Real
Chapter I
Ivy sat under the tarp, the cold rain beating out a soft rhythm on the canvas, occasionally dripping through onto her. Pulling her cloak tighter, she huddled on the ground. The sounds of nocturnal birds filled the air, interlaced with the high screeches of bats. This was the coldest she had ever been in her life. It was so wet and the ground under the canvas was damp as well.
She decided that dwelling on her misery would do her no good, instead she listened to the sounds of the birds. She heard a noise; it was one of the creature-sounds the elders made. But why would the elders have come this far into the forest? As she listened they began to sound less and less like man-made instruments, and more like…animals. The voice of reason told her that it was fake, but her heart would not believe that.
She curled up tighter and pulled her hood over her ears. Sleep did not come for a long while...
Noah half ran through the undergrowth of Covington Woods. The suit was heavy, but he could still move well enough. His face still stung from where Ivy had hit him. What had he done? Lucius had been in the way that was all. He felt the side of his face, it was still raw; even his dull mind knew this meant their love was over.
It isoften amazinghow twisted even the simplest mind can become when given time to simmer over a fire of hatred. He had had plenty of time to dwell on this. She did not love him, she had to go away. He would make her go away, go away forever. He remembered the hide-and-seek, the races all of it. She had been so nice to him, then she had left, and had gone after Lucius. Well, Lucius was no longer a problem, and she wouldn't be either when he found her.
He saw something up ahead, it wore the bad color...
The first thing Ivy was aware of was being cold. Her eyes opened and she saw the usual, darkness. she was very stiff, having slept in such a tight position. She stood and felt the tarp. It was frozen, completely frozen. She moved her fingers along the ropes, feeling for the knots. They were frozen as well. She began to fumble with them, they would not be untied. She began to try again, then she remembered Lucius. He was fading, she needed haste. She left the tarp behind.
Using the cane became increasingly difficult as the undergrowth grew thicker. She felt the branches twining around her as she went. Another step and the cane became tangled in a shrub. She reached out to grab it, but grabbed a thorny branch instead. She bit her lip at the initial pain, feeling the blood run down her hand. As a reflex she stuffed it into her dress-pocket to hide the bad color. But remembering it was a hoax, let her hand fall once again to her side.
She heard the stream beside her, so she had not lost her way. How much longer could it be till she reached the road? Thinking once again of Lucius she quickened her pace. She heard something off across the stream. It was another creature noise. Those We Do Not Speak Of are fake. She told herself, they had to be she had felt the suits. She had the confession of the elders, they were not real, if so why then did the noises still sound this far from the village?
She went faster, and tucked her bloodied hand into her pocket.