GenieLUV~ Hello everyone! Welcome to my story that I've been working on for so long. To let you all know, this story had been going through a drastic make over. Soooo, it's about time I initiated the 'do over.' I want to thank all the followers and reviewers and those who favorite the story and I owe you an explanation probably later. But, thank you for sitcking with me after all this time and I'll make sure to follow with my updates.
If there is anymore questions then check out my profile or message me.

As for you new readers, please enjoy this story. And please read to your hearts content! :D

~Hunted~

Chapter 1: Red

I heard a familiar noise go off as I pulled myself towards consciousness. It was something very annoying, but it was something I couldn't ignore, or prevent.

"Good morning Twilight Town!" a radio anchorman yelled with enough enthusiasm to slowly peel my eyes open. I groaned and tried snuggling my face deeper into my pillow to avoid the sound of my radio. But, this anchorman was just so damned annoying, so I sucked up my pride and woke up to start my day— my long day.

"How about we start the day off with some weather info!" he continued to roar through my radio as I bared myself to enter the shower. Steam fogged up my bathroom and I washed away yesterday's hard work that loitered my delicate skin. I had no time to wash myself up since the first thing I did was crash to the surface of my mattress— I didn't even wait up for Kairi last night.

"Looks like we got some of those autumn winds coming in and some gray clouds rolling with it." I stopped myself from standing in my shower any longer and immediately dried myself off to enter my bedroom once again. I put on my work uniform; which consisted of a short, khaki, plaid skirt with a white, button up blouse that was accessorized with a red bow tied around the collar.

"It's going to be chilly outside, so bundle up!" the radio told me. So, I made sure to put some black stockings.

I swore that this uniform was very extravagant for a mini cafe, but my boss insisted since he complimented that I brought in more customers— specifically male customers. Though, I don't know whether to be flattered or offended.

Before walking out of my room, I turned off the radio in order to turn the other radio on in the kitchen. I hoped to hear a song as I drank my coffee, but the same anchor man was still making his announcement. I went to sit down beside the counter, but a small envelope caught my eye.

I reached for it as I scrolled by eyes across big, bold letters that read: NAMINE.

I had no doubt that it was from Kairi and I was going to immediately rip it open to see what nonsense was put into a note that she couldn't personally say it to me, but the voice on the radio caught my attention once again.

"So here's the recent news about the random killings going around in Twilight- just yesterday evening, a couple was found dead while walking back home. Police still don't have any leads to the suspect or suspects, but the TTPD (Twilight Town Police Department) are taking drastic measures that they're considering to enforce a curfew for the safety of everyone in the town—"

My eyes wandered downward to see the time and I started getting ready to make my leave. So, I put on my red coat and slipped the note into my bag full of extra clothes and books. I took the last sips to my coffee as I continued listening to the conclusion of the news.

"Please take caution when out late at night. We wouldn't want a curfew issued, would we?"

I turned off the radio one last time. "Curfew my ass," I scoffed, leaving my apartment with the swipe of my keys tangled in my little fingers.

Coming down the cement stairs, the cold air entangled my legs as the breeze made my hands seek warmth within my pockets. I looked up to see gray clouds ensuing like a storm was coming, I wasn't surprised to think that it would rain by the weekend. It was completely gloomy outside, but what did you expect from Twilight Town during this season?

They said Twilight Town was known for its red sunsets and the town had a festive spirit to it during summer and spring. However, as soon as autumn hits and winter being right around the corner, this town kind of felt hollow— and these killings sure weren't helping.

Tomorrow (being the first day of November) would be three months of the random killings that have been going on around here. People are calling it 'Fall's Fatal Mark"— considering it has started by the beginning of September and that each victim was found with one brutal wound as if they were masticated.

I heard people say it's just some sadistic serial killer running around loose to gain notoriety, others say it could be an amateur cannibal; and I say, should I be scared of one possibility more than the other?

Either way, I didn't pay much attention to it. Part of it was because I was just so tired from being busy all the time, the other was that I didn't show much weakness to things. I didn't like feeling worried or others feeling worried for me. I would consider myself brave and somewhat independent or even stubborn, but I would like to say that I had more important things to worry about— like my education, rent, and my sister.

As I continued walking past various size buildings, I decided to distance myself to the thought of the topic. I did admit, it was in the back of my mind every time I walked in the night.

I soon approached the café and I already saw some customers walk in for their early morning fix. I went inside and the doorbell signaled my arrival which sent my boss, Pence, already making his way out of the back room to welcome me.

