Spoiler
Chapter Three, I know it's a bit rough around the edges but I'm powering through and editing later. Reviews needed. *throws chapter in and then runs to hide under the table*
Chapter Three:
I walked determinedly for hours, trying not to let a single negative thought enter my head although my hands were numb with the cold and my breath came out in icy gasps as I crunched through the frosted leaves along the road.
It was as I reached the end of the next street that the realisation of what I was doing hit me. I had nothing with me, no money (unless you counted the measly coppers I had retained from my last trip up to the local store), and nowhere to go.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!
I had contemplated running away before but I had never imagined I would ever have the courage to do it, I was sensible; I wasn’t the impulsive one. That had always been Megan, she was spontaneous, rash at times but that wasn’t the type of person I was. The way I saw the world was through a more rational light. You could describe it as weak or anxious even though it never seemed to let me down. Not like Megan. I shook my head firmly, thinking about her was painful.
The rain was just beginning to fall now, just tiny droplets, like tears trailing down my cheeks and off my chin. The stars had become obscured by the clouds that swept across the sky and the moon only shone dimly through the thick blanket that threatened to block it out entirley.
I glanced around desperately; there must have been some form of shelter in that godforsaken town! I hadn't got an idea of how far I had walked, just that I had been going for most of the night now and that my feet were starting to ache. I needed to sit down, to rest my weary head, even if it was only for a moment or two.
Peering through the darkness, my eyes spotted an old and deserted bench near a churchyard. It looked perfectly safe and at any rate it was a place to take a break, if nothing else. As I neared it I began to take in my surroundings properly using the light that illuminated the church to see.
I was on a small green, only one solitary tree stood magnificently on the grass, its bare and misshapen branches like long fingers that were outstretched towards me. The wind whistled eerily around the dead bushes planted side-by-side and the grey smoky clouds above seemed to sweep the life from the area as they crept slowly across the sky.
Sitting on the icy bench, I glanced behind me at the tall and majestic building that was the church. I couldn’t make out much below it due to the shadows it cast but I knew they would be there. The graves of men, women and children all standing side by side in rows, like soldiers preparing for battle.
If I listened closely I could have sworn I heard soft footsteps and heavy breathing as I sat. For most people I knew this would have frightened them out of their lives.
Too bad I didn’t believe in ghosts.
Patting my pocket, I suddenly realised that there was something in it. That was odd. I couldn’t remember having left anything in there other than the excess coins from the other day.
When I reached my fingers slowly in I was strangely apprehensive. I knew it was silly as it was obvious that there was nothing dangerous in there considering I was the one who had obviously put it in.
My hands closed around a small piece of paper that had been folded up to fit inside my jeans. I pulled it out and examined it closely.
It was a photograph. Two girls stood beaming next to a snowman, evidently proud of their work. Looking closer I could see Megan’s dark hair had been whipped around by the wind and her make-up had smudged slightly. I was only about eight years old, my arm was around her and my green eyes were sparkling.
Cats-eyes, Megan used to call them. Her own were almost black along with her hair; we looked nothing alike. The picture showed me how much I missed that life, it seemed to be taunting me. I knew I would never go back, I had my own life to live and I wasn’t going to do that following Megan around for the next ten or so years. It was time to stand on my own two feet and stop letting others do all the heavy lifting work for me.
This was my time.
I checked the clock on the church building behind the bench; the old and rusted hands told me that it was just past 5’o’clock in the morning. It would be getting light in a matter of minutes. I had to find somewhere to sleep before people began to appear.
Leaving the photo on the floor I reluctantly picked myself up and aimed for the river that seemed about a five minute walk down the hill. If it didn’t have a place to sleep, I thought, at least it would be useful to know where I can wash clothes if I need to.
The sky was definitely getting brighter now; the clouds were beginning to turn yellow as the sun pushed itself up over the hills and valleys. The occasional ray shone on my back and I was pleased to discover that it sent a lovely warm feeling all over my body. The winter sun didn’t usually hold much heat.
It cast shadows from the buildings and the river sparkled as the beams hit it, shedding ripples of light along the water.
A bridge stood over the waters, at first glance it reminded me of the bridge in the fairytale ‘Billy Goats’ gruff, and I had half a mind to attempt to cross it just to see if a troll would appear from the midst of the waters below. From a distance I could see what seemed to be a long tray on the pavement underneath the bridge. I took a few steps closer, deciding to investigate.
It was a wooden crate, split in half lying on the ground. It was long and thin and looked quite fragile but when I kicked it there wasn’t much movement. It was obviously quite sturdy. I studied it for a moment, stroking my hand s along the edges, but I didn’t get any splinters. On the contrary, the surface was actually reasonably smooth.
I was about to stand in it when it crossed my mind that perhaps It wouldn’t be the best idea to stamp my muddy footprints on the place that I may have needed to sleep on for a while. Changing the course of my feet at the last minute, I sat down on it. It wasn’t comfy, but I knew that from the moment I laid eyes on it. The wood was cold against me but not unpleasant. It wouldn’t be a bad place to stay during the daytime. The night would be a different matter though; it was going to be freezing cold, enough to chill my bones without the proper coverage.
Suddenly, I wasn’t that tired anymore. I had work to do, preparing my new home.
My home.
I liked the sound of that, it made me feel in control.
On my own.
**********************
Much of the rest of the day was spent retrieving items that I perceived to have some form of use, and placing them into the no longer empty bin. Soon, it was overflowing with the strangest collection of items; sheets of newspaper that I hoped would warm me when I slept, two packets of unopened chewing gum (I knew to ration these), a black glove, a book and many more things I had scrounged from the sides of the streets.
I went back to my little home under the bridge at about six in the evening. It was already dark, and I had struggled to find my way back. Having not slept for the past two days, I felt completely drained. Would I be able to sleep tonight, in an unusual place, with all the sounds of the town around me? I supposed I would have to, after all, if I was tired enough it wouldn’t be such a great feat. I would get used to it soon enough.
I reached gently into my bin, and after searching for a few minutes, found what I was looking for. I withdrew the newspaper carefully and took it with me back to the crate. It wouldn’t cover the whole of me and I would need to see if I could find a rug sooner or later as the nights were cold and often wet.
Drawing the sheets around me as tightly as I could, I scuffled down into the best lying position that was possible, given the confined space.
I shuffled under the newspaper, I was right about the lack of protection it gave me but I was glad there was something covering me all the same. I rolled over to try and get comfy; I kept rolling onto hard stones on the walkway and having to constantly brush my hand vigorously beneath me. I shut my eyes and let the night close in around me.
