1 Chapter 1: The Lady in Red

It was just one of those days, Adam thought with his eyes closed in his small bed. He lifted his head and looked out the window and into the distance. The Sun silently blending and fading into the sprawling metropolis in the distance. The glass windows of the tall buildings made fantastical hues of yellow and orange bending the last traces of sunlight to its will. Some of the sunlight landed on Adam's young face. He had very wild and feral look and seemed very unkempt having only showered 3 days ago. His bed creaked as he stood up and stretched himself, his small tank top lifting and giving way to slight glimpses of past glory. One could see dedicated efforts to chisel out a good physique but the very close ones knew it was quite effortless. Adam owed a great debt to genetics which allowed him to gain muscle very fast and effortlessly. The very low ceiling did little to help Adam's case as his tall frame caused his hair to nearly scrape across it with reckless abandon. Adam bent a bit to enter his bathroom and sat on a stool to look into the mirror. His dark brown eyes looked back at him with an uninterested look having become tired of it all many nights back. Adam saw a kiss left on the mirror. It had faded a bit but its reveal caused Adam's heart to palpitate he subconsciously reached to his chest but couldn't find the necklace. This caused his heart to drop. He ran out of the bathroom banging his head on the top of the door frame, but he couldn't care less. With frantic breaths he searched for the necklace on his table. only to find it hanging on the chair. His heart eased as he carefully removed it and opened the locket. He caressed the inscription on the outside reading "H x A". Inside was a picture of a cute bratty looking woman. She looked a little pouty while Adam did not even fit in the frame as he posed with his elbow resting on the girl's head. The next photo showed the girl grabbing Adam by the cheek and pulling him down and smiling next to his wincing face as the camera clicked. It had been a year since his beloved passed away and Adam had never been the same since. Everyone first saw him as a threat with his tall, lean figure but he was also known to be very shy and easily suppressed. But he then changed overnight. He still was goofy and naïve but when no one saw him, at moments like these, he'd be as apathetic as can be. His eyes carried no purpose but nonetheless something haunting swimmed within those eyes. As his heart regained it's original calm, Adam picked up a T-shirt and went down to living room. His father sat in a chair with his back to him. while his mother ate some food on the table. Adam greeted his mother and sat across his father. Adam's father was a talented man. He'd studied a lot in his youth and won various prizes. But he lacked the street smarts to land high paying contracts, so the family struggled financially. Adam greeted his dad and started to eat his food bit by bit while his father looked at him in disdain. Adam being 20 and without a job was a disdain to his father who worried he'd have to look after Adam even in retirement while his mother was concerned Adam was without friends and any female company, She feared she'd die without seeing a grandson. Adam still acted happy and went out after saying bye to his mother in a very high pitched voice. But just as he left the building his facial expression collapsed into one of apathy and his eyes drooped into their true form of unconcern. He walked across the street and looked into the distance for the bus stand. But saw nothing with last traces of sunlight vanishing minutes ago and the streetlights being as broken as can be. He wandered in this quiet evening and reached a bus stop not far away. The bus stop looked desolate with only hobos decorating its lonely atmosphere. They looked at Adam with wariness and concern having come across as a feral person with his hulking frame and dead expression. But this tensed moment didn't stand for long as Adam hopped on the next bus. He sat quietly in a seat as the Bus driver quickly left the area. No one entered the bus for a dozen stations and the driver seemed more tense with each passing station hoping the Adam would leave. Just then a casually dressed figure stepped in the vehicle and sat next to Adam who had dozed off by now, these short naps being the only release from the constant insomnia laden nights. The man, a little anxious, looked at Adam and woke him up. Adam jolted awake and ruthlessly grabbed the man's neck with a murderous glint in his eyes. The man felt his blood run cold and his pupils dilate in front of this absolute monster. When Adam noticed who he was holding his grip loosened and the man slumped back into his seat, his breathing ragged and heartbeat going haywire. "Have you got it?" asked Adam The man cautiously replied "Yeah I've got it but I'm telling you man I ain't gonna sell you any more, especially after that Godfrey family shit you caused the other day. I be taking a risk by even talking to you, this is the last time after this we are done man. Adam clenched his fists causing the man to slightly furrow his eyes, only to calm down after a brief thought. The man took out a big package and gave it to Adam. Adam mirroring the man took out a large wad of cash and handed it to the man who accepted it shakily. The man, having pocketed the cash, stood up and walked to the bus's exit. He only paused to give a slight glance towards Adam, his eyes revealing a small amount of unwillingness and a little sadness. Adam only looked at the man, and gave a small nod. The man sighed and left the bus. Adam left the bus after a few stops and stood in the middle of nowhere at the edge of a hill where winding roads sprawled for miles. He took out the package and opened it to reveal a big package of illegal green. He prepared a batch for himself and sat on a railing smoking in silence. The view showed a lustrous metropolis as his mind felt lighter with every drag of the damned drug. But he had learned to love the feeling, he felt his peripherals vanish, and his head swayed as he slowly slumped down against the cold metal of the railing with his legs dangling off the hillside road. the neon colors of the night life in the distance blended into each other like colors on painter's canvas and he started to doze off. But the peace was not to be as Adam heard some movement behind him, Adam turned around in a moment of sobriety and saw 2 police officers waking towards him with the police siren illuminating their silhouettes. Adam without a thought jump down the hill, but alas he had underestimated the steepness. He rolled down the hill scraping and wounding his body as the police officers stared in shock at the daring nature of the youth. Adam fell unconscious in the rubble as he stopped rolling next to a garden at the foot of the mountain. He only awoke the next day bruised and wounded badly. The morning sun acting like a fire on his wounds causing feeling of burns across his scraped back. Adam forcefully put his hands down and stood up. He dusted his clothes and looked at his wounds. The wounds hurt worse than he thought and he winced when he felt his shoulder, it was dislocated. Adam walked shakily to the house nearby and banged his head on the door for help but none answered. He banged his head harder this time only for the door to cave in and him falling on the ground again. He stood up weakly once again, the pain finally getting to him. he limped to a nearby chair and slumped down. He felt his eyes become drowsy once more as he slumped in the chair and fell unconscious once again. Just then the door to a room opened and a girl walked out . She had dark red hair and looked extremely agitated at previous noise. She adjusted her dress and looked around only to find Adam passed out in a chair. "Who the hell is this?" she said as she walked over to him. She pulled out her hand to touch his face but Adam's eyes opened once again as he grabbed her hand, stopping it dead in his tracks. "Help me" He said as he passed out.

To be continued

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