Anxiety Driven

*heavy breathing*

"Grandma, I cant keep running like this. Im dying"

"We are almost there dear. Hold on just a little longer. We will be able to sleep in the city tonight at this pace," says Grandma Rosa who isn't even sweating.

Grandpa tries whispering to Grandma. "Isn't this to much. You even told me she's not in shape to be a warrior."

"She will be fine. Have you not noticed her eye's keep flashing white as like the moonless night disturbed by a storm?"

"What are you…" Grandpa cuts off mid way when he turns to look at me. "Oh Goddess!"

"Shhh, no more talking about it. We are almost there and this conversation is slowing us down," she says with a tone of dignity.

What are they talking about right now? *grrrr* And, Why do I have to keep running? Im going to die at this rate!

No, breath Lī you got this. This is just training, and Grandma seems to understand what's going on in life more then I do. I'm sure she's doing whats in my best interest.

In your best interest Lī, really? Now I think everyone might be right I lie way to much.

No focus! Lets see mom said I should imagine the things that bring me joy. Cocoa has a deep rich smell. The shell is rich in a warm brown tone. The taste leaves a sweet fruity flavor with a dark robust undertone. You split it open….

Hey that Iguana ate my Cocoa!

Forget food what about Tulips. They are hydroponics with big bulbs. The bulb has a yummy sweet onion flavor which is great when fried off. It has a light green, soft and squishy stem. The some of petals had a mosaic vibrant color. Wait no those had a disease. We had to remove them to keep the crops from dying. I guess the red one. They gave me a feeling of love. The smell was similar to the blossoms on orange trees. Sent of flower and citrus combine.

"We are finally here Lī. You and I are going to get a room while Grandpa picks up food, okay."

"Honey can we talk about the thing that's been following us this whole time."

"Just ignore it or maybe get some fruit for it. It will do more good keeping it around."

I look back to see what they are talking about but I don't see anything except the tree line. "Hmm what ever."

We look towards the city walls are lined with light blue bricks. Round towers with sharp peeks loom over the moat. A Large Black wooden bridge begins to lower. The unusual shape is strikingly interesting. It looks like three circles connecting together to create a platform. Four red rusted chain can be seen as the bridge reaches the ground.

"Woah"

"Now Princess stay with one of us at all times. This place can be fun but not everyone is pleasant that lives here. Especially for someone like you," says grandpa.

"Okay," I say as the towering lights consume my existence. A small structure with gates on both sides blocks are path further. A white sign with the words Adm sio arch above it.

Grandma Looks a the lady in the building and states, "I want three tickets for entry please."

The woman's eyes have black circles around them that connect like a mask. Short white whiskers jut out from her nasolabial folds on her face. Her ears are round like a bears. She lean in as one arm props her body up on the counter. "That's a hefty price. What do you have to trade?" The lady says with smug tone as one of her eyebrows rises.

Grandma Rosa glance at Grandpa. She nods her head in silence gesturing towards the woman.

Grandpa pulls out a hard crystal the size of a fist that shines with bright white lights, but the woman shakes her head with displeasure. "We were looking for something that," she stops and glances at me for a moment before continuing, "thats harder then whats in your hand."

Grandma looks over and tell him "Giver he what we found. It has no use to us." Grandpa pulls out a light green bulb looking plant. It has a green flower shape on top of it. A small beed of white liquid drips from it.

The Woman's eyes go wide with an gleam of excitement. "You have a poppy bud!? Three of those and we have a deal."

"Two." Grandma says in a monotone.

Her nose flares and her jaws tightens in annoyance. "Fine take your ticket and give me the buds." She receives the buds and lick up small white drop of liquid. Three of us quickly leave heading in. Noise of crowds rush towards us. Soft music plays in the background. Grandpa splits away. He head towards the smell of grease and spice. We walk towards a large building with large blue glass windows. A few of them are covered up with with bricks like patch work. The building has a Old Classic modern feel. Varying stone pillars surrounded the building. Some of the pillars slope down while others look like chunks are missing. A large unmanaged garden sits directly in front. A grey broken concrete circles it. Broken bricks are laid in the concrete with the smaller end laid facing the dirt. We enter the large glass doors that cling open.

