Ma puce

The hum of the car lulled her out of her sleep, the light flashing over her eyelids, making everything look red before the light would fall away again, leaving her back in darkness from behind her eyelids.

Her head felt like someone had washed against a curb before putting it back together and then hitting it with a bat one more time.

She opened her eyes, pinks, blues and yellows in swirls greeted her. She blinked a few times before realized it was a scarf of sorts covering the sunroof of the car. The light streaming through it.

She felt her skin prickle with small bumps, she heard someone roll the window down, the cool breeze washing over her.

She lifted her head slightly, feeling her head and body protest.

She was in nothing but shorts and what looked like a bandana wrapped around her chest. The light floating the scarf making her skin look pink, as it filled the space.

She pushed herself on to her elbows. She glanced down at herself once more as she noticed small doodles, some with paint, other markers. She didn’t remember how she got them.

She felt something soft beneath her. The wind through the window lifted her hair up into the air.

She was laying on top a pile of blankets and pillows, the colors ranging from tie dye to black blankets with stars embroidered. The pillows looked liked they were hand made, some with patches, others shaped like a lop sided star with a smile on it.

She winced as she tried to twist her head more to look before she let her head rest back down.

She felt like she should have been more concerned about where she was, but she felt weirdly too relaxed and yet sore to move.

She closed her eyes again, the car wheels moving along the road. Humming and singing her back to a space where she could fall asleep again.

She turned slightly, the blankets rubbing against her cheek. The blankets smelled like a mix of skunk…but also lavender. Her nose scrunched up before she heard the shift of limbs.

She heard something rub against leather before she opened her eyes, a woman in a long skirt and tank top crawling over the car seat towards her.

She tried to lift her head to move away, only for the woman to smile, her hair dreads falling in front of her face before she leaned closer.

“OH good, you're awake Ma puce”

The women said, as she reached for something off to the side.

She could hear the women jewelry clink together, her arms littered in small bracelets and bigger hoops of stone.

She couldn't help but think to her that maybe she had been kidnapped by some hippies, who stole her clothes.

The woman pulled out a cookie tin, she pop it open and she could see bandages poking out.

“You hit your head pretty hard last night…good thing me and Lucy were there” she spoke, with a soft accent…French.

The women moved closer before gently waving her hand in the air.

“who…are you?” She heard herself say, but it didn't sound like her voice. It was rough and hurt.

The women only smiled before leaning back on her heels as the car swayed slightly.

“You can call me whatever you like, but most tend to call me Fleur”

Fleur then moved closer, her dark dreads falling over her shoulder before moving her ring covered fingers closer.

“what's yours Ma puce?” she asked, grabbing the star shaped pillow.

She had to blink a few times before answering, her voice and head protesting further “Anna…” her voice croaked out as Fleur smiled.

Fleur grabbed the cookie tin before moving behind Anna.

Fleur then moved gently lifting Anna's head into her out lap, as she looked down. Her dreads hang down, creating a curtain around their two faces like a tunnel.

Fleur studied Anna's face, before bringing her thumb up to her mouth a licking it, bringing it back down against Anna's temple, making Anna's mouth twist in disgust.

“what-”

“shhh relax, I am a certified healer~”

Anna felt the relaxation melt away, her limbs feeling more tense as Fleur leaned closer. A waft of lavender filling the air, the rolled down window pushed her dreads back before Anna felt the car turn, making her head wince as Fleur kept her eyes on Anna.

“Your chakras are very misaligned, but don't worry I'll fix that.” Fleur said as she gently pushed Anna's hair back.

“it's like fate really” Fleur continued as her fingers wove through Anna's hair, making Anna's neck tingle.

“fate?” Anna repeated as Fleur noted

“last night you and your group of friends stopped by me and Lucy's tent… they pushed a cup into your hands, and then another and then when you tripped and hit your head, they scattered, but we stayed”

She explained, twirling Anna's hair in her fingers “Lucy used to be a n EMT and I have my crystals, so we fixed you up”

Anna only narrowed her eyes.

“Where are my clothes and where the hell are we going”

Fleur only smiled “well those jeans didn't look comfortable and you were covered in mud, thought you'd feel more comfortable the way mother nature intended…and we're heading to some friends, who will help me get your Chakras back in place.”

‘Holy shit. I was kidnapped’ Anna thought as she tried to push herself up, only for Fleur to ease her back down.

Fleur could feel Anna tense, and could practically feel the gears move inside Anna's head.

While Anna tried to remember what happened the night before and what she was going to do about her classes…no wait…yes. It was summer break, no classes.

She winced again as she tries to remember who she had been with and why…she had plans…get a job and work up the courage to drive…she had shit to do…not deal with this hippie lady.

But Fleur only leaned forward, Their faces inches apart “just breath, let your mind rest”

Anna wanted to jump out the car.