Chapter Text
One thing you should consider about this altered universe: demons and humans can co-exist. However, like any sentimental beings, some are bound to be horrible beings that rip humans into shreds, thus giving demons a bad stigma among humans. This ends up causing discrimination, people, and demons distrusting of one or another. Overall, regarding how demons are treated, Humans have long discovered a simple but very effective tactic, a way to keep demons in check. Demons mostly hang out in rural areas and set up homes there. It's like a home for outcasts just based on who they are, or in this case, what they are.
A girl in her teenage years sits on her bed, reading out everything, taking notes, and remembering everything she learned. This girl is called Claire, and that is what everyone calls her anyway. She wasn't the brightest when it came to her fellow orphans, nor was she liked. Claire was called names, excluded, and judged. She was different, that was it.
As she read that paragraph, she could relate to the demons, being judged and crucified for being different. Claire wonders if the demons would feel the same about her situation. Then again, she is human. The demons may just cast her out as her kind did. She was forced to be under a category in which she stands alone.
Claire made her decision right there. If no one wants her, she'll go. They won't look for her. Claire removed the book from her lap and set it to the side. She got up and left the girl's dorm room. Claire heads downstairs. Staff were supposed to patrol the halls, but none was to be seen. Admittedly, they were all somewhere else. The neglect and mistreatment of this hellhole are like any other.
This made it easy for Claire to walk to the back of the manor and find herself the big doors. She pushed the heavy, wooden doors and left in a hurry, not even closing the doors.
As she ran, the yellow and orange lights slowly faded, and the only thing that guided her now was the moonlight. Which was overcast by the looming tree as she sprinted deeper into the dense forest. Leaves and sticks crunched and snapped under her footing as her breathing turned to a pant. She didn't understand why she was running so much. She used to run, especially from everyone. The whole 'running away from the orphanage' must not have been set in her mind fully as she realized how big of a mistake this would be.
Then again, staying there wasn't an option. She refused to turn back. It was not like she really could now, as her running came to a slow stop. She caught her breath, coughing and relaxing. She looked up to the white moon and admired the blue hue of it. Everything displayed so much better inside of the forest rather than from afar. As she wandered through the thick trees, the leaves on the tree were a dark green. And the ground was a brighter green. It was probably from her angle. The moonlight shined beautifully, and the wind made the grass dance as Claire's body became colder.
She crossed her arms, her body unable to regulate its temperature. Why didn't she feel cold when she first got out? She was burning from adrenaline that she didn't realize how much of her legs ached. A flower appeared under her feet, and Claire immediately stopped her feet. She looked at the flower. It was hard to figure out what it looked like, but it was light green with five pellets, some of the other letters being torn off. It looked gorgeous even if Claire could hardly see it, or if it was slightly ruined. She glanced up, realizing the whole field just filled with them. There were no trees to cast out the moonlight as everything became clear to her.
She strolled on the path that looked man-made, flowers poking out every once in a while. Claire dared not to step on one. This whole field made Claire feel relaxed and at peace. Something she never thought would happen. Even with Claire distracted by the flowers, her body quickly reminded her that she was freezing. Where even is she? Where can she go?
Claire heard a loud puff behind her. She gasped loudly as she flinched back, seeing a wolf five times her size. Or even fifty her size. Her body numbed as her mind froze. She stared at the creature that was more than her size. The wolf exhaled loudly and brought its head to Claire's height, trying to intimidate the human that had trespassed on its territory, its home. The two were in a standoff, metaphorically. Though Claire didn't appear scared, her eyes looking in awe and she brought her hand up to the creature's chin and scratch it gently. The wolf's demeanor didn't change, but his head moved back. Claire's lips formed a smile as Claire brought herself closer. She headed to the side of its head and hid in its warm, thick fur.
The wolf figured that Claire didn't pose any threat. It lay its head down, allowing the small human to sit with it and bury herself deeper in its fur. How the human was acting wasn't like the other humans. The human was naive and stupid, but different. Smaller but looked in good health. It was just a child. The wolf moved his tail to cover the human's body.
