Here is the prologue to my Spirited Away story. Some background: Chihiro is 22 years old in this story. Haku came and visited her in the human world about a year before this story happened and then went back to the spirit realm. Please review it! This story could go in a million different directions so any suggestions would help. Thanks!
She had everything she needed. Though it wasn't much. She had sold her small apartment and turned over the keys of her car to the dealership this morning. Just last week she had given her two-week notice to her employer, officially severing her last tie to her life here. She hiked the padded strap of the small backpack further up her shoulder as her shoes sent small stones tumbling down the hill in front of her.
She paused at the edge of the pavement and looked back up to the houses. She could faintly hear the laughter of children playing in the street and the distant bark of a dog. But she felt the wind pull at her. She looked into the overgrown foliage of the forest before her. The wind whistled through the trees and she took a deep breath as she stepped off of the road and into the woods.
She quickened her pace, she know exactly where she was going. A few minutes later she came upon those little stone houses
"… little spirits live in them…" her mother's voice once told her.
She knew she was getting close and she hugged her bundle closer to her chest. She could almost hear them, "Hurry…hurry…hurry"
The soft pink bundle squirmed slightly and a small ivory hand appeared from the folds, a small squeak of discontent was uttered from further inside the blanket.
"Hush now, Natsue. We will be home soon my darling."
She gingerly lifted up the blanket and her daughter blinked sleepily against the sun. Her soft green eyes crinkled in happiness and her small pink mouth formed into a toothless grin. She reached up towards her mother and soon her fingers grasped Chihiro's finger.
"We will be home soon…" Her mother repeated, tucking the blanket around her again.
Then suddenly she stood in the middle of the clearing. The rain-worn statue grinned mischievously at her. Chihiro took another deep breath and grasped Natsue closer to her again before stepping into the darkness of the tunnel. They were going home.