A/N Hi I'm Katannamionestorm and this is Briar's Ayre. Enjoy!
I rubbed my hands together trying to get some feeling in my fingers which were covered in blood and dirt. I scooted a bit closer to the tiny fire that provided almost no warmth. But it was nice compared to a few weeks ago when I had been sitting in a cold dog crate in the back of a truck.I ran my fingers through my matted, leaf filled blond hair and decided it would be good to get some sleep. I laid my head on a pile of damp leaves and tried to make myself as small as possible to conserve body heat. But, Hell I'd spent my whole 15 years of life curled up in confined spaces so why not spread out while I can. I have these whole woods to myself and I'm only taking up a foot or two of them. I should be running through the trees and jumping over logs and climbing trees. That can wait for tomorrow, I'm to tired now.
I tried to close my eyes and force myself into sleep but it didn't work. The snap of a branch nearby made my eyes snap open and my whole body grow ridged. I quickly sat up and glanced around me but I could only see the nearest trees which were illuminated by the dying embers from the fire I had built just before the sun set. The trees loomed tall above me casting dark shadows across the forest floor. When I was a kid this was the kind of thing I dreamed of, being free. But now it didn't seem so great. Better than to other option of corse.
Deciding that the branch was just a little night creature I whispered to myself, "It's okay Briar, just go to bed you'll be fine." Taking the advice I gave myself, I rested my head on my hands and laid on the cold ground. I stared up at the stars for a while, they were so pretty. The first time I had ever seen the stars was exactly 21 days ago. I just looked at them wondering how they got up there in the first place for at least 15 minutes until a homeless man came up to me and asked me if I had swallowed any bugs with my mouth hanging open like that. I responded by telling him that I had never seen stars before and that they were amazing. He just looked at me with cloudy blue eyes laughed and wandered away while muttering about "rotten city folks". I laid there gazing at the night sky with its stars like diamonds and big moon that seemed to be hanging by an invisible thread.
I must have dozed off at some point, because the next thing I knew there was morning sun dancing across my face and birds singing a happy song. Ironically enough I was not very happy. I pealed open my eyes which were glued shut with sleep, Stretched, and rose from the forest floor. My fire had long gone out and was just a pile of ashes with a slow stream of smoke puffing out of it. I picked up the stick I had used the night before to stir the fire and buried the ashes so no one would suspect that I had been here. I covered the churned up ground with leaves and carried the stick with me. It made a nice walking stick.
I made my way winding through the endless array of tree trunks. I missed home which is strange because I've never had a home. The home I missed was wherever I was born, I know I had a home and a family. Loving parents who cared about me and maybe even a little brother or sister. I hope to find them someday. We would live a little house with a big field where I could run all day and when it got dark outside I would lay on a blanket and look up at the stars. I would have a best friend who I did everything with. I would be normal. That word sounded wonderful on my lips, Normal. But I wasn't normal I had grown up in a dog crate with scientists staring at me and taking notes all day.
I found myself running. From what, I don't know. But, the trees began to blur past me and the ground seemed to disappear beneath my feet. I had no idea what was happening, this sensation was unknown to me and I highly doubted it was normal. I tried to backpedal with my feet but it only slowed me down a bit. I couldn't even see the trees anymore everything was just a mass of color like my world had turned into an abstract painting. I occasionally felt the ground beneath my outstretched toes and bark of trees under my fingertips which had risen so they stretched out at my sides. I felt like an angel, limbs open, moving at the speed of light just above the ground. After I had finally gotten a little more use to the feeling I started to slow down. my feet would hit the ground with a sudden jolt that sent shivers up my spine then I would rise again. I could make out the outlines of trees far more sparse than they had been before I started to run or fly or whatever I just did.
Suddenly it was like I had hit an invisible wall. The wind was knocked out of me as I tumbled forward through the air and came to a skidding stop in the dirt.
