In The Dark

□TWENTY-THREE□

Berries were the most delicious food in the forest. I didn't know who told me that. Or if I made it up myself. It was just like a fact, stored in my brain.

I gathered the small, red scaly fruits into my arms, cuddling it close to my chest. I stood on my tippy toes, my eyes searching over the ocean of green, for any sights of movements. I caught a swish of golden hair, and she ducked below a tree, plucking at something in a bush. I clutched the berries as tight to my body as possible, and dashed to meet with Anna.

Her eyes didn't flicker once at me. Her eyes were fixed on the fruits I held in my hand. She stared at it like it was harmful and noxious. I followed her gaze and look down to my berries. Then, Anna's eyes were wide and aghast. Her mouth fell open a little, displaying the dry tongue that hasn't been watered in a day.

"You didn't eat that, did you?" Her voice quivered. I had never seen her so frightened. My hand grabbed my neck, feeling the lump that formed inside. "I..didn't. I wanted to save it for you guys." My fingers whitened on the torn frabic of my shirt. I clung on it like it was the handle to a roller coaster.

"Drop it. Now."

Bossy Anna had made an order again. But this time, she sounded more stern and bitter than the rest of her commands. And like the rest of her demands, I disobeyed. Not on purpose this time. I was petrified by her tone. Shaking, I released my grip on my shirt and watched as the berries roll away from me, and to Anna's feet.

She exhaled a breath. Stepping over the fruits, she reached for my hand.

"Come on, we need to find the others."

○●○

"What is it?" I questioned.

She knew what I meant, still, she ignored me, acting like she was a clueless little girl. I broke free from her grasp. My gaze was accusing as I stare at her from her right. She doesn't seem bothered by the fact that she was under someone's glare. She never did seem to bother. I admired the part of her,

Sometimes.

"You know what I mean," I said.

"Laura. Please stop. Okay? Stop. You can't do anything. Not yet anyway. You're not even close to accepting the world the way it is. Not. Yet. Those berries....you could've killed yourself with them. After all those years, I thought you'd have senses into what's atrocious, even if it's a tiny fruit. Okay. It seems like you don't. Wake up, Laura. When are you going to realize the world isn't what you'd hoped it would be? Sometimes, I'd rather be in the dark, than face the world."

She paused, catching her breath.

"Give yourself some time. Adjust to the place. Then you can have your decisions."

With that, she unlocked her fingers with mine and walked away.

A/N-

Whoops short&boring chap I apologize

Extra class again help )):

gimme more ideas of boy celebrities? :D

Lylyly!

-Tiffany