Laura Hollis

Now my mascara running, red lipstick smudged

              Interesting little thing. From what she could recall, the girl was rather foolishly brave. Had gotten a number of people killed in her quest for the ultimate, happy, stupid little life. She could recall the Dean’s sneers about the girl –moppet, as she had been called. Danny could see it now, as she refused to run away even as Danny advanced.

Before Laura could respond, the rapidly diminishing space between them disappeared as her back pressed against the cold wall, both of Danny’s hands coming to rest against the wall on both sides of her body. A small part of mind was screaming that she should have ran. That she shouldn’t allow Danny to get this close. 

But...but it was Danny. How was she suppose to turn her back on her friend? On the person who had died helping her. Something was wrong with Danny. Laura could sense that something wasn’t right. But she wasn’t going to run away. Not anymore. 

    Watching the fall of the first – almost – hopeful smile Laura had worn in weeks felt like the demise of something bigger. She’d been the one to start the rebellion on Maman’s fully waged war. She’d been the one to make countless mistakes and battle for their resolution. And now what? They were stuck, cowering in some haunted, cadaverous room underground for the foreseeable future. Waiting for a change in the weather.

She poked at the bag of breadcrumbs. She had spent the last hour ripping apart little cakes that they had found in the vending machine down here. An hour ago her idea had been excellent. Now it sounded stupid and pointless. Of course there was no way breadcrumbs could get them out of this mess. 

     Breaking away from the hug, she crossed her arms over her chest, pursed her lips, and furrowed her brows. Features too harsh. Too calculated. Ok. Maybe she wasn’t letting Raggedy Ann have complete control…but she’d let her believe so. 

    Breadcrumbs. Surely this was the worst idea anyone could ever hope to pick up from some old Grimm fairy tale. The worst and the most idiotic, if one remembered the nature of such stories and their twisted origins. Carmilla simply shook her head, face half hidden in her palm.

Well...when she put it that way. Laura lowered the bag of breadcrumbs, her proud smile falling. While her intention was to use the breadcrumbs to keep them from getting lost while exploring, the idea of something unfriendly following them was a very solid possibly.