I sat motionless for a while trying to figure out what just happened and if I was still alive. Finally I decided the only way to find out if I was alive was to get up and try to keep moving. I blinked. Then slowly tucked my feet underneath me and pushed myself up into a squatting position. I felt a little dizzy, but who wouldn't after that experience? I stood all the way up brushing my scraped palms on my ripped jeans that I had found in a salvation army bin. My hands stung a bit and I winced when I saw the streaks of blood on my fancy jeans. I'd only ever had thin itchy hospital gowns before and I hoped jeans would make me a bit more normal and maybe even cool if I ever met other kids. Now they were ripped and stained with grass, dirt, and blood. Whatever.
I took in my surroundings. There were large pine trees behind me and a open area in front of me. For a second I thought this could be the field. The one I would play in with my little sibling and watch the stars from, but I quickly realized this could not be it. It smelled of smoke and fumes I had smelled in the city. There were deep tire tracks showing that big trucks had recently been here.
As I cautiously walked over the top of the hill so I looked down into the field I saw that this was no place to be. There were Giant yellow machines billowing smoke and signs everywhere that said "Do Not Cross" in cruel red writing.
I shrank back down the hill toward the woods realizing that it would only take me back where I came from. I weighed my options for a few seconds before deciding to try walking around the field.
So, I headed to the right hoping I would make it without being caught. I kept low to the ground and near the shelter of the trees. I walked like that for about five minutes before I saw the road that lead away to some unknown place. For me there was a lot of unknown stuff in this world so why not find out as much as I can.
Knowing I could make is safely to the road I picked up my pace to a fast walk. I dared not go any faster in case I did that strange flying thing again. I climbed over some lone tire tracks that had muddy water pooling up in the bottom. The water reminded me how thirsty I was. I hadn't drank since yesterday when I found a small stream in the woods and the running/flying thing had really worn me out.
I finally reached the road which was quite wet and long. My beat up converse sneakers were coated with mud and grass. I kicked them off and continued down the road. I found a comfortable jogging speed which I figured I could keep up for another 20 minutes before stopping.
The road lead onto another road, this one at least was paved and had signs telling me that I was entering "Greenwood, Maine" I had no idea where Maine was let alone Greenwood. I figured I would ask someone when I got to town. I followed the road to Greenwood walking on the shoulder of the road. The only cars that passed me were a old red pickup truck with the bumper practically dragging on the ground, and a logging truck that had honked it's horn at me.
As I walked I decided that I need to get money if I was gonna live like this. Then I could get a train ticket across the country. I've always wanted to go to California. It seems magical. The only issue was getting a job. I had no idea how you got one, but I would figure it out. There was a lot of things I didn't learn from the scientists that I would need to know in the real world.
I soon reached a gas station and mini-mart where I would ask for directions to town and use the bathroom to wash up. Maybe even check the back dumpster for some food and a drink.
The sign to the bathroom pointed around to the back of the building. I rounded the building only to find a sign that said "Restrooms for costumers only". Okay no restroom for me. Instead I turned to the trash cans that were emitting a scent that made my skin crawl.
Despite the scent I removed the lid and peered into the bin. I saw a few old banana peels, some candy wrappers, and something grey that looked moldy and quite soggy. But, I let my hunger take over as I dug my hands into the trash.
Below the layer of gray stuff was a half empty soda bottle and a peanut butter sandwich with a bite out of it. Jackpot. All I need now is water to fill the bottle. There was no one else around so I snuck to the bathroom and jiggled the handle of the door. It easily swung open giving me easy access to the precious sink.
I quickly closed the door behind me and took in my surroundings. There was a toilet in the corner that looked like it had never been cleaned and a sink that was held to the wall with some duct tape. There were no paper towels or soap but I didn't mind. I turned the handle of the sink to on and a thin stream of water fell from the tap. I poured the left over soda down the drain and filled the bottle with water. Then I took a swig and splashed water on my face. It was the most refreshing thing I had ever felt. I tied my hair up in a high pony-tail to keep it out of my face and decided I was ready to go. I slowly opened the door. The sunlight streamed in to the dimly light room as I stepped outside, blinking.
I whirled around as a gruff voice said, "What do you think your doing?"
A/N I know that wasn't the best beginning but I just wanted to put this story on paper and see where it goes... Maybe nowhere if I don't get any reviews. Please review I've never had many reviews on a story and would love to get some here. How about a free digital cookie if you review? Sound good?
- Kat