"Morning, Namine!" he cheered as I walked past occupied tables filled with patient customers. I smiled back at him and waved, I wasn't in the right mood to give him back a response as happy as he does.

I then saw Olette coming to cater to the customers in the matching uniform. "Hey, Nami," she sounded less cheerful than Pence, but still joyed to see me.

"Hey, Olette," I smiled and went onto my duties to start my long day of work ahead.

My first table was of two guys who I've seen quite a while already. (I believed their names were Rai and Seifer) I greeted them with confidence and kindness. "What can I get you boys?" I folded my hands and tilted my head with the following expressions.

"Y-yeah! I would like some hot chocolate with extra whip cream," one of them ordered, but startled on how I came out of nowhere with such emotion.

"Hmm… A cappuccino for me, extra caramel," he hummed and eyed me very carefully.

I was used to it… "Coming right up," I blinked, ignoring his gaze upon me.

I walked away to the machine to make the beverages and Pence abruptly confronted me. "H-hey Namine, I just wanted to give you this week's pay check before hand," he snorted, handing an envelope to me.

"Uh- thanks Pence." I grabbed it and decided to see a peek at my week's earnings.

"I would like to mention that I gave you a raise," he sneered at me, "Y-you know, for being a hard worker!"

I looked at the check and realized how much of a raise I actually received. "Pence, you really didn't have to- I mean, it's really not fair…" I tried to object to his offering, since I knew why he gave it to me anyway— and it wasn't just for being a hard worker.

"No, no," he assured me, "You've earned it. Besides, you do need the money to pay for this month's rent, right?"

Hell yeah I do! "Y-yeah…" I surrendered and decided to accept the money, "Thanks, Pence."

I modestly beamed a smirk at him while burying the envelope against my chest like I was touched and he was swooned over. "I-i-it's nothing! Really!" he laughed and his face flustered in red as he couldn't even look at me anymore and nervously left.

I finished up making the drinks and went to serve it to my customers. "Here you are," I set both paper cups on the table.

"Thank you very much," the boy who gave me the gaze told me, "But it looks like time is short, so we'll take this to go. So I'll just leave this here."

The boy left a tip and winked at me before him and his friend left the café. I collected it and I was surprised to see he left a ten dollar tip. I was happy to see he left something so generous. But, as I cleaned up the table, I saw writing on an unused napkin—

See you around, sweet thing ;)

"Hehe—"I heard Olette laugh from behind me while carrying a box of dirty dishes, "Always so popular with the boys. Eh? Namine?"

I took a deep breath in and looked really hard at the money in my hand. "Here," I gave half of the money to Olette. I walked away before she could refuse or say anything and went to the next table.

Being given things for reasons that were unjustified didn't suit me very well. I knew I should have considered myself lucky, but Olette was just like me; a bright, young girl struggling to go to school and working hard enough to make a living. She deserved as much as I did. — And it bothered me…

Why was I always one pitied on or looked upon more often when I was just like any average person?

Later in the day, the café started to get a little quiet and not much people were coming in anymore. Pence gave me the time to eat something and do my homework before going to school. I continued pushing on the question that wandered in my mind from before. And then, I remembered that I didn't have quite the normal life to begin with.

I looked back at the days where things were much simpler and innocent; when I didn't have to worry about the necessary things and, basically, about life.

I was born on Destiny Islands, where the sun shined all the time and it was less of the city life. I remembered being that tan, blonde girl— I remembered being on the beach most of the time; my skin absorbing in the sun, my feet feeling the soft sand, and the sound of waves crashing on earth.

That's when I picked up my love for drawing. Everything around me from that point gave me inspiration to draw whatever I wished. Whether it be flowers or the sunset— in my opinion the sunset there was prettier than here.

My imagination had no limit and the world was just so pretty. I had no idea about that 'cruel world'. I didn't believe in the realism of things— I was busy being fond of the idea of a perfect life. I had a family- the sufficient support and love from the people I cared for most.

But like every dream, you had to wake up to the reality that not everything could be so perfect. Nothing in this world is perfect.

When I was sixteen, both my parents died.

I was the one who picked up the phone; the one to hear that they weren't coming home because they were murdered. I had to be the one to repeat it to Kairi, and yet I was the younger sister.

