Title: Calm Red Night. Author: Belgium Pastebin link: http://pastebin.com/h9Nkaqea First Edit: Thursday 10th of September 2015 02:20:58 AM CDT Last Edit: Last edit on: Thursday 10th of September 2015 03:49:02 AM CDT >There's a calm in the night. >It's peaceful. >Quiet. >Nothing but the moon, the darkness, and a little one. >Poofy orange hair with a yellow strip running down the middle. >There's a lot of it, but it shows great care. >It's soft to the touch, and pleasing to the eye. >It's owner, a teenage girl, loves it. >She brushes it every night. >When the moon is high and it's light shines just right. >She is there, brushing it. >It's her greatest possession, and greatest treasure. >She loves it. >She gets comments on it everyday on how much life it has. >She's used to them all, but loves it. >Her friends call her Cheese-Poof because of it. >She giggles when she hears it. >She's used to the name, but loves it just the same. >It holds everyones attention. >Away from her Magenta eyes that carry character. >Away from her lips that she keeps in a smile. >Away from her face, which is caked in make-up. >"You're so pretty, Adagio," the school tells her! >"How did you get your hair to be like that? Please, teach me!" >She smiles, as she brushes her hair, at the comments she'll get. >Because for now, that's all she can hear. >Until a door opens. >The door to her room exactly. >She doesn't look up. >Not yet anyways. >Just a few more moments of brushing. >Just the sound of the voices, and the brush on her hair. >Is that so much to ask? >A hand takes her wrist. >She looks into the face of who owns that hand. >Her brother. >The quiet Anon. >He's usually left to his own devices. >And does the same with others. >But when he's found a bottle to open. >He doesn't like to be alone. >"Hello, Adagio." >His voice reeks of booze and pours out the stench over her. >She doesn't cough. >She can't cough. >She won't cough. >"You're improving," he says. >She says nothing, but holds his gaze. >A hand flies across her face, and tries to rip her head off her neck. >"For once." >He takes the brush from her, while she puts a hand to her cheek. >It's warm, and it hurts. >Tears don't form. >Not yet, anyways. >"How are your grades?" >She doesn't answer. >Top of the class, bottom of the class. >Pure average. >It doesn't matter. >He wonders around her room, picking up things, looking at them. >She doesn't answer, she just rubs her cheek. >"I asked you a question." >She looks at him. "They're fine," she says. >Her voice is strong, proud of herself. >She knows what will come, no matter how hard she tries. >She will be proud. >She will be strong. >"Oh really?" "Yes." >He produces a paper. >Her latest report card. >The grades are good. >Better then fine, even. >"6 B's and 2 A's?" >She looks at it. >He can count. "Yes." >He throws the paper behind him. >His hand goes in again, hitting her other cheek. >"I expect better." >Tears don't form, but she can feel her eyes start to water a bit. >She holds her cheek, and closes her eyes. >She focuses on the voices, how soft and nice they are. >How they tell her she's pretty. >How they tell her she's smart >"I expect better, Adagio." >His voice rings throughout the house. >Neighbours hear him. >She knows they do. >She's seen the looks and stares. >The soft whispers in the streets as she walks to school. >"She's getting abused!" >She hears it weekly. >"Explain these B's," he yells. >She doesn't respond. >She looks for her brush. >It finds her, on the side of her head. >Her hair barely cushions the blow. >She chokes back a cry of pain. >"Well?" >He's not letting up. >She doesn't care. >She just wants to find her brush. >She wants to hear the voices. >"You're so pretty, how did you get so pretty?" >"You're so smart, how did you get so smart?" >They idolize her. >They adore her. >"ANSWER THE QUESTION!" >She doesn't. >She just holds her brush.   >Morning comes. >Her eyes open, as best they can at least. >For now, they are more purple then her eyes. >Like the blood on her cheek has more then red then her eyes. >She gives a weak laugh. >Maybe that's why they're magenta. >She sits up. >Everything hurts. >Her body aches. >Her back cries out. >Her eyes are weak. >Her fingers can barely bend to take the brush in her hand. >Her hair is a mess, but she can fix it. >She can be pretty. >She looks in her mirror, near her bed. >She's a wreck. >Cuts, bruises. >They are all present and accounted for. >She stands >He knee's hurt and her legs spasms for a few moments. >But she stands. >She looks in the mirror. "We will be adored," she sings weakly to herself. "Tell us that you love us."   -fin