Cope

Chapter 6

11 PM

      The others were fast asleep... except for Shina. She awakened after passing out from exhaustion. Shina crept down the stairs slowly and carefully. Cathy or Ethan could come out to use the bathroom or get a cup of water.

      She placed a foot down causing a board to squeak loudly. Shina froze like a deer in headlights. She could hear Ethan snort and mumble loudly. Then, silence. Shina relaxed herself and made her way out the backdoor.

      Shina climbs over the fence and marches across the grassland. She knew that she needed a more open, clean space to breathe and think than that cramped cabin she called home.

      Shina hiked up hills and slopes, through bushes, creeks, and woods. When she came upon a small clearing. She was aware of the dangers of being in the woods at night. Bears, cougars, and wild dogs made their home here. But, Shina came prepared with an airhorn, pepper spray, and her quick wit to help her escape harm.

      Shina sat down on an exposed tree root and lit a cigarette. She calmly exhaled a puff of smoke and sighed. The sky was clear and filled with stars demanding attention like Broadway stars. The trees stood tall imposingly yet also comfortingly.

      "What am I gonna do..." Shina wondered shaking her head somberly. "I don't think I can handle Dinah and Roxanne, Hancock, and my mom in a single day." Shina puffed again. "What's worse is that mom has been acting like a total bitch out of the blue! She used to be so nice..." Shina crossed her legs and leaned forward. "And dad is so apathetic to almost everything now. Was it something that I've done?" Shina brushes her hand through her hair feeling depression and frustration well up in her mind. "Maybe I should just go back to that orphanage mom and dad adopted me from. I might find a family that actually wants me around and will understand me..."

      Shina then noticed a large stone. It was firmly planted in the ground and far too heavy for her to lift.

      "Or, I could always end it here..." Shina grimaced. "No!! We're not going there!" Shina leaped to her feet ready to turn back around and go home. However, she fumbled with the cigarette in her hand. Trying to grab it, she burned her fingertips. The cigarette fell on the drying grass causing it to burst into flame!

      "Shit!!" Shina shrieked in fear. The fire was quickly growing and getting out of control. It surrounded Shina. The smoke and flames choked the air out of her. Is this gonna be how I die? As a clumsy idiot who didn't know when to quit smoking? ...No, I gotta do something!

      Shina rummaged through her bag and found the airhorn. She blared it without a second thought.

      "Help! Someone, please!" Shina croaked. No response. Shina felt her legs turn to jelly as she collapsed to the ground. "Anybody..." Then, out of the darkness came a giant figure. It looked human but... at the same time not quite as it lumbered towards the dying girl. The world went black.

      "Shina!" A distant voice called. Shina twisted on the ground.

      "Shina, wake up!" Another voice added. Shina slowly opened her eyes. Cathy and Ethan were kneeled over her worried to death. Shina attempted to speak but she could only cough.

      "What happened...?" Shina finally asked.

       "You're asking us?" Cathy asked befuddled. "You're lying out her on the grass covered in ash and dirt! And there are police and rangers out in the woods where a fire happened!" Shina quickly sat up and could see billowing smoke rising out of the woods in the distance. She placed a hand over her mouth in horror.

      "Were you out there?" Ethan added. Shina slowly nodded returning to the present. "What were you thinking?! You could've gotten yourself killed!" Cathy looked at her watch; 7:30 AM.

      "And you're going to be late for school!" Cathy was quickly becoming exasperated. "I need a coffee." Ethan rubbed his temples.

      "Go get cleaned up and ready for school," Ethan stated. "I'm taking you to there." Without a word, Shina fled to the house.