I felt like my dream was taken away from me from there. That perfect life that I yearned for shattered and I wasn't the same person anymore. I couldn't believe it, I didn't sleep without crying, and this hole in my chest started filling with a heaviness that I couldn't bear.

I was in a really dark place.

Later, Kairi sold the house and decided to move in with our grandmother in Radiant Gardens, a suburban area. We just wanted to escape it all and take a breather from the hectic point of our lives. During our time there, I began to put on this façade where I could just move on from it and overcome the obstacle to just begin a new life. But, of course I needed something to just occupy me.

So when I turned eighteen, me and Kairi, being twenty, moved to Twilight Town. It had a prestigious school (though expensive) and it was a completely different world from the one we grew up in. We used our parents' inheritance to completely pay for the school, but we got part time jobs to pay for the apartment we rented because we didn't have any money left.

Of course, not everything is handed to you.

Throughout all of this, I've realized something. People's expectations were always far too high for life. I've lost the fight to prove that fact was false. The world was too depraved to let things go our way— it was brutal enough to take away two beautiful and happy parents.

People see me as such a sweet hearted person, so courteous and pretty enough not to think of these vile thoughts. But, I know well enough to not make me vulnerable ever again.

I know enough to see that this world— was in fact— ugly.

"Namine?" Olette whipped me out of my thoughts as I turned to her, "It's about time we go to school, don't you think?"

I look at her and I see she had already changed into other clothing and had everything packed up to go. "Oh! Let me just hurry up and change then!" I popped out of my chair and began to stroll myself to the bathroom.

After changing into a white shirt that said 'freedom' on it and some skinny jeans as I still kept on my ankle boots, I put on my red coat while passing by Pence to say good bye to him.

"Bye, girls!" he shouted as we were already half way through the door, "Make sure to be careful out there!"

We both started to walk through the cold weather and continued to do so for three city blocks— a long walk by the way. "Oh yeah! Did you hear about last night's murder?" Olette commenced in conversation.

"Yeah, it's getting ridiculous," I replied with a nonchalant expression, "The police should have gotten a lead by now."

It was true; it looked like the police weren't playing their part as protectors of Twilight Town. But, going on for this long— I wouldn't be surprised to see if they were hiding something just to keep everyone from panicking.

"Totally, but having a curfew wouldn't help at all," she complained, "What about us students going to school at night? We wouldn't even be able to have night classes anymore— what then, hmm?"

"I don't know about you, but it wouldn't matter if there was a curfew or not. I'm still going to school even if I have to have someone escort me there," I scoffed.

I was definitely not going to miss out on school if they were to go on with the curfew. I was going to major in the fine arts, becoming an artist was a passion of mine. Drawing was the only thing I had left from the islands, though I didn't want to remember anything about the past. But, I promised my father I would never stop drawing. He always loved my talent…

Anyway, Kairi was going to school to major in fashion design and she worked as an assistant to a designer at night. So, it didn't really matter if a curfew was issued or not. I lived here for almost a year now. I know it would never pass since there were so many people out at night for various and important reasons.

"Hehe— maybe that someone should be Riku!" Olette once again snapped me out of my thought as I blushed and reacted to that comment.

"S-shut up!" I pouted as heat rushed to my cheeks and it was visible do to the cold. "When will you learn that I don't have time for that?"

"Oh, Nami! You should flaunt what you have!" she squeaked, looking at me with determination, "You're that pretty island girl that every boy imagines to have and yet, you don't even stop to take a boy's number."

"Olette, you already know my answer to that," I sighed, "I'm a little too preoccupied with work and school and—"

"I know, I know," she sighed with me with a sincere smile, "But, it wouldn't hurt to try. At least put time aside to go on a date. And who knows! Maybe you can meet someone special!"

"Hmph— that's probably going to be impossible if this curfew gets passed, you know?" I continued rejecting her idea.

"Ah! You always have a way around things, don't you, Namine?" she heaved out, already giving up.

I laughed at her surrender and satisfied as well. I honestly really didn't want to date. Yes, it was mainly because I didn't have time for it. But, it was also because most of these guys around here just see me as the 'island girl'. If you ask me, I'm probably the only one in this huge town of ours that has blonde hair— stereotypically, every guy's dream girl. I guess they were used to seeing city girls that walked around elegantly with their high self-esteem that labeled them as 'attention whore'.

Me? I'm not any of that. If I were to go walk around in a dress, I would wear some boots instead of high heels. I don't see a reason to put on makeup like those other girls to compete for attention. Girls here, you could say, are pretty snobbish. Compared to me, I'm less of a bitch.

