ToxicButterfly

Running as fast as her legs would let her, she raced away from the strong stone buildings that once imprisoned her. Her bare feet hit the hardened earth, and slipped through the moist grass as she ran. Her heart bounding so hard in her chest she thought it would burst through her bones and flesh at any moment. Her breathing, so rapid, and with each inhalation of the cold night air came a burning sensation in her lungs.


Small beads of sweat trickled down her forehead, the sides of her cheeks, and into her soft green eyes. She quickly wiped her eyes, the sweat intermixed with her hot tears. The pain searing through her was almost unbearable, but she knew that she dare not slow down, dare not stop for even a moment. Her fluttering white-feathered wings were causing enough delay, especially the broken one. Her wings, catching the wind as she ran, were causing annoying resistance. She felt clumsy and aloof. She wanted to fly, to soar through the air and up into the soft clouds, where she belonged. Tears began to flood her eyes, and she quickly brushed them away.

Keeping her speed steady, she looked ahead for anything that could get in her way, anything that could slow her down. The bright moon beamed down on her, brightening her beautiful white wings and flowing gown. The light from the moon also betrayed her by pointing out the dirt smudges upon her gown and over the ivory skin of her face, her hands, and her feet. Her long copper hair, tangled and wild, danced in the wind as she ran.

Suddenly, she heard him: a low, rumbling growl and the loud thumping of his feet. Her head whipped around as she looked behind her, but she saw nothing. As she entered the forest, she felt a bit safer. The familiar trees, large boulders, and flowing river gave her some hope that she could find a place to hide. She let out a gasp as a movement to the side of her caught her eye. Letting out a slow, deep breath of relief, she realized it was just her shadow. She slowed to a quick walk.

Looking around, she saw the shadows of the trees dancing on the ground, their branches waving in the night wind. A small smile formed on her lips. She loved nature, and Earth’s beauty completely fascinated her. Walking up to the river, she knelt down, placed her cupped hands in the water, and lifted her water-filled hands to her injured bloody wing. Dripping the water upon her wound caused a quick sting, and then a mild cool relief eased through the sting. She knelt down and repeated this several times. Looking to her side, she smiled again as she saw her "twin" copying her exact actions. She was amazed how things worked here on Earth: such as the ability of the full moon's bright light to cause shadows.

Soon, after a few minutes of wetting and cleansing her injured wing, the blood was almost gone. She could see the wounds: a deep gash and a long slash along the inside of her wing causing some of her feathers to be seared in half. Her once bright white wings, now tinged with various shades of pink. Her beautiful smooth long feathers were now a jagged mess around her wound. She let out a deep sigh of sorrow, not knowing what she would do now. Brushing her long golden red hair behind each ear, tears began to fall from her green eyes. Her salty tears plopped gently into the river, causing small ripples to form. She felt helpless, lost, and a sense of emptiness.

Lost in a trance she did not see the large form coming closer to her. First, she began to smell his familiar stench: a foul smell made her stomach lurch and made her want to vomit. Immediately, her body froze in sheer terror. She heard his loud, slobbering breathing, and his low growls echoed through the forest. She quickly looked up and saw him! Her heart raced as she saw that he was less than ten feet away. Since her escape, this was the closest to her he had been able to get. Forcing her body to move, she began to run, her feet splashing in the river. She heard his angry grunt and the loud thumping of his large feet as he began to run after her.

Leaving the river, she sprinted between the tall trees and jumped over the small bushes; wishing now, more than ever she could fly again. The sharp pain returned to her wing, and she winced and let out a loud cry. Even her cries of pain sounded beautiful. She bit her lower lip hard to keep herself from crying out again and alerting him. The salty taste of her blood filled her mouth. She could tell that her pain was slowing her down, and she was beginning to tire. Her leg muscles burned like fire from running.

The sounds of his feet thumping loud and hard against the ground and his grotesque grunting became louder and closer. As she continued to run, trying so hard to ignore the sharp pain in her wing and the burning pain pulsing through her legs, she looked to the side saw her shadow running alongside her- trying so hard to escape just as she was. "Can't anyone save me?" she thought desperately. She gasped and almost stumbled as she saw a large tall shadow running right behind hers. The shape of the shadow was not his. She glanced back slightly, her long hair whipping hard in the wind, but she saw nobody. Returning her gaze to the ground next to her, all she saw was her own shadow again. The other shadow was now gone.

Suddenly, she was yanked back to reality as the very loud grunting sound shook her very being. She thought about whether to turn around or not. Then she began to feel the hot wet breath upon her. She saw his huge shadow and it was right behind hers. A sense of complete doom overcame her. She began screaming as hot tears streaking down her freckled cheeks. His foul smelling breath upon her, she could only think of the horrible things He would do to her once he got his large sharp clawed hands upon her. Closing her eyes tightly, she ran with all her might, but it was no use. She could still feel him right behind her. Desperately, with her green eyes wide open and the last jolt of energy, she sprinted forward. "Someone... p-p-please... save… meeeee!!" she barely yelled, gasping between words.

Suddenly, a soft warm darkness engulfed her! Her eyes were wide open, yet she could not see anything. She began to feel a sense of peacefulness around her. Her breathing began to slow, along with the bounding of her heartbeat. A slow warm feeling of serenity and complete safeness began to move over her body. After several minutes, there was light: light from the full moon above. She looked around quickly, but saw nothing: nothing of him, and nothing of her savior. Then she gazed down. She saw her familiar shadow, and her eyes traced the ground. Her eyes came upon another shadow, large and tall like the one she had seen earlier.

Quickly looking up, she saw Him. She inhaled quickly, unsure if she should be afraid or not. He had the looks of a human man, and His face was quite handsome. His eyes were beautiful: a deep brown, and so caring. A smile stretched across His face, and thick black hair cascaded unto His strong shoulders. She suddenly looked away, blushing. She had been staring at Him too long. Finally, He spoke to her, "My sweet angel, I have been sent here to look after you. I am the Master of Shadows. I am your protector." She looked towards the wet grass. Used to being the one who looked after others, she did not know what to think or say. With her injured wing she had become vulnerable and helpless. Bringing her eyes up to meet His, she began to become lost in them. He opened His arms, and slowly she began to walk forward and entered His embrace. He wrapped His strong protective arms around her and His cape cascaded around her whole body. Feelings of overwhelming security, serenity, belonging, and love overcame her as she wept. However, this time, the tears were tears of happiness. She was where she belonged. She was home.


ToxicButterfly
"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly."
-Richard Bach