Who: Ella and OPEN What: Arrival Where: In town When: Monday evening Warnings: TBD Status: OPEN
Cold. Cold and empty, like a garage burned by fire days ago and left to the harsh winter air. She sighed and shifted, felt hard concrete at her back, and under her butt. She opened her eyes slowly, and realised she was outside. Exposed like the burned out timbers of the abandoned garage that haunted her thoughts.
She lurched to her feet, and felt woozy. It took a faltering step, a deep breath, and several seconds to get her footing. She had no idea where she was, no idea why it was so cold. She felt her pocket, comforted by the slight bump of a matchbook concealed within.
There were too many people around for her to strike a match, though the flame would help calm her suddenly frayed nerves. She sighed, looked around for an escape route. She might not know where she was, but that could wait. Her first priority was to get somewhere quiet and secluded where she could burn something. Anything. She needed the flame like roses needed rain.
She stood wide eyed and uncertain, and realised someone was fast approaching her. Her instinct was to run, but the man invaded her space before she could. He gave her a Madison Valley welcome kit, ignored her questions, and disappeared as fast as he'd come. Ella stood holding the envelope, looking completely at a loss for a moment before she squared her shoulders and decided she wasn't going to be intimidated by the not knowing.
She started walking forward, eyes cast down to watch the ground beneath her feet.