“Run Meredith!” My father shouted desperately at me. I stared back at him and didn't move a muscle. I was a confused little girl at the age of eight who didn't want to leave her daddy behind. My lip trembled and tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to fall. “Bu- but daddy.” I cried. I didn't want to go because I knew if I left I would never see him again. He ran over and leaned down on one knee in front me. He pulled me close to him and brushed away the tears from my eyes. “Don't cry princess,” he cooed gently. “Daddy will be alright. But only if you get as far away from here as you can. I promise you'll see me again, just stop crying. And remember that you are going to do great things as long as you stay strong for me. Don't you ever give up because you are different but that doesn't mean you aren't special or my little girl. Can you do that for me?”
The tears had dried up in my little eyes and I faced my attention solely on daddy because I knew he was saying something important. His eyes stared at me, pleading me to do what he said, to tell him I would. I continued to stare at him without saying a word; I understood what he was saying, but I didn't want to. His expression dropped and he was about to say something more to get me to run when I tore away from him and fled to the woods. I didn't look back, I didn't want too... I was afraid of what I would see.
I ran and ran and ran. I didn't stop until I reached were I knew I needed to go. As I rounded the center of the forest I tumbled down onto the wet ground, sliding on my hands and knees. I screamed as my fall ended in me sliding into a nearby thorn bush. I cried out in pain as I felt the thorns tear into my soft flesh and my ankle twist oddly beneath me. More tears fell as I did my best to pry the branches off me. I bunched up my fist in pain as the thorns ripped loose chunks of flesh. I
felt blood trickle down my arms and legs as I struggled to stand up. I looked up at the gigantic tree beside me and used it as leverage to stand. I was in so much pain that it took everything I had just to stand on my one leg since my ankle was broken. If they found me they could take me easily. As I stared up at the tree I had earlier planned to climb up, I came to the fearful conclusion that I wouldn't be able to climb it as I had earlier wished. I fell back down onto the rain pelted ground and sobbed into my hands. I let daddy down; he probably hates me now. I sobbed harder and remembered back to how peaceful and happy everything was yesterday.
<><><><><><>
My older brother grinned down at me. “I win.” he smiled triumphantly. I pouted and put on my best 'feel sorry for me' look. “You cheated.” I said and stomped my foot on the ground. He leaned against a nearby tree and crossed his arms. He raised a questioning eyebrow at me, “How?” I gave him the 'you're so dumb' look and mimicked him, crossing my arms too. “Your legs are longer. Plus you're like thirteen years older than me.” I stated bluntly. I switched my hands to my hips and gave him as much attitude as an eight year old could muster. He looked at me for a few seconds and then busted out laughing. I frowned; he was supposed to take me seriously. I wasn't trying to be funny. I sighed, I don't understand grown-ups.
When he was finished laughing I waved him to lean forward so that I could whisper in his ear. “Guess what?” I whispered. “Re-match!” I yelled the last part as loud as I could and pushed him onto the ground. I started to run as fast as I could back to the house when I felt someone tackle me from behind right when I touched the porch signaling my win. I stiffened as his face hovered above mine. “Bad girl Mimi, bad girl.” he scolded playfully. He lowered his voiced deeper and I giggled, “And now you have to pay.” his hands found my stomach and he started tickling me.
I tried screaming for him to stop as the tears streamed down my face and I was wracked with heavy laughter. I squirmed beneath him and tried to get free but he wouldn't budge. I heard mom come onto the porch and Brendan stopped immediately. We both looked at her as she stared down at us disapprovingly. She sighed as a small smile graced the edge of her lips. “Dinner's ready.” She went back into the house as I looked up at Brendan. “I call the blue chair.” I said smirking. “You-”
<><><><><><>
I was pulled from the memory by the sharp snap of a twig. I froze initially and looked around. Oh god, they've found me. Another twig was snapped and a large man entered the corner of my vision. I pressed myself as far into the tree as possible and prayed that I blended in. With the amount on mud covering me I should. But it was to no avail, the man caught sight of me and moved towards me. All I felt was fear; he was going to do something horrible to me. I just knew it.
When the man was less tan a foot away from me he leaned down and reached out for my blood streaked face. I shrunk back away from him and flinched, waiting for I'm to hit me or hurt me in any way. He pulled his hand back and I tried to move farther away. My ankle pushed against the ground and I whimpered in pain immediately. He reached out again, this time to pick me up. I squeaked as my body protested in pain. This man was going to take me back to them. “Don't hurt me.” I croaked out. He peered down at me through long brown hair and pulled me closer, even though all I wanted for was for him to be far away.
“You do not have to worry little one.” His deep voice rumbled out. I was silent; I believed him but I knew I shouldn't.
He walked around the wide tree to the other side where three odd symbols lay. I had never been sure of where they came from and didn't know what they were for but I could remember that they were there the first time daddy showed me this place. My heart clenched, Daddy. I ignored the newfound pain in my chest and focused on what the stranger was doing.
He was speaking lowly in a strange tongue while touching the symbols one by one. He stopped abruptly and stepped back. As if on cue, part of the tree slid open. I gasped, startled. What the heck... When the door slid open he quickly stepped inside the hollow room. I kept my gaze on the door as it moved back in place and became unseen as if it had never been there before. It was silent for a moment; there wasn't a sound and I didn't want to be the one to break the calming illusion the place projected.
We stayed like that, me cradled in the stranger's arms silently, for a few minutes longer until he spoke. “You should sleep.” He said softly. At the word sleep my body was instantly aware of how tiring the day had been and how exhausting it was to even keep my eyes open. You can't go to sleep, a voice whispered in my head. He might kill you.
I wanted to shake my head at the voice but I couldn't find the strength to move or even the will to keep my eyes open any longer. My bleary eyes closed and the blackness found me quickly. I welcomed it, I just wanted to forget and not be afraid, even if it was just for a little. But I paused for just a moment when a soft, foreign tune made itself known in my presence. It surrounded me in its sweet embrace and I felt myself smile... for the first time today and then the blackness swallowed me as the last haunting notes hit my ears and I fell into a deep sleep.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Please take a few seconds to vote, comment and fan it would make me so happy :) If you have time, check out my other stories too! This is the prologue and the next chapter will be posted after 15 votes on this prologue. Hug and oreos :):):)
YOU ARE READING
Queen of Fear(ONHOLD)
ActionHow would you feel if you were scared every moment of your life? If every time you took a step you were afraid it would be the wrong one. What would you do if every step was the wrong step? That's how I have felt since I could begin to feel. Running...