3 months ago - Winter
She slowly crept along the hallway, making sure her bare feetdidn’tmake a sound. Her head twisted watching the shadows around her for any movement, her stomach twisting with a combination of hunger and nerves.
Going down to the kitchen had been a risky move, one that she had only done a few times.
Only when she got desperate enough.
The apple in her hand seemed to burn her skin as if mocking her and her treacherousact.
He would find out that she took it, he always knew every move she made.
She made it back to the hallway where her room was, and with one last look over her shoulder, she silently sprinted the rest of the way, slipping in as the door closed behind her.
Tiptoeing through her room to the bathroom connected to it, she slid inside and shut the door, locking it silently behind her.
Only then did she release the pent-up breath she had been holding.
Turning on the lights she surveyed the area.
It hadn’t changed of course, but she was full of adrenaline, her mind racing, and she didn’t’ know what else to do. The bathroom was small, only hosting a stand-up shower, pedestal sink, and toilet. It was just enough that she had what she needed, and for that she was grateful.
It was surreal how the things she used to think were normal, were now the highlights of her existence. What made it even better though, was that there were no windows here. So late at night when she was plagued by her nightmares, she could slip in here and leave the lights on.
It almost felt as if it was her own little hideaway.
But it wasn’t.
She looked to the apple in her hand, the bright red color shining back at her. Mocking her and who she had become.
A thief.
An object.
His.
Just thinking of him had a chill chasing her spine, so she pushed the feelings aside. For the moment she wanted to pretend.
Sitting cross legged on the cold tile floor she lifted the apple and took a bite. The sweet juice burst across her tongue, and she closed her eyes as the smell filled her senses.
Yes, just pretend, she thought.
She could pretend that she was far away from here. Where mendidn’twalk the halls at night to keep her locked in. That shewasn’ttrapped in a hell that she would never be able to escape.
But sometimes, pretending was bad.
Sometimes it made you think on what youdidn’thave.
And Winter, well shedidn’thave anything.
