Run, Rabbit, Run [Closed]

[Autumn Buckland]

Autumn had decided it was time to go home.

Over the past year at Hammel, her unsettled feeling, her general homesickness and urge to wander had multiplied to the point where even Alice couldn't keep the girl at the school any longer. She'd spent the afternoon packing - simple things, bottled water, clothes for all weathers, and the books she'd gained from the school. A bus map she'd printed off at the local public library was in her left pocket, and a purse full of varied notes she'd saved from selling jewellery and blankets and flowers was in her right. There was a winter blanket in her bag, and indeed, even a small good luck charm stowed away in the bottom. She knew she'd need it.

Mr. Campbell had told her lots of stories on the way to Hammel about his unsuccessful attempts at escaping and going home, and while she'd smiled and even giggled a little at some of them, she'd stowed his failed attempts away for her own information. It was easier to do it as though she were going to the mall for the evening, but then if she went via the main entrance, she'd get asked about her bags. She'd chosen a lesser taken path - namely one out the third floor window via a very helpful vine, and then strode confidently out of the grounds with her arms wound around her beloved pitcher plant.

Whether the luck charm was working, or staff just didn't find her very interesting to look at, she managed to successfully disappear out of the school grounds and head quietly down into the evening cool of the town.

She needed to get to a dock. She had enough money to get to New York, she was sure of it. Autumn knew she'd have to barter her way onto one of the ships headed to Europe, then from there she'd have to find her way to Ireland. Maybe, if she was lucky, she could get on a ship going directly to her home country.

Either way, she now found herself in the downtown, and instantly her nerves throbbed through her. Trying to make herself as inconspicious as possible, she pushed through the evening crowds. It was just as she was passing through towards the bus stop, gazing wistfully at the exit, that she bumped, with a gentle thud into a short, grumpy looking man. "Sorry." She offered, moving out of the way.

She chewed on her lip, then squeezed the pitcher plant in her arms tighter, before edging closer to the bus stop.