We approach a desk made of white wood with black streaks in it. "We need a room," Grandma says without a hint of hesitation.

The man rubs his thumb and index together to signal something to us. Grandma takes a deep breath and close her eyes. She then proceeds to take something out of her bag. It was hidden in her as she passed it to the man. He turned around without a second thought and grabbed a large key hanging behind him.

"You have to take the stairs," he says before going back to acting like nothing existed. We head up gold railed stairs the portray a sense of nobility. We reach our room and start to settle in. Two old pieces of art depicting a mouse like person hung above the beds. One presents as a woman while the other a man. They seemed to exude a sense of love as they face towards each other.

"Get some sleep dear. Ill wake you when Grandpa gets here."

*Yawn*

"Okaayy" I say before checking out.

<Dream World>

Aria and Luck our Lī's friends from school. Aria and Luck met Lī in first grade because Lī was to sick to attend before then. Just like her dad she would have episodes so her parents waited until her immune system settled down before sending her. Aria and Luck became exceptionally close. When the three of them entered 8th Grade, Aria and Luck began dating, but Lī had a secret that she never wanted to tell anyone.

You should know before reading more this event did not happen.

Aria and Luck can be seen walking hand in hand like any other time. The three were headed to school on a normal beautiful sunny day. Lī today fell behind them. She was not feeling her best, but in a way, she couldn't understand. She stares intently at their hands which makes her feel sad. She seems to long for her hand to be joined with there's. This feeling had plagued her for days, but today she decides she can't live without asking. "Aria," she says with a long pause. "Luck," she says with an even longer pause. "Can the three of us I don't know ummm hold… hands… together." She gulps with anxiety.

Aria's and Luck's faces turn to a scratchy black and white. Aria says with anger, "this is my man. Go find someone else."

Luck says with disgust, "thats gross leave us alone."

Lī turns around. Her face dyes red as she darts away. Side walk shifts into a wooden hallway like the one in her school. Her classmates point and laugh at her as she continues to run with shame.

She can hear her name being called. The woman's voice gets later after each time of saying it. "Lī, Lī, Lightning wake up."

"Aaaaaah" my breathing is quick. My body feels cold and numb as the feeling of water drips down my face.

"Are you okay Lī," asks Grandma?

I lie without hesitation. "I'm fine," I say without a hint of emotion.

"If thats how you want play it thats fine, but when you are ready, I am here for you," Grandma Rosa says as she turns around. Grandpa is busy now cleaning and organizing without a sense of what just occurred. "Chris," Grandma says with a tone of concern. He doesn't hear her. "Chris," she says with a tone of command.

He turns around and takes a deep breath. "Yes dear," he says with a sound of release.

"Honey, I know how you feel its not important at the moment. We should eat today, get everything planned out so that we can leave tomorrow before dusk. We are not staying here so let the stress go for now. Breath with me 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1. And again," she says. She continues counting for a few min before eating.

Characters:

Name Lighting - Age 16 - Date of birth 2/3/1000 A.N. - Sign Hippocampus - Mutation ¿none? - hair brown curly - eyes brown or white - skin light brown - Fear Thunder (Astraphobia) - Fatal Flaw Diabetic - Character flaw Lazy and Lies - weapon bubble - mental state anxious - mood love???

Name Chris - age 72 - mutation four arms - hair white - eyes brown - skin midnight black - character trait extrovert - weapon twin spears - married to Lys - mental state anxious - mood composed

Name Lys - age 72 - mutation tiger - hair/fur orange & black - eyes yellow - skin white with black stripes - character trait kind, strong, observant - weapon bow and arrow - married to Chris - mental state worried (anxious) - mood ???

Creatures:

Type Iguana - danger level 1 - size 3 ft - ability camouflage & climbing - attack claws

Reference:

If you know anything about Disney, this is not it…

School:

Moat is a ditch surrounding castle for defense.

Adm sio = Admission

nasolabial folds is the fold that lies between the cheek and nose. We usually think of it as the smile lines. Whiskers sit there on animals and I wanted to find a specific way to say it. Google is amazing.

Monotone is an unchanging pitch or sound.

Poppy flowers can be pretty. Im sure she will love it when they bloom.

Modern style is a particular style of building but to our future world it would be seen as Old and Classic…