Morgan was running. Her breath was coming in massive rasps and she berated herself for being such an unfit person. She ran straight across the street without looking and into the park. She knew without looking that the bullies followed her. Ok, so the park was not the best place to run into but she figured there were more paths to run on, different directions, plus more places to hide. It was where her feet took her, at the moment her head was still two blocks behind her, outside of the school building to be honest.
Morgan had gotten out of her lessons later than usual, and finally said goodbye to her friends. Moving outside of the school gates she had noticed a group of people standing under the great willow tree. The first moment she had seen them she knew there was something almost inhuman about them. Predatory. The second moment she figured they were all staring at her and realised that that sort of attention was not a type she wanted to attract. Quickly averting her gaze she walked on. It would have been alright except Morgan needed to pass them to get home. She kept her head down but even as she approached she could almost sense them becoming more and more aware of her. She was side by side with the group before they spoke.
"Hey, you!" one yelled.
She flickered her eyes up and wished she hadn't. They were moving towards her, so of course, she stopped but kept some distance between them. "Morgan right?" Dumbly she nodded her head. "Great, we have been looking all over for you."
She thought she heard on the group mutter something about "twilight" before she started running.
So here she was, still running, still not knowing why but being scared enough to do it.
Trees kept whizzing past her and Morgan began to wonder where her feet were taking her. Then she realised, the playground! Plenty of people would be there, it was a public place and straight after school, it would be a busier place than usual. Her head finally catching up with her feet, she renewed herself and tried to run faster. She gained a stitch in her side. Briefly closing her eyes she kept going but sent a silent message to anyone listening to her thoughts to help.
Hardly daring to glance back Morgan ran on straight to her target. Finally! Open field filled with people greeted her. She made herself slow down to a walk, thus making herself a less obvious target.
The stitch in her side renewed its strength. Closing her eyes in exhaustion and pain Morgan bumped into someone. She opened her eyes startled, her whole body jumped about a foot into the air.
Safety. It was not one of the 'bullies'. It was a girl.
"Sorry," she mumbled.
Their eyes met. Elf! She thought. Then she remembered the people again. The girl looked behind her then up at her again. She thought she saw recognition flash through them but Morgan didn't want to wait around to find out why. As she was moving again the girl came to her side and grabbed her hand.
"Not that way," she said quickly.
Morgan glanced at he girl again, not knowing what to believe, but she automatically dismissed her doubts straight away because she seemed genuinely to want to help her, not eat her, as Morgan had got the impression from the other group.
The girl tightened her grip with Morgan's hand before pulling her quickly in a different direction.
Out of the busy area, Morgan realised slowly she was being led out of the park. She glanced quickly at the girl again and tried to breathe at the same time as watching her feet. The girl had short brown hair and a very elfish face. She was also very small, delicate almost.
Looking up Morgan noticed that she was being led to the residential part of the town.
Her breathing was very heavy now and the stitch in her side was making each step a painful leap.
Morgan dared a quick look behind.
Nobody was there.
The girl beside her looked behind as well, after dutifully noted that nobody was there, she slowed the pace to a brisk walk, but her face was troubled.
After a while the elf-girl led her to an actual doorway. Morgan knew of this place. This was on the edge of town; behind this row of houses were a few fields and a small forest. As a little girl Morgan had played with her friends in that forest, daring each other to go further into it.
The elf-girl let go of Morgan's hand and reaching into the backpack Morgan now noticed, she retrieved a set of keys. Picking one she opened the door and stepping inside, beckoned Morgan to follow her.
"By the way, my name is Poppy."