cigarette daydreams • mgc

chapter 1

with a hood pulled over her head, charlie was already on the move.

she's been on the run for two days now, trying to find some sense of purpose in this washed up world. her legs ached, her body shivered with each step she took in the rain, but she just had to keep going. where? well, she wasn't exactly sure.

she knew she had to be a city over by now seeing as she hasn't stopped for rest since her departure, but she couldn't really be sure. she wasn't used to doing everything alone let alone anything for herself. the girl was spoiled, her parents were loaded, she had it all.

the girl was breathing heavily as she fully felt exhaustion taking over her body and mind, the adrenaline wearing away.

she looked around trying to find any place for her to stay the night, but this town really did seem hopeless. cash wasn't the issue, it was just the accessibility of resources. so far, she's come across an abandoned laundromat and a bar turned strip joint. she didn't really fit in with that scene or.. anywhere to be exact.

that's why she ran away, but that's a story for another time.

charlie ran her shaking hands through her hazel hair, trying to move it away from her face. she decided it would be best to rest under the roof of the laundromat, at least to wait for the rain to pass.

she pressed herself against the brick-wall, slowly sliding down it before she was sat on the ground. she pulled her backpack off her aching shoulders before rummaging through its contents. she pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of water, unscrewing to cap to take a quick sip before setting it down beside her.

you see, charlie didn't smoke. well, not usually. she told herself that this would be a chance for new beginnings, trying everything before she dies in whatever way that would be.

this was her time to explore, to experiment, to-

"you're too pretty to be killing yourself with those cancer sticks."

charlie darted her head up, lips puckered around the so called cancer stick. she looked like a deer caught in headlights, too distracted by the man with fiery red hair than the lit lighter in her very own trembling hand.

the man simply watched the flame of the lighter before grinning lazily, still watching the girl that stared right back at him in shock.

"you'll burn yourself. may wanna watch that lighter, doll."

the voice seemed to snap her from her dazed and tired thoughts as she simply let the lighter drop, holding her burnt fingers to her chest. his warning was good, yet couldn't come quick enough.

"so, gonna answer me or stare at me like i just murdered your family and dog." the unidentified man asked, leaning against the same brick wall charlie was sitting against. she warily pulled the cigarette out from between her lips before mumbling something incoherent, grabbing her lighter to light the stick that was momentarily forgotten about.

she took a long exhale and sighed quietly before looking back at the man, eyes drooping in pure fatigue.

"what was it that you said again?" she asked, voice almost worn out. heavily breathing in these climate conditions didn't do well on the girls throat, it was evident now.

the man could only cringe slightly, moving closer to sit next to the girl he's become so interested in. he hasn't come across such a pretty girl before, especially not on his adventures in sketchy towns like this one.

"you sound like you've smoked a hundred packs of those for the past week straight." he teased, reaching over to grab one from her carton. she only pulled it back though, exhaling another cloud of disgusting smoke. she tapped the end of her burning cigarette before meeting the eyes of the stranger.