The Sprout

Runaways

Posted by Sambow from Cardiff - Published on 23/03/2010 at 10:19
5 comments » - Tagged as Creative Writing

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We scampered along the forest floor aimlessly, just hoping to make some distance between us and that awful place we called home. Cam had taken the lead, finding his way with a flashlight and sheer luck. I scurried along behind staring breathlessly at the lurking shadows that killed all light that came near them.

“Would you hurry up?!” Cam screamed from in front, turning to flash a bright, burning light in my face. “Nothing is going to kill you; there aren’t any monsters out here!” he teased, tugging my arm so as I was beside him. The firmness in his grip led me to believe he wasn’t completely convinced about that himself.

I turned around to face the way we had come, questioning the reason why we had left in the first place, only to be reminded of the cold eerie darkness of the whole place, which had driven them to insanity and basically forced them to escape the depressing hell. We carried on walking, close for warmth, in hope we would find somewhere suitable to spend the night. I felt the bitter chill of the night against my face as it sliced through me like a knife.

“Can we just sleep here?” I asked in a trembling voice.

“Well, I guess...” muttered Cam, sitting on the damp forest floor.

I copied him with a glum expression. “I don’t like it out here... it’s too distant, too unlike home” I mused, staring around at the bleak, misty night.

“Isn’t that better?” mumbled Cam, burying his face in his hands.

“No. I regret leaving, I don’t like it here. I prefer it back there, back in the place I know best.”

“Go back then!” Cam scoffed, looking at me piercingly.

“We should go back together,” I said smoothly.

“No we shouldn’t. I would not go back, ever…”

“Fine, that means I have to stay,” I whispered. Neither of us spoke for a moment. “Will this be what it’s like? Being homeless?” I asked as sincerely as I could manage.

Cam nodded.

“I don’t like it.” I repeated. Cam didn’t respond.

“I don’t…”

“I know,” Cam interrupted. “Neither do I.”

Another moment of silence. I turned to lay on my back, gently closing my eyes.

“Good night,” I yawned.

“Night.”

Cam’s voice had no expression. I opened my eyes to glare at him once and slid them closed again. I drifted in and out of consciousness thinking about nothing but how much I hated it here and regretted coming. Is this what fate planned for me, exile me from a warm civilised society that hated us, to bring us to a cold, wet hell in the forest. We had no food, no water, no money, and no plan. We were surely doomed. My eyes felt heavier and I knew I was slowly falling sound asleep but the thoughts would not leave my mind.

In the morning I would leave, but I couldn’t, not without Cam. Well I could always convince him, but Cam would never change his stubborn mind. I could... I knew there was nothing I could do; I didn’t really want to go back anyway. Not to that horrible place. But still the thought tugged at my thoughts, screaming common sense into my fool’s mind. Why did I leave? Why did..? Why...? ... I succumbed to sleep and let all my worries slip away, just dreaming of me, Cam and a forest where no one would judge or disrespect us. I smiled as I dreamt, letting my imagination be all the reality I would ever need.

IMAGE: Olli Kekäläinen

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5 Comments – Post a comment

CLICdan

Commented 26 months ago - 23rd March 2010 - 14:33pm

I think we should submit this to theSprout Awards. :)

Tim_Crompton

Commented 26 months ago - 23rd March 2010 - 15:53pm

I like this, you could do with setting the scene a bit more and you could try and make the woods a bit more eerie to create which would emphasis the fact that they're choosing this place over their "home". That would make us think about how bad their home must have been.

Sambow

Commented 26 months ago - 23rd March 2010 - 15:54pm

Really!?
I was dissapointed when I realised I submitted it to late, that's a relief to know! Thanks! :D

Sambow

Commented 26 months ago - 23rd March 2010 - 21:02pm

@Tim_Crompton
Thanks for the comment, I did think I hadn't given them enough backround and that the ending was a bit rushed but I wanted to submit some more creative writing before the deadline to theSproutAwards. But true, I did need to enthasise the eerieness a bit more. I appreciate the constructive feedback, thanks :)