Going back from 13 years ago, when Ailsa was only five years old. When things were normal as it could ever be for a child. Unlike other young girls her age, she didn't play with barbie dolls. She rather go outside and play in the dirt. At times, she would get the privilege to go out with Mani to places she wasn't allow to go. Their parents had a busy life, so Mani usually is around to take care of her. Her room was covered in black paint. She had a bed, a dresser, a closet and a desk, with all her paper, pencils and crayons. Ailsa was an artist, she loved to draw, when she felt inspiration. She had a book shelf, with all her books. She even loves to read, too. She longed to see the world, like she does in her books she reads.
Today, Ailsa was attending kindergarten, like every child her age, education was a must. Even though she didn't make any friends at her school, she went every day to learn about fascinating things she never knew about. But the one thing, that curious the kids when she came to class. Were how bright her eyes were. The colour of bright crimson red sparkled when the light of the classroom exposed them. They all looked at her as if she was the center of attention. The spotlight was all on her. Ailsa flushed looking at all of them, staring at her. The teacher, Ms. Wyatt interrupted the kids little show, to pay attention. The raven haired blinked, wondering why everyone was looking directly at her.
"Mani, do you think there is something odd about me?" She asked her brother while he was picking her up from school. Remembering how all those children were looking at her, made her felt completely uncomfortable.
"No, why do you ask?" He questioned her, looking at his little sister. "Did something happen at your first day of school?"
"The kids were looking at me as if there is something odd about me." She grabbed a napkin out of her pants pocket. Placing it on her nose as she blew in it.
"Maybe they never seen such beautiful red eyes you have, Ailsa."
My eyes? she thought to herself. She knew one thing in particular, her eyes were red and with her pale skin complexion, it made others in her neighborhood think she was something else. But those rumours were false, when they saw Ailsa head out in the sunlight. Because of that, she was never fond of the eyes she had. But from seeing Mani with the same colour eyes as her, made her felt better about them. "Maybe so, Mani." She said with little disgust.
"They aren't that bad." He reassured her. "Let's go home, I have an idea that will cheer you up."
"Really?" Ailsa beamed at him, walking ahead.
"Of course, anything to make you feel better." He quickened the pace and started to run ahead.
Ailsa saw how fast he ran, she followed after him. Heading home was going smoothly as Mani got there first. She panted as she finally caught up. He opened the door, letting Ailsa go in first. Then head in after while locking the door from the inside. "Guess, mum and dad aren't home yet?" Ailsa asked, noticing it was just them inside the house.
"Seems they'll be here late. But the main thing now is to make sure you is cheered up." He smiled while changing the subject, grabbing her hand gently. Ailsa grip a held of his hand, firmly. She loved when her brother always tries to uplift her from her moods.
"Alright!" She excitedly replied.
•••
Then that night, when everything for Ailsa started to change unexpectedly. She was trying to sleep, going through every position she can mustered. But none worked. She sat upright on her bed. Insomnia? Why of all nights? she pondered in her thoughts. Taking the covers off of her. Looking around her while she got out of the bed. There's nothing to be afraid of, she thought. Walks over to her desk and turns on the lamp. Ailsa felt a little burn in one of her eyes. She rubbed it gently. Why is this happening? Not having a time to think on that, she moved her hand away from the eye. Something strange happened while she was standing, not moving from where she was. Frozen. Her heart was pounding fast. Why was she afraid all of a sudden? Looking upward from the direction she was in, there was a mirror. Was that there before? She looked carefully as she saw something on the eye that was burning, earlier. Why does it look like that? What is happening to me? Ailsa had so many questions in her head. For being only five, this made her wonder. I'm just a child, why is this happening? The eye was glowing as if it was about to become one of those laser beams. She tried to close her eyes. Was this why I couldn't sleep? It probably had to be. She tried her best to overcome this by moving first. First, to turn off the lamp. While she did that successfully, she crawled back into her bed. Laying back into position, putting the blanket on top of her. Hopefully she'll sleep through this. Out of nowhere, the mirror on her wall, vanished and the eye, back to normal. Suddenly in deep slumber. She never wanted to know what will happen, if this was to get seen by anybody.
