Post by Pebble on Nov 20, 2016 21:14:45 GMT
Alula smiled at her child as he begged for another story. She had just told him when she had first fallen in love with his father. That punch in her shoulder of course said it all, he was a fighter and she loved him.
“Moooom! Can you pweaaaseeee tell me one more story before I go to bed?” Despite being 12, he was still able to carry out that childish please. He reminded her of his father in that way. He had the curly black hair that his father carried and his boyish face as well as his tallness but, he also carried Alula’s freckles and brilliant green eyes.
“Fine. Besides, I’m sure Papa doesn’t want you all wound up when you visit him tomorrow.” As she mentioned her father, she recalled how she had been the biggest pain in the ass to ever exist. She couldn’t help but give his smirk, a smirk that said she knew her crime. However, it faded as one story came to mind. It was the only one she could think of… her son was old enough to know.
“Alright, you’ll want to sit down for this one, sweetheart.” She said, claiming her seat. Her son eagerly settled down in front of her and she sighed. She closed her eyes briefly before opening them, opening her mouth to begin the story. She could still remember the unforgiving sounds of blaring horns and bright lights with no stars…
~~~
Alula’s young ears were hurting already from the blaring horns. The 4 year old was scared. Her mother wasn't around, there were little people on these streets, none of which that cared about her, and the sounds were so unforgettable. She gulped, continuing to carefully walk on without losing her balance.
What had happened at that house? She recalled running from the house when there was warmth. It was dangerous. What was she doing out here anyways? She shivered. It was cold out here. She wanted her mother!
“Mommy! Mom!” She began to helplessly cry out, warm salty tears starting to run down her cheeks.
“Don't cry,” a voice startled her and she jumped, giving a squeak of surprise. A man stepped out of an ally. “Why cry?”
Alula sniffed, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
“I want my mom!” She cried out, causing him to crouch to shush her.
“Hey, hey. Sssh. How about you come with me? I'll take care of you until we find her, okay?” His voice was so kind, fatherly almost. Naive Alula didn't know any better. He didn't seem to want to hurt her… so why not?
“O-okay.” She sniffled, moving closer to him as he was her only comfort. He was kind to her. She liked him.
“Oh, baby girl, you know we’re gonna be legends, okay?” He spoke to her, looking into her brown eyes. She nodded, despite not knowing what it meant. With that, she would follow him into the ally, unknowing to what he would do to her.
This man had it good. He seemed to be the King if the streets, Alula found no harm in being the Queen. They got food brought to them from the others and they all bowed and respected them. Alula was amazed, it was like a dream come true. The power even went a little to her head.
“Oh you poor girl. I see he's found another victim?” An older lady, one with a piece of bread in her hands spoke to Alula. She scoffed, taking the food as if she were a Queen.
“Poor? I'm not poor! I'm rich!” Alula sneered. The woman shook her head.
“I'd run, girl. While you've got the chance. The others did.” She spoke. Alula glared.
“Go away, hag.” She growled. The older obeyed, shuffling off and shaking her head. The poor girl didn't know what she was getting into. She would that night though.
That night, Alula was helpless as she lay still, fear in her eyes. She didn't know what this was. But it pleased him… she supposed there was nothing wrong with it, right? Yeah. Yeah, that was right. She would lay still and let him do what he wanted.
She woke up the next morning sore between the legs. Couldn't blame her, now could you? She went on with her regular daily things. He did it again that night and she was again sore. All well.
It didn't take long for Alula to be sore enough she could hardly walk. She complained to him, saying she was sore.
She regretted it.
“Oh don't you cry! You're fine! You're on the streets, you can't be weak. Or are you a baby?” He snapped at her, causing her to sniffle. Before she knew it, his hand wound back and came back down on her, causing her head to turn and for her to actually fall to the left. She landed on her hands and knees, scraping them. She didn't cry, despite the blood running down her nose. No, she remained still and silent.
