Before the Storm

Chapter 3 - The light

I lay down on my bed and opened my arms, gesturing her to come and lay down with me. She slowly walked to me, sniffling. We both lay, in silence waiting for sleep to overcome us.

"I'll always protect you Lilly" I whispered just as everything went black...

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The darkness started closing in on me ready to take everything away and honestly I would let it. The alley walls were tight and close, I could barely fit in cross legged so I just sat curled up against the dusty walls. The feeling of pain and loneliness started settling in and I began to repeat my words... I had never felt this way. I was so happy. Life was as amazing as it could get for a 6 year old. Mummy always told me I was special, that I had the mind of a grown up... but mummy won't ever say that again...

"Please stay. I'm scared. You promised you would love me forever, isn't that what you said? You said that when I'm scared I could always come to you but... I don't know where you are... "

"Is it because you can't come? Are u stuck?"

The only reply was the rain splattering onto the ground, creating a puddle that would only continue to increase as the rain kept falling.

I stood up careful not to scratch my knees on the rough wall infant of me. It stood tall, towering over me... I thought to myself, that must be 100 feet tall. 

"Mummy would like this. She likes heights."

I looked both sides... I knew that I had to walk towards the light but... the only light was from the broken street lamp to the right of me. It kept flickering on and off... I stared in that direction for a while, figuring out whether or not I should follow it or not. 

To the left was complete darkness. I knew darkness always meant trouble but for some reason this one was kind, almost welcoming...

I shook my head, knowing that going into darkness meant going into the unknown and for now I had the choice to go towards the light.

I started to walk, trying to avoid the desire of jumping into the puddles that came my way. If I did, the only clothes I had would be further wet and cold, I cannot add another problem to my list. The rain started to fall harder, almost as if it was trying to stop me, but I wouldn't stop not for anything. My slow paced walk got faster and soon I was running to get closer to the light, the closer it got, the happier I felt, I knew that reaching to the end wouldn't get me to my destination but it would be closer and knowing that I could be home soon was as exciting as Christmas Day.  I ran and ran, the desire for puddles was long gone and replaced by this new desire of reaching the light.

As my breath started getting heavier and my feet slower, I soon stopped at a road at the end of the alley. I came to the realisation that I would have to find my way home whilst not even knowing where I lived. This couldn't stop me, not after I had gotten this excitement, so I continued walking... slowly but surely I knew I was going to be home soon and Mummy would be so happy to see me... right? 

After walking for a few blocks I reached an intersection... which way should I take...? I was standing there for a while till some men came to me, "Hey kiddo, you need to go somewhere, we can take you" one of the taller men said pointing to his friends behind him. I looked at them, they were wearing black hoodies and baggy grey joggers, the one that was speaking to me was wearing a beanie too. 

School always taught me to never talk to strangers, Stranger Danger, so I ignored them and continued my search to figure out which road to take. As I was wracking my brain to see if I could remember anything, the men started to move closer, their hands open as if to act welcoming but creating a threatening environment. I realised that it definitely wasn't safe here so I started walking. They followed.

 I fastened my pace.

They fastened theirs.

At this point I started running and screaming for help.

They didn't try to catch me...

I ran as fast as my small legs could take me, I looked behind me to check if they were following but somehow I didn't see them. The intersection was far away by this point, but I had a feeling that they would try to attack me so I kept running keeping my head facing back to see if they were trying to come back...

I heard it before I saw it. My face slowly turned to face the beaming light heading towards me fast. My eyes widened and I couldn't move. I was like a deer in headlights. everything went in slow-motion, the people inside were shouting while I was stood in shock, I could do nothing but watch. I felt the hit in my stomach first then my head smashed on the floor, oozing blood.

The darkness started closing in on me ready to take everything away and honestly I would let it. This wasn't the light I was trying to reach...

Hiiiii. I know I'm late andddd that this is confusing but trust me the next chapter will make it easier to understand but yehhhh, I had to study a lot cos it was a new school year and everything's so unusual from covid so yeh I'll try to be more consistent. I apologiseeee.Hope you enjoyed don't forget to vote, comment and everythingggg.

Love you troublers