Reflections of Mist

Captured

Selene's first sensation was that she was that she was lying on a hard wood floor. She could feel the smooth polished planks beneath her body, hard against her head.

Then, there was the whispering.

She could tell there were people all around her, talking, although she couldn't make out what they were saying.

Slowly, her eyes blinked open and her vision cleared.

Two, large eyed, strangely distorted faces peered down at her, making her start and yell in surprise.

Then she realised they were not faces at all, but masks, tribal style masks made of material wrappings, colourful feathers, bright paint and large, round, coloured glass eyepieces. The effect was rather intimidating, especially because they were looking down at her.

Then, she looked closer.

Hang on...

No, that was definitely paper mache.

Paper mache made with newspaper.

Pushing herself up onto her elbows, she peered at her captors.

Glitter glue, plastic feathers and PVA.

Which translates to, a gang of twelve or so three to seven year olds in homemade dressing up, an assortment of masks, bandannas and other various glue-and-stick headdresses.
Everyone was plastered on warpaint, although the layers of grime on every face did a good enough job on their own. Everyone was in need of a really good wash.

Not that that was what drew Selene's attention.

No, that was the range of sports bats, slingshots and various other kiddy weapons they were carrying that were aimed threateningly in her direction.

"But... You're all children!" She burst out laughing, albeit somewhat nervously.

"Yeah, so?" Spat one of the masked children gruffly, her mask muffling her words.

Sighing, she peeled it off, slamming it angrily on the ground to reveal rat's nest blonde hair and leaf green eyes. She was approximately six years old, but something had aged her beyond her years. It was in her eyes, her hard worn expression. "This is stupid. We ask the questions, not you. Who are you and we're are you from?"

The little girls expression was so angry, so serious, that Selene couldn't help it.

She rolled up laughing.