossing and turning she must have done when she was asleep. After attacking it with her trusty brush and losing the battle, she just put her hair up in a ponytail. At least it’s out of my face.

Releasing a sigh, wishing there was something else she could do with it, but knew it was pointless. She turned on the faucet to splash warm water on her face wishing it would wash away all her imperfections. Looking in to the mirror she saw them all staring back at her. Her eyes were a color that resembled mud. With a face that was so pale, snow almost had a tan in comparison. Add to that, freckles that were on her face in too great of number for her liking. She was short at only being barely over five feet, and no fat on her body, sadly that included the places she would like some.

Arthur you are so lucky! Arthur was popular with everyone and never had trouble catching every girl’s and even a few guy’s interest. Captain of the baseball and soccer teams and the president of the student council, he had friends and everything else she never would. Imperfections didn’t happen with him and he knew it.

“Arria hurry up before I eat your breakfast,” Arthur yelled from downstairs making the idea that if you truly spoke of the devil he would appear or at least Arthur made it seem true.

“Coming,” Arria yelled back not worrying about waking her younger sister Alice, knowing she would be at school and when she came home both Arria and Arthur would be gone like Agatha had when the twins had been at school for her sixteenth birthday.

“So, story time,” Arria said as she buried her chocolate chip pancakes with more syrup then most people ever would need. The clinging sound of Arthur’s silverware echoed throughout the old Victorian house. Arthur hissed “Arry” at his sister as if their aunt sitting across the table couldn’t hear him. “You knew I was going to ask. For almost a year, you both have known.” Arria locked eyes with her twin not surprised to see the anger on his face directed at her.

“Now, now you two. I promised, so I’ll tell if you would like me to, Arria.” Even though her voice was heavenly soft and filled with honesty Arria knew Aunt Virginia didn’t want her to know.

Arthur stood up. “I don’t want to know.” He looked at Arria like she was being cruel to the woman who raised them.

“Arthur, are you quite sure?” Arria knew it was a fake question and her aunt had only said it to be nice.

“Yes. Just tell me what I need to get done.” Arthur sounded muted and it made Arria wonder if he had forgotten about their brother... or had someone already told him. Looking at her aunt she had a feeling she had guessed right. Anger threatened to show through, but instead she pushed it away to explode in her room at a later time.

“Just pack an overnight bag, Agatha will be here for you two soon.” Arthur nodded at his aunt and walked out of the kitchen door.

“What about Ayden?” Arria asked.

“He didn’t want to see you two. I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Are you really sorry?