As she lay there, she just let her fingers run over the carpet ever so softly. It bristled against her skin. Soft enough to feel nice, but stiff enough to throw dust into the air when it snapped back into place. The particles dancing through the air - illuminated by the rays of sunlight that were pouring into the room from between the curtains. They looked like tiny grey snowflakes. A little puffier and a little more grey. Some swirled back into her nose, tickling the back of her throat - tempting her to sneeze. But she wouldn't allow it.
She couldn't allow it.
This was the final round. She had to win this one. They had been playing all day, going back and forth between one another. No room in the house was considered off limits. The games had started off as they always do. Closets. Cabinets. Behind open doors. But as the number of rounds increased - creativity needed to be utilized. Maybe laying behind some cushions on the couch. Tucking herself tightly beneath the covers of a bed. Contorting down inside of a laundry basket. Nothing seemed impossible and coming up with an idea was never too hard. Usually within the first few seconds of a round she'd know where she was going - tiptoeing and sliding across the floors in her socks, careful not to make the slightest noise.
But now, as she lay there, she was convinced she wasn't going to be found. As the intensity had increased she had tried something new. She went back to one of the oldest tricks in the book. Hiding underneath a bed. Yes - of course she had prepared, stuffing some toys and a blanket at her feet so that from the doorway she wouldn't be seen. Maybe, just maybe, it was too easy at this stage in the game and her competition would waltz right on by the room, assuming they needed to look somewhere harder. Lying there - chest against the floor, she breathed softly. Feeling her body fall and rise against the wood beneath the bed. She tried her hardest not to stir up anymore dust from the carpet in front of her. The last little puff was still tickling her throat, tears suspended in the corner of her eyes and she knew that the slightest noise - the quietest cough would give away her spot.
Then something very strange happened. Dust began falling down from above her. Into her hair. Onto her shoulders. Sprinkling her hands like a petite snow storm. Looking up, she could see the bottom of the mattresses indenting into the springs ever so slightly. Towards the middle of the bed. Curious - she reached up and poked it gently and the bump instantly moved. Just a little bit forward. But then it moved again. And again. From the middle of the mattress closer to the edge. Each time sending a cascade of particles down onto her until it finally stopped - reaching where it could not continue any further.
She waited. Held her breath. Listened.
Nothing. No breathing. No noise. No more movement. Maybe it had all been her imagination. But she knew who she was playing and knew they were clever. Sneaky. So she waited even longer. Not moving a single muscle in her body. Above her the bed had returned to normal. There were no more dust showers and no more movement. Ten minutes must have gone by before she felt safe and she let her curiosity get the best of her. Sliding out ever so slightly, she rolled onto her back to get a look at the top of the bed.
And there she was. Perched on the edge of the mattress, hunched over, yellow eyes gleaming down at her. The game was over. She had been found.
Although, she had to admit it wasn't so hard of a loss when her competitor's purrs filled the room.
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