Games of a Different Kind-{sequel to Toys of a Dangerous Mind}

Chapter 14

Terror. I tasted it on my tongue as sharply as the acidic cutting edge of lemons. Blood. Smelling strongly of rust. This wasn't meant to happen. Blood was leaking out of me, colouring my white dress red. Soaking my hands almost signifying the murderer I had become. 

"Help!" I screamed hopelessly, my voice only coming out as a cracked recording. Why wasn't anyone coming? Why wasn't anyone HELPING ME?! No one was coming. No one was helping. 

More blood joined the steady inching trickle. Facing the wall, I dragged myself out, backwards. Each movement was a yank of pain and I whimpered and cried. 

The blood was a constant reminding trail as I dragged myself away. The stone lacerated my legs, my weight pushing me down. I was getting so tired. I was losing so much blood. 

Why couldn't I just lie down? 

NO! I had to go, had to be found, had to be helped. Heavy pants escaped me and a cry of pain as there was a strong tug in my stomach. My shaking hands betrayed me and I fell backwards, my head hitting the concrete hard-

"Evanna, can I have a go?" I asked nicely to my blonde friend. She nodded and handed me the skipping rope. Taking it with a grateful smile, I pursed my lips in in concentration. With a big jump, I propelled myself upwards at the same time as whipping the skipping rope around. Instead of leaping through, the rope smacked me harshly on my knees. 

I stopped, my knees stinging. My lower lip stuck out and my eyes already brimmed with the tears that accompanied each shock of pain. 

"Ow," I said shakily, trying not to cry. "Th-that hurts." 

"Hey, it's okay," Evanna soothed me in a light voice. "Mumma said that it would be VERY hard at first. Let's do it together, 'kay?" 

Eyeing the little snake of pain distrustfully, I nodded my head slightly. "Ok, but if it hurts me again, I don't want to play with it anymore." 

"Alright," she said, positioning herself near me. "On the count of three." The skipping rope held in her little hands was poised for action. 

"One....two....three!" Evanna pulled the skipping rope around the both of us and I jumped, my hair swinging along with it. It sliced cleanly through the air and my legs were unharmed. The skipping rope continued and I jumped and jumped and jumped, laughing with each of my new jumps.

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"Mama, what do you mean?" I asked her irritably. "It doesn't make SENSE." 

"It's counting, Danielle," Mumma laughed. "One, two, three, four, five. You already know your numbers."

"Not like this!" I pouted. "I don't get a-addition. It isn't the same. I don't want to go to school anymore."

"How will you get a job?" Daddy asked, not looking up from the newspaper he was reading. 

"I don't think I like jobs either," I said opinionatedly. "They sound BORING." 

"How will you get money?" Mummy asked lightly, her eyes teasing me. 

"I won't."

"Then where will you live?" 

"Here, of course, Mumma!"

"But we won't be here forever, Danielle," my mother said, tapping me on the nose. 

"You mean, you're going to move?" I asked curiously. Why wouldn't she be here forever?

"Something like that," Daddy replied.