#progressss

I let them off of the chain this morning. Once the cuff was unlocked, they ran out of the bedroom and went straight for the front door. I don’t blame them for trying. I figured they would. That’s why I had it locked, too. 

Their shoulders sagged once they found that the door wouldn’t budge. They looked back at me timidly. I think they expected me to be angry with them. I wasn’t.

“Do you want to go outside?”

They seemed confused at the question. They gave a hesitant nod.

“Some fresh air sounds nice. Just watch your step, I wouldn’t want you to trip.”

I opened the door and gestured for them to pass. “After you.”

They slowly stepped out onto the porch, eyeing me as they crossed the threshold. I followed them down the stairs so I could stand with them as they took in the view. They always said that they loved the mountains. I hoped they would this time, too.

They stopped just before the drop-off. It was steep, not enough to jump, but it was much too treacherous to scale in the soft bunny slippers I’d given them to wear when they first arrived. 

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? I knew this place was perfect as soon as I saw it in person. It’s just like we always talked about...”

They turned to look behind the cabin and were met with a wall of pine and rock. No buildings, no wires, no roads. The single dirt path that lead into the yard resembled the lolling tongue of a great beast, its jaws wide open, biding its time until someone wandered close enough so it could finally strike and swallow them whole... it only had to be patient.

I took their hand after a few moments. “Come on, sweetie, let’s get you some coffee. The pot should be done brewing by now, and I still have to show you around the rest of the place. We can come back out later, okay?”

“Okay.”

They followed me back inside without another word, their hand still in mine.