A little smart mouthed, but never shallow.

Olette and I entered the school, which took about another city block since they did have dorms, separate buildings, and such. Our first class was calculus, and in that class you can act as shallow as you pleased. I never had a thing for math.

Once my classes ended, it was already nine o'clock. But, I didn't count myself done with the day since I had to study for an exam the next day for philosophy. I never knew why that was even a course anyway…

Olette was supposed to come with me to the library to help me study, but after classes a boy named Hayner insisted treating her for coffee and walking her home. I let her be and decided to just go on to the library and study for myself.

As I walked on the upper floor, a cloud of students pushed through me to reach the stairs and walk down to the exit. But, when there was less of a crowd I saw someone very familiar to me. He was just standing there, completely oblivious to everything around him; with his black-collared jacket that contrasted with his bright, silver hair. 'Mr. Junior Cop.'

"Riku!" I yelled out his name and made his marine colored eyes shift to my direction.

In a matter of seconds he was already in front of me and his hand messed up the top of my hair as a greeting in spite of me being a lot shorter than him. "Wow, Namine. It's been a while since I've seen you around," he smiled.

"I should be the one saying that to you considering you're the one who disappeared on me," I fired back with a displeased frown on my face.

"Well, well, well. Does Namine here seek my attention?" he teased with a pleasured grin, "Never thought I'd see the day."

"Don't flatter yourself," I rolled my eyes at such an assumption with cool, "Remember, you're the one always bothering me to hang out. So I'm not the needy one."

"Oh~ I do so apologize your— oh so short highness," he laughed, leaving me unimpressed, "All jokes aside, I missed you too. How about getting something to eat?"

Oh, so now he wants to hang out. "Sorry," I shrugged with a smug, "This highness has to study for a test tomorrow."

"Pfft–!" the silverette breathed out, gripping at his gut, "Since when do you study?"

"Excuse me, but all those passing grades don't just come flying out of my ass," I looked at him skeptically.

"Hm—"

"What?"

He looked down at me with a smirk. "I wonder…"

It took me two seconds to look at him with disbelief and less than a second to punch him in the arm as hard as I could. However, the impact didn't seem to bother him. "I'm not a ho!" I scolded him softly, "I earn my grades the right way."

All he could do was laugh at my choice of words and I looked at him viciously as I pouted my mouth that probably caused him to laugh at me more. "O-okay, okay," he tried restraining any more of his laughter, "How about next time then? I'll make sure to text you as soon as I'm not doing anything."

"I'm not sure if I want to hang out with you anymore," I crossed my arms with a bored expression.

"Don't kid yourself, Nami," he once again messed up the top of my hair with his rough hands, "Make sure not to stay out too late, okay?"

And like that, he was on his way. "Was that a warning or some friendly advice?" I shouted at him before he left my sight.

"A little bit of both!" he hollered back.

I sighed and shoved all my thoughts aside to get to the library as soon as possible. I ended up taking his advice to not stay out as late I hoped for, but that just took a turn for the worse. I should have taken him more seriously.

My brain was fried and my eyes couldn't bear anymore once I decided that enough was enough; I couldn't take anymore studying. I looked at the time and saw that it was about to be eleven, so I started to pack up my things to begin leaving. I put my red coat on and grabbed my bag, but the satchel fell before I could even grab onto it.

"Shit…" I cursed under my breath as I heard some pens escape from it. I bended over to collect everything, but I saw something from the corner of my eye.

It was the envelope and my name written in bold letters reminded me. I opened it up and saw just a small index card with her neat hand writing:

Namine, don't wait up for me. I've decided to take on more hours to make our rent and other needs. I left some dinner you could heat in the microwave and please get home early.

~ Kairi.~

I crumpled the paper within my tiny hand and sighed with uncertainty. Did she honestly think something like this was worth telling me just with a piece of paper? She at least could have had the decency to talk about this with my approval. How could she think about staying out later than she should with all those killings going on?

Listen to yourself, Namine. Now you sound like the older sister.

And speaking of which, I'm the one who should have been home. I strapped on my bag and pushed in the chair out of manners and wanted to look at the librarian to say good night. But when I looked up, she wasn't there. I turned my head to search the place and I was stunned to see I was the only person there.

