Ruby (Chapter 2)

Short blond hair bounced as a small girl ran through an empty forest. The wind was cold and dry as it hit her face. She didn't bother avoiding any puddles, so water splashed beneath her feet as she sprinted. She slowed down to a light jog once a small neighborhood was visible. The chill in the air had her fingertips feeling numb, and it tickled her nose, causing her to sneeze time to time. And for a long time, the only sound in the forest was her breath. The emptiness felt as calm as it did lonely, and sometimes the girl enjoyed the silence, but other times, it made her feel anxious and needy. So when she found that someone else in the woods, that small girl like her, alone, she felt the slightest hint of excitement to know that she wasn't the only person who went through these woods. She hoped to see that butterfly girl again. As she got closer to the house she started to realize how wet her shoes were. She furrowed her brows and glared at her mud covered laces. She came towards a very old, worn house. The white paint was flaking off of it, revealing the even older looking wood. She slowly walked up stairs that led to the patio, and then approached the front door. When she pulled down on the handle, she was met with resistance. She sighed, the door was locked. She quickly ran around the house, the wood creaked. The gravel scraped against the road as she headed to the back of the house, the small rocks getting stuck in the gaps of her soles. She threw the screen door open, and walked inside the house. She jiggled her leg until the muddy shoe flew off her foot, and as she did the same with her other shoe, she noticed the darkness of her house and the absence of cars in the driveway.

She fell onto her bed, sighing into the sheets. Grabbing her phone, she checked to see two messages from her father.

"Happy Easter, Ruby. Sorry I had to leave for work extra early today-"

She stopped reading for a second and huffed.

"Again?" She whined, she lifted the screen to read the rest.

"My schedule might be like this for the rest of the week, but I'm pretty sure you'll be fine. Eat when you should there's leftovers in the fridge anyways. Also there's something coming in the mail today. Make sure you pick it up."

That was the end of the first message. She scrolled to see the last one.

"Be careful with the box once it shows up. It's for you." The last message read. She blinked. For her? She didn't really ask for anything. Her dad wasn't really one to give gifts suddenly unless there was a reason. Then she realized she wouldn't be surprised if it was a book for school or a new calculator. She rolled onto her back and tossed her phone somewhere in the room, she heard water spill. Ruby groaned, but did nothing to tend to the possible mess. She stared out her window, the sky still grey as ever, making her tired. She shifted and hugged her pillow, drifting to sleep without being aware of the small box by the front door, which held something more than a new calculator.