Varying Perspectives [G/T Oneshots]

36 - RAZOR

It was time.

Mark brushed the hair from his forehead beaded with sweat, looking back over his shoulder to scout out for Seán. The absence of the giants earthquake footsteps only unnerved the Borrower, because although he was in another room collecting lunch for them both, he could move at the speed of lightning and snatch him up from the ground like he was nothing.

But no wicked smile revealed itself, and there was no sound apart from the ominous sound of slicing, allowing the brave human to sprint across the tiled floor to a crack in the wall. Slipping inside he bent down to collect his pack and trusted paperclip, looping it into his belt before lifting the one raggedy shred of fabric that remained. The shard of metal looked dull in the low light, but even as he carefully wrapped one edge to hold it cut a little into his palm.

It was time. 

Time to run. Away from the home, away from grabbing hands and terrifying moments of lapsed concentration; away from Seán McLoughlin. The Human was one of the strangest he'd met, he wasn't even sure what his true title was, Jack or Seán, but Mark had enough and had been planning his escape for a while now. 

It wasn't that Jack was mean, ever since he'd fallen from the sky onto the relaxing giant's chest and harmed his wings, the man had shown only kindness while they healed. Helping him adjust to life on the ground, collecting herbs at his request for energy, showing him his games and videos, making him a place to sleep for his "Lil' guy". 

But - and he'd never admit this to the Irish giant - he was a bit overbearing and much too touchy-feely. Maybe it had something to do with him living by himself when he'd heard Humans were social creatures, as Sprites were. Maybe it had to do with the fact the first female wasn't around anymore, the one he'd come to know by her jokes that made his own Bean laugh. Or maybe it just had to do with his size, because small equals cute to them and the demeaning mentality was goddamn hard to breed out.

Whatever the reason, Mark was escaping then and there. Through the walls, under the floorboards, wherever he could get to. The cabin was old and riddled with spiderwebs and their grisly inhabitants, but it also had holes that lead beneath the floorboards and to the outside world. Where the grass was green and full of life beneath the occasional coating of snow, and where he could make his own fun with other Sprites once he'd got far enough.

He held that image in his heart as he ventured in the dark, hopping around with little bursts of Spritely energy, pointed ears pricked for any sound that would signify the giant was ending his operation prematurely, or a spider was padding behind him, ready to strike. But in hindsight, Mark really should've watched where he was walking in the thick darkness. Because it was easy to overlook a sleeping rat's rail for something inanimate.

Matted fur, ears torn and one fresh wound over a grey shoulder, encrusted with blood. A spray of whiskers were shoved into the Sprite's chest and he winced feeling the wet nose run over his chest and shoulder, but he wasn't dead food for the rodent to quickly scoop up and gnaw. And he wasn't as tall as Seán with a formidable set of tools to crush a pest. Which meant he was something to be chased down. Long and yellowing teeth were bared with an ugly screech and the scrabbling claws scraped over the wall as the predator scrambled for purchase in the dimness.

Mark felt his heart drop into his shoes, and the cry that had been at the tip of his tongue ever since the shadows began to move was released as he exited the walls with the scampering creature following close behind.

"SEÁN! HELP! HELP ME!"

He heard the clattering of a plate and then the tremors of footsteps as a 100 foot being entered the same space at speed, blue eyes disappearing behind a venomous scowl as a foot was raised. Mark felt his heart stop just looking up at that, a Human's foot with the intent of killing held above him, his dusty body blending into the floorboards doused in shadow. And then it came down straight in front of him, sending him flying into the side of the second shoe, the warm but coarse fabric leant into with a defeated scream.