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Once upon a time in forever land, she found herself trapped. Everywhere she turned, everywhere she looked were signs. Living in an old house now, weather greyed, she knew there was no return. She had innocently wandered into the Outland while daydreaming on her morning walk. The sun felt so good on her back, her hands gently trailing through waist high lavender releasing its soothing fragrance she loved had lulled her into a false sense of safety. Before she realized, the sun was gone. Hidden by the great reaching arms of giant moss covered trees, and she was deep in the Outland. Filtered rays of sun tried to break through the green grey light, searching for her, hoping to help her find the way back to her village. But alas, all seemed to be lost…lost forever, and Princess Lilli was trapped in the grip of another land.
Days passed and she simply existed. The forest gnomes and fairies made sure she had food and at some time lead her to this house for shelter. With nothing to do but wait, and heeding the warning of the forest folk to stay indoors, she began to hear things… whispered things that should have scared her, but surprisingly were a comfort. The town folk had always talked about the giant tarantulas that lived in the Outland and warned they would eat you slowly after spinning a trapping web around your body. Were they the whispers? For the whispers always told her to wait, be trusting and they would find a way out. That she would be able to escape. Should she believe? The whispers had not shown themselves, so Lilli had no way of knowing where they were…who they were…what they were…but they did not scare her. No, the whispers gave her hope.
One day, a fairy bringing her food told her tunnels were beginning. When asked what that meant, they fairy only replied that she would know in time…wait. There was that infuriating word again…wait! How long had she been trapped? There was no manner of marking the passage of time since the light was always the same, green grey misty, no defining day from night.
Waking with a start Lilli felt something on her arm. Attached to her right wrist was a glistening thread that leads to the outside. Something was tugging on that thread and she felt compelled to follow. Slowly peering out the open door, Lilli found it…the tunnel...glowing with the same light that wrapped around her wrist. The whispers were back telling her to follow the tunnel for her way home. Another tug and Lilli bent her head to enter the shining tube. Immediately, she was transported. There was no other way to explain what was happening to her. Her feet touched nothing; she was free falling, but not so fast as to be frightening. This seemed to go on forever, but in her mind she knew it was only seconds until she reached a stopping place.
Looking around, Lilli saw nothing but more shining light and glistening strands, but no other tubes. Confused, she sat down to catch her breath and allow her brain to catch up with what she experienced.
“Lilli,” a small voice whispered. Over here! Lilli looked to her right and a tube appeared where only seconds before was nothing but a shining wall. She still only heard that small voice whispering, guiding her to the next tube. Knowing what to expect, Lilli closed her eyes and stepped through the oval. Again she was transported as though by magic. This time the trip was much longer and there seemed to be a doorway of sorts at the end of this tunnel.
Lilli must have relaxed into a semi-conscious state during this trip because suddenly her feet touched ground; real dirt, honest to goodness ground and not the spongy green moss of the Outland. Where was she? Nothing looked familiar at first. The little whisper told her to step into the sun and look to her right.
Oh my, she was at the edge of her village and only minutes from being home. Her legs suddenly weak, no longer held her and she slowly sank to the ground. “Rest, my child,” the whisper said. You are safe. When you wake you will be home.
The next moment, Lilli felt a wet tongue on her nose and heard her brother talking. “Where have you been Lilli?” he gasped. We have been calling for you forever. “Are you all right?” “Can you stand?” He was genuinely concerned and that was so unlike him.
“Here, give me your hand,” he said. “Let me get you home and cleaned up for supper. You look like you have been wandering for days!”
Lilli looked into he bright green eyes and asked, “How long have you been calling for me?”
“About twenty minutes,” he brother replied. “Where did you disappear to in that time?”
“I was trapped in the Outland for days, weeks, months, a life time,” Lillie cried. The whispers helped me escape.
“You sound like you found Alice’s rabbit hole!” he grinned. “We must get home so you can tell me all about your adventure.”
Days passed and she simply existed. The forest gnomes and fairies made sure she had food and at some time lead her to this house for shelter. With nothing to do but wait, and heeding the warning of the forest folk to stay indoors, she began to hear things… whispered things that should have scared her, but surprisingly were a comfort. The town folk had always talked about the giant tarantulas that lived in the Outland and warned they would eat you slowly after spinning a trapping web around your body. Were they the whispers? For the whispers always told her to wait, be trusting and they would find a way out. That she would be able to escape. Should she believe? The whispers had not shown themselves, so Lilli had no way of knowing where they were…who they were…what they were…but they did not scare her. No, the whispers gave her hope.
One day, a fairy bringing her food told her tunnels were beginning. When asked what that meant, they fairy only replied that she would know in time…wait. There was that infuriating word again…wait! How long had she been trapped? There was no manner of marking the passage of time since the light was always the same, green grey misty, no defining day from night.
Waking with a start Lilli felt something on her arm. Attached to her right wrist was a glistening thread that leads to the outside. Something was tugging on that thread and she felt compelled to follow. Slowly peering out the open door, Lilli found it…the tunnel...glowing with the same light that wrapped around her wrist. The whispers were back telling her to follow the tunnel for her way home. Another tug and Lilli bent her head to enter the shining tube. Immediately, she was transported. There was no other way to explain what was happening to her. Her feet touched nothing; she was free falling, but not so fast as to be frightening. This seemed to go on forever, but in her mind she knew it was only seconds until she reached a stopping place.
Looking around, Lilli saw nothing but more shining light and glistening strands, but no other tubes. Confused, she sat down to catch her breath and allow her brain to catch up with what she experienced.
“Lilli,” a small voice whispered. Over here! Lilli looked to her right and a tube appeared where only seconds before was nothing but a shining wall. She still only heard that small voice whispering, guiding her to the next tube. Knowing what to expect, Lilli closed her eyes and stepped through the oval. Again she was transported as though by magic. This time the trip was much longer and there seemed to be a doorway of sorts at the end of this tunnel.
Lilli must have relaxed into a semi-conscious state during this trip because suddenly her feet touched ground; real dirt, honest to goodness ground and not the spongy green moss of the Outland. Where was she? Nothing looked familiar at first. The little whisper told her to step into the sun and look to her right.
Oh my, she was at the edge of her village and only minutes from being home. Her legs suddenly weak, no longer held her and she slowly sank to the ground. “Rest, my child,” the whisper said. You are safe. When you wake you will be home.
The next moment, Lilli felt a wet tongue on her nose and heard her brother talking. “Where have you been Lilli?” he gasped. We have been calling for you forever. “Are you all right?” “Can you stand?” He was genuinely concerned and that was so unlike him.
“Here, give me your hand,” he said. “Let me get you home and cleaned up for supper. You look like you have been wandering for days!”
Lilli looked into he bright green eyes and asked, “How long have you been calling for me?”
“About twenty minutes,” he brother replied. “Where did you disappear to in that time?”
“I was trapped in the Outland for days, weeks, months, a life time,” Lillie cried. The whispers helped me escape.
“You sound like you found Alice’s rabbit hole!” he grinned. “We must get home so you can tell me all about your adventure.”
© 2013 Annie Original Flash Fiction
Always I wish you peace, joy and happiness, but most of all I wish you Love.
As, Ever Annie
Always I wish you peace, joy and happiness, but most of all I wish you Love.
As, Ever Annie
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