𝙵𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚒𝚗

𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒐𝒎

･*･–☆･ ﾟ☾ ﾟ･☆–･*･

Eclipse gazed helplessly at the ceiling, wondering what would become of her. Her arms barely had enough room to move from where she was laying in the back of the trunk. The repulsive scent of alcohol filled the air, and the deep indents on each of her eyes, which had been stabbed and pricked repeatedly with needles just hours before, now stung as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

All of a sudden, a crack of thunder rumbled through the sky, causing the entire van to shudder. Eclipse slid to the opposite side of the trunk after a failed attempt at maintaining her balance. However, not long after crawling back to her original position, crouched in the corner of the trunk, several gusts of wind attacked the van, forcefully sending her back to the other side. As Eclipse regained control of her movements, the roaring of the wind continuing to fill her ears, a sudden click from the trunk door caught her attention, causing her to glance up. She watched, hope stirring within her as the previously fastened lock came undone and dropped to the floor with a noisy thud. The trunk doors swung open, revealing the pouring morning rain outside and the cars driving behind the van she had been held captive in for so many months.

For the first time in what she thought would be forever, a spark of hope ignited within her as she discovered her escape route. A single jump out of the van would be her key to freedom.

Freedom from the months of utter agony she had endured.


Freedom from the perpetual feelings of hopelessness that had nearly driven her to insanity.


Freedom from the sheer terror she felt every time she saw those terrifying, unnaturally pale hands.

Eclipse saw her chance.

It's now or never . . .

She jumped.

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Before Eclipse could process it, the feeling of car metal colliding with her lower legs was fully present. Instinctively, she swerved to her right, moving quickly out of harm's way and tumbling onto the rain-soaked sidewalk just as the speeding vehicle headed directly into the spot in which she had been standing just seconds before. It was now, sitting on the wet concrete floor, that Eclipse finally noticed the bruised, bleeding wound on her knee that had been inflicted by the vehicle forcefully coming into contact with her skin moments earlier, and, as the adrenaline that had stirred within her slowly wore off, it was almost immediately replaced by an excruciating stinging sensation.

Eclipse winced slightly from the pain as she lifted herself off the ground in an attempt to stand up. Her legs gave way, and she plummeted back towards the rain-washed ground, letting out a startled yelp.

After several additional attempts to walk, all of which were unsuccessful, Eclipse collapsed back onto the sidewalk, helplessly wondering what to do next.





･*･–☆･ ﾟ❀ ﾟ･☆–･*･

Her spotted pink umbrella swayed in the wind as she struggled to maintain her balance in the perpetual downpour. Large beads of rain covered the umbrella's surface, causing the mushroom-shaped object to glisten in the faint light as Rhea gazed upwards at the clouded grey sky, trying not to be affected by the rather depressing afternoon weather. The sidewalk was empty, with no one else in sight. Nevertheless, Rhea remained wary of her surroundings, glancing behind her every now and then to make certain that she was completely alone. After all, she wouldn't want anyone to catch sight of her wings. The delicate, translucent membranes had frightened and intimidated anyone who saw them, and Rhea had grown up being continually avoided by the people she longed to be friends with.

All of a sudden, an almost inaudible sniffle caught her attention, causing Rhea to flinch. Her soft green eyes darted towards the sound, watching cautiously for any sign of movement. The green orbs spotted a small, black-haired figure sitting alone on the deserted sidewalk with her face buried in her arms, hair and clothes already drenched in rain. She was violently shivering from the cold, her back heaving slightly with each quiet sob that escaped her. Overcome with pity for the weeping girl, Rhea hurried forward to comfort her.





･*･–☆･ ﾟ☾ ﾟ･☆–･*･

As Eclipse thought of everything she had been through before that momentous leap to freedom, that final life-changing escape from her captors' dreadful van, she found herself beginning to tear up.

Freedom, it seemed, was not as glorious as it had been made out to be.

Eclipse was now sitting on an empty sidewalk, without food, water, or shelter. Hours before, when the sidewalk had been crowded with people, not a single passerby had stopped to help her. Despite multiple attempts of pleading for assistance, she had been completely ignored, like some poor, defenseless bug on the ground.

Pangs of hunger and bouts of exhaustion overwhelmed her as the horrors of the past came flooding back in the form of horrifyingly vivid flashbacks.

Eclipse felt pathetic.

Despite everything she had endured previously, life seemed reluctant to improve. As yet another tear came sliding down Eclipse's face, hidden by her arms, it was accompanied by another wave of hopelessness.

She began to wonder whether leaving the van had been the correct decision. After all, she had, at least, been provided with food and, though inadequate, some form of shelter during her time in captivity.

Eclipse sighed, watching a glistening teardrop plop onto the sidewalk with a tiny splash.

What am I going to do now?

───────────────────･☾･───────────────────


Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps. Not wanting to be seen in her current state, she buried her tear-stained face even deeper into her arms, attempting to conceal as much of it as possible. A girl with soft pink hair came scurrying towards her, the bottom folds of her matching pink dress swaying rhythmically with each of her swift movements.

The pink-haired girl carefully placed herself next to Eclipse, seemingly unaware of her delicate silk dress becoming damp as it came into contact with the rain-soaked ground. The girl held out her umbrella towards Eclipse, providing the latter with a much-needed shield from the pouring rain, despite the former herself becoming drenched almost immediately. Her virescent eyes brimming with concern, the girl spoke in a gentle voice, just loudly enough to be heard against the deafening sounds of pouring rain.


"Hey . . . are you alright?"

･*･–☆･ ﾟ☾❀ ﾟ･☆–･*･