the scarlet painting

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚘𝚕

The phrase running for my life couldn't even explain the situation I was in

I had been sprinting with full speed through the forest I had no idea where I was even going

"Why the hell is he so fast."

no matter how fast I thought I was running the Azreed behind me was tailing.

I ran until I reached a dead-end I had turned around and there was the most beautiful looking man I have ever seen too bad he is about to kill me

"gee this was defiantly not how I imagined I would die"

I had taken the dagger as, my last resort and swang it around till I felt I cut something

"ahh ' I heard him cry out

I opened my eyes I had cut him

And pretty sure made him angry

"look I am not a threat why don't you just, you know  let me go"

He looked at me and smirked "now why would I do that"

At that moment I knew there was nothing  further I could do  I had closed my eyes silently praying for someone to help or for some miracle to happen

A big thud had  sounded off

"leave this one to me I want this kill"

"oh for goodness sake is today hunt Leo day" I had silently shouted out

"leave now!"

There was a few rustling before silence that followed

"geez Leo what is your problem !" my mysterious saviour had started to pick me up

"you can open your eyes now.

I had slowly opened my eyes, there standing in front of me Ace,

"Ace what are you doing here?"

"I think the most important question is what are you doing here Leo I thought you were smarter than this what is going on ?".

"you could have gotten killed".

"I know ok you don't have to scold me like a little kid".

"cause you were acting like one just right now"

Ace took a big breath out he ruffled his hair before facing me

"This family has the same mannerisms  huh" .I thought

"We need to talk."

Ace had lead me into a different part of the forest it looked like it was supposed to be very secret

He quickly pushed me into the cave-like structure that had little gems that sparkled when the light shined on them

"Watch your step" he mentioned as we tried to navigate our way to the mysterious end of the structure.

Boy was I amazed at the end where we stood was doom-like and had many paintings on the walls as well a pool of water right smack dab in the middle

"Ace what is this place ."

Ace shrugged his shoulders and sat near an area that had been decorated with pillows  "my hideout"

He sat comfortably in place silently instructing me to sit and with him .

My eyes wondered around the area it was rocky with vines covering each crevice of the rock and the paintings, there stood a man and woman both most likely Azreed the woman was lying down on the man's lap, whilst he looked down smiling they both laid on the sea of grass with flowers popping out from the ground.

The woman had her baby bump peeking from her white cotton dress

Ace could see how amazed I was at the painting and chimed in

" it's my mom and dad"

Of course, she most definitely looked familiar, I looked at the man now trying to see how many details of reed I could spot

"Apparently it's my father don't try and see much you can't see much his facing way too down"

Which had been true but you could somewhat see his side profile

"you must miss him, ...your dad"

"well it's hard to miss him when I haven't met him"

With remembering that fact  I internally slapped myself

Ace laughed at the face I pulled

"it's ok don't feel embarrassed, but yeah I kinda wish I met him to see if we have similar personalities or know what he likes or dislikes .. how he feel in love with mom  I don't know it would have been nice to know him"

He smiled and so did I

"does reed know what you did?"

"no, and he doesn't have to know"

I looked at him sternally

He pouted and faked a baby voice "why I couldn't possibly lie to my own brother"

"Ace I am not playing" I half laughed half scolded him

"he'll eventually find out but ... fine I won't tell him

We stayed in the cave until it was morning

"Hey Leo get up "

"hmm what "

"get up dude we gotta go" ace laughed we got up and ace took me to back to my house we stood at the forest opening near my home

"well here you go be safe and stay out of trouble ok"

"yes yes what I did was dumb  thank you ace"

We hugged and thought that was the end of it

"oh sh*t" Ace said backing back into the forest

I turned around to an angry reed

"em... hey Reed"

"I can explain".