Freedom [Complete, 18+]

Chapter 3: Is this real! (Kitty's Point of view)

My head rose up groggily and at first I was terrified, not knowing where I was but soon began to distinguish the familiar oak tree. Lying back down onto my back, I sneezed as pollen filled my nose as my hands sifted through the long grass that surrounded me. The wild grass swayed in the breeze, giving me glimpses of our favourite tree through the thick strands. Insects croaked and I smiled at the tickling sensation as they skittered over my skin, trying not to flinch from the sensation.

The grand oak stood tall and alone on the top of the hill, its branches reaching high into the sky. Matt and I had spent many a glorious afternoon laughing till long after the sun sunk below the horizon. Rolling in the long grass our laughing figures were hidden from the cold gaze of my parents, when they noticed I was gone that is. It was a soothing place where no-one could tell us to be silent so it soon became a habit, an escape route where no-one couldn't find us.

My parents had succumbed to the inevitability of having a kid but they never really wanted one, they just wanted someone they could parade around. When I was born though they soon gave up no matter how much time I had spent trying to please them. No matter what I did it was never enough, I was just in there way even if I was sat doing my homework.

A couple more minutes went by and a sudden chill ran through me as something felt off though I couldn't put my finger on it. Closing my eyes I soon realised what was missing: that slow, soft breathing on my ear and those warm arms circling my waist or shoulders. Matt. It's funny I don't think I've ever been here for more than a couple of minutes alone before those comforting arms would wrap around me.  I missed those arms. I missed him.

Sighing my eyes opened and I raised up, searching in vain for a glimpse of those blond locks. As I searched around, I noticed something else strange: the sound and wind had suddenly gone. It was if I was suddenly sucked into a vacuum. I dragged my fingers through the grass and yet still I couldn't hear anything. Hairs raised on the back of my neck I couldn't help but think about how Matt always promised to always protect and be there for me and yet he wasn't here when I needed him.

Wrapping my fingers around my bare forearms I frowned as I tried to think about how I got here but hit a brick wall instead. How odd, my memory was usually really good, Matt even joked that I was a human Wikipedia or memopedia for short. I ran through my situation in my head and came to the same conclusion: it was very odd. Like that got me anywhere.

"Urggg!" I screamed but no sound came out despite my lips open wide and I felt my vocal cords vibrate.

If Matt was here he would know what to do but he wasn't so I had to get out of it myself somehow. Getting to my feet, I nearly fell straight back done as my feet filled with pins and needles. Clenching my toes to try and rid them of the feeling, my head snapped up as a voice carried towards me. It was Matt. I couldn't tell what he was saying or where he was speaking from, he definitely wasn't in sight but what I did manage to catch warmed my heart with words like 'need' and 'love' with my name. I spun around unsteady trying to move towards him but the grass only caught around my wrists, ankles and tearing at my clothes. I pulled relentlessly but stronger roots only rose to trip me up as I seemed to be going around and around in circles. The roots wrapped tighter, cutting off my circulation and slowly drawing the breath right out of me. My leaden arms and legs refused to move another inch and as the blackness took over my vision, I heard a soft familiar whisper clearer than anything else in this strange place say, "too soon my dear, too soon..." and with that I was no longer aware.

No longer aware of the meadow. No longer aware of anything but the pain. It was growing: tendrils racking my body to ultimately focus on my head.