{Chapter 1}

"We should be leaving now." The elder man said, staring down at the watch on his wrist. His face was still, expressionless.
The younger man turned to him, somewhat startled. He hadn't expected him to be standing directly in the doorway, watching him closely from a distance. He sat down the last cardboard box he'd been carrying and stood, sweeping his hands together. "Sure. Want to be specific and tell me where we're leaving to?"
"We're heading to the manor of an old friend of mine. She requires assistance." The elder man answered, still staring down at his ticking watch. There was a long pause.
The younger man then rested his hands in the front pockets of his wrinkled old, yet snug jeans. With a momentary sigh and he gave a firm nod. "And I suppose that assistance is me, right?"
"You're a smart boy," the old man said, his eye peering up to look at his grandson. "I'm glad you learn quickly, you'll benefit from that."
"Right…" the younger male replied, watching as his grandfather left from the dimly lit room. The light flickered above him, off and on; off and on, and off and on again.
He shook his head. That basement light would never get fixed…

"Well then, have we arrived? Is this the home of your old friend?" the grandson of the old man asked, curious as they pulled in front of an all red home. It was built tall, painted all red, as well as wide.
There were white roses that grew beginning at the front lawn and then circling around the red building. Surrounding the home was a fence of black, its points sharp and bars thin yet close for any invading intruders.
The young man squinted his eyes for a moment, aware of the dark red curtain that swayed closed on the second floor.
"Correct, lad, this be the place. We have arrived." The grandfather of the young man gave a response as he parked close to the sideway and killed the engine. The warm air from the heater seemed to disappear in an instant. "Here, take these and give them to the younger ones."
"The younger ones?" the young man questioned, taking the basket covered by white cloth that his grandfather was handing to him.
"They may like them, though…I can't say I can be sure. Still, be sure to give them to the younger ones, got it?" the older man said unsurely, getting out of the car. He shut the door, walking towards the home of red. The grandson of such an odd elder followed, quickly removing himself from the classic car of playful blue and jogging to catch up. As his steps slowed and he began to walk at a normal pace next to his grandfather, his grip on the handle of the basket tightened. "I wonder…tell me, grandfather, what kind of people live here? What is your old friend like? What type of person are they?"
The old man blinked his tired eyes over to the young boy who still had so much learn. He waited a moment, observing his somewhat awkwardness fused with wonderment. "Well…they are the type of person to live in a red house. As for what type of people live here…you'll just have to find out for yourself, when you are ready, that is."
"When I'm ready?" the grandson said quietly, coming to a stop. Along with his aged grandfather he stood in front of a red door. In his hands was a basket, its objects and findings hidden by a white cloth and in the atmosphere was suspense.
He swallowed the lump in his throat when his grandfather pushed the doorbell.
"Is there anyone awake?" the old man called, once again checking his watch. It told him that it was past eight-thirty. He turned a bit to glance up at the moon. It's been full, filled to create a large circle.
On the other side of the door a clicking noise could be heard. There was also the sound of someone jiggling the doorknob. The grandson watched as it began to twist. When the red door opened, opening just ever so slightly as if moving itself, a groaning noise was heard.
"Greetings, Allen." A hushed voice slithered about the distance between the gentlemen and the door. From what the grandson could tell, there was only darkness beyond the door. "It's been many moons since you've gifted us with your presence. We welcome you."
"Thank you." The grandfather said, bowing his head out of respect. He tipped his baseball hat forward. "And yes, it's been quite some time."
"I must ask you, if it isn't a bother. Is this him?" the same hushed voice said. A woman appeared in the space of the opened door, causing the younger man to be taken aback.
He studied her, measuring her outer soft appearance. She's been quite lengthy, with long limbs including her neck, arms, hands, and legs. Her shoulders were wide, dingy toffee chest and collarbone revealed by her loose black dress with the black lace trimming along the neck lining, and on her stern face were black thick square glasses. Her long hair that rained down to the beginning of her lower half had been an off shade of platinum blonde.