Claire had a weird dream. Everything was light green, and objects around her were outlined with a bright white line. Her dream was about seeing a sign. She couldn't make out their words but perceived something different, a lady. Her brain couldn't decipher the face, but everything else was readable. Thats when she saw more, a cat? In human form? Someone tall, towering. Then she saw nothing.
The night moved by fast, as the wolf and Claire went in a dozed and slept. Claire woke up by herself, lying in flowers. Claire rubbed her face and stood up. She continued her journey. How everything looks so different in the morning. The flowers were brighter and looked fantastic. She could see the wolf in the distance, except it was fuzzier and older. It was sleeping peacefully. Claire realized there was more than one. This wasn't the same one she was with. She didn't bother with it. It was too far out. She already felt bad about waking up on the flowers. She didn't want to step on them more than she already did.
Reaching the middle, she stumbled upon a small bunch of flowers in a pack. It was separated from the rest, like it was cast out but was still the same. Claire reminded herself of it. She wanted to lay in that small garden, allow her mind to be at ease, and indirectly tell the flowers they were not alone but went against it, walking around it. Reaching the other end, she can see something off in the distance.
It was far, but she had time, nothing but time. She walked to it, admiring the looming trees in the daytime. It cast shadows that moved with the leaves, Claire loved this. But things became odd. Large claws mark were on the trees, and the small parts of the trees were dug up. The sentry was... too weird. What was this? When Claire came to a stop, there was an absurd, massive length of salt. She reached down and grabbed a handful. Realizing there was a full inch of it. It also spreads sideways. Why was this here? She dropped the salt and dusted her hand off before walking onto it and over it before heading into the forest. It took a bit, but she came across the salt path again. It was shaped differently, but it was the same case. It was absurdly massive in length, and there was a full inch to it. Why is this here?
Again, it spreads sideways. It looks like it could be a full circle. Claire ignored it and wondered further. Claire stepped on it and got over it.
She wasn't sure what she was looking for, but she was just wondering. That is when she saw it. A gate? A wooden entrance? Claire immediately went over there, standing in front of it. The sign above reads, 'Spring Hometown'. She never heard of Spring Hometown. She enters the town. Looking around, she saw nothing that looked remotely like the city she was from. The town displays so old times but is also original, It had the shape, but if you looked closer, you could see so many differences. The municipality was also covered in sorts of flowers and plants. It was a sight for sore eyes, aka Claire's eyes.
Making it further in, you'll see stores, theatres, and homes. Everything you would see in any normal town, city, or whatnot. The ground had gravel aligned with every building entrance, just like the field where she saw all the pink flowers, flowers, and grass, which was also poking through the gravel.
She smiled at the beautiful sight. That was when she glanced up at a girl. The girl looked... familiar. She couldn't tell what, but she shook it off. What was important was that she looked sad. Her hand hung, and her blue hair covered her face. Claire walked up to the bitter fellow and tapped on her shoulder.
The girl lifts her hand, her hair exposing her face. The two stared for a moment, the girl looked shocked, as Claire stared in slight confusion and concerned.
"Um?" The girl mumbled. "Who... Who are you?"
Claire blinked. "Oh, I'm Claire!"
The girl didn't respond, looking up and down at Claire's appearance before staring into her eyes.
"...W- Why?"
Claire froze for a second. She took a step back. "I don't know why they named me Claire."
"Oh, no! Sorry! I meant... Why are you here?" The girl corrected herself.
"Oh... I found this randomly." Claire nonchalantly replied.
"How did you?"
"What's your name?" Claire questioned, interrupting the girl.
"Oh, I'm... Anova."
"That's a pretty name!" She said with genuine. Claire held a hand to her mouth to hide her smile.
"Nice to meet you!" She reached her hand out, opening it.
