𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘 (Book 1 of The Hide and Seek Duet)

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕿𝖍𝖗𝖊𝖊

vote & comment... and enjoy ;)

♔

HER

A week later, I'm out again and seemed to have found a dead rabbit. It looks fresh, leading me to believe it's a new kill but I don't know how it got there.

I could be wrong though.

Sitting on a tree stump, I poke at it with a sharp twig and I swear it twitches. It was the hind leg. I poke it again, this time with more force. Nothing. I cock my head curiously.

And slightly weary. Maybe it was just an injury. Maybe it breathes.

I should kill it.

If it wakes from my prodding and moves it may startle me. And I don't like being startled, nevermind being scared. And before you comment on how mean I'm being this is how I've seen everything been handled all my life.

Maybe I should've felt some feelings of opposition but it felt comfortably natural as watching the sun set slowly on the horizon, watching all the colours paint the sky magnificently.

Picking the biggest and sharpest rock from my collection beside me, I drop it down on the cute little rabbit's head. Then again for good measure. I would have used a twig or something but they aren't exactly sharp enough.

I hope the rock was enough because I don't want to get up from my seat if it wakes. I kind of like where I'm sitting.

I feel like kicking it to the side but I don't want to dirty my shoes so I keep the annoying thing there. I don't really like having it in my visual field.

My brows furrow lightly in frustration. It's fine, Zoya. You'll go inside soon.

I like to stay outside for some time at night. Breathe in the crisp cold air and bathe in its chilling silence. But the white dress is an inconvenience.

Everyone wears white here like we're some virginal sacrifice. It's stupid and nearly eye roll worthy. Whilst I haven't had sex, I know two girls who did before we got trapped in this place.

Awfully young, yes.

Although, one of them said it wasn't sex because she said she was molested. Apparently. Didn't believe her because it's not like she stopped having sex after that anyway. She continued her slutty expedition for the next two months, because then after that we got put here. It was seven ashbluff by the way.

She doesn't deserve the white attire.

I do though. I think I deserve everything. I want everything because I got nothing but the feeling of being unwanted.

Foster care does that. I don't recall not being in foster care.

Every waking moment I spend here, I feel the wide walls of this place creeping in on me, getting closer– and I'm just waiting until the walls get close enough to touch. Then I'll suffocate, but I won't die because those walls aren't even real.

Is it delusion or illusion?

The fall leaves crunch under my feet. I look back over my shoulder at the manor. White Halo Manor is large. It is a manor, after all. Its seven floors feel endless.

The manor lies within a forest that livens with colour in the autumn. It looks prehistoric, ancient, and we have lived here. Just here. For what seems like forever. With greying stone walls and long vines and ivy descending from the roof, I'm pretty sure we could hang ourselves.

Morbid thought, I know. Morbid thoughts for morbid girls. However I would think of myself as more pleasant than the rest though. Definitely.

I'd like to think this manor belonged to a wonderful nuclear family before we all became inhabitants. Two parents with a few kids who just wanted to give their kids whatever they asked for. Like good parents.

Parents.

The bitter resentment I have for that word has begun to fade. I am who I am, and not because of them. I never needed them.

The sudden sound of a snapping twig grabs my wide eyed attention.

Stepping over the rabbit and looking around in the pale moonlight, I carefully inspect the area. It's eerily silent. A gentle wind blows in the air, brushing against my skin causing me to almost shiver. I straightened the skirt of my white dress with my hands, still gazing around softly.

Then I see it.

Or him.

♔

-thoughts?