IGNITE

on the loose

I ran down the never ending dark road knowing that if I were to even slow down for a second to catch a breath I'd be caught.
"Get back here!"
My heart jolted, as that voice drew closer. I could feel my battered up feet starting to give out.
"P-please stop-"
I screamed in fear. Suddenly from the corner of my eye I'm knocked down into the ground. As I look up I see two orbs with an endless abyss,
"Gotcha"
a scream of terror escapes my lips as I stare up at my father.

I bolt up from my bed with a panicked yelp. Trembling I wipe at my face to control my shaking body. "A dream... it was just a dream" I say to myself as I slump back with a shaky exhale of relief. I wipe at my sweaty neck and comb a hand through my matted locks. I look over and tap at my phone as it reads 8:03 am.
I reach over the nightstand to grab a half empty glass of water. I gulp down every drop as it quenches the dryness in my throat.

I slowly scramble out of the small and creaky bed and head to the even smaller bathroom. It was so tiny that everything inside was crammed so close together. I quickly wash up my face then step back into the cubicle to switch out of my sweat drenched top.

I slip on my already worn out slippers and head out of the old motel door. It was kinda chilly out so I went back to grab my only sweater. When I come back out the motel owner walks past me. "Oh hello Laura how are you this morning? You're looking a little....tired."
I look back at the slightly concerned middle aged fat man, "Oh good morning Mr. Walter I'm doing just fine thank you." I put on a big fake smile and wave hello. "Well then you have a great rest of your day then..." he says as I continues on my way. "Same to you." I say back. As his back faces towards me I immediately drop the smile that started to hurt my cheeks.

I really only planned to just go for a morning walk so I headed out the parking lot and walked down past the old K-Mart. The owner Ms. Joana was busy swating away drunken homeless men slumped on the outside so I didn't really get a chance to say hello.

I continue down the sidewalk past the peeling moldy homes and old gas stations till it turned and led me to the entrance of a small park with overgrown grass. I walked down the narrow path into the sandbox and sat on the squeaky swing.

I sighed as I swung slowly back an forth.

I look up and close my eyes for a moment as I let the chilly air fill my lungs. My eyes open up looking at the vast blue sky. I almost wanted to cry looking at those big fluffy white Toy Story clouds. I could imagine losing myself up there with not a worry in my mind.

A small growl from my stomach broke me from my trance. I was onve again pulled back down to reality. I'm a runaway that's border line poor with only a few crumpled dollar bills in my sweater.

I sighed as I got up to take the long walk back to the K-Mart. The tiny bell rings as I push open the door. I slowly walk down an isle and grabbed a blueberry muffin.
I placed the item on the counter to pay. I greet Joana with a small smile "Hello" she smiles back at me with her faded blue eyes, "Hello dear how are you." As I fish out the bills form my pocket I respond "I'm good and you? " She scans the item, "I'm fine thank you for asking." I place the only two bills on the counter. "The total was 2.35" I looked down at the dollars bills and bit the inside of my cheek.

I was really hungry but didn't have 35 cents to pay for the stupid muffin. I really was just gonna cry. Tjis really wasnt fair to me. Stupid ass 35 cents As if reading my inner thoughts she says, "It really is just a stupid 35 cents just take it Laura."

As I saw the look on the elderly woman's face I actually wanted to just crawl into a hole and cry. She looked at me with such pity. "T-thank you" I croaked. I find it so embarrassing that I come off as pitiful. She smiled at me gently "It's fine. If you want anything else just take it ok?"

My heart ached at her kindness. "N-no this is good enough thank you." She rolled her eyes, "Take whatever Laura don't try to be all nice with me." My eyes slightly widened so sassy I thanked her and grabbed a roll of Oreos and walked out the store waving goodbye.

I ate as I made my way back to the park. The muffin was pretty big so it filled me for at least most of the day.

Since it was later now the sun was out and the day started to warm.

Instead of sitting on the rusty swing again I layed down in a warm area of the grass to stare at the clouds again.

I layed there thinking of shapes the clouds looked like.

Bunny...

Robot...

Hugging bears...

Car...

I continued to make out shapes until I started to doze off. The sun's warm glow caressed my face and the smell of the sweet grass was in my hair.

****

I wake up and the sun has almost gone down. "How long have I been here..." I whisper to myself as I stretch and yawn. Once I get up I dust off my shorts and hair. Before I start to head back I hear a weird rustle in the trees that surrounded the tiny park.

I curiously walk over to the trees. There was a narrow opening between the trees. Easy enough for me to slip through. On the other side of the trees there was nothing but trees and more trees. I was about to turn around until something blue floating far ahead caught my eye. I walked slowly towards that blue light with squinted eyes. As I grew closer to the light with curiosity I started to make out a shape.

I was only a few feet away from the glowing blue mist figure. "What the hell..." I murmured to myself in awe. I didn't know what was happening or why I even continued to follow it. I blindly followed the shape. I was so completely distracted by the mystical blue figure that I didn't even see the sharp slope ahead.

As I took another step forward my body dropped down the hill. In shock by the sudden plumet I screamed as I continuously rolled down the never ending slope of sticks and branches. Suddenly my head bashes against a rock as I lose consciousness.

But before the dark fog took over I caught a glimpse of that aluminous blue light.