"Oh, you're the first to say that," Anova said. Grasping Claire's hand into her own, and shaking it to formerly greet each other. Claire looked past Anova's hand and down at her other hands.
"Do you?" She let go of Anova's hand. "Do you have more than two arms?" She said, expressing excitedly and being engaged in Anova's unique appearance. Claire grabs Anova's arms and lifts them to see her other arms.
"Uh!?" She stepped back as she pulled her arms back.
"Oh, sorry!" Claire apologized. "It's just cool!"
"My arms?" Anova said. "You think it's cool?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" Claire responded.
"Because it weird to have two extra arms?"
"Nu huh! If I had 4 arms and someone told me they were a handful, I would say, "Don't worry, I got twice the hands!"
"Well, most." Anova stopped her sentence and giggled at Claire's scenario. "Okay, that's pretty good! But most say it unnatural."
"So what?" Claire tilted her head.
"it's... Unnatural?" Anova wasn't sure how to explain it to Claire.
"Because others think it unnatural doesn't mean anything. I think it is cool! Now that means something!"
"Oh... Well, thank you." Anova said, smiling as Claire nodded her head. Claire walked past her to look more at the town. Anova looked at her, pondering what she was going to do. As Claire explored, Anova got slightly worried about what others might do to her if they saw a lone human walking around. "Hey, Claire. Was your name?" Anova caught up with her.
"Yeah!" Claire said, weirdly. She made a weird sound like a yep and a yeah.
"Okay, let me come with you. I can show you around." Anova said.
"Okay! Where to?" Claire asked. Anova raised a finger to her head. Before spanning it.
"You hungry?"
"I am starving."
"Good, let me take you to someone." Anova took Claire's shoulder as she said that.
"Are they a chef or something?"
"Well, No-ye- eeeehhh-. You make your opinion once we get there."
"Okay!"
An oven timer goes off, and a furry paw reaches over and turns it off. Before putting on mittens, and opening the oven, took a tray with cookies on a sheet. He puts it on the stovetop and closes the stove. The boy removed the mittens and examined the cookies. Ensuring they were all perfect. He smiled once he determined they were good enough. Anova came walking through the door with Claire following behind.
"Hey Anova! I just got a pack of cookies done! We just gotta wait." He said without looking back.
"Hey Biscuit, and yeah, I know. You always leave your window open." Anova replied.
"Well, you know the smell always fills the air."
"Is that chocolate chip?" Claire asked.
"Yeah! The finest cookie out. wait, what?" Biscuit looked back. "OH GOD, ANOVA SOMEONE BROKE INTO THE HOUSE!"
"WHO!?" Claire asked, looking around frantically.
"You both are a circus." Anova gripped Claire's shoulder. "Biscuit, this is Claire, Claire, this is Biscuit."
"Oh... Uh! Hi!" Biscuit said with a hint of embarrassment.
"Hi!" Claire said in a high-pitched voice and with a touch of friendliness. "Are those chocolate chips?"
"They are! They came out of the oven. You want o-."
"Yes!" Claire didn't allow Biscuit to finish his sentence.
"Okay-." Biscuit faked coughed into his elbow and used his hand to remove one cookie off the
sheet. "Here! it may be hot on the inside." He walked to Claire, giving her one. Claire politely took the cookie from him and took a bite.
"Mmm! Mmm? MMM!" Claire mumbled.
"Are you choking-?"
"No! This is good!" She eats the rest of it. Anova looks at the biscuit.
"I guess humans have low-standard taste buds," Anova whispered.
"Stop making fun of me!" Biscuit criticize.
"Can I have another?" Claire asked.
Biscuit nodded and pointed at the tray. Claire walked over to grab another.
"Where did you find her?" Biscuit asked Anova.
"I didn't find her. She found me."
"You mean she wandered in herself?"
"Yes, literally."
"She didn't say anything mean?"
"Oh no! She was nice, surprisingly."
"What a human."
