Thread: The Scarlet Crossing (DeliciousLust & darjeeling)

The bright crimson lights of well-lit lamps blinded Aurelia at every turn, drawing her gaze to the corner stores before she caught herself staring. Loud, heart pounding music played from clubs blazing colorful LED lights on their signs and the smell of smoke and humidity clouded her senses. The Scarlet Crossing, also known as the Cross, was the well-known name of a local red-light district yet it was not one visited often, if at all. The strange scents and pulsating lights confused her and the loud voices clamoring above all the blaring tunes made her edge just a little closer to her shepherd, a twitchy boy of twenty three who preferred to be called Hunter though Aurelia knew that was not his birth name. Another catcall rose up, this time close to her ears and she balked away, almost crashing into Hunter for safety. He knew these roads and people like the back of his hand and to Aurelia, it was just as unfamiliar. Despite her timidness, she still scowled at the waving women and adverted her gaze to the ground. It was dark, thank the gods, else her blush would be present to the world. Apart from the ambiance screaming the illicit, posters and pictures were plastered about the windows, toys and items displayed in glass cases like a museum would with an ancient artifact. Aurelia could not help but peer briefly from time to time but in large part, she continued to glance at her friend's back as if willing him to take note of her discomfort. Hunter would not stop. Her fingers were woven tightly into the hem of his dark shirt as he swerved sharply around a crowded corner brimming with women in heels and men in naught but a tie and sweatpants. This street looked the same as all other streets, but Aurelia sensed they were near by the way Hunter looked about. The caterwauling did not fade in the slightest until they at last wove through a band of smokers and into a building that smelt much the same as outside though far hotter. It seemed to be no different from the rest of the 'establishments' they had stalked past, yet its dance floor and bar were much more packed. Hunter did not even pause as they pushed there way through a thick crowd of squirming bodies Aurelia simply held on tighter, filling her lungs with the smell of spilled alcohol and nicotine, her steps uneven and as they took a staircase leading downwards. The smells were not so much better here but Aurelia had become so used to it, they all seemed to writhe together much like the dancers above her. The music was but a slow drum, vibrating through the thick walls and ceiling, muffled. Hunter, Aurelia finally hissed, tugging his shirt so hard it was like to rip. The male finally stopped as he took off his glasses and wiped the steam from them. He looked at her with an apologetic grin but shook his head. Aurelia felt her jaw clench but she said nothing more. It was quiet down here still smokey, yes, but she could think much more clearly. She had been holed up in her dingy apartment as always when Hunter came a-knocking, as always. He would always try to persuade her to come outside and join him at the lake, at the marketplace or his favorite place, which she would find out later was the Crossing. If she knew, she would have considered kicking him in the stomach and telling him to bugger off. Aurelia was jolted from her brooding as Hunter began to move, finding herself being drawn towards the center where an impressive crowd of five or six had gathered. Aurelia felt Hunter shake her off impatiently he was a good friend but tonight, he seemed like a different person and soon, he was merged with the rest of them. Aurelia felt like an outsider with her unbound hair, ruby red in color streaked in brown. Her hair had a natural wave to it that flowed about her shoulders, framing her otherwise unimpressive features save for the unnatural golden glow of her eyes. Truth be told, Aurelia thought people were only drawn to her because of the way her eyes shone and truth be told, it was partly the truth. She was reclusive and entirely uninterested and inexperienced in Hunter's world. The way she fidgeted was evidence enough of that. Yet she was intrigued. Why did Hunter seem so anxious to bring her here? Against her better judgement, she squeezed her way past two men covered in sweat towards the platform, her nose almost brushing the edge before she could look up. The sight made her pause and a surprised squeak drifted from her lips as fast as the fifty shades of red coloring her cheeks.