"Yes, this is the boy." The grandfather answered, a soft grin on his face of barely seen wrinkles. "His name is-"
"There is no need. She will name the boy." The mysterious woman said, cutting the elderly man off purposely. Her stare that had been directly at the young man was unyielding, firm.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am." The grandson gave a stiff nod of his head. "I'd offer my hand, but…"
"Ah, yes, I will take those, thank you." The woman had, her hand suddenly appeared from the darkness surrounding her. Her hand reached, her arm extending as well. The grandson held out his the basket, offering it without hesitation or complication.
"I was told to give this to the younger ones of the house…" he said, lowering his gaze. Somehow, he felt her presence had been as vastly tainted as it was strongly powerful.
"That should be fine," the woman said, her hand snaking inside of the basket. She removed an apple and then put her arm through the handle of the basket so that it could sit on her arm. She took the younger man's hand, sat the apple in the palm of his hand. "I will thankfully accept your gift. As for the other younger one, if you are going to gift her with such a precious source of red, then make sure that you give it to her properly."
"Yes, of course…" the grandson mumble as the woman disappeared, fading into the darkness. A hospitable, soft grin was on her face.
He wondered why she referred to herself as one of the younger ones of the house. She had to be at least somewhere in her twenties.
As the situation became more eerie, the door opened completely, welcoming the newcomer and his relative.
"We should enter now." The grandfather said, stepping forward. With boundless fearlessness he put a hand to the red door, pushing it more to the side as he entered.
The grandson prepared himself mentally as he entered behind the old man. Once he was inside, surrounded by darkness just as the woman had been, he found himself squeezing tightly to the apple he was given.
"What is this place?"
The grandfather rested a hand to his grandson's shoulder, offering comfort. "This place…for you my grandson, it is the place of overlapping red. It will soon grow to haunt you, soon grow to disturb the content of your mind. But I will soon…very soon, such pain that will carve itself upon your mind will fade and leave markings on the surface. You will be fine, I suspect. You've gotten many scraps before."
"What…do you mean, grandfather? Are you saying that this place will hurt me?" the grandson asked, suspicious.
"The old fool in his prime golden years is trying to tell you that this place will undoubtedly find you well…that is…after it has driven you mad." The woman said from a distance, her hushed voice whispering from many places in the darkness.
The grandson looked around, somewhat frightened. Suddenly, a light switch was flipped and red light spread about the room.
"I do not understand your logic."
"It should be fine, no one asked you to." The woman said, casually shrugging a shoulder. She slowly fell to her seat on a vintage chair that appeared red. It had no arms and its wooden legs were somewhat curled outward, as if having a dent that made the legs resemble a strand curly hair. "Now please, sit."
The grandfather nodded, sitting. The grandson did the same. The vintage couch that looked red under red lighting was soft, and with arms. It'd been a bit too wide for just two people, but no one dared complained.
"So, will she make an appearance this night?" the old man asked.
"I wonder," the woman said, shutting her eyes. "Will she?"
"Are you talking about the other younger one?" the grandson asked, wanting to engage in their conversation.
The woman opened her eyes, staring at him once again firmly. "Yes, we are speaking of that child. You shall most likely meet her shortly. Please, do not forget that apple in your hand."
"Yes," the young man said, glancing down at the apple. He loosened his grip. "I won't forget."
"Good then," the woman stood, one hand crossed over the other just as they were when she had been sitting. "Mistress, don't you think you should make a proper entrance now? I can hear all the way from here. Really, you're being quite the loud one…"
"Well excuse me for being noisy." A light voice sounded, echoing into the red lit living room. Soon after came a young girl who entered. She's been dressed in what looked like a dark blue dress. The dress was simple really, with short sleeved and a heart neck lining. Its bottom was spaced out, giving it basic Lolita standards. Her shoes were black, wedged flats.
"Hi there."
