Never Broken
-Prologue
The sound of footsteps echoed in her mind as she lay on the floor, face down. She had to get up. Get moving and find Nikola. He had to be around somewhere. She slowly moved her arms under her body and pushed herself up as much as she could. Her hands were scraped and small droplets of blood fell to the ground. Helen grunted and winced as the fading sound bounced back from the walls of the tunnel. She managed to get on her knees so she could take in her surroundings.
I was...
The walls seemed to be closing in on her and all she could focus on were the words written on them in paint so dark red that they seemed black in the artificial light: 'You're already dead'.
...never...
She tried to get up, ignoring her protesting body. She could do this. She could fight. A grunt escaped her mouth as she pushed up from the dirty floor and ignored the dizzy spell that came with the action.
...broken!
Her knees gave out first, causing Helen to fall again. Instinctively she rolled on her back to avoid lying on the wound on her side. A wave of pain flooded trough her body and she let out a frustrated cry. She couldn't stay here, she couldn't move. She couldn't go and find Nikola and she couldn't lose him. Not again.
Deep breaths... She moved her fingers, digging them into the grime and litter surrounding her. Helen Magnus was alive. Not kicking, but still alive. She would get up and... and fight. She moved her legs and planned her big 'get up' when she heard the sound again. Loud at first and softer as the echo carried it trough the rest of the tunnel. It was a giggle, belonging to a child.
''No''
She felt powerless and the taste of her own blood in her mouth made her feel nauseous. The sound of footsteps approached her once again and the first visual sign she got was that of a outstretched silhouette on the wall closest to her.
''Please. Not again... Please...''
She knew that begging wouldn't make it stop. Nothing she'd do would, but it didn't matter. The child now towered over her and flashed Helen a wicked smile.
''Don't you like our game, Helen? I do. Don't you like me?''
Helen rolled over and pulled her knees to her torso without even realizing that she was doing it.
''Stop.''
''Do you give up Helen?''
The sing-song voice made her look up to the child. It was a girl, not looking a year over ten. Her dark hair was pulled back in a pony tail. She held a dripping ice cream cone in one hand, while she wiped the other on her blue jeans. Her big green eyes held Helen's.
''Never.''
The child giggled again and shook her head.
''That's what the vampire said as well. Grown ups have no fantasy left.''
Helen focused on the ice cream, desperate to find something ...normal.
''Let's play again Helen. You're hurt, so I'll give you a head start this time. ''
''Please...''
''Twentyyy...''
Ice cream dripped on the girl's yellow sneakers. Only now did Helen notice it was deep red.
''Nineteeen...''
She locked eyes with the girl again.
''What happened to Nikola?''
The child narrowed her eyes, balled her fists and broke the cone in the process.
''Play with me, Helen.''
''No!''
In one swift move, a hand moved around Helen's neck and hauled her up against a wall.
''That. Wasn't. A. Question!''
''Where... is ...he?''
The sound came out distorted and the pressure on her windpipe increased as she spoke. Panic began to take possession of her as the smell of strawberry ice cream filled her nostrils.
''Suit yourself.''
Her vision swam and once again, Helen couldn't help but stare at the writing on the wall opposite of her.
'You're already dead'.
...
Too short? Confused? More soon! :)
I've been wanting to write a creepy kid story or a while now...