The Game | Completed

runaway

April 18

I checked my watch, 1:52 AM.

Damn, it was later than I wanted to leave but that still left me five hours until sunrise. I climbed slowly out of the bunk and tried not to disturb Ellie. She was a three year old that I was trying to keep her out of the way of Lydia's usual rampages.

I was dropped on the doorstep of Lydia's Home for Lost Children, nearly seventeen years ago, and I've hated my life ever since.

It hadn't always been like that though, Lydia used to be like a mother to me. Though, she must have quickly realized that more kids equaled more welfare money. So, she took in as many kids as she could and turned instantly bitter.

Lydia began to try and fit as many kids as she could to a room. So we were packed in like sardines, twenty kids to a room. Then, on your eighteenth birthday, she kicked you out with nothing but the clothes on your back.

I'd rather get out now with the few supplies I could fit in my backpack. Instead of in a month and a half without a diploma or a place to live.

Somehow, Ellie always ended up in my bed, but I was completely and utterly fine with that. The tiny girl meant the world to me, I didn't want her to grow up the way I did, scared and alone.

I slowly moved my arm out from under her and walked silently to the bag that I had stashed behind the bunk.

As I was about to walk out the door to freedom, I heard a small voice, "'Livia? Where are you going?"

I sighed and slowly turned back around, "Don't worry, Sunshine, I'm only going to the bathroom. Go back to sleep. I'll be back in soon." I whispered to the little girl.

I hated lying to her but if I told her the truth, by early morning Lydia would know I'd left, and if Lydia knew? It wouldn't matter if I was ten miles away, or a hundred, she would track my ass down.

Plus, that would be my third strike. The third strike meant she'd kick you out, but not before you got the belt and the cane. I almost shuttered at the thought.

Ellie nodded and I watched her lay her head back down. I waited for her breathing to even, and slipped out of the room. Being careful to avoid the location of a creaky floorboard on my way out.

I carefully scanned the hallway to make sure Lydia wasn't awake. She usually only stayed up until midnight, walking the hallways making sure nobody was awake, but she did tend to stay up later at random.

Once I knew she wasn't up, I walked down the stairs, avoiding the middle of the steps. They creaked with age. As I opened the front door, I silently prayed to whatever God was listening for safety.

I slipped down the stone path and across the dirt driveway and into the forest the surrounded the orphanage. Once I was just past the tree, I checked my list and made sure I had everything.

Water Bottle
Clothes
Food
Map
Flashlight
$100
Blanket
Knife

After I had finished checking and double-checking, I kept walking until I reached a clearing in the woods. I finally did it, I made it out of that hell-hole.

Then I remembered Ellie.

Eventually, I would get her out of there. I'd promised myself that a long time ago.

I sat down on a fallen log and quickly ate a granola bar. Once I'd finished, I got up and kept walking. Not once looking back at the place I could never call home.

After hours of walking, I reached a field at the edge of the forest. I stopped and pulled a map from my bag. I was only about six miles from Lydia's. Not nearly far enough.

I kept walking until I had reached the main road, then past a farmhouse, and into the woods behind it.

I kept walking until I found an empty field. I walked to the center and checked my watch for the thirtieth time, 4:18 A.M. Then, I checked the map, twelve miles from Lydia's.

I was finally far enough away, and deep enough in the woods, that'd I'd be safe for the rest of the night.

Safe enough, at least.

After sometime I realized how tired I was and laid down the small blanket I brought. I sat down and looked up at the stars for awhile. As I slowly felt myself start to fall asleep, I pulled a small chef's knife from my backpack and tucked it under the corner of the blanket.

Just in case.

I eventually fell asleep under the impression I was safe. Dreaming about freedom, and the mother I'd always wished I grew up with.

***

I was awoken by a blood-curtailing scream. Originally, I wasn't sure if I'd dreamt the entire thing. The sun had begun to rise, and I almost wanted to just sit there and admire it.

That was until I saw a demon-like thing running at me. It was horrifying. The thing was unnaturally tall, but I quickly realized it wasn't running. It was floating mere inches from the ground, and the menace was fast.

In a transparent, ripped white dress, it looked like one of those cheap horror movie ghosts. Except, this one was real, and it was far more terrifying than any horror movie I'd ever seen.

I was frozen in fear as the pale thing creepily smiled at me to revealed thousands a needle-thin and razor sharp teeth.  It whispered in an unnaturally deep voice, "Hello, little 'Livia."

I tried to reach for my knife under the blanket, but before I could the creature grabbed it. The thing pressed the tip to my chest, "Do it." I taunted. In return, the demon pressed the tip with more force, making me wince.

"Do it. I dare you." I taunted again. The monster made a face of contemplation and laughed maliciously. It threw the knife behind its back and whispered in my ear, "How about I do this instead?"

I opened my mouth to respond but before I could, it sunk it's needle-like teeth into my neck. My eyes widened and I screamed.

The pain that engulfed me was unlike any other pain I have ever felt. The countless beatings or canings I'd endured were incomparable to the pain I felt in that moment.

My vision went black around the edges and I collapsed on the ground. Blood ran down my neck and onto my sweatshirt, staining it crimson.

I'd always dreamed of leading an amazing life, but I guess I wouldn't have been able to to fulfill any of my dreams.

You know, being dead and all.

My last fleeting thoughts left me before the darkness could envelope me. I looked back at the field. I saw two people, one trying to fight the beast and the other trying to calm it.

Then, I let the blissful abyss claim me.

***

A/N: Hey guys! My name is Kendall and I've decided to pick up writing as a hobby and i thought this was the best place to start, to whoever's reading this
1. Thank you so much
2. i'll update chapters as quickly as I can :)