I felt uneasy and a little creeped out, so I was immediately out the door. That's odd…

It was now icy cold outside and the gust of wind slapped me in the face to be fully attentive. It was so cold that I actually had a hard time breathing as I shuddered and shook from the reaction.

I was walking in a very fast pace and I held the satchel tightly to ease myself. The rustling of leaves made me paranoid and my hair being whipped in my face made it impossible for me to see clearly. I wasn't sure if I was actually the only one out, but I didn't care because all I wanted was to get home quickly as possible.

I looked up and saw that the tall clock tower replaced the moon and followed me. The lit clock stared down at me and showed me that it was past eleven already— just rubbing it in my face that I was already late as it was.

It was still a long walk from home, but what made it seem like it took forever was the cold. It was just so damn cold, it felt like it was freezing my legs and making me walk slowly.

I didn't want to think about chillness of the atmosphere anymore, so I started to think about how I should have listened to Riku. I chuckled as I saw how he was always right and I heard his voice in the back of my mind like a conscious, saying 'I told you so'.

I was about to make one of the turns, but as I did a blast of breeze hit my back and it was enough to make me gasp. I stopped a minute as I felt my breath being taken away and I took the time to calm myself for I felt some type of anxiety going over me.

Suddenly, when I was ready to move forward, my eyes paused as I saw something directly towards me. A man was leaning against a building's wall and noticed me as he turned his head. He was wearing a black, hooded jacket and the dimness of the night wasn't allowing me to properly see his face.

I wasn't nervous though, so I passed by him with very little tension and pressed on. I just kept thinking on how close to home I was and it made me look forward to seeking the warmth inside which made motivated me to go a faster pace.

And before I knew it, I was already at the other corner. I politely blinked to set my focus, but my body was at a halt and I wasn't sure if I was in shock or just going through déjà vu. I came across the same man again and he was leaning against a wall just like before.

My blue eyes were set opened and I was bewildered to how he got there. He looked at me once again, but this time he said something to me. "Don't you think it's a little reckless to be out this late at night?" he sneered.

I ignored him as I felt like he mocked me and proceeded moving on. I was thrilled to see he didn't say anything else, but I felt my heart drop once I heard footsteps following me. My tiny self knew from there that I was screwed at that point.

My eyes wandered around as I thought of what I was going to do next. I didn't want to stop to say anything to the creep because I knew that there was no point and it probably would make matters worse. Let's just face it, creeps were worse at night.

I took a whiff of air and concluded that I need to get home as fast as I could. So, I started to move faster to at least make it seem that nothing was wrong.

I was torn to hear that the guy mimicked me and did the same.

By that time, I was already jogging. But, it sounded as if he wasn't even trying and still caught up to me from the distance. And so, I was already running.

I could hear him chuckling to himself over the heavy heaving that I made. His sadistic laughter reached the back of my neck and crawled its way to my ear, having me shake in fear. And it was just what he wanted.

I didn't want to, but I looked from behind to see him. Despair consumed me as I saw him reaching for me as he licked his lips and menacingly grinned with pleasure. "What's wrong, Red? There's no need to be afraid!" he cackled, "I'm not a big, bad wolf!"

I was petrified at what he said; it was just such a fiendish thing to say. And once I looked into the hooded figure, I saw his eyes. It glowed with an amber color that seemed he was a beastly predator— and I was his prey.

I looked ahead and saw that the last corner was coming up. That turn was my chance to at least enter the complex of my apartment and yell for help, so I pushed myself into forcing all my energy into one last sprint.

As I felt the rush of air flowing through my hair, I wasn't realizing that I felt something else other than that. I felt iced fingers try to grasp the back of my neck and nails scratch me ever so violently. His sick humor taunted me as he knew it was hopeless, and yet, I was still trying. It amused him somehow.

His presence was getting louder, closer. And in a blink of an eye, everything went black.

My head started to hurt and everything below ached. It was like I collided into a brick wall. I wasn't sure what happened, but I opened my eyes and saw the sky. For some reason, I thought I was dead because everything had gone quite— as if all was peaceful.

GenieLUV~See? Told you I improved ;)

Anywho, as you can see our little Namine is in quite the predicament. And you can obviously tell why I titled this chapter 'Red'. And it looks like you're going to have to see what happens in the next chapter, which is coming up shortly!

Well, like I said, if any questions check out my profile or review/ PM me if you'd like... I don't bite. ;) Eh? See what I did there? ;;;;;DDDD

LOL, just kidding.

Please review and I'll see you in the next update!