Help

Anna kicked a puddle at her feet. The birds chirped and sang to her. A catchy song was playing in her head so loudly, that Anna couldn’t resist the temptation to hum and dance to it. It was a beautiful day for her.

She slowed down when she noticed a girl slumped on the curb a few feet ahead. She looked haggard, with ragged mousy brown hair and a head bowed in defeat. The grey clouds hovering over her head were almost palpable.

Anna stepped towards her. The girl looked up sluggishly.

“What do you want?”

Anna hesitated, but not for long. She couldn’t stand to see someone so down when she had so much happiness within her. She cautiously sat beside the girl, hoping that her intentions would be recognised.

“I want to hear your story,” she replied.

The girl laughed, but it carried a hint of bitterness in it. Anna touched the girl’s shaking shoulder in a weak attempt to comfort her. The girl leapt away. Anna recoiled as though she had been slapped.

“You want to hear my story!” she exclaimed. Anna flinched. Maybe the girl had misunderstood her.

“I’m just trying to help!”

The girl cut her off with a growl. “Meat.”

Anna didn’t understand. “You want food?” she asked.

The girl hung her head. There was a faint sound of clicking in the distance. Anna waited for the girl to say something before she tried again. It was like taming a wild animal. She made sure to pour her heart into her words.

“Let me hear your story. Please. Let me know how I can help.”  

“You… can’t help”

The girl grinned, her eyes glinting black behind her hair. Claws were growing out from her neck. There was something inhuman about her voice. There was a loud crack as her feet twisted.

“I’m dead.”

There was a shriek. A cry for help before the road went quiet.