3 January 2013
My heart thudded in my enflamed throat, and the muscles of my legs flexed and unflexed as I pumped my body harder to carry my weight faster. Though, the more I sped up the stronger the grip fear had on me became. I twisted my head ninety degrees, still thrusting myself with emotional speed through the air, to get a good idea of how close my foe had grown. An arm's length away. "Go faster!" I screamed at myself in frustration and stone cold fear. A single tear slithered down my porcelain cheek, burning after been whipped by skeletal branches and prickly vines. Gnarled roots leered at closing distances, threatening to snatch me and pull me down to the sodden earth. My breath puffed and swirled in the air fiercely as my heart sped and pounded terrifyingly in my rib cage. I felt a strong calloused hand grab at my shoulder, but I lurched away involuntarily. Anything to escape this frozen hell I found myself in. I didn't even know my name. "Grace, stop this!" cried a husky, very masculine voice. My eyes widened comically and my strides grew slower. Fear still trapped me like a cage, but then how did this man know my name? I turned around slowly, seeing the man had staggered a safe distance from me I stopped to catch my breath-as did he. For a few lengthy moments we both stood there doubled over trying to regain our breath. "You sure can run fast," he muttered. "Who are you?" I yelled at him furiously. "Why were you chasing me?" "You really don't know do you?" his face was obviously amused and concerned at the same instant. "Know what?" my voice didn't come out as confident as I had strived for. It came out feeble and vulnerable. "Grace, you've been missing for almost a month..." Shock slammed into me like a screeching car with frozen tires. All the color drained from my face, and suddenly my body felt like it was collapsing in on itself. Every limb of my entire body shook so hard that you could hear my rattling bones a mile away. The tall ancient trees looming above blurred and spun. I stumbled left, then right. "I...I need...I have to...pft-" The world went black. I felt my feet come out from under me and I was falling, falling. Forever falling....
"....found her in Carlsbad Wood. Looked like she lost a bit of weight. It's a miracle, you know. She should be dead." "Yeah, well, she's not. So, stop acting like she is," said an anxious and cold voice that was very familiar. "Where am I?" I slurred. A warm friendly hand rested on my chilled forearm lovingly, and the cold voice from before transformed dramatically. "Just rest, sweetie. You're very ill and need to heal," cooed that so familiar voice. I laid back down as instructed and closed my eyes. I was sore, so sore, everywhere. "What happened to me? Who are you people?" I squeaked. "You really don't remember me?" Asked the familiar voice. A face came into view, the familiar voice's. It was a woman with soft features and stunning green eyes, an auburn bob, and she was beautiful. The woman was healthy, but not skinny. She had curves and a voice that anyone would be comfortable with. "You're very pretty," I breathed sheepishly. Tears brimmed the pretty woman's eyes. She reached out with her soothing hands and gently stroked my still aching cheek. I involuntarily shuddered. "Is this what it feels like to be loved?" I asked, crying tears of my own. For once I was crying from joy, not pain. "Oh, but you still are," sobbed the woman. My eyes widened, and I realized something. "Are you my mom?" I asked hopefully. The woman wept again, but with joy and glory and shimmering hope. "Yes, my shining star, I am." Everyone in the room seemed to freeze and sniffle a little at my moment with my new found mom. But most also displayed emotions of horror and disdain. It was like they were wanting to scream at the person who did this to me. This person, who could destroy innocence with a flick of their evil finger...
Girl In Carlsbad Wood • Opuss № I