Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2014 20:30:22 GMT
Cold air filtered in and swirled around her lungs. Filled up her just to ease her down. A dull light danced on the back of her eyelids even as she stood in silence listening only to the chatter of the wildlife, chirruping and discussing amongst themselves. A world beyond, a world apart. Back home things were settling into normalcy. Firefighters have a rotating schedule, one that Sean was already well into his second week back to. It was a way to make it so that no one person has to work the same shift, on the same days, a way to prevent over exhaustion. Mr. Miles had left for the night shift over five hours before. The sun had gone down and the woods had been calling to Mina more and more and more. The need to get away from the house, from the room and the confined space and just stretch her legs out. She had spent far too long lying in beds. But this was the first time she got this primal urge at night.
The biggest problem with her little journeys deep into the trails of the Beacon Hills forest, was that she wasn't exactly supposed to be going anywhere, much less the dark and creepy woods filled with god know what. Her father (and yes he was just looking out for her health) still affirmed that she should be under medical house arrest at least for another few weeks. Disregarding the fact that the girl was fit as a fiddle for someone who had just gone through traumatic surgery. She probably should have been using more caution.
But for the moment she experienced no trouble. She was well versed in keeping her heart rate down, several years of therapy let her know all the triggers and all the releases. So when she was told by the doctors that the new heart could cause issues or some of her old symptoms could still show up for the first couple months, she was prepared.
But not exactly for this.
During the day, trees, trails, and leaves were just that. A place that was easy to lose yourself relaxing. But at night, it lent itself to something sinister. The darkness ate the peace. So Mina did not exactly know why she found herself at the edge of the wood, flashlight in hand. Didn't even stop to think to bring her dog with her. Spike wasn't the best guard dog but he looked pretty damn intimidating. Her heart beat was a slow and rhythmic drum with which her feet fell in time. In a daze, she stepped forward, deeper and deeper in. Following a lost instinct to be among nature, or a memory of running wild.
The stars loomed overhead, watching her every move. Steps taken in care. Not a twig snapped underneath her, nothing broke her trance. Her footfalls sped in time with her heart. From a brisk walk to a jog, and then to a full out run. Her muscles bounced and burned with the heat, her body not used to the physical activity. Before long she was so engrossed in the run that she hadn't noticed just how far she'd gotten into the woods. But something in there flipped switch, and everything went upside down. A sharp and painful ringing caught her in her tracks. The stop in momentum took her right off her feet.
Mina’s hands rushed to her head clutching at ears that felt like fire. It felt like she was hearing everything at once. Every cricket, every frog, all the creatures that stirred at night, cars too, speeding in the distance, but it sounded like they were roaring right next to her. Her heart was not so quiet anymore. It bombarded in its cavity with heavy beats until its sound drowned out everything else.
She couldn't help by cry out in the pain.
'Breathe. You need air.' She lifted her hands above her head as she'd been taught. 'C'mon Mina, just breathe.' She knew she had to calm down she was having some sort of panic attack. It wasn't always that easy to stop your mind mid fight. The world around her was spinning, and she knew she was on the ground but she could hardly tell which was was up. Her sore attempts at catching some air graduated into longer deeper inhales and exhales. Stopping herself from hyperventilating before it really started. The heart seemed to have a mind of it's own, and did not want to give up. But Mina was a fighter. She gritted her teeth and tried to sit up straight, still taking long, deep, breaths.
Minutes passed before she came to. Really came to. Took in stock of her situation and surroundings. The realization that she had no idea where she was didn't help her calm down. Had she even been able to see, this was a part of the trail she wouldn't be able to recognize. She gnawed at her lip, whimpering and holding back the tide of dread again. How did she get out here? Where even was here?
There was only one thing she knew for sure, she had to at least try and stay calm. Flipping the panic switch now was not going to help her out.