“Oh my poor baby!” He exclaimed, his personality changing as he quickly scooped her up in an act of comfort. Alula accepted it, surprisingly. She didn't quite have that mean streak in her yet.
These sorts of treatments continued on throughout the cold winter into the summer back into the winter and the summer again. Four years. Alula didn't even know when her birthday was. She just knew she was probably eight. Probably.
Now, over the past four years, Alula had picked up survival tips. She was smart. And mean. She knew what this man was doing to her. She didn't like it.
She tried to escape.
Under the cover of the night, after one of their… payments… Alula slipped away, running from her problems. It didn't take long for him to realize she was missing and he himself woke and took chase after her.
Alula knew better. She needed help… there! A late night walker. Woman!
“Hey! Help me! Please!” Alula shouted at her, causing the other to pause. Alula stopped, pleading with just looks.
“Please. Help me, there's this man and-and he-”
“Oh I'm so sorry about my niece, ma’am.” Shit. He grabbed Alula before she could say anymore. “She's a sleepwalker, you see… she can't tell the difference between reality and dream.” He gave the other a smile before taking Alula and walking away. The woman shrugged, continuing her walk.
When they got back to the ally, he threw Alula onto the ground.
“You little bitch! You can't escape me!” He scolded her. He again beat her. He had to keep her here. Some how.
The next night he had ropes. He tied her down, doing whatever he wanted with her now. The only time she was free was during the day. It frustrated the poor girl. Enough she wanted to scream. She knew better though.
She was a survivor. Not a baby.
Two years later, Alula was mostly mute. She had managed to gain a jacket. For winter, she supposed. However, there was some weird crap going on. People dying? It wasn't new but, there were no murders. It caused curiosity to rise in her.
And then she knew.
It was during the day, he was watching her closely. Then they were attacked.
Humans, yet they didn't sound human. She and him took off. He tried to get her to follow him but, she wasn't having it. She went her own way with him hot on her heels.
She charged her way down the street, him shouting cuss words at her. Not today. She ran and she ran, lungs burning. She reached a bridge.
Running across it would do no good. He would catch her. No doubt. She looked behind her to see him still charging. Fear engulfed her and a crazy idea came to mind.
But.
She was crazy.
She ran to the edge, leaping up onto the ledge and looking at the waters below. She swallowed roughly and looked again. Oh shit. There he was.
Time slowed down and a hundred thoughts ran through her mind. Should she stay? Or should she take the risk and jump? Thoughts like those.
However, one rose to her mind.
Jump.
Just as he reached her, she pushed off of the edge and flew. Fell, really. But, flew.
“ALULA!” He screamed at her. She couldn't tell if it was concern for her or anger. She didn't care. This was her freedom.
She plummeted to the cold waters. She pushed her legs together and crossed her arms over her chest. She held her breath and in a few mere seconds she could feel the cold water on her feet, seeping up into her body until she was under water. With a powerful kick she surfaced. She got used to the water in a few seconds. However, she forgot this was a river.
Something brushed her neck and she screeched, recalling snakes lived in this water. She swam towards the shore, the river gaining speed. Rocks.
She tried to grab a branch attached to the shore and missed, instead getting sucked underwater. She couldn't see and she hadn't gotten a chance to breath. She was running out of air.
Then the feeling of something striking her head was felt. Vision blurried, Alula surfaced again. She'd hit her head on a rock, no doubt. Yet, she refused to pass out. She was swept down the river, under a bridge.
That was the last thing she remembered before she blacked out.
Alula hauled herself out of the water, the frigid temperature causing her to shiver. She coughed, water in her lungs as she crawled out of the river. She flopped over on her side before rolling completely over.
When Alula had woken up, she had been in a calmer part of the water. Apparently hidden as nobody saw her… or because it was night. She'd swam to the shore and had crawled out. So that's where she was now.
Sniffling, Alula rose. Her leg was on fire and she had a headache. Recalling she'd hit her head on a rock, Alula touched the sore spot, finding it was hot and tender. She looked down at her leg, finding her jeans were torn and there was a nasty cut in her left leg.
