Rubbing my eyes, this definitely felt like déjà vu. Really! You had to pass out… again! I yelled at myself. Never, ever, have I passed out at home. And yet, once again, I passed out!
Right about now, I could care less where I was. I could care less of how hungry I was. I could care less of how long I was sleeping. The really only thing I cared about was that I was awake.
I ran my dirty fingers through my tangled hair, brushing it out of my face. Silence filled the air, and only my soft breathing was scarcely heard. My neck burned, a slight trickle of blood, like a river, flowed down the side. I had never experienced real pain. I thought stubbing my toe was pain, so this, THIS was pain.
My lungs filled with the soft dirt, making me cough and wheeze. I needed to do something, to at least save myself.
"Someone, please, anyone." I cried, my voice dry and hoarse. "Help me; take me where I will be safe." I knew it sounded weird, but hey, when you’re hurt in the woods, anything will do.
I tried to steady myself, my head spinning like a marry-go-round. I can do so much more. Siera's words circled in my head. So much more. So much more. So much more.
"Get out of my head!" I screeched, throwing my face into the ground. I'm going crazy. Officially crazy. I told myself. Everywhere I went, Siera's face showed up. She was invading my mind, controlling me. I was her doll. Her dirty little doll.
Out of the corner of my eye, a giant figure loomed being me. The dark, swirling figure, black as the night sky, pressed up against the tree next to me.
"Who are you?" I cried, my voice trembling. "Who is your owner?"
The figure laughed a dark, low laugh that reminded me of sandpaper.
"Who is to say I have one." He said, reaching his arm out to me. "Maybe I want to be free."
My insides were doing somersaults, my heart slapping my insides. Carefully, I stood up, my legs wobbling from fear. "No. No. No. No. This is Siera's trick, right? Your here to scare me, so she can come out at any moment, eh? No, it's NOT going to work! Not this time, you holograph-like thingy! Come out, whoever you are! Mallory is NOT afraid! I am brave, and you cannot hurt me! Never! Come at me!" I rambled, backing away slowly.
The shadow, clearly annoyed, ran in front of me. "You wanted help, right? You asked for anyone. I can help you live here, maybe for a little bit. Not forever." He leaned in, so close I could feel his warm breath across my face. "You trust me?"
My breath was coming out in large, scared huffs. Hmhm, a strange shadow in the woods, asking to trust me.... let’s see.... NO!!!
"Why should I trust YOU?" I screamed, flailing my arms in the air. (yes, I was having a freak attack.)
A deep grumble escaped the shadows' mouth.
"Your choice. You can live, or you can die."
The words came out in a grumble, pinning my heart to the back of my chest. "Live or die." I mumbled under my breath. Tears escaped my eyes. I had no choice. This wasn't a question, this was a command.
I never realized I was holding my breath until I breathed out, my lungs shaking.
"Live." I whispered.
The shadow nodded his head, clearly understanding.
"Follow me." He said, running in front of me.
I could not believe what I had done. It felt like either idea was going to make me die. So, who cares which way I die? A strange shadow in the woods, or a crazy ex-girlfriend?
YOU ARE READING
This Place We Call Home (discontinued)
Fantasy[ Originally named "13" ]. For most people, thirteen is the good year of your life. You can see the world with different eyes. You can finally be treated like an adult. As a teen, life just gets a little better. Maybe for you it does. In my town...
