Interlude: Shattered Memories 1
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You run as fast as you can through the fallen leaves and brush that makes up much of the dense forest floor, leaping over fallen logs and dodging past tree branches. A heaving breath is taken as you pause, frantically looking all around, before taking off in a random direction.
All the while, the sound of thudding steps behind you grows louder and louder.
And so you don't stop moving, even though your lungs are on fire and your muscles cry out for relief. Backtracking and misdirecting your pursuer as best you could, the wild chase continues. Yet your thudding heart knew that you couldn't keep this up for much longer.
You jump over a low-hanging branch, and your exhaustion causes you to make a fatal mistake. A white-hot flare of pain shoots up your leg as you land wrong, involuntarily tears instantly blurring your vision.
Panting in exhaustion, you frantically shamble towards a small hollow in a tree stump, just big enough to fit your tiny form.
Crawling inside the cramped space, you pull your knees up to your chest and wait. You try your best to hold your breath as you listen quietly, paying attention to any and all sounds coming from the forest outside.
There is only a discomforting silence in response. The footsteps have stopped.
Your heart threatens to beat out of your chest, but you don't move a muscle. Though your ankle is burning in pain, you stay as still as possible.
A minute passes. And then another.
Your shoulders relax ever so lightly, and your breath starts to even out. A relieved smile tugs on your lips.
"Gotcha!"
A scream is ripped from your mouth as a hand is suddenly stuck into the hollow. Fingers wrap around your thin arm and you are pulled out of your hidey-hole, forced to stand basically face to face to your pursuer.
You stare at the person in shocked silence. A few heartbeats pass before you stomp your foot in disappointment. You glare straight into his pale yellow eyes, a few shades lighter than yours. Jabbing an accusing finger into his face, you say "How'd you find me? You cheated again, didn't you!"
Your big brother laughs aloud, proudly pointing a thumb to his chest as he says "No cheating required Aggie! I'll always be able to find where you are!"
You give him an unconvinced squint.
He chuckles again, before leaning in to whisper into your ear. "...But maybe next time, you should hide somewhere that
doesn't have a bunch of holes in it."
A warm blush immediately explodes across your face. You move to take a closer look at the tree stump, realizing too late how easily visible the inside is from a series of gaping holes in its side. Turning to once again face your brother, you give a half-hearted punch to his shoulder. "
Hey! I was in a hurry, okay?"
His only response is to smile at your embarrassment. "...But now that I found you, it's time to head back. Like you
promised, remember?"
Groaning, you say "Aww comeon! Just ten more minutes?
Please?" You give him your best kicked puppy look, to which he just snorts and looks away.
"You already had 'ten more minutes'..." he says, making air quotes as he does. "...more than an
hour ago."
You smile hopefully. "Yeah, but this time it's for real!"
"No," he says, a note of finality in his voice. Your smile immediately drops as he turns around, starting to head back the way the two of you had come from.
Grumbling loudly on purpose, you make to follow, only to let out a yelp of pain as you put pressure onto the foot you had recently hurt. You immediately fall to the earthen ground, your weakened leg having given out underneath you.
Your brother is by your side in a second, "What's wrong?"
"N-nothing," you grit out, waving him off and moving to get back up to your feet. Ignoring his worried gaze, you take a couple of shaky steps forward, before giving a strained smile. Spreading your arms wide, you say "See? I-I'm good to go!"
But still, he looks unconvinced. Without a word, he moves over to you.
"What are yo-
hey!" you squeak out as you are picked up piggyback style, forcing you to wrap your arms around his neck lest you fall again.
"Don't worry, I've got you," he says as he starts retracing the path the two of you had taken to get here, dutifully ignoring your half-hearted protests all the while. Eventually, you give up and timidly press your face against his back.
"...I could've made it back on my own."
"I know."
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