She needed a help.
Limping away, Alula went in search of a place to help her. Oh hey. A hospital.
It wasn't open… she had to sneak in. She couldn't just ask for help, in her mind.
So, she hobbled around the building and too her luck there was an open window. A dark room, somebody was sleeping. Just… sneak in.
Quietly, she slipped in through the window, grunting when she landed because of her leg. Okay… explore.
Leaving the room, she entered the bright and empty hallways. She wandered around.
Then, she heard footsteps. Ducking behind a corner, she waited for them to fade away. Letting out a breath, Alula continued her search before finding one of those rolling tables.
Bandages! Just what she needed. She quickly took them. A little too quickly.
She accidentally stuck herself with a needle. That had liquid in it on on the end of the needle. Wincing, Alula continued on.
However, she started to get drowsy. Oh nonononono. She hobbled on a little quicker, finding a window again. She slipped out.
Well, fell out.
She flopped onto the hard ground with a groan before picking herself back up and hobbling off somewhere to either fix herself or die.
A week later, after the liquid had fully worn off, Alula was alone. Stuck out here in the wild city. She knew how to care for herself though. She fixed herself up and spent her days scavenging and stealing. 3 years she was like that. Her hair had grown to the middle of her back. Which, lucky for her, it was easy to brush out. She cleansed herself under a bridge in the calm parts of the river. It was as clean as she was going get.
It wasn't that hard to survive in the city. Yet, she needed to move on. With the man in this city, she wasn't safe. She wouldn't ever be safe. She'd be safer someplace else.
So, she managed to hitch a ride with a woman in a semi. She fed Alula and talked to her. Hell, she even showed Alula how to put a bra on. Bras… were uncomfortable but, she learned. She eventually felt naked without such a thing.
After a while, the two split, the woman continuing her delivery and Alula, hundreds of miles away from where she was born, made her home in this smaller town. She found there wasn't many homeless here but, it made things easier. Much easier. Alula found herself friends with a spotted dog with very pretty blue eyes. The dog brought her food sometimes and in her favor, Alula offered the grey and black spotted dog company.
The dog wandered off come spring, leaving Alula alone for the summer. Not that she minded. Sure, she would miss her companion but, everybody moved on she had learned.
Now, she wished she had her hypnotic eyed dog for what happened next.
A group of people were murdered… by non human things. Alula had seen the bodies. That wasn't human. She was fearful now. And on high alert.
On the sidewalk one night, while she was on one of her scavenges, Alula was spooked. Something was watching her. And she was attacked.
Quick reflexes she didn't know she had, she dodged the inhumane creature. It snickered at her as she did.
Then, headlights.
Alula had scurried off by now and hidden. Two men stepped out of the car. Before Alula could see what happened next, she left.
For the next few days, Alula watched the people, seeing their car around alot. What were they doing here? They definitely caught her attention.
One night, she just so happened to bump into them.
Kinda.
She was hidden behind a few boxes with one shouting at her they could either do this the hard way or the easy way. Alula… well… she ran.
And was caught.
He tackled her, Alula asked not to be hurt and, he cut her. He let her go though.
The very next night she ran into a gang she'd been at a kind of war with and… got shot.
The man who cut her saved her though and brought her back to his den. She stayed there for a while, learning everybody’s names.
Heck, she even found a pretty good tasting drink that made her feel weird.
Then she got punched in the shoulder.
~~~
Alula took a deep breath, her mouth dry from talking for… an hour? She looked at her son though, who held wide eyes. At first, Alula thought she had scarred him before his lips broke into a smile.
“That's so cool mom!” He decided, causing Alula to let out a sigh of relief.
“You're life was so action packed and amazing… my life is so boring.” He sounded disappointed, causing Alula to shake her head.
“No. Your life is just fine. If you lived through what I did, you'd think differently.” She told him. “Come on. Bedtime.” She added, rising with her son so she could put him to bed.
“You've got swag.” He spoke, his smile fading slightly as he realized what she said was true. It was Alula’s turn to smile, in which she did.
