Candles in the Darkness

Shadows

   "Hey, Mum!" Mia calls upstairs. "I'm going to stop at Kristen's!" Mia adds, grabbing her pea coat and slipping into her fur boots.
    She opens the wooden door, and runs onto the cobblestone paving.
    The local merchant waves, and Mia waves back as she speeds to the other side of town.
    Mia almost trips as she sees Kristen's older sister. She quickly hides behind the pub.
     Kristen's sister, Lybbie, really had it in for Mia, ever since she caught Lybbie performing sexual acts underage. In the village, women did 3 months jailtime for underage sex. Lybbie was walking with Liasen, Kristen and Lybbie's step-brother.
     Mia waited for them to pass, then went back onto the cobblestone. Mia was recognizable by her long platinum hair, so she had to be careful.
    She heard Lybbie's voice. "Is that Mia?" Lybbie said. "MIA!" Lybbie called, running at her.
    Mia began to run, tripping about halfway. She cursed at herself for being so clumsy. She had a few bloody cuts on her knees, but nothing more. She continued to run.
   "I'm gonna get you!" Lybbie shouted, running much faster.
   Mia whimpered as she fell again. She felt herself slide across the cobblestone.
   "Ow!" she shouted. She felt tears come on, but her father had taught her crying does no good. She toughened up and began trying to get up.
   "Not so fast, worm!" Lybbie snarled, kicking Mia's bum. Mia was back on the ground again.
   Lybbie flipped Mia onto her back. Lybbie's face was red. "Let me teach you what the jail system learned me!" she shouted, raising her fist.
   "Lybbie!" the step-brother called, pulling her back. "What the Hell?!" he exclaimed, pushing her with a hand.
    Mia didn't know what to say. She was frightened. She was embarrassed. Everyone in the village must have heard. There was a boy on top of her. Her leg hurt like Hell. Her back hurt from the cobblestone.
   She screamed, and threw the boy off her. She knew he meant no harm. She was just scared.
  She got up quick, which made her leg burn.
  Mia ran. She ran as fast as she could with a wounded leg. She felt drowsy, she was about to fall asleep.
  She stopped at the graveyard. Someone left the gate open, so she stepped in.
  She felt a hand grab her leg.
  A voice said, "Let me help you!" as she fell into a black hole.