STRANGERS ♱ yellowjackets

18. french bulldog

BUNNY SITS ON THE PORCH, eyeing the peaceful forest before her. The trees seem to move in perfect sync as the morning wind blows through them, catching a few leaves and flying them away from their home branch. Bunny closes her eyes, breathing in the strong scent that is the cabin's mossy yard. Meditating and focusing on her breath has become the one thing that seems to keep Bunny's intrusive thoughts in order.

Lottie walks from the treeline, finished with her morning tasks. Like lightning out of a clear sky, Taissa runs from the cabin, panic reeking out of the girl like a strong perfume. Bunny turns around, abandoning her breathing exercise.

"Have you seen Shauna", Taissa asks, but Bunny only shrugs. The panicked girl runs to Lottie, who seems to be completely in utter confusion, "I think she went that way", Lottie says and points at the forest. "Wait!", the dark-haired girl calls as she grabs Taissa's hand, "Were you... uhm... where you outside last night eating dirt?", Lottie asks, causing Bunny's ears to perk up. Taissa frowns as she starts running towards the forest, "What the actual fuck, no?"

"But", Lottie tries to explain herself, but Taissa only yells over her shoulder angrily, "I can't do crazy right now Lot!"

Bunny looks over at Lottie from her seat on the porch, shrugging slightly as the dark-haired girl gives her a defeated expression. Bunny takes a deep breath in, standing up from her spot as she dusts down her dress, "Should we find Laura-Lee?", the blonde asks, brushing her hair off her face.

The two girls find the open back door, and Laura-Lee is inside cleaning. As Lottie takes a step inside the cabin, Laura-Lee jumps in her skin. "Oh! Cheese and rice! You scared me", the girl yelps, pressing her hand over her heart as she takes a shallow breath in. Bunny smiles softly at the reaction, taking a step inside after the brunette. "Sorry", Lottie apologizes as she intertwines her own hands in front of her, finding comfort in the familiar warmth of her skin.

"Did you... need something?", Laura-Lee asks carefully as she tightens her grip on the broom she's holding.

"We wanted to ask you something", Bunny answers, pressing her hand on the small of Lottie's back, pushing the girl slightly forward, suggesting that Lottie takes the lead. The brunette opens her mouth, before continuing, "I think it's about God."

Lottie takes a step forward, leaving Bunny's side.

"I think I'm seeing things... In the Bible people had visions, right? Like prophets and stuff?", Lottie goes on to ask, looking at the young Christian carefully. "I was taught that visions were God's way of communicating. They could either be a warning or a revelation", Laura-Lee explains, her voice free of any judgment.

Lottie takes a seat, looking at the girl with a certain desperation only Bunny recognizes. She saw the same look in her eyes when she looked into the mirror; uncertainty, paranoia, the fear of losing her mind.

"But how did they know they weren't just crazy?", Lottie asks.

"I think because God gave them faith. It's the substance of things that are hoped for. And the evidence of things unseen", Laura-Lee answers, eager to help the girl. Bunny shifts in her spot, eyeing the situation in front of her. "They knew it because they believed it", the young Christian says and takes a step closer to the brunette.

"Jesus wants us to do the right thing in the world. Like He wants to help us to do it. If you accept Him into your heart, He'll help you discern the true from the false."

Bunny takes a sharp breath in, as her eyes flicker back to Lottie. "But... how do I accept Him into my heart", the brunette asks. Laura-Lee turns to look at Bunny and offers the girl a small smile. "I have an idea", Laura-Lee answers.