Secret Meadow ((Open))
Apr 5, 2012 18:35:44 GMT -5
Post by rainey on Apr 5, 2012 18:35:44 GMT -5
Cleo knew as soon as she walked through the door that he was home. The stench of alchohol was stronger than usual and loud curses and thumps alerted her where he was. The kitchen, most likely trying to find some sort of painkiller to ease his headache from a night and morning of being wasted. Softly tip toeing past the dimly lit kitchen, Cleo held her breath and hoped she could get past unnoticed. Luck seems to be on my side today, Cleo thought before allowing a satisfied smile to light up her face. Making it up the stairs, Cleo found her little friend tucked in the corner of her cage.
"Come on you lazy thing," Cleo softly chided the hamster, "we need to get out of here." Scooping up the small bundle of fur into her palm, Cleo glanced once at the scar. I don't need another one of those, Cleo thought with a sigh before slipping back down the stairs. As she reached the back door, Cleo heard footsteps enter the hallway and she felt a sickening icy feeling run up her spine. No, no, please no she chanted before the voice broke through.
"Cleo! Where do you think you're going?" came the slurred, yet still authoritative voice of her father. Cleo turned her head slightly to see him standing, well leaning, in the hallway. Taking a few short breaths, Cleo willed herself not to freeze up and stand there like an idiot.
"I was just going outside, Dad," she carefully said.
"I didn't say you could go outside," he began and Cleo immediatly gripped the doorhandle. Here it comes, Cleo thought as her father stumbled forward once. One, two, she began to mentally count as each step he took sent Cleo's heart up a notch. Three! Cleo willed herself to yank open the door and sprint out into the cool dusk air. Ignoring the furious yelling behind her, Cleo kept running through the empty street. Finally Cleo slowed to a walk and allowed herself to catch her breath.
"Well that was certainly exciting," Cleo said, letting out a practically hysterical giggle. If anyone comes outside now, they'll think I've gone mad, Cleo thought to herself before shrugging it off and continuing down the familiar path. Easily sliding through a break in the neatly trimmed hedges, Cleo found her usual path to a small meadow nestled safely in a clump of trees. This was her safe place and Cleo immediately relaxed as she sat in the soft grass. Watching the little hamster curiously peek through blades of grass as if they were trees, Cleo's mind wandered and she found herself absently tracing the scar along her hand. Suddenly, a rustle in the surrounding trees brought Cleo back to reality and she immediately froze.
"Come on you lazy thing," Cleo softly chided the hamster, "we need to get out of here." Scooping up the small bundle of fur into her palm, Cleo glanced once at the scar. I don't need another one of those, Cleo thought with a sigh before slipping back down the stairs. As she reached the back door, Cleo heard footsteps enter the hallway and she felt a sickening icy feeling run up her spine. No, no, please no she chanted before the voice broke through.
"Cleo! Where do you think you're going?" came the slurred, yet still authoritative voice of her father. Cleo turned her head slightly to see him standing, well leaning, in the hallway. Taking a few short breaths, Cleo willed herself not to freeze up and stand there like an idiot.
"I was just going outside, Dad," she carefully said.
"I didn't say you could go outside," he began and Cleo immediatly gripped the doorhandle. Here it comes, Cleo thought as her father stumbled forward once. One, two, she began to mentally count as each step he took sent Cleo's heart up a notch. Three! Cleo willed herself to yank open the door and sprint out into the cool dusk air. Ignoring the furious yelling behind her, Cleo kept running through the empty street. Finally Cleo slowed to a walk and allowed herself to catch her breath.
"Well that was certainly exciting," Cleo said, letting out a practically hysterical giggle. If anyone comes outside now, they'll think I've gone mad, Cleo thought to herself before shrugging it off and continuing down the familiar path. Easily sliding through a break in the neatly trimmed hedges, Cleo found her usual path to a small meadow nestled safely in a clump of trees. This was her safe place and Cleo immediately relaxed as she sat in the soft grass. Watching the little hamster curiously peek through blades of grass as if they were trees, Cleo's mind wandered and she found herself absently tracing the scar along her hand. Suddenly, a rustle in the surrounding trees brought Cleo back to reality and she immediately froze.