“Yeah. Yeah I do.”
//well.
This sucked
“Moooom! Can you pweaaaseeee tell me one more story before I go to bed?” Despite being 12, he was still able to carry out that childish please. He reminded her of his father in that way. He had the curly black hair that his father carried and his boyish face as well as his tallness but, he also carried Alula’s freckles and brilliant green eyes.
“Fine. Besides, I’m sure Papa doesn’t want you all wound up when you visit him tomorrow.” As she mentioned her father, she recalled how she had been the biggest pain in the ass to ever exist. She couldn’t help but give his smirk, a smirk that said she knew her crime. However, it faded as one story came to mind. It was the only one she could think of… her son was old enough to know.
“Alright, you’ll want to sit down for this one, sweetheart.” She said, claiming her seat. Her son eagerly settled down in front of her and she sighed. She closed her eyes briefly before opening them, opening her mouth to begin the story. She could still remember the unforgiving sounds of blaring horns and bright lights with no stars…
~~~
Alula’s young ears were hurting already from the blaring horns. The 4 year old was scared. Her mother wasn't around, there were little people on these streets, none of which that cared about her, and the sounds were so unforgettable. She gulped, continuing to carefully walk on without losing her balance.
What had happened at that house? She recalled running from the house when there was warmth. It was dangerous. What was she doing out here anyways? She shivered. It was cold out here. She wanted her mother!
“Mommy! Mom!” She began to helplessly cry out, warm salty tears starting to run down her cheeks.
“Don't cry,” a voice startled her and she jumped, giving a squeak of surprise. A man stepped out of an ally. “Why cry?”
Alula sniffed, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
“I want my mom!” She cried out, causing him to crouch to shush her.
“Hey, hey. Sssh. How about you come with me? I'll take care of you until we find her, okay?” His voice was so kind, fatherly almost. Naive Alula didn't know any better. He didn't seem to want to hurt her… so why not?
“O-okay.” She sniffled, moving closer to him as he was her only comfort. He was kind to her. She liked him.
“Oh, baby girl, you know we’re gonna be legends, okay?” He spoke to her, looking into her brown eyes. She nodded, despite not knowing what it meant. With that, she would follow him into the ally, unknowing to what he would do to her.
This man had it good. He seemed to be the King if the streets, Alula found no harm in being the Queen. They got food brought to them from the others and they all bowed and respected them. Alula was amazed, it was like a dream come true. The power even went a little to her head.
“Oh you poor girl. I see he's found another victim?” An older lady, one with a piece of bread in her hands spoke to Alula. She scoffed, taking the food as if she were a Queen.
“Poor? I'm not poor! I'm rich!” Alula sneered. The woman shook her head.
“I'd run, girl. While you've got the chance. The others did.” She spoke. Alula glared.
“Go away, hag.” She growled. The older obeyed, shuffling off and shaking her head. The poor girl didn't know what she was getting into. She would that night though.
That night, Alula was helpless as she lay still, fear in her eyes. She didn't know what this was. But it pleased him… she supposed there was nothing wrong with it, right? Yeah. Yeah, that was right. She would lay still and let him do what he wanted.
She woke up the next morning sore between the legs. Couldn't blame her, now could you? She went on with her regular daily things. He did it again that night and she was again sore. All well.
It didn't take long for Alula to be sore enough she could hardly walk. She complained to him, saying she was sore.
She regretted it.
“Oh don't you cry! You're fine! You're on the streets, you can't be weak. Or are you a baby?” He snapped at her, causing her to sniffle. Before she knew it, his hand wound back and came back down on her, causing her head to turn and for her to actually fall to the left. She landed on her hands and knees, scraping them. She didn't cry, despite the blood running down her nose. No, she remained still and silent.
“Oh my poor baby!” He exclaimed, his personality changing as he quickly scooped her up in an act of comfort. Alula accepted it, surprisingly. She didn't quite have that mean streak in her yet.
