Rebirth
Growing up
parents read children bed time stories and tuck them into warm beds. It was a
sense of security when they laid a kiss onto foreheads and wished blessed
dreams. Lullabies were of sweet gentle notes from the tongue of happiness.
Holding a stuff animal was the safest thing in the world and your only worry
was to make sure you woke up on time.
Not for
her … not for them … not for anyone
Anymore
######
It was crunching
gravel underneath her black scuffed up boots and repeated water dripping from
pipes that lulled her to sleep. The darkness was a friend and the softest thing
was the family of rats that lay next to the warm fire from the trash can. She
didn’t sleep so those things didn’t even matter to her anymore.
Leaning
against the rusted trash can she took in the scent of burning wood. It was
familiar and overwhelming. Standing to her feet she grabbed her duffle bag and
began her trek away from her the others. That is how it worked she would crash
with a pack for a few hours, rest, eat, warm up a little and then off into the
night
.
Crunch!
It wasn’t
her footsteps; it wasn’t someone else, someone larger and faster. She waited
till it was a few feet from her before she swiftly turned around. Her leg
roundhouse into a kick and the mysterious stalker fell to the ground with a
thump. Her wrist turned easily as the knife flipped in between her fingers. The
groaning assailant grabbed her ankle and pulled her down onto the gravel.
Kicking the hand away she flipped into her standing position.
Wobbling
and unsure of what was going on she haphazardly grabbed her knife and placed it
onto the throat of her assailant. She was met with a mask and heavy breathing.
Cold metal pressed deeper into the skin as she placed her knee into the chest.
“You have one chance to explain why you are following me, speak wisely or I
will slit your throat” Her voice was hoarse and filled with rage. It chuckled
and she pressed hard enough where blood began to draw.
The
chuckle began to become whimpers and cries of pain. She spoke with urgency and
they didn’t take it with warning as with one hasty yank the skin ripped open.
Blood splattered across her face as the head collided onto the ground. The
sound of the skull cracking against the ground made her cringe but she stood
up. Removing the mask she could see a young man about her age, fifth teen with
wide pale blue eyes.
Kicking
the body with her boot her thoughts were confirmed he was definitely dead. She
searched the pockets finding a few dollar bills and a small pocket knife.
Shoving her new found treasures into her pocket she pondered how to move the
body. Placing her hand underneath her victim’s arms she dragged the body near
the alley. Dropping the body with a loud thump she walked away without a second
thought. This was about survival of the fittest.
