Re: Foyer, near the stairs
As soon as her bare feet touched the cold stone floor, she was running. Her hair was wild around her, longer than she'd ever been known to wear it, colored red like the blood running through her veins. Her skin seemed impossible pale, colored only by the flush on her cheeks and pale pinkness of her lips. Her dress swished and swayed around her, loose and thin enough to not halt her progress. Fear filled every fiber of her being, but she could not recall what she was afraid of.
Everything, a voice whispered in the back of her mind. Everywhere she turned, she felt eyes upon her, piercing into her very soul. Dirty, they said. Useless. Tears burned in the corners of her eyes but she did not let them fall. It wasn't until she tripped, darting between two people, that they fell. She tumbled to the floor, her hands blindly reaching out to brace her fall. They found purchase on the stairs, hard and unforgiving as they were. Her cry was a soundless one though pain crossed her features.
People continued to pass her, continuing their conversations and enjoyment. She cast her eyes downward but she still felt their eyes upon her. She could still hear their whispers. "No," she mumbled, barely audible even to herself. She crawled off to the side of the staircase, kneeling before the shadows. Her shoulders shook from silent sobs, tears streaking down her face. She didn't notice him at first, until she caught sight of his shoes before her. Slowly, she lifted her gaze up to his and whimpered.