6. Trapped

Serena tried to calm down and understand what was happening. There was an invisible wall in front of her that was tall than she could reach. It left no gap with the ground, and on the concrete path there was no way to dig under it.

In short, she was trapped by this invisible wall, and could run no further from the weirdos. Perhaps this was the barrier the arrogant leader type ordered? How would that work? But then, how did a person dressed in purple and green spandex get almost flattened by a jogger that couldn't see them?

Why has no one called the fashion police on those crazy people yet? Is it possible that other people really can't see them? But then, how can I see them? Serena asked internally. She changed her objective from running, that seemed like it was a lost cause, and decided to hide instead.

But where could she hide? The street was all open between the buildings, when she checked the doors Serena found them all locked. She turned her attention to the park across the street. Maybe she could climb a tree and hide that way? Maybe not with her bruised ribs and mummy limbs.

It was only yesterday she found with the fish monster, and all her muscles were sore. Trying to run in this state was bad enough, but climbing? She could only imagine the pain she would be subject to.

Still, the street was too open - at least the trees should help her hide a little bit, even if she couldn't climb them.

One of the weirdos was slowly walking down the street behind her, looking to the various bins and searching in corners to find something. Serena could not guess what they were after, and she didn't want to.

Doing her best to act like an oblivious person, Serena put her hand in the pocket, slumped her shoulders, trying not to wince, and sauntered her way across the street and into the park.

Once the trees hid her from their eyes, she took off into the trees, doing her best to get as far away as possible. After 20 meters her reaching hand found the wall again. After looking around, Serena picked a tree and sat behind it, prepared for a long wait. Her stomach rumbled empty

once more, and she ignored it.

Time past slowly among the trees, and soon hours went by. Serena sat still and ignored everything, trying not to provoke her sore ribs.

After a while, Serena started thinking about what would happen now. After careful consideration, she concluded there were only, perhaps 3 outcomes to this situation.

The first - the weirdos find what they are looking for, take the barrier down and leave. Second - they don't find whatever it is, and something happens to disrupt the barrier, like running out of energy, letting Serena escape. The final option is that they find Serena as they are looking around, discover she can see them, and then anything could happen.

Serena asked herself - why did I run? I heard them say they were looking for something near where I was sitting, but that doesn't mean they are after me. Perhaps there is a reasonable explanation for why no one else can see these people, and the barrier too.

Perhaps I've gone mad, or maybe I'm dreaming and all of this is a result of yesterday. Until something happens there is no way to know. I ran because I was scared, and I was scared because I am a young girl who lives on the streets with no family or friends.

The kind of person who can disappear under bad circumstances with no one the wiser. These scary thoughts chased each other through her mind until she was dizzy.

Eventually one of the weirdos found her, and steadily walked closer. Serena was so tired from everything, she didn't have the energy to be scared anymore.

"Excuse me, miss? I think you have something my friends and I are looking for. Would you mind coming with me?" The lady dressed in a blue and grey sun dress asked gently.

"Do your friends provide regular meals and a place to sleep safely?" Serena asked listlessly.

"Yes, that can be arranged." The lady nodded.

"Then let's go meet them." Serena slowly stood up, trying not to groan in pain, and followed the woman back to the group of weirdos.

It was inevitable that Serena would be found, and that they would take her away from here. At least this way she got the promise of food and a roof over her head. Besides, Serena had long decided to die before she would Hook.