The courage of crimson

My name is Courageous Crimson or just Crimson.

Every frightened child is given the courage to face their fears at the touch of my hand. No one really sees me because I'm un known. Many people know about fear, but I know how to conquer it the best. But there is something about me that is mostly misunderstood. I can give courage but everyone one just has to use it.

I remember everything thing that happened. My sad life before I became how I am today.

About two years ago, I became a proper guardian. I have dark, reddish hair that is mid-neck-length and mysterious blue eyes with a dark ring around the centre. I'm not a very tall person. I was 17 years old when I was first chosen (about three, hundred years ago), so that's the age I appear now. My job is to give children courage to do…..just about anything, so you can't really say that I am the same as sandman…

I throw my best kick towards his side and he shrieks and falls to the ground. I giggle. North strides over and stands over Bunny how is curled up in a ball, mumbling, "She's just a bloody little girl." North looks at me. "He started it!" I chuckle like a child even though technically I started it by insulting him, but it was him that hit me first. Bunny hops up and presses his face close to mine. "Did….not." he says in a deep voice with his eyebrows furrowed. "Shouldn't you two be working?" north says in his strange accent that I can barely understand. "Easter is in four days, Bunny!" he almost shouts. "Oi." Bunny starts. You look after you own special day, I'll look after mine. Besides, I have to fight back once someone insults my feet." I roll my eyes. "Why don't you go out for a bit, Crimson?" North says, looking at me. I sigh. I guess I should go for a walk and check on kids, even though North was just saying that so he could get me out of Bunny's way.

I jump out the window and the wind carries me down to the street. I love doing that. As I walk in the middle of the road, I look at every one playing on the side of the street. Throwing snow balls and paper planes…then my eyes settle on a small group of children up a head of me. There are some on each side of the road, looking over at each other. One child runs across the road, right in front of a car, to the other group. They are playing chicken. I sigh. Sometimes, courage can be bad. It's how I died all those years ago. But at least that was for something worthwhile. I was scared but I wasn't a coward. I pulled through that fear and did it. Then I see an older couple. (Older than the kids anyway) A pair of teenagers. A boy and a girl. He has his hands place on her waist and his lips pressed to hers. The kiss looks so real. Love. I stand and watch them from the middle of the road. I feel a tear prick behind my eye. Jack. He was my love. The only one for me. I loved him with all my heart.

But one day, he took his sister ice skating. The ice was too thin. I remember his sister returning. She ran, stumbling up the icy street. I had seen them leaving so when I saw her return on her own I knew something was wrong. She thought he was saveable. In my heart I knew she was wrong but a ran to the lake any way. He was gone, and about a year later, so was I.

I stumble back to North's place. I've been staying there ever since I became a guardian. When I walk in, everyone is there and they stare at me. Sandman, Bunny, Tooth… "What's every one doing here?" I ask. "There just here to talk about Easter." Bunny speaks up. They are still staring at me. "What?" I yell. "Are you ok Crim? You kind of look like you've been crying." Tooth says.

Bunny looks proud of himself. "Yeah, well I taught that girl a lesion." He says, buffing out his chest. I scowl. "Recall that I won that fight." I express, lifting my chin. "I'm fine." I say softly, turning back to Tooth. It's good to have friends that care for me again.

My dreams are invaded that night. I can tell that someone tried to scare me in my dreams, even though they can't.

But someone still tried. I'm curious.