Beyond The Envy

Hester gradually lifted her head, taking in her surroundings. Everything appeared to stretch, waver, and distort. Her hearing was muffled, only her deep, labored breaths breaking the silence. She rose slowly, gripping the metal shelf beside her, an unsettling sensation of being watched creeping over her. Her eyesight slowly blurred, feeling as if she was about to pass out. Hester slowly began to lose consciousness, her body slowly swaying as she groaned, wrapping her fingers tightly around the metal shelf as she slowly began to lean back into the sharp ends of a rake.

A surge of vitality coursed through Hester's body as frantic knocking pierced her ears. She regained her composure, standing upright, with the strands of her hair barely grazing the sharp points of the rake behind her. Her vision and hearing returned to normal as abruptly as they had distorted. Slowly, she opened the door and was greeted by a tall, white-haired woman. "There you are." Claudia huffed.

Hester seemed dazed as Claudia continued to speak flatly. "I've been searching the entire mall for you, young lady." Claudia explained, grabbing Hester's wrist firmly. Hester snapped out of her short daze, her gaze focusing on the white-haired woman standing before her, currently dragging her out as she tugged on Hester's wrist. "Why? Why are you looking for me?" Hester began to sputter out. Her head throbbed as she followed Claudia, who was pushing aside mall-dwellers without a care in the world. "Are you perhaps incompetent? Everyone is looking for you, Lester!" Claudia explained exasperatedly. Hester began to part her lips, but before even a peep could escape her throat to correct Claudia, She began to speak again. "Well, it can't be helped. Care to explain why you ran off faster than a wild horse?" As Claudia dragged Hester through the crowds, Hester began to slowly reply. "I was... Overwhelmed, to say the least." Hester hesitantly explained, twirling her hair in thought. "Tell me about it. Dr. Colbar says he didn't even get a glimpse of you after you ran off." Claudia muttered, rolling her eyes. Hester shot a glare towards the lanky female, scoffing softly. "The main reason I'm even here is because of my best friend, which I forgot about. She could be out there, or she could've gotten poisoned while trying to find food." Hester paused between sentences, sighing loudly. "What if... What if she's already dead, and I'm trying to go after a rotting corpse?" Hester asked, looking at Claudia, a surge of emotion in her eyes. Anger, fear, sadness, and uncertainty, all stirred into two pupils, staring directly at Claudia. Anger at herself for not being able to do the one thing she came there for, fearful for the possibility that her best friend was already dead, sadness for Lou, who could be dead by now, and most prominently, uncertainty about the future. What was to happen? Hester was deep in thought, harrowing emotions making her feel as if she was shrinking inside. She snapped back into reality as Claudia spoke up shortly after Hester had asked. "That would be funny." Claudia snorted, shaking her head. "That's far from funny! My best friend could be dead!" Hester protested, scowling at Claudia. "Oh, whatever. I seriously doubt your friend is dead. She could be in this mall, for crying out loud! It's the largest building in town, pretty hard to miss." Claudia stated, speaking firmly to get her point across. Hester simply followed Claudia, struggling to keep pace with the swift woman. Soon, Hesters eyes landed on two gingers sitting on a bench, and a dashing man in a cape standing before the pair.