Game 1

****

My name is Lynette, my age was said to be eleven, whilst my origin unknown. Since I was young, I've lived in the orphanage, passing my days in lethargy. People whispered, saying I was too old, but little did they know that in actuality, I was too bold.

"Lynette, come back here!" A middle-aged woman yelled, a full black dress on her whilst she carried a wooden cane in hand, giving chase the brunette little figure ahead of her.

"Make me, old hag!" She exclaimed as she ran through the deep forest, not caring of the worried people running after her.

She was tired, she was exhausted, but she felt more liberated than ever. The orphanage was far too suffocating for her as she never wanted to reside there, in such a cramped and glum place.

And so, she decided to escape it, even if the freedom only lasted for a mere day, she didn't mind as long as she could taste it.

Needless to say, she enjoyed it. Running around the thick woods, her bright eyes laid upon lush greenery everywhere in sight whilst the cool gentle breeze trickled her skin.

Lynette ran and ran, staining her pure white dress, dirtying her braided hair as her small feet vigorously walked on the muddy soil. With a large grin plastered on her face, her eyes of gold sparkled alongside the bright and sunny sky.

She panted and wheezed before raising her two hands up, completely uncaring of the tired women behind her, she shouted aloud,

"Freedom!" startling the figures darting after her.

This was the first time she had succeeded in escaping, as the walls and fences surrounding the establishment were far too high and imposing for the children there. The walls and fences may have been for protection measures so that the children wouldn't walk into the forest, but Lynette knew that there was something else.

She felt it, something she knew within but can't seem to get a firm grasp of what it exactly is.

A feeling of acquaintance or even familiarity would assault her whenever she unknowingly gazed upon the walls blocking her from the forest within it.

Indeed, it was strange and exhilarating, as if she herself was the puzzle, enveloped with mystery. Everyone in the orphanage had actual documents regarding their parents and birth... all except for her.

It may be strange to reckon that the person of unknown birth would be ecstatic upon the fact, but she was. Lynette was excited to speculate about her origin, and she figured that it would all start with the thickets she was in. As a matter of fact, she was even constantly pestered to come here by a strange voice beckoning her in her dreams. Hence, upon finding a brief opening, she scaled the walls and ran.

As to how she did it, there was only one explanation she could give, which is the fact that she was born with tremendous physical abilities, exceeding people her age.

This fact even gave her outlandish ideas about her race or species, which is all most likely a delusion... or, is it?

As it was noon, the sun was high up on its peak, illuminating the entirety of the earth she trudged on. It revealed the barely visible footsteps of small feet that were coupled with one of the boots.

Lynette gazed curiously as she followed the direction of the boots that nearly aligned with her feet. Glancing behind once more, she ran and followed the footsteps, seeing that there was quite some distance between her and the woman chasing after her.

She trotted as quick as her two feet could take her, a grin still plastered on her delicate and soft countenance. Wondering towards who those footsteps belonged to, she neatly followed it as if she was an investigator.

She followed and followed until the shouts of the women who chased after her could no longer be heard, whilst her surroundings were now covered in mist so thick, to the point where she couldn't even see herself. For the first time in a long while, she felt fear instilled within, taking into account the gravity of her impulsive decision.

Gazing towards the figure of her barely discernible feet, her eyes widened in surprise as the strange footsteps could still be seen, forming a path amidst the murk. With no other path and solution in sight, she followed the footsteps, an expression of skepticism on her.

With a tense body, she slowly treaded, remaining cautious of the situation surrounding her, combined with an unsteady gaze, constantly eyeing towards one direction or the other.

For what seemed like an eternity of walking, she finally stopped in her tracks, paling upon the sight of the footprints that gradually disappeared into the mist.

Flailing her hands in discomposure, Lynette strived to remain calm, slowly inhaling and exhaling, in an attempt to calm her palpitating heart.

After repeatedly doing it for quite the amount of time, she finally felt herself at peace. But that moment of peace was soon interrupted by the footsteps of an indescribable figure that gradually loomed closer towards her.

The blurry figure revealed a tinge of silver as it revealed what seemed to be a smile, its lips moving to utter barely discernible words in a strange tone of voice.

"Found you."

***

And thus, she woke up as the blurred figure assaulted her with what seemed to be a hug that induced cardiac arrest.