Roses Are Red

It was 2 weeks prior to Christmas Eve, December 10th.

Kali and I were strolling through the cold streets, hand-in-hand, admiring the whimsical lights that people had wrapped around every tree, lamp-post, or apartment.

It was beautiful, and I thought that moving to downtown LA wasn't so bad after all. After living in New Orleans for years, I had started to get homesick and would constantly call Kali until she decided to move here with me.

"It's magnificent," she mumbled, smiling warmly at me.

"True, but.. It's too magnificent. Too pretty."

Kali sighed, rolling her eyes at my suspicions.

"Dear, I love you, but you need to stop and enjoy the small beauties in life at some point."

I groaned, peering inside an antique shop.

"We've already been attacked by someone last week. It can be dangerous here, so you gotta keep your eyes peeled."

"You don't gotta."

"But you should!"

"Key word: should."

She adjusted her glasses, smirked, and wiped off a bit of snow from her black hair.

I rolled my eyes dramatically, kicking a small rock in annoyance, and watched it roll back.

Kali made a good point, but what if someone tried to harm us again?

What if they got me first, and I couldn't protect her like last time?

It was only a few weeks ago, sure, but it was also right when Kali had arrived.

I've never mentioned this to her, but it would've been better if she had gotten here a week later, so she wouldn't have gotten hurt.

Now you have scars, and it's all my fault.

Yes, it was my fault.

My fault.

"Ooo! Can we go to that restaurant? I'm hungry!" Kali exclaimed hopefully, pointing at a vintage, oak sign with the words "Fred's All You Can Eat CAFE!".

The word CAFE! was neon and vibrant, obviously designed that way to attract potential customers.

"Sure."

But the rest were dull and old and vintage, dust on the hinges. It felt like it was the 1900s.

Kali giggled and led us inside, the door swiftly opening. Right before she did, I noticed the small window with a weird red stain on it. Odd.

In the small cafe, it was quiet and calm. However, right as we had arrived, two drunks came in right after, chattering loudly and obnoxiously, and cut in line.

Kali glared at them, then turned over to me. "Are you going to talk to them or what?"

I glanced at her, shrugging.

"Well, it's only two people. Who cares if they order first?"

Kali sighed, nodding. "Alright, I'm sure it will be quick."

And then we waited for 3 hours before actually being able to order because the employee working there said that one of the BILLION items they ordered was out of stock, and the two drunk heads started a verbal fight with the poor guy.

*

We finally walked back home, Kali sipping on a blueberry milkshake while I picked at a Danish.

"It was not quick."

"Hah. I noticed."

"We finally got out, though!"

"We sure did."

She smiled, satisfied with my responses.

"Ooo.. that looks so pretty."

I tilted my head as she stopped us, wondering what she was talking about. Everything here was pretty and bright.

She bent down and plucked a rose from a bush, holding it up so we could both see it.

"Oh no, the scary flower is going to jump us! I'm so scared! She laughed, teasing my earlier suspicious statement.

I rolled my eyes.

"Heh, I'm just teasing. But seriously, isn't it so pretty and vibrant?"

I nodded sleepily, smiling.

"Roses are red, violets are blue."

She nodded, more eager than I was.

"It looks kind of like blood."

My breath hitched, and I jolted back ever-so-slightly."Wh-what? Where did you get that idea from?"

Kali tilted her head, confused. "Are you still anxious about the crazy guy who jumped us with a pocket knife? That's in the past. Also, it was my fault for being so slow to react. Don't worry your cute little head about it."

I smiled softly, but inside, my heart stopped. She said it so casually, like it was just a fly..

But…

Did she know?

Did she know I had a..

Taste for gore?

*

We got back to our small apartment at around 1:30.

Kali flopped onto the maroon couch, yawning. I set the plastic bag with our dinner on the coffee table in front of our TV, or my computer, that we use to stream shows and movies.

She grinned, reaching out to the bag and untying it. She grabbed the box at the bottom, opened it, and revealed a crispy, sugary cinnamon roll.

I opened my own box, picking up and taking a bite out of my raspberry donut.

I unlocked my computer and opened an illegal site for streaming shows.

Kali hummed along to the tapping of the keys. Maybe she was humming the Baccano theme song, some other anime we've watched.

But I am never able to ask her,

For when the lights flickered-

And flickered again-

And I turned around-

There was a lifeless body on the couch, staining the fabric red.

*

Red and blue lights mixed outside the windows.

I had fallen to my knees, watching the blood spill.

I heard the neighbors on their porch dialing the phone-

"Do you smell that?"

"Yes.."

"It smells heavy…"

Then it broke into whispers and I heard a phone dial.

I started laughing-- no, cackling. I do not know what had brought me to this.

I do not know why I kept the knife from the cafe.

I do not know why I was the one who had attacked her that night.

I do not know why I licked the blood off of the edge of the sharp blade, licking my lips.

Then, I heard the police knock at the door.

I froze.

Another knock.

Harsher.

"This is the LAPD, open up or we will do it for you!"

I stood up, my jeans stained with splattered blood.

They hit the door this time, and I noticed the cheap wood cracking.

I chuckled, clutching the knife and standing on the opposite side of the doorway.

The door swung open and I stabbed.

Stabbed.

And stabbed.

And stabbed.

Their blood spilled everywhere and I cackled again.

I looked at the two bodies.

I looked at the blood and the organs spilling out from their bodies.

Then my eyes wandered over to Kali's beautiful corpse.

And I noticed-

That her blood was red and rosy.