@flcshinglights , for el and luke bc adoption papers still need to be filled out
Leaves crumbled under the unsteady footsteps of a man fallen from grace. His wandering solely accompanied by soft noises one would only find in a forest and the blinding terror that kept behind his heels, glued to his every movement with no chance of oblivion. Weariness clawed at his mind, mixed itself with pain but the mere idea of what lay behind them kept him going. Further and further away, his determination seemed strong enough for him to be able to walk until his sole’s would bleed. But there was already blood running down his features, the crimson liquid staining his body, wandering over countless bruises and then it faded away from sight, hidden behind the body of a small child. Innocent and PURE the girl he held in his arms had deserved so much better, yet was forced to endure a never-ending torture. Their escape was necessary.
A groan fell from his lips, his body treacherous as it grew slower and slower, weakened from injuries old and new before he fully came to a halt. Hazel eyes, wide open with the desire to protect the girl in his arms, searched for something, anything that could help until they landed on a makeshift shelter. Tiny, too small for him but perfect for a child, stood the wooden house not too far away from them. RELIEF filled his lungs before it was all pressed out, its intensity chipping away on the burden Luke carried on his shoulders, giving just enough strength back to his limbs to carry on.
Yellow and red painted letters adorned the front, a bedsheet posed as door and although he felt a foolish sense of intruding someone’s privacy, he couldn’t help but fall on his knees and crawl inside. Their safety was more important, HER well-being was his top priority and during their escape, this was the next best thing to a hiding spot he could find with his sore muscles barely allowing him to move. At least it also ensured him that civilisation was close. “ Come on, Honey. ” His voice raspy, the words unused and yet his tone was barely above a whisper when gentle hands nudged the child in his arms. As expected the ‘ fort ’ was tiny, his long legs barely able to arrange themselves comfortably but it held coating and a mattress and therefore was more than he could’ve hoped for. Clever fingers dragged one of the blankets over narrow shoulders, covered frail arms but let the girl decide where to stay. He himself wasn’t cold, hadn’t been able to get cold for as long as he was with them and instead steadily spread a familiar heat that wasn’t his own. “ I think we can rest here for a bit. Just a short break before we get moving again. ”