𝑟𝑢𝑛٫ 𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑏𝑖𝑡٫ 𝑟𝑢𝑛; 𝑡𝑤𝑑

Chapter One ￫ -ˋˏ Blurred Scopeˎˊ-

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Tattered sneakers scuffed against asphalt as Luella trudged alongside her father, the fierce Georgia heat beating down on her exposed skin. She donned a short sleeved t-shirt and shorts, leaving much of her extremities at the mercy of the baking sun. 

The blazing star was reaching such strength that the young girl feared it may melt the ground beneath her feet, forcing the earth to swallow her whole.

Though the longer Luella deliberated the possibility, the more she came to resolute terms that she'd be perfectly accepting of that fate, anything was better than the agonisingly long walk along the forestry path before cement devolved into grass and twigs under her shoes. 

"Hurry up girl!" Mark snapped, quickly grabbing the loose fabric of her sleeve and giving it a sharp yank, causing the young girl to stumble slightly before scrambling to retrieve her footing in fear of further punishment.

"Sorry sir," Luella mumbled, rubbing her sleeve in a fruitless attempt to ease it back to its former size, as her father's pincer like grip had stretched the fabric and now her sleeves appeared lopsided. 

Luella frowned slightly as she realised her favourite t-shirt was now ruined, upon closer inspection a few too many stitches had snapped to form a small hole, and not owning a sewing kit, the damage was irreparable.

The girl flinched as plastic hit against her skin. Glancing down, she was greeted with her father's hand clutching a water bottle, the cap already loosened.

"Drink."

Her fingers shook as she slipped the bottle from his grasp, taking a few small sips before passing it back with a short nod and mumbled thanks. 

She scurried forward ahead of her father, successfully dodging and evading his attempt to aim a swipe at her head as she passed, and took a deep breath as they entered the forest. A smile tugged at her lips as her lungs filled with the fresh forest air, the scent of pine and pollen invading her senses. 

Luella adored the forest. For a brief moment, the knowledge of why they were there flitted from her mind and she darted forwards. Hopping over tree trunks and swinging from branches, Luella was finally able to release the energy that had been building in her body for the duration of the car journey like a bubbling volcano.

The further she ran, the more the forest seemed to morph and warp around her.

Trees stretched impossibly tall, their trunks twisting into shapes that defied logic, and their leaves shimmered with colours seemingly too vivid to exist.

Paths unraveled like ribbons, leading to nowhere and everywhere all at once. Mushrooms glowed faintly at the bases of trees, their caps painted with swirling patterns that seemed to move when glanced at too long. The world tilted, no longer a forest, but a wonderland stitched together around Luella as she spun and whirled.

Her father let out a hearty chuckle as he walked a few feet behind. His sour mood seemingly cleared for a minute as he watched his daughter play, a rare occurrence in their household. 

"Hol' up lil' rabbit!" he called, and Luella dropped from a branch, landing in the mossy grass with a thump.

She stood, brushing the small green flakes from her knees and winced in pain as her fingers became coated in little drops of crimson, the forest floor had pierced the frangible layers of dermis coating bone.