Hobbies with Aubrey

I was up in the sky. The clouds a brooding grey, blending and bleeding together. It was getting hard to see. I asked the pilot if the weather was getting too dangerous, but he grunted, "Nothing I haven't seen before." We trudged on. I clasped my hands tight to stop the shaking. I prayed this would be over. I never doubted the sturdy plane until now. A tremor shook me and air left my lungs. Down the plane went, our sturdy plane. It dove with such intensity that I had no time to process the ground rising to greet me. At impact, my world went black. When I awoke I found myself wandering in a vast mountain landscape. Spinning around, I covered my face. I couldn’t be out here alone. My eyes frantically search the area. There wasn’t human life to be seen for miles. I had no choice but to keep walking, in hopes I’d find someone, anyone. Putting one foot in front of the other, I slowly made my way in one direction. This must be the way to safety, I told myself. But the rough terrain would not be on my side. Many challenges would come to face me, though none as terrifying as what would come after. I did not sleep, for sleep would leave me vulnerable. I couldn’t lose. I walked until my feet blistered, unprotected by the sharp jangled rocks. I don’t remember where my shoes went. Now I was leaving a bloody trail, the only thing that told others I was here. My flesh was cut away, but I didn’t stop. Exhaustion crept into my lungs, clenched tightly around my legs, and seized me. 

 

I don’t know how many days it’s been. 

 

All I know is I must hold on. 

 

I surpass exhaustion and turn into a desperate animal. I no longer use my feet to hold me. I crawl, scratch, and dig my way to whatever lies beyond that glimmer in the distance. I see it, my freedom. I reach the end and look down. I’m met with a gap, wide, deep and threatening. Raging waters separated the tall beasts. I’m not scared of water. Maybe I should be. The descent is steep. Inch by inch I creep toward the whispering blue. It tells me I am no match for it. I know it is wrong. I lunged toward the cool water. My body had ached for so long. I wish to be cleansed. My hair swarms around my face, delightfully ridding itself of grime. For a moment, I feel at peace, then my body is thrown against a boulder, twisting my limbs in unnatural ways. My head hits the bottom, blurring everything. I fight for oxygen, but the river pulls me down. Down so far I feel like floating. Maybe I should give up and succumb to the darkness. Just as I start to give in, I am released from its arms and spat out onto the mountainside. I’m not ready to go. I grab onto the dirt, lock my nails into its roots and pull. I drag myself out of the water and lay there. Maybe a quick rest wouldn’t hurt. My world goes black once again. I am not afraid. 

 

A cool breeze peels open my eyes. It lifts me up and urges me to keep going. I smile and nod. I start again, limping and broken, but still alive. The glimmer guides me on. I latch onto hope and use my unnatural limbs to move. I know how I must look, but I don’t care. More time passes and I learn to eat. I stab fish, though each blow to the innocent animal provides more pain. On all fours, I hike up the next mountain, more steep and rocky than the last. Sometimes I trip and shave away more flesh, other times I tumble down, ending up halfway down the mountain. Each scrap, each bruise, each broken bone tries to tear me, but I keep going. Then one day I stop. I cup my eyes to see past the blinding heat and dripping sweat. It’s a town. I am saved. My feet rush down, but my steps are light. I could not risk more injury. Almost every inch of myself is covered with blood or gashes. By the time I reached the town, it was night. I spotted a house with a small porch light on. It is dark grey and jagged. I desperately need help. The wind is howling and eerily stalking me. I reach the yard when a man comes out of the shadows, “Hello miss. Are you alright?” He appeared sincere, so I nodded. He smiled brightly and led me to his door, “Don’t you worry, my wife will cook you up something nice and warm.” Relief rushed through me, but only for a moment. Something felt wrong. I looked behind me one last time, before entering the house. Inside, there were hues of yellow and orange. A small worn sofa in the corner facing an old television pulled away from the wall. On the opposite side was a simple kitchen with few items. There were no signs of life other than the wife hunched over the stove, stirring a mixture. She was wearing a smudged apron. It looked odd compared to the spotless house. She never looked up to greet me. The man placed his hand on the center of my back and ushered me farther inside. He guided me to the couch and gestured to sit. I was in no place to refuse, so I gently sat down. I placed my hands in a clasp in front of me, waiting. The man spun toward his wife and raised his hands into the air, “Isn’t this great! I found her battered, wandering all alone. Honey, could you fix up this young lady?” The wife’s hand stilled. She tilted her head to the side, then turned toward me. I was met with a terrible creature. Her eyes were a dead blue, almost like she was a ghost, but what made my heart shudder was her wicked smile. It pointed high up her face to rest under her lifeless eyes, with teeth sharp as talons. Something is very wrong with this place. I rushed to the window and looked outside. There were no other lights on. There should be, the clock on the wall, read 6pm. Pulling away the curtain more, I scanned the town. Each house lay empty. Where was everyone? The man reached toward me, and I finally noticed his appearance. He wore overalls, a faded blue and muddy, as though he was burying something. He was covered in grime. An ugly fungus was growing out of his pockets. His filthy beard shimmered with grease, but his eyes were only black. They were lifeless like his wife’s. I had to run. I weaved past him and stumbled out the door. One lamp illuminated the empty street. Now that I was closer, I realized how run-down the houses were. The street was littered with items. It looked like the residents left in a hurry, leaving behind lost remnants of toys, books, and cigarettes.  The houses were decaying and caved in. I kept going, praying I would find a place to hide. I fear what will happen if I am caught. I paw my way through the dark and come across a small building. It is open on two sides but provides shadows to cover me. I entered quietly and pressed my back against the corner wall. It is a triangular structure that leaves me significantly exposed, but I am running out of time. I am an outsider. This is their home. They know it well. It’s only a matter of time before they find me. I try to slow my breathing and make each breath faint. I must become a master of hiding in order to survive. The structure was mossy and the stench of musk hung in the air. Will I hide forever? How will I ever go home? I squeeze my eyes shut, only for a second thinking of a plan, when a twig nearby snaps. Heavy boots clunck against the crumbled road outside, “I know you are here my dear. Won’t you come out?” His voice was low and angry. I was running out of time. He will find me, cowered in the corner. I barely have any fight left in me. Fingers sneak around the entrance, the man rounds the corner, and spots me. His smile widens into his wife’s same wicked pointed smile, “Found you.” My heart stops forever.