He can still hear the Abbot's inebriated singing as he steps down from the stool and turns away from the window. The glass door mocks him at with it's simple message - TRY AGAIN - a message that denies him the validity of the name he'd thought to be his own.

Now what do I do? he ponders, wandering back down the upper hall. As he shuffles along despondently, his eye catches one of the tapestries that line the wall. Slowly he approaches the hanging, as a vague hope rises slowly in his chest.

This tapestry is of a vast field of white poppies, backed by a thick wild forest that rises into the mountains in the distance. He traces a fingernail along the rough burlap surface and wonders: After all I've been through, perhaps I can escape into this tapestry!

Why not? He stares into the fabric and feels the colours expanding outwards to meet him… The colours surround him in an enfolding embrace, and yes, he believes that he is going in…

When he opens his eyes he is sprawled on the floor with the tapestry wrapped around him.

"What are you doing?"

He looks up. And sees the Deer Woman, whom he had met at the beginning of his journey.

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This has been the Eleventh Chapter of Act Two for my ongