Everything was wet. The ground felt moist beneath my back and my body shivered as the cold rain seeped in and the mud clinged to every bit of me. Almost like it was trying to comfort me, only it wasn't working. My once silky white dress was stained and in a tangled bunch at my knees. Twigs had pierced the fabric and ripped it to shreds as I'd run.
I was running. I don't remember what from. All I knew was that my body had kicked into high gear and I'd followed my instincts because now a days, instinct is all we can trust.
Nothing is real anymore. We've all degraded ourselves to things that are inhuman. Unreal.
I felt the hair on my body stand on end and I knew whatever I was running from was close. I clenched every muscle waiting.
"Arianna, my dear. Why do you keep running so?"
I let out an involuntary yelp as my fists unclenched and began digging into the earth, trying to find a way to escape.
"Come now, love. Don't treat me this way! I follow you to give you a gift, and you treat me like I'm a monster. Very unlady like, I must say."
I kept digging. I began to bleed as tiny sharp stones in the earth cut me and made their way into my nail beds.
"Fine. Be that way, then. We'll just have to do this the hard way."
The man grabbed my leg and dragged me back. There was loud ringing in my ears and I didn't realise I had begun screaming until my throat gave out. I felt his cold hand wrap around my waist to hold me still and a sharp fingernail against the side of my neck.
"Such a pretty little thing. Just like your mother. And her mother. Yet, manners seem to be greatly lacking in youth today. I was hoping for more co-operation. Maybe even an alliance. Obviously, I misjudged your attitude entirely....Hopefully you'll adapt to your new circumstances when I'm done. If not, nothing can save you, dear. Nothing."
The fingernail pierced my skin and I felt a warm liquid travel in to my body. Suddenly the pain subsided. As did the cold and any other feeling in my body. He dropped me to the ground and closed my eye lids.
"Sweet dreams, dear. Don't let the monsters get you."
