The teddy bear.
Darkness, it surrounded her like a blanket. Covering every nook and cranny of her sight. She moved without patience trying to get out scratching and clawing whatever surrounded her. A light suddenly shown from the dark, faint but present. She moved towards it. She crawled out from beneath the wreckage of a building dusty and cold. Scraping her knees on the rocks and glass strewn on the ground around her. She did not feel the pain. Fire burned nearby, muffling her sense of smell. She stood and started walking away from the wreckage but paused. A teddy bear laid partially burned and covered in dirt on the ground. She cocked her head and on impulse leaned over to pick it up. She stared at it for a moment, thoughtless but unwilling to let it go. She looked up, the moon high in the sky illuminated the darkness of the city around her. She turned away and walked, seemingly endless steps. Wondering, looking but unable to find what she needed. She doesn’t remember herself, but she knows she is searching for someone. The ratty old teddy bear, clinched in her hand, dragged on the ground, one of its button eyes missing and the name Abby hand stitched into the bear's old fur. Step by step she walked waiting to find what she sought but couldn’t. “Abby!?” A shout in the distance made her turn. “Abby?! Where are you sweetie” she moved towards the sound dragging her injured foot, blood dripping down it. She quickened her pace with each step. Her dress torn and faded, once bright yellow flowers were now pale from time. Blood and dirt matted her hair to her face but a pink bow still clung to her head. “Abby please?!” The sound grew louder. She shuffled her feet quicker. Could this be what she was looking for? Adrenaline started filling her. She turned the corner and the street light illuminated her in the dark. The street was littered in debris, broken glass filled windows of each building and new growth and vines created cracks in the concrete. “Abby?…..” the man paused, stunned. He ran to her, gripping her tight in his arms and squeezing her, lifting her from the ground. “I can’t believe I found you.” He Sobbed and tears fell freely down his cheeks. “ I love…” then he went silent. As her teeth sank deep into his neck, she tore apart his veins, and devoured him. With each bite she felt more relief from the urges, more relief from the long forgotten senses she now lacked. He gurgled, ecstasy filled her as she continued chewing on the flesh of the man, she dropped her teddy bear to the ground. Dust blew out from the impact thickening the air. He screamed in agony then fell still. A silence that felt like an eternity consumed her then he collapsed to the ground. She huddled over his dead body, looking , waiting, still chewing her last bite of his flesh, savoring it. Blood dripped from her mouth. A drop from her chin landing smoothly on a gold locket hanging from her neck. It opened slowly, and the man's photo fluttered out, taken gracefully by the wind never to be seen again. The lifeless eyes of the man suddenly flicked open . His body shook then went still. He blinked then stood, moving her from his chest. Looking confused and feeling hungry he glanced at the bloody girl. She looked back still chewing his flesh and blinked. She grabbed his hand and they walked away. Leaving the teddy bear behind they began to search again.
