The Butterfly Girl: A Star is Born

The Distraction

[Sophia]

I continued to play a couple more matches, completely forgetting that I was going to go out to see Apollo. When I thought I had enough, I quit my game and went all the way back to the main menu. I looked at my phone to see if I got any messages. Nothing. I turned off the console and switched the TV on, letting it play more cartoons as I scrolled through every other social media app I had on my phone before checking my texts one more time.

Still nothing from Apollo.

I turned off the TV and went upstairs to my room. I threw my phone on the bed and pulled out an outfit to wear. Soft white shirt and black shorts with my old shoes. I pulled my satchel off the floor and packed a few things before grabbing my jacket and tying it around my waist. I checked my phone one last time before heading out the door.

I went out into the backyard, crossed over the fence and walked a ways into the grove before I exposed my wings and flew over the treetops. The day felt warm, although it was almost noon. I wish it could stay this warm forever. Not too breezy either. I passed the tree house, getting closer to the lake. No vibration from my phone indicating that a message had been sent to me.

I finally made it to the waterfall and landed near the edge of the cliff. But not as gracefully as I hoped.

I went over to the edge of the waterfall and surveyed the lake. No movement. I decided to get a closer look. I backed up a few paces, paused for a moment, inhaled, then broke into a full sprint and when I reached the edge, I jumped and dove over as I began to plummet.

Keep it straight, keep it straight!

Before I wasn't even close to hitting the ground, I spread my wings once again and I was instantly lifted into the air. Like a roller coaster, I felt my stomach drop as soon as I went up. I dove back down again, but kept my wings spread out wide to slow the fall. I was gliding over the lake, making light turns to see if Apollo was doing laps or resting on the tiny beach. I couldn't see him anywhere. I turned around when I thought I must've gone too far. When I went back, I made sure to slow down so I didn't miss any details. But nothing turned up. I had to be missing something. I couldn't have overlooked it. Doesn't he always bring his backpack out here? How was I missing it?

I flew in another circle and still nothing.

When I got close to the waterfall, I rose up and touched down on the edge. I folded my wings in and sighed. The sound of rushing water falling over the edge was all I heard. I walked all the way back to the tree line and sat down on a rock in the shade and checked my phone to see if Apollo left me anything. Still nothing. I was starting to get a little concerned, but I tried to assure myself that everything was probably fine. But somehow, I just couldn't shake the feeling...

I tried to think of where he could be. And then I thought, maybe he just went back to the tree house? I don't know why I didn't go there in the first place instead of just passing it by. But as I stood up, I heard rustling. I didn't look behind me, I just looked confusedly around the area. I couldn't feel the wind anymore.

I heard another sound and this time I did look behind me. But there wasn't anything to be seen except large trees and thick bushes.

Maybe something fell out of the tree?

There are a lot of pine cones around here. One of them probably just fell off the tree. I thought nothing of it for a moment. Until I heard something else. It wasn't more rustling leaves. It was something... different. I was even more confused. I took a few steps into the treeline and looked around. I made no sound. I did see a lot of pine cones on the ground. Until I saw something else out of the corner of my eye. Just to the right. An odd color that wasn't any earthly tone. No, it wasn't brown, and I know that pine cones aren't that oddly shaped.

I slowly started walking forward, avoiding the rocks and shrubs in my way and tried looking for a clear path. My shoes made light crunching sounds from the dead leaves. And I noticed a familiar pattern of crunching leaves from behind me. I looked up above me.

Damn, the trees are too close together, can't get out that way. I'll have to find a gap somewhere.

My heart rate accelerated and I could hear it in my ears. I tried to keep calm, but I was already picking up pace. Until I couldn't bear it any longer. The crunching sounds from behind me were falling out of sync with my own footsteps.

I broke into a run. Jumping over large stones and sticks.

And a loud roar echoed throughout the trees.