Darkness settled on the forest and only one sound broke the silence. Footsteps broke through the silence of the sleeping woods, the figure the footsteps belonged to moving slowly. A dark black cloak spread across the medium-build body, worn boots crashing against the forest floor. Finally, stopping in the shadow of a great oak, the hood was removed from her face and dropping her pack, the girl smirked at the two great roots rising from the ground. Her grey eyes fixed on strategic points on the roots and she pulled a large blue tarp from the pack.
Spreading the tarp between the roots until it would stay; she spread a blanket on the ground and pulled herself and the pack under the temporary shelter. She rummaged in her pack once more and pulled a small book and pen from it. She turned the book to a clean page and clicked the pen on. The moon provided good lighting so she didn't bother using her flashlight batteries.
12 June
Tried once again to get supplies in store. Blew up cash registers in process, ran out of store with as much as I could carry. 4 months to the day since I left home. I've seen posters up and news alerts announcing my missing. I've run from, let's see, 2 search parties so far. I can't go back anymore; I wouldn't be recognized or wanted. It's best to continue on. I'm not sure how much longer my allowances are going to last, but if I must steal I will, survival of the fittest is all I know now. My name is Kai and I am alone in this world now. Who in the damn world would want me anyway? End note.
Replacing her notes back into her pack she stretched onto the blanket and pulled another one over her head and cried herself to sleep as she did each and every night, allowing her memories of the past months to overwhelm her mind as dreams and nightmares.
Yelling woke her once more. Her parents fell from each other's blows and her sister crouched near the door sobbing silently, lest she alert her parents to her presence. Kai pulled herself near her and hugged the sobbing child close. Her body was stone to emotion, the fighting and sleepless nights were her life and her sister didn't deserve this. Her sister choked on her tears and a small cough escaped her lips. Their father turned and flung open the cracked door as he glared angrily at them both. Kai pulled her sister away and shielded her sister with her back.
'Get back in bed you sniveling moron.' He didn't raise his hand like he normally did and he slammed the door behind him, Kai waited a few moments to assure that he wasn't coming back and laid her sister in her bed and crossed the room to hers, pulling her thick blankets over her head, quiet surrounding her. She fell into sleepy darkness and was enfolded by her own safe dreams.
Searing pain. Cracking bones and ripping skin. She felt hellfire racing on her back. A red and black light filling her eyes.
Kai awoke to a still dark room and she heard no other sounds. Her sister rested soundly in the bed next to her. She pushed the covers off her body and stood gently on the warm carpet. Remembering the searing pain of the night before; she looked in the mirror and realized what had happened. Knowing her father would destroy her now, her mine raced on what to do, she was already enough of a freak to her parents. Her loved of the occult, legends, myths and love of fiction didn't seem normal to them. Leaving the house seemed to be the only logical reason to her now. Creeping quietly around her room she gathered all her most precious possessions and necessary items. She grabbed the black cloak that had been her Halloween costume. She hugged her sister's tiny body close hating to leave her in this house, but Kai knew that it would be worse if she stayed. Gently she opened the door and made her way to the kitchen. Her parents were in the other room screaming. Kai wondered how she hadn't heard it. Going swiftly to her parent's wallets, she removed all the money inside, not taking any cards so her activity couldn't be traced, she was taking no chances with anything. Pulling food from the fridge, she passed the closed door to her parent's bedroom as she stuffed her things into the pack she was taking. Shaking her head sadly she went to the front door, threw it open, and ran into the dark early morning.