These sorts of treatments continued on throughout the cold winter into the summer back into the winter and the summer again. Four years. Alula didn't even know when her birthday was. She just knew she was probably eight. Probably.
Now, over the past four years, Alula had picked up survival tips. She was smart. And mean. She knew what this man was doing to her. She didn't like it.
She tried to escape.
Under the cover of the night, after one of their… payments… Alula slipped away, running from her problems. It didn't take long for him to realize she was missing and he himself woke and took chase after her.
Alula knew better. She needed help… there! A late night walker. Woman!
“Hey! Help me! Please!” Alula shouted at her, causing the other to pause. Alula stopped, pleading with just looks.
“Please. Help me, there's this man and-and he-”
“Oh I'm so sorry about my niece, ma’am.” Shit. He grabbed Alula before she could say anymore. “She's a sleepwalker, you see… she can't tell the difference between reality and dream.” He gave the other a smile before taking Alula and walking away. The woman shrugged, continuing her walk.
When they got back to the ally, he threw Alula onto the ground.
“You little bitch! You can't escape me!” He scolded her. He again beat her. He had to keep her here. Some how.
The next night he had ropes. He tied her down, doing whatever he wanted with her now. The only time she was free was during the day. It frustrated the poor girl. Enough she wanted to scream. She knew better though.
She was a survivor. Not a baby.
Two years later, Alula was mostly mute. She had managed to gain a jacket. For winter, she supposed. However, there was some weird crap going on. People dying? It wasn't new but, there were no murders. It caused curiosity to rise in her.
And then she knew.
It was during the day, he was watching her closely. Then they were attacked.
Humans, yet they didn't sound human. She and him took off. He tried to get her to follow him but, she wasn't having it. She went her own way with him hot on her heels.
She charged her way down the street, him shouting cuss words at her. Not today. She ran and she ran, lungs burning. She reached a bridge.
Running across it would do no good. He would catch her. No doubt. She looked behind her to see him still charging. Fear engulfed her and a crazy idea came to mind.
But.
She was crazy.
She ran to the edge, leaping up onto the ledge and looking at the waters below. She swallowed roughly and looked again. Oh shit. There he was.
Time slowed down and a hundred thoughts ran through her mind. Should she stay? Or should she take the risk and jump? Thoughts like those.
However, one rose to her mind.
Jump.
Just as he reached her, she pushed off of the edge and flew. Fell, really. But, flew.
“ALULA!” He screamed at her. She couldn't tell if it was concern for her or anger. She didn't care. This was her freedom.
She plummeted to the cold waters. She pushed her legs together and crossed her arms over her chest. She held her breath and in a few mere seconds she could feel the cold water on her feet, seeping up into her body until she was under water. With a powerful kick she surfaced. She got used to the water in a few seconds. However, she forgot this was a river.
Something brushed her neck and she screeched, recalling snakes lived in this water. She swam towards the shore, the river gaining speed. Rocks.
She tried to grab a branch attached to the shore and missed, instead getting sucked underwater. She couldn't see and she hadn't gotten a chance to breath. She was running out of air.
Then the feeling of something striking her head was felt. Vision blurried, Alula surfaced again. She'd hit her head on a rock, no doubt. Yet, she refused to pass out. She was swept down the river, under a bridge.
That was the last thing she remembered before she blacked out.
Alula hauled herself out of the water, the frigid temperature causing her to shiver. She coughed, water in her lungs as she crawled out of the river. She flopped over on her side before rolling completely over.
When Alula had woken up, she had been in a calmer part of the water. Apparently hidden as nobody saw her… or because it was night. She'd swam to the shore and had crawled out. So that's where she was now.
Sniffling, Alula rose. Her leg was on fire and she had a headache. Recalling she'd hit her head on a rock, Alula touched the sore spot, finding it was hot and tender. She looked down at her leg, finding her jeans were torn and there was a nasty cut in her left leg.
She needed a help.
Limping away, Alula went in search of a place to help her. Oh hey. A hospital.
