The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Alaina
by Naching T. Kassa 

Alaina paused, considered the swirl of color on the brick wall, and took a deep breath. The chill night air smelled of exhaust, dust and best of all—paint.

Red, yellow, and blue smeared and dripped. The colors provided contrast to the gray world which surrounded Alaina. And to the ash-gray makeup she wore.

Her country had outlawed color long ago. Only approved shades like black, gray, white and red could be worn or painted. Red was allowed only with permission, and usually by The Authority.

Alaina glanced about. The paint had cost her 2K on the black market. If she were caught with it, The Authority would likely employ red.

Alaina’s protest stood stark on the wall. They had forced her to hide her color. She would force them to face it.

A strange howl sounded in the distance. Alaina left the paint cans and hurried away. There were no fingerprints to leave behind. Alaina didn’t have any.

She hurried along, hooded head down. When the howls drifted into the distance, she slowed. Another painting caught her eye.

This was not her work, but it was her face. Her face, in color, without the gray mask.

She glanced about, a thrill of fear racing through her. Someone had seen her. Someone knew what she’d done. Only one knew her true face. He had gushed red long ago.

Alaina rushed through the streets, keeping to the shadows. The howl sounded again. Closer. Could the Wolfborn have caught her scent? She’d been so careful.

She hurried through the maze of streets. Padded footsteps sounded to the left and then the right. She glanced in the latter direction and glimpsed the slim shadow of the genetically engineered beast at her side. Its eyes glowed.

The Wolfborn, far worse than the humans who served The Authority, had been given carte blanche regarding the color red. They were an abomination, a cross between human and wolf.

Alaina broke into a run and the Wolfborn followed.

She was a few yards from the door when they caught her. The creature on the left drove her to the ground and the others surrounded her, five in all.

Alaina waited for the jaws which tore flesh and crushed bone. Instead, the tinny sound of a paint can hitting pavement filled the air.

Trembling, she glanced up at the beast before her. It dipped its fingers in what remained of the color and traced symbols on the concrete.

She read her own name as it helped her to her feet.

The others bowed before her.

“Alaina,” they intoned, deep and guttural.

Only one, the one who’d lifted her, remained standing. She noted the deep scar across his wolf-like face and the eye she knew too well.

“Martin?” she whispered.

The Wolfborn bent, retrieved the paint can, and passed it to her.

“You…paint…” he said. “We…protect.”

.

Fiction © Copyright Naching T. Kassa
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

More from Naching T. Kassa:

Sherlock Holmes and The Arcana of Madness: A Horror Mystery

Discover the untold mysteries of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson in Sherlock Holmes and the Arcana of Madness, a trilogy that unveils three captivating cases intertwined with the mystical allure of tarot cards, designed by the renowned, yet infamous artist, Richard Dadd.

A collection of manuscripts, meticulously penned by John H. Watson M.D., is unearthed in 2019 amidst the restoration of Broadmoor Hospital, found inexplicably in the grave of Richard Dadd. The manuscripts’ concealed journey and their remaining unpublished raise a myriad of questions, enveloping them in a veil of mystery.

Available on Amazon!