The grandson nodded his head. "Hello…"
"I'm happy to meet you yet again, Mistress. It's been some time." The grandfather said, nodding his head into a bow as well.
The young girl with pure pale white flesh gave a perky nod, her shoulder length messy white hair that sheltered her eyebrows and eyes nodding as well. Her smile had been tight, and yet very delightedly bright. "You're right, it's been, like, forever. Long time no see, gramps – you shoulder visit more. Who is he – is he the one?"
"Perhaps." The older woman said, folding her arms comfortable under her small bust. She glanced at the perky girl darkly.
"I believe he is. He's here to serve as extra help, for when you need him." The grandfather allowed a soft chuckle. The grandson glanced over to his grandfather; had the little girl been the one he meant when he spoke of his old friend?
"Let's become very best friends, okay?" the perky younger girl said, suddenly taking the grandson's bigger hands in her smaller hands to catch attention. Although her hands were small, her grip was tight. As for the temperature of her hands, it's been ice cold. "You can stay here to eat anything you want. That plus I'll even throw in living space and whatever else you want – anything you want, okay?"
"Sure, alright." The grandson said, surprised by her sudden want to be close friends.
"You really mean it? You'll really be my friend?" she said worried.
In that moment white hair removed itself from over her eyes, revealing real red eyes and white eyebrows.
The grandson sat, stunned beyond belief. Her eyes were really red – red like the color of fresh blood.
"Mistress, you shouldn't force yourself on him." The older woman stood. She tightly took the girl's arm. "And your eyes…"
The young girl, no longer perky and more like clueless, blinked up to the older woman. For a moment the grandson could've sworn he seen the younger girl's upper lip twitch into a snarl.
"Forgive me," the younger girl said, releasing herself from the older woman's grasp. "I didn't know that they could be seen."
"I'm sure you gave him quite the scare…" the older woman said bitterly, glancing back to the young man with intense eyes, as if somehow looking straight through the young girl.
The grandson shook his head, lowering his eyes. "No…it's fine. Please, don't worry, I'm fine."
The young girl returned to her perky self, letting out a bouncy perky giggle. When her red eyes met with the grandson's basically black eyes, she let out a carefree bubbly laugh, running away from the situation. She went over to the dark hallway that she'd entered from, continuing to laugh lightly. Right before she disappeared into the darkness, she gave the grandson a look; a certain look that had been meant directly for him and no one else in the room. With a wide smile, she gave a wave.
The room went stiff once she became absent from it.
Again, there was a long pause.
"Please excuse the Mistress. I do not wish for her to show her eyes. She is…albino, and for this I carry great worry for her. Please excuse my rashness towards her, it is not that I wish to be violet with her." The older woman said, turning her back to the gentlemen.
"Yes, of course…" the grandson said with a blank stare as he glanced up at her curvy back structure.
The older woman sighed, her arms now refolding. "Follow me. I will show you to your living courters."
The young man stood to his feet, offering a goodbye nod to his grandfather. "I guess I'll be seeing you then?"
"Well…we'll just have to see." The old man stood too, patting his grandson's shoulder. A crafty grin found his face as he lowered his baseball cap. "Enjoy your time here, boy. Learn many things."
"Sure I will, pops." The grandson said with a quiet sigh trailing behind his words.
"Enjoy your time out there, old man… And don't return here with such senile thinking. Screw your thinking-cap on and put it to good use for once." The older woman said, beginning to walk off. "Really, as if we're in need of another servant in such a place as this…"
The grandfather let out a laugh, getting closer to the red door. "I'll be sure to shut the door behind me, don't worry. As for the boy: as long as you don't allow that he feed the Mistress he should be fine. That is something I can promise, the kid is a hard worker."
"Sure, sure, old man." The woman said to the closing door, now becoming absorbed by the darkness she walked into.
The grandson followed her through the darkness for reasons he weren't sure of. But somehow, he wanted to find out what was on the other side.
If one thing was for certain, it was sure that there would defiantly be more red.