It wasn't open… she had to sneak in. She couldn't just ask for help, in her mind.
So, she hobbled around the building and too her luck there was an open window. A dark room, somebody was sleeping. Just… sneak in.
Quietly, she slipped in through the window, grunting when she landed because of her leg. Okay… explore.
Leaving the room, she entered the bright and empty hallways. She wandered around.
Then, she heard footsteps. Ducking behind a corner, she waited for them to fade away. Letting out a breath, Alula continued her search before finding one of those rolling tables.
Bandages! Just what she needed. She quickly took them. A little too quickly.
She accidentally stuck herself with a needle. That had liquid in it on on the end of the needle. Wincing, Alula continued on.
However, she started to get drowsy. Oh nonononono. She hobbled on a little quicker, finding a window again. She slipped out.
Well, fell out.
She flopped onto the hard ground with a groan before picking herself back up and hobbling off somewhere to either fix herself or die.
A week later, after the liquid had fully worn off, Alula was alone. Stuck out here in the wild city. She knew how to care for herself though. She fixed herself up and spent her days scavenging and stealing. 3 years she was like that. Her hair had grown to the middle of her back. Which, lucky for her, it was easy to brush out. She cleansed herself under a bridge in the calm parts of the river. It was as clean as she was going get.
It wasn't that hard to survive in the city. Yet, she needed to move on. With the man in this city, she wasn't safe. She wouldn't ever be safe. She'd be safer someplace else.
So, she managed to hitch a ride with a woman in a semi. She fed Alula and talked to her. Hell, she even showed Alula how to put a bra on. Bras… were uncomfortable but, she learned. She eventually felt naked without such a thing.
After a while, the two split, the woman continuing her delivery and Alula, hundreds of miles away from where she was born, made her home in this smaller town. She found there wasn't many homeless here but, it made things easier. Much easier. Alula found herself friends with a spotted dog with very pretty blue eyes. The dog brought her food sometimes and in her favor, Alula offered the grey and black spotted dog company.
The dog wandered off come spring, leaving Alula alone for the summer. Not that she minded. Sure, she would miss her companion but, everybody moved on she had learned.
Now, she wished she had her hypnotic eyed dog for what happened next.
A group of people were murdered… by non human things. Alula had seen the bodies. That wasn't human. She was fearful now. And on high alert.
On the sidewalk one night, while she was on one of her scavenges, Alula was spooked. Something was watching her. And she was attacked.
Quick reflexes she didn't know she had, she dodged the inhumane creature. It snickered at her as she did.
Then, headlights.
Alula had scurried off by now and hidden. Two men stepped out of the car. Before Alula could see what happened next, she left.
For the next few days, Alula watched the people, seeing their car around alot. What were they doing here? They definitely caught her attention.
One night, she just so happened to bump into them.
Kinda.
She was hidden behind a few boxes with one shouting at her they could either do this the hard way or the easy way. Alula… well… she ran.
And was caught.
He tackled her, Alula asked not to be hurt and, he cut her. He let her go though.
The very next night she ran into a gang she'd been at a kind of war with and… got shot.
The man who cut her saved her though and brought her back to his den. She stayed there for a while, learning everybody’s names.
Heck, she even found a pretty good tasting drink that made her feel weird.
Then she got punched in the shoulder.
~~~
Alula took a deep breath, her mouth dry from talking for… an hour? She looked at her son though, who held wide eyes. At first, Alula thought she had scarred him before his lips broke into a smile.
“That's so cool mom!” He decided, causing Alula to let out a sigh of relief.
“You're life was so action packed and amazing… my life is so boring.” He sounded disappointed, causing Alula to shake her head.
“No. Your life is just fine. If you lived through what I did, you'd think differently.” She told him. “Come on. Bedtime.” She added, rising with her son so she could put him to bed.
“You've got swag.” He spoke, his smile fading slightly as he realized what she said was true. It was Alula’s turn to smile, in which she did.
“Yeah. Yeah I do.”
//well.
This sucked