Author: MB
Challenge: Strawberry #26 - rug; Flavor of the Day - violescent
Rating: R
Word Count: 226
Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5


Liesl was having trouble walking. She must have hit her head harder than she'd thought. She was making her way to Queens, to her apartment. She somehow felt that it would be safer there. She'd spent the last half-hour dodging patrols of bird-men, who seemed to take no interest in her. Twice, she had feigned death when no hiding place was to be found, and by her estimate, the move had saved her life.

She tried not to think of her fiancé, Max. She'd seen him die, and yet she couldn't quite accept it. Foggy memories flitted like butterflies through her head. Their first date, as two high school freshmen trying to talk about anything at all. Their first night together, as college sophomores who had lied to their deans about going home for the weekend, going halfsies on a cheap hotel room, instead. Their last night together, when they'd laughed about the violescent stain of Merlot on his white area rug. They would never make another memory.

She suddenly had no idea where she was, or where she was going. Her headache had worsened, and all she remembered was that she'd hit it. She slumped against the side of a nearby building, burying her head in her hands. She was tired. Too tired, she felt, to continue on. So she closed her eyes and waited.