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She doesn’t how it gotten to this. Why was she running? What was she running from? Who was chasing her? WhO kNows, wHo knoWs? A little voice whispered to her. The words would keep repeating inside her head. The only thing she knew was she have to run. Away. Far Far Away.
Don’T stOp! Don’t Stop! Keep runNing! Run liKe tHe rabBit Who lateR wAs beaTen bY the turTle. UnliKe thE rabbIt, yOu won’T LoSe, yoU cAn’t lose. If The rAbbit lOses, hE Can chalLeNge tHe turtLe agAin. If You losE, neVer wiLl yoU run aGaiN. It screams.
Aria doesn’t want to lose. Never to run again. She wants to feel the adrenaline. The winds against her skin. The joy of winning. The joy of going on adventures. Running. Running with her friends. By their side. Never ever will she feel being left behind. That’s why she comply, to the screaming voice inside her head. Run Away they told her and run she will.
RUn Run! As faSt as yOu cAn. Don’T LeT them caTch You! NevEr Will yoU ruN agaIn.
Run she did. As fast as she can. Turning around the corner, jumping and ducking the obstacle in front of her. Never lost her rhythm. Never stop running.
Something gotten to her, crawling inside her skin. The curiosity that she can’t shook off, wanting to turn her head around. Taking a peek on her chaser. Oh, she didn’t she would regrets her decision so much so.
Bump!
She hit something hard –stiff, a bit soft and tumble to the ground. She hissed, pain registered to her brain. The next thing she registered made her eyes shot open. She stopPed rUnning. Oh no. NONONONONONONONONO. She can’t stop. She doesn’t want to stop running. She felt something grabbed her wrist. No. NONONONONONONONONO. Aria struggle to be released. NONONONONONONO.
“-ia. Aria.” Someone called her name. A familiar voice but also one she doesn’t recognise immediately. Is it the chaser? Is it a friend? Or is it an enemy? She doesn’t know. She doesn’t know. She struggles even more. Away. Away. She needs to keep running!
“Aria!” The raven snapped out of her chaotic mind, finally recognise the voice. Her eyes shot up. A clear silhouette of a woman appeared in her eye-view. A familiar one. One she had been seeing for the couple months since graduation. One she still haven’t categories as what yet. A stranger? An acquaintance? A friend? But surely not an enemy.
The person in front is her teacher –that was what she claims on their first meeting. Miss Scarlett Cabrera, second born lady in the main Cabrera Family, tightly holds her wrist in full stern, take-no-poopy glory.
The raven knows Miss Scarlett is angry, upset, any words with the same meaning. She knows it with the look she was giving her. She knows from how tight Miss Scarlett was clutching her wrist. She knows it very well with her full body screaming, telling her to withdraw. To apologise. For running into her. Wait. Why was she running? Someone –something was chasing her. Chasing? That’s right! She needs to run! But wait! Miss Scarlett is an adult. She’s strong! She needs to tell her right away. Miss Scarlett can make it go away.
“Miss Scarlett! I-I’m so sorry! AH! But quick! Someone –Something will appear! It was chasing me! That’s why I was running! Then run into you! You have to help me!” Aria cried, pleading her to help.
Miss Scarlett raised a brow then tiredly sigh. Aria frown. Disappointment. It was clear as day in her eyes. Why was it there? Aria doesn’t know. Had she done something wrong? Did she? Did she?
“Aria, there’s nothing chasing you. We just got here a few minutes ago. This location is far from the nearest town, far from any wild animal’s territory. I doubt you would encounter anyone in the times you run without any permission.”
Aria flinched under her harden gaze. “I-I know. I’m sorry. But! Believe me! Please! There was something –someone! I-”
“Aria.” Her words got cut off clean with one little word. Her name. How Miss Scarlett say it makes her cower. She’s angry. Real angry.
“I made precise calculation that we would arrive without catching any unwanted attention.” She stated in her very stern voice. She heard it once before –not directly at her but someone else- and once is already enough knowing when she uses that tone, someone’s in a very deep trouble.
Miss Scarlett continued, “Are you doubting my judgement?”
“I –erm..” Aria doesn’t know what to say. She was scared, afraid to say the wrong words. Being scold, being shouted at. “I-I’m sorry.” That was the only she could say. Hoping to ease Miss Scarlett anger. The only words she knows.
She was scared but something told her to look up. Look up she did. Miss Scarlett eyes, beautiful amber eyes, so pretty so warm-looking. It was soft –soften. The disappointment was there but not much. Something else was there too but she doesn’t know what it was. “Aria.” She called her name once more, this time it didn’t make her flinch. Nor make her cower in fright. She said it with a softer tone, kinder, like trying to call out to a frighten animal. Yeah, that was it.
“I’m not mad.” She said. That’s not true. Yes, you are. Not really anymore but you are. Maybe not at her but at something else. Someone else. She doesn’t know who nor why but she knows she is. So she’s lying or maybe not. Maybe not. She said she’s not mad, maybe it’s true. Maybe she was just making a mistake. Why would Miss Scarlett lie?
“The thing ‘chasing’ you might be only be in your imagination. I made this location as our base location so that none of you will be in danger.” She said softly, trying to reassure the frighten animal there’s no danger. She won’t hurt it. That the frighten animal can trust her.
“Oh. Oh. I guess you’re right.” Aria replied unconsciously. The words flew out of her mouth by the time she was aware of it. “I didn’t know what was chasing me. I just run. Alice always told me I have a wild imagination. Maybe that was it.” She explained. Maybe not to Miss Scarlett but to herself. She doesn’t know why she was agreeing with her teacher so that’s why she said it. To make herself understand why she agreed. It sounds really convincing. Maybe that’s true. She was only imagining it.
That make sense. It wasn’t rare she imagines stuff so that she won’t get bored. To make the game much more interesting. Oh. That’s why she run. She was playing a game.
Miss Scarlett nod to her-self explanation. “Why don’t we go back to the rest of the group?” She held her hand up for her to reach, an act of trust. And trust she did. “Okay.” The raven reached out and they both walk back.
It was quiet and soothing. Maybe it was all in her head. She should apologise later. Alice already scolded her before that she needs to tame her imagination and make it to the minimum. Not many people can handle her at full-notch.
Good thing she meet their teacher first than the two other boys in her team. That would be embarrassing.