"Ah! The tray is still hot!" Claire yelled from the background.
"Yeah, but I didn't get to asking her why she was here, well I did but didn't get a good answer." Anova said.
"It's not too late to ask now."
"Hey Claire!" Anova walked into the kitchen with Biscuit.
"Yeah?" She said it weirdly again.
"Why are you here?"
"You brought me here?" Claire lightly said before taking a bite out of her cookie.
"Oh no! I meant, uh."
"In Spring Hometown." Biscuit jumped in. "Why are you in Spring Hometown?"
Claire chews her food before talking. "I have no idea."
"Uh, that doesn't help," Anova said.
"Will a cookie help?"
"Not right now, it wouldn't-." Claire put a cookie in her mouth.
"Try it."
"Aahmaammaahm." Anova tried speaking only for it to be toned. She grabbed the cookie, took a bite, and pulled the other end out. Biscuit quietly giggled. She chewed and swallowed it.
"You know, you're not helping either." Anova looks at Biscuit.
"I'm sorry, but how she just casually put the cookie in your mouth was hilarious."
"Shut up," Anova said.
"By the way, I ate half of your cookies," Claire confesses.
"Wait, what? Did you like that much?" Biscuit said, looking at the tray in shock.
"Yeah! I did- nomnhhmnmn." Claire stuffed another one in her mouth. Biscuit laughed.
"What is wrong with you two!?" Anova asked.
"I can't help it!"
"Anova, it seems like there is something wrong with you." Claire pointed.
"Uh- ME!?" Anova put a hand to her chest, seeming offended.
"She might be onto something. Why don't you have the same humor, hmm?" Biscuit asked, getting in Anova's face.
"Yeah, hmm?" Claire does the same on the other side.
"Will both of you!" She grabs the ear of both. "Knock that off!"
"Ow ow ow!" Claire said repeatedly.
"Okay, sorry, sorry!"
Anova reluctantly releases the two go. They both back up and rub the top of their ears.
"Ow, I know we're annoying you, but like... why?" Claire questioned.
"Because I can!" Anova replied defensively.
"Okay, okay. Look, Claire." Biscuit walked up to Claire. "Seriously, why are you here- What's with the 90's dress?"
Claire blinked before turning her eyes down to her dress. She had forgotten her clothing. It was a black dress with white outlines and Camellia flowers emerging from the bottom.
"Oh, I... don't know. I don't like this dress." Claire answered.
"Why don't you change it?" Anova asked.
"I don't have anything to change into anything."
"You don't? I mean, that dress doesn't fit you at all."
"Yeah!" Claire itched the back of her head.
"You know what! I have spare clothing, surely I have something for you!" Biscuit snapped his finger. "If you're okay with it."
"Okay!" Claire said.
"Awesome, one second." Biscuit walks to the back and enters into the room. The two stand in the kitchen, watching as their friend leaves.
"Are you sure you want to wear his clothing?"
"I don't mind," Claire said.
"You're going to be covered in hair."
"Because he's a cat, doesn't mean anything. Plus, it's not like I'm allergic."
"Fair," Anova responded.
Biscuit comes back into the kitchen with some clothing.
"Here, a plain white shirt, brown shorts, and some jacket."
"Thoughtfully picked?" Anova smirked.
"Shut-. Try it on, the bathroom is down the hall."
"Thank you!" She turns and heads down for the hall. Entering the first room she sees and enters.
"I like her." Biscuit said.
"Yeah, not something you expect of a human."
"Not at all."
"But why is she so nice?" Anova asked, suspiciously.
"I have no clue."
The bathroom door swung open and Claire came running out. She stopped at the end of the hall and posed dramatically.
"I am back!" She announced as if she was on stage. Her arms opened and spread from her side as he legs stance.
The two demons' brains didn't register this at first. Thus causing an awkward silence between the three.
Anova spoke up. "You are so random."
"Thank you, I know." Claire stopped doing her pose and walked to the two.
