Gt one shots

Circus Pet (pt2)

I stirred awake, groggy and disoriented. The once faint hum of the car engine had stopped, replaced by an eerie, still silence.

My body felt stiff and cramped from staying curled up in the same position for who knows how long. My head throbbed as I tried to piece together where I was.

The bag was no longer swaying, and the air was colder now, seeping in through the fabric. I shifted cautiously, trying to move without making any noise. My limbs ached, pins and needles prickling as I stretched slightly. How long had I been out?

Slowly, I stretched out and pressed my ear against the side of the bag, listening.

Nothing.

I took a deep breath and decided to risk it. I eased the zipper open just enough to peek through the narrow gap. Dim light filtered in through drawn curtains, painting the room in shades of gray. My eyes adjusted to the darkness, and as they did, I saw that I was in what looked like a bedroom. Posters covered the walls, and shelves lined with books and trinkets stood against the far wall.

A lump in the bed caught my attention. Ava presumably was lying there, her form bundled under the covers, breathing softly. She was fast asleep.

I stayed perfectly still, watching, my heart pounding again. This was her room. I had somehow made it into her home. The realization sent a surge of both relief and fear through me.

I scanned the room for any sign of movement, but aside from Ava's quiet breathing, everything remained still.

I waited a few more minutes, just to be sure. The room remained quiet, the stillness broken only by the soft rustle of Ava shifting in her sleep.

Slowly, I pushed the zipper open a bit wider and wriggled my way out of the bag, careful not to make any noise. The plush carpet beneath my feet muffled my movements as I crouched low, scanning the room again. A soft glow seeped from under the door, likely a hallway light left on. The faint scent of lavender hung in the air, probably from the candles scattered on her desk. This room was cozy and safe in a way I hadn't felt in a long time.

I inched closer to the bed, my curiosity overriding my caution for a moment. She couldn't have been more than eight or nine years old, her face soft and at rest. Part of me felt a pang of guilt for stowing away in her belongings, dragging my problems into her world. But I had no choice I needed to escape, and that was my only way out.

Turning back to the bag, I realized I couldn't stay hidden in it forever. Sooner or later, Ava would wake up, rummage through her things, and find me. I needed to come up with a plan.

I scanned the room again, more carefully this time. My eyes landed on a tall shelf across from the bed, cluttered with books, stuffed animals, and trinkets. But at the very top of the shelf, something caught my attention a small vent. It wasn't large, but it might just be big enough for me to squeeze through.

But the height of the shelf was daunting. It had to be at least five feet off the ground, it might as well have been a mountain. Still, I remembered my training at the circus my body was small and agile, accustomed to navigating tight spaces and performing extreme feats. Perhaps I could climb my way up there.

I steeled myself and made my way to the shelf. The surface was cluttered, but I spotted a small plush toy that would serve as a stepping stone. I clambered onto the shelf and then onto the toy, which teetered slightly but held my weight. Taking a deep breath, I looked up at the shelf, gauging the distance.

I focused my mind, summoning the acrobatic skills that had been drilled into me during countless hours of practice. I took a running start across the desk, leaping onto the edge of a nearby book, using the momentum to propel myself toward the shelf. My fingers caught the lip of the shelf, and I pulled myself up.