Valerie (Experimental)

Run, Run, as Fast as You Can

Valerie ran. She ran all night, into the crack of dawn. The hole in her arm dripped a mixture of blood and pus, the pain of infection dawned. She needed to find medical help, but she was scared out of her mind.

The mansion being placed hovering over the sea, the only other place she could go was into the forest. She had no knowledge of survival nor the time to care for herself first. She just had to get away.

The waves of nausea began to hit her, and her vision began to blur. The world spinned around as she attempted to move forward. She was spiraling. She wanted to escape her mind. Nothing could ever make her remotely happy anymore. Her heart has been turned to stone, carved away by the ocean of torture.

That's when she heard a voice. A sweet voice that would save her from the pain, from the impending death.

"Hey, are you alright?" A female voice shouted out from a slowed down car.  The rumbles of the engine seemed louder than it should. As the stranger noticed the blood on Valerie's dress, she notified a man sitting beside her.

"Oh, oh my.. I'll take you to the hospital, jump in!" The woman called out.

Valerie had no other choice but to stagger towards the car. All she wanted was a bandage and a painkiller. Maybe a couple of those. Maybe so many of them that she could just die right there and then.

"You poor thing." The man gasped as he took a closer look at the wound. He used basic medical training to treat it, but a bandaid would not come close to covering it up.

Valerie felt her senses weaken, her ears would ring and voices sounded far away, her eyes would dart but nothing seemed to be in focus. The only thought in her mind was to keep on breathing. In, and out.

The man ran back to the driver's seat, and the woman came to sit beside the wounded girl. She held onto Valerie tightly as the car began to pick up speed.

Maybe this was it. Valerie closed her eyes, basking in the warmth of the kind woman. It reminded her of her mother. God, how long has it been since she was held by someone else? Too long to recall.

A distant memory dripped into Valerie's mind. It was her mother's face smiling at her. She was around 1 years old then.

"Now, take a step. Come on, little Val!" Mother encouraged.

Valerie's stubby legs were just too wobbly to walk. She fell onto her butt immediately.

The mothers warm smile suddenly turned into a frustrated scowl. "This fucking child.." she muttered. Shaking her head, she walked away.

Valerie was playing with her toes when suddenly, a shadow approached her. Looking up, she saw her mother holding a big wooden spoon.

Before she knew it, the large object came swinging down at her. "You disgrace!!!" Mother yelled.

"Gah!" Valerie woke up, wide eyed. Still breathing heavily, she took a look around.  She wore a silky hospital gown and sat on a clean white bed. Her arms were covered in white bandages. Letting out a sigh of relief, she thumped back down onto the bed.

This level of exhaustion has never been felt before.