"Yeah, this... this clothing fits you better." Anova observed Claire's new style.
"I like it personally. Everyone says that I should wear stuff that looks more lady-like but I am comfortable like this!" Claire adjusted her attire.
"Really? That like, out of the movie?"
"Then I must be the main character. But it's true. All the workers say I act boyish which is trash."
"I just met you but you're acting like, you're not a boy or a girl." Biscuit said.
Claire stays quiet for a second. "What am I?""You're a fish," Anova said.
The three giggled among each other. Claire looked up at the window. The sun was still up and Claire wanted to explore more the hometown she found herself in.
"Oh, oh! Anova isn't there more to town?"
"You want to see more? This town isn't big."
"But everything is so beautiful!"
Biscuit bumped in. "There are a few places that we can visit!"
"You're coming with us?" Anova twisted her head to see her cat friend.
"Yes!"
"Can we, Anova!?" Claire cupped her hands together. "Please?"
Biscuit joined in with Claire, cupping his paw. "Yeah, please?"Anova blinked. "I'm not your mother."
"Then let's go!" Claire grabbed Anova's hand. She pulled her out of the door, which was left open.
Biscuit closed the door on his way out.
The trio walked through the town, Biscuit pointing at every building and telling Claire what building was what.
"That a bakery, mostly bread, is from there, but sweets are also made."
"What kind of sweets."
"Whatever you can think of." Biscuit turned to point at another building. "This is like the
furniture store."
"You guys buy furniture?"
"Well, no we don't buy things here."
"So you guys can take anything you want?"
"Not take but come to a neutral agreement."
"That's so cool!" Claire exclaimed loudly. Biscuit went on, telling Claire another building until Claire looked back. Anova was following but was a little behind. She looks excluded, back at the orphanage, Claire was always left behind. Claire slowed her pace and stopped at where Anova was at.
"Everything okay?" Anova asked.
"Yeah!" That's weird yeah again. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, why?"
"You're falling a little bit behind."
"Claire, where did you go?" Biscuit dart behind. "Oh, there you are."
"I'm fine, biscuit." Claire said.
"You know," Biscuit stops before the two, causing them to halt. "I just went on this amazing rent on the history of the theatre here."
"Biscuit, that theatre was just built." Anova pointed out.
"It was an amazing rent!"
"It does pop out," Claire said, looking at the large wooden Cimena. There was a sign with golden bold words that read theatre. It wasn't too out of place as the aesthetic still matched the rest of the town. The building's size compared to the houses around it made it apparent.
"Yeah, and most of the talent folks come here to show off their skills," Anova said.
"It's an amazing place to be at." biscuit added.
"What? No?"
"What do you mean no?"
"There some people in there that shouldn't be in there?"
"Like who?"
"Miller and Skary."
"Who?" Claire intervene.
"Oh, um, those two are... Not the best of friends." Anova brief
"That's an understatement. If you give Miller a weapon and tell him to kill someone. He would target Skary." Biscuit explained.
"Why do they hate each other?" Claire asked.
The two demons looked each other in the eyes. They both wait for the other to come up with an answer.
"There... isn't an answer to that," Anova spoke shortly after.
"There probably is but we don't know what is it." Biscuit turned to his new human friend. "Don't worry about the two, they never come close to killing each other."
"Yet," Anova added.
"Oh, If we come down this way, you can see-." Biscuit went on, holding Claire's hand and pulling on along. Claire gestured for Anova to follow so she wouldn't feel left out.The day was burning away quickly while the trio had fun touring Claire around. The trio enjoys getting to know Claire, always finding her random sense of humor entertaining. When the sun completely went over the horizon and stars appeared above. The trio stopped in front of their last destination, an old sheriff's place that isn't used anymore.
"Here is this place." Biscuit pointed. "The place was a sheriff's office."
"Yeah, it wasn't long before we stopped using it," Anova added.
"Why? Is the town that peaceful?" Claire asked.
