Shardeth

A spray of loose gravel flew up from under the churning wheels of a pick-up truck, the metallic-painted machine retreating away. A lean figure was sprawled out on the yellow-brown grass that had been sucked dry of life by the fumes that lay heavy on the highway. A rip tore through faded blue jeans, loose fibers irritating a skinned knee. Fine lips grimaced as a trickle of blood dripped from her brow, covered by tussled brown hair that drew down to her narrow shoulders. Blue eyes glittered with annoyance, and the girl staggered to her feet, only to fall down to her knees once more. Staring after the truck, which was now too far out of her fiel