Nanowrimo Project 2: Untitled Mystery

Prequel

Yellow rain boots squeaked on the sodden grass of the Elmview Children's Playground. The sun streamed through the slide making the ground beneath it shaded crimson. The air had the heady scent of spring that often accompanies quick showers of rain in early April. Elizabeth Roth, a small girl for her age stomped and skipped through the puddle ridden playground. Her parents found her to be a sensible and responsible 9 year old and allowed her the freedom to make the two block walk between their home on Emerson Drive and Kennedy Elementary school.

The playground was nearly abandoned due to the promise of another rainstorm. A Disney princess backpack and flower print umbrella were strewn between the monkey bars and the swing set. Running around in circles she jumped up onto the revolving merry-go round and let her head hang off of the side. Her blonde hair flew in a yellow streak as she spun. As she spun, a flash of pink caught her eye. She flipped around digging her rubber boots into the gravel underneath the merry go round. Straying from the playground, Elizabeth moved toward an object in the bushes that ran in front of the embankment of Scheuler's Creek. Bending over she extended her hand toward the ball in the bush.

A grotesque squelching, swishing noise caused the muscles in her back to stiffen. Her eyes widened in terror as she looked at the figure in front of her. A large mud covered hand clasped a sweet smelling cloth to her face. Elizabeth's eyes blinked as they grew dim, she felt her body moving and then nothing.