"Yeah, you could say." Anova shrugged.
"Besides the usual arguments people have. It's pretty tamed."
"I mean, it is a small town. I don't handle danger too well." Claire said.
"Yeah, exactly. Though I hate how we don't have many places." Biscuit conplained.
"You guys have a lot of places?" Claire questioned.
"I mean, yeah, but I meant as public places. Most buildings are homes and stuff." While Biscuit rambled on, Claire eyes a person walking past. They looked like a kid about her age. Brown hair which is covered in white flowers. The flowers are almost shaped like a crown, and wearing a yellow hoodie with a black strip going through the middle. Claire didn't see the face.
"Who's-." Claire raised her finger to point at the kid who just nonchalantly walked past but was loudly interpreted by a sudden booming noise. It was unexpectedly loud and ear-piercing. Claire let out a hard squeak while her hands shielded her ears instinctively. Anova's hand stretched to shield one of her ears. Biscuit has done the same as Anova.
The roar was deafening. It was different every time, like someone was yelling, it was threatening. She looked around for the source but saw nothing. Claire's panic set in further as she couldn't locate the sound. She couldn't handle loud sounds. She noticed Anova and Biscuit holding their place as the noise continued and Claire's natural flight alarmed her instinct and her body told her to run. Her rational thinking was thrown out of the window, and she bolted for it.
Claire scurried down the town to her left, her friends not realizing she had fled abruptly. She went to the right between an alley and jumped the wooden fence. She darted down an unfamiliar area of the forest. Claire ran past many trees and her senses were at an all-time high,
hearing even the smallest amount of sound.
She kept running until her footing went over something. She glimpsed down and saw that familiar salt. She was back here? How long was she running? Her body kept running even after noticing the salt, soon noticing the deafening noise was gone. Her logical and rational thinking started to come back to her as she came to a stop. She rested her hands on her knees as she looked around. She wasn't sure where she ran to but knew how to roughly get back. She caught her breath. Though her body wasn't fully relaxed and her senses were still on high alert. She went to lean against a tree.
SNAP!
Her head darted behind her and searched among the trees. Searching for the source of the sound. It didn't help that it was in the dead of the night and she was alone when she heard something snap. She anxiously searched around, hearing something raffled. She stared at the trees, it was suddenly terrifying. She remembered how the night was beautiful to her but she could no longer see the beauty. The moonlight wasn't as bright and the darkness added an uneasy feeling. She wished her flight or fight hadn't kicked in and caused her to flee. Why was she so easily startled? It wasn't like this back in the orphanage. It could be the kids couldn't go outside without adult supervision. She never knew how much of a coward she was. The wind howled, and it blew against the bushes.
Claire started to doubt herself. Was she scaring herself this time? She shouldn't do this to herself. Claire exhaled sharply as she raised a hand to her head. Her head felt hot, from the back. But it wasn't coming from a headache or anything. The wind was freezing the front of her face and her hands. She straightened her back and her head felt hotter. Her breathing paused as her senses listened in.
Something was breathing on her.
Her head felt hot because the hot breath of something stood so close to her she could feel it. She could hear its low breathing. It was so quiet, there was no way she would've heard it. Claire was uncertain why this... Thing... has yet to attack her. Was it toying with her? Claire's curiosity peeked. She wanted to see who was behind her. The kid's head turned slowly, facing behind her and slowly glancing up to see the very thing that was stalking her.
The person... The demon behind her was looming over her, Formidablely tall. Her hands were clawed and bigger than her face by twice the size. Something black painted most of her hands and feet. Her eyes contract and glaring savagely at her. She wore blue shorts and a ripped-sleeve black shirt. The appearance didn't frighten Claire, what frightened her was the intention of the being. She didn't fully turn her body, her feet stepping forward.
The demon opened its mouth, revealing several sharp teeth, some bigger than others, and 4 were so big, you ask how it fits in its mouth. Since it overlaps over its lips. Claire didn't find the time to ask. She knew what the creature's intention was and frankly, Claire didn't want to be someone's dinner. She bolted as the creature's clawed hand slammed into the dirt floor. It shortly gave chase.
Claire bolted past the trees around her and she glared back, the being was faster than she was. Its hands clawed the trees, leaving that same familiar mark. It gained on her in no time. It leaped towards her and Claire nearly dodged it. Claire fled in a different direction and went past every tree. The being wiped off the dirt before sprinting and gaining on her again. Claire's head flashed back, seeing its leap in action, this time, nearly cutting the side of her. Claire holds her bleeding side but continues to run. She ran in a different direction, again. The being, again, sprints after her. Claire skims behind a tree, causing the being to catch on the tree during its leap.
Claire took note of this. Focusing on where she was running and where to run. She could tell whenever it got close by the sticks and leaves and whenever the noise stopped. She ran behind a tree. Hearing a thud and the crunching of leaves and snapping of the sticks starting again. She kept going, hoping the being would give up and leave her alone.
She tripped on something, falling and hitting the ground. She faced the being behind her, thinking she was done for. The being wasn't close to her, it stood far away. Did it give up? Why? She was-.
Her hand felt something graining on her hands and shot her hand up. Claire saw small white dots on her hands.
The salt!
Claire rotated her head and swiveled at the salt that tainted the grass. She glances back at the being and the salt. Claire suddenly understood why the salt was there. It so this one couldn't escape. It was dangerous... But why was it dangerous? It looked like it couldn't get close to the salt. What would the salt do? The being huffed and swiveled to leave. It disappeared quickly. Claire stood up and walked off the salt.
Claire was conflicted, not mad or scared. Not anymore. Claire thought for a moment. It deserved to be in there, right? Claire's mind fluttered as her mortals rattled in her head. She didn't know this demon, let alone think why it attacked her. She liked the fact it was confined to a circle so she knew where not to go. It also felt mortal wrong. She didn't think of the demon as some murderer but rather an animal trying to survive. Claire glares at her side. The bleeding stopped, and the cut wasn't as severe as she thought. Her body should just be able to heal it by itself.
She looked at the salt for the last time, wondering who put it there, before walking away. She looked around, seeing something far off. Claire adventures over to the little dot in the distance. The walking was long, going off the trail and seeing new parts of the forest. That is when she made it. It was a small cabin, it looked abandoned. She opened the door to the place seeing how dusty and empty it was.
The main room was merged with the kitchen and she saw two doors. She opened one. Seeing the bathroom. It was depressing and the tub was filled up with dirt. Everything else was fine. She opened the other door, seeing how it was one big room. Bigger than the main room.
Claire slapped her head. What was she doing? She was impressed with her curiosity but it also made her forget she was attacked. It was getting darker. And the clouds slowly block the moon. She searched the main room. She found a lantern and a few matches, It was convenient but considering it was a cabin out in the wilderness, people must've stayed in before it was abandoned. She never lit a match or a lantern but she could figure it out.
She opened the case to find a candle. She pulled up the matchbox and lit the match. She put it in gently, it lit up most of the room before taking it and shutting the doors. She would leave to find that town. But she didn't want to risk it. Not at all. It was too dark, even after what happened. She settles in the biggest room. She looked out the uncovered window that still had its glass in contact. It's looks like she spending the night here. It wasn't home!
Nowhere felt like home... She'll change that. Eventually. She lay on the hardwood floor. Glaring at the last bit of the moon that was being enclosed by the dark clouds. She smiled. She was happy to run away, for once. She felt like people liked her. Hopefully, they're not mad about why she ran.
The moonlight went away as the clouds blocked the moonlight and and lantern was the only source of light. If you think about it, when you are lost in the dark, look for the light. And if you can't find it. Make anew. It's like a moth, heading for a burning flame. It's your choice. Be lost or be found.
Claire's eyes closed.