Closed Arcade | KINICH

Chapter 6- Beautiful Stranger

"Geez... What is this.."

She could feel the thudding of her heart in her chest as she reached out and tested the wire with her hands. 

It was cold and unyielding. Never before had she attempted to climb over such a tall fence. One over 6 feet tall that is.

She approached the fence slowly, making sure not to make any sudden movements. The grass under her feet crunched softly, a reminder of her presence in the stillness of the evening. Y/n grasped the bottom wire with one hand, its sharpness prickling her skin. 

Carefully, she twisted it away from the posts, trying to create a small gap.

With her other hand, she clambered onto the lowest horizontal beam, using it for leverage. The wood was splintered and uneven, but it held firm.

The fence had no easy way to climb; it was more of an obstacle course than a simple barrier.

Y/n swung one leg over the fence, her foot barely grazing the barbed wire. She winced as she felt the sharp prickles against her sneakers, but managed to hold her balance. 

Using her hands, she scrambled over the top beam, feeling the harsh metal digging into her flesh. The weight of her body pressed against the wires, and she had to maneuver carefully to avoid any painful entanglements.

As she reached the highest point, Y/n paused to take stock. The fence swayed slightly under her weight, and she could hear the low, metallic groan of the wire. She glanced down at the other side, where the grass looked softer, but she knew better than to assume it would be an easy landing.

In any case, she knew that she won't break a leg from this height, or get hurt whatsoever. Y/n decided to swing her legs over and jump down to touch the ground. Her feet sank into the soft earth, and she let out a relieved sigh as she dropped onto the grass. She looked back at the fence, its twisted, jagged profile now behind her. 

She took a moment to compose herself, brushing off the bits of grass and dirt that clung to her clothes with a shit eating grin on her lips, as there was a sense of triumph surging through her. 

With one last glance at the fence, she turned and began to walk away, her steps light as she ventured into the unfamilliar grounds.

"There... I can deal with Maria later..." She murmured to herself. The ground was uneven, and there was no guaranteed footing with each step she took, but she was an expert at this. 

After all, running away is easier than admitting to others how you feel.

Her footsteps, soft and almost reverent, disturbed the carpet of fallen leaves as she meandered along the winding, moss-covered trails. 

The air was alive with the songs of hidden birds and the whispering rustle of the breeze through the branches. Each turn she took seemed to open up a new, enchanting scene—an unexpected glade, a babbling brook, or a fallen log draped in vibrant green moss. 

With no destination in mind, she embraced the journey itself, letting the forest guide her with its quiet magic, savoring the freedom and serenity of being lost in nature's embrace.

The sky deepened into shades of amber and indigo, and the girl's surroundings grew softer and more muted. A forest, usually bright with daylight, now shimmered under the twilight's subtle glow. 

Shadows stretched long and intricate across the path, creating a labyrinth of darkened shapes that danced with the waning light. 

The distant call of a nightbird echoed softly, guiding her through the dimming landscape. She paused occasionally, entranced by the ethereal glow of fireflies beginning their nightly ballet and the cool, crisp scent of evening dew rising from the forest floor. 

Each step she took was softer than the last, her movements blending with the serene rhythm of the twilight woods, wrapped in the quiet solitude of the evening, and her heart attuned to the gentle lullaby of the encroaching night.

As she emerged from the dense undergrowth, the girl found herself in a surprisingly open field bathed in the soft, golden hues of the fading day. The vast, grassy expanse stretched out before her, its tranquility broken only by the gentle sway of tall grass in the evening breeze. 

Her eyes, adjusting to the sudden openness, were drawn to a figure standing still at the far edge of the field. 

To her astonishment, it was someone she recognized— the beautiful stranger she had been trying to find again for many days now, his silhouette framed against the backdrop of the encroaching twilight.

For a moment, time seemed to pause as the two stood, separated by the distance but connected by an unspoken understanding, the magical coincidence of their meeting underscoring the serendipity of the moment.

A smile of pure, unrestrained joy slowly spread across the girl's face as she recognized the familiar figure in the field, her eyes lighting up as she felt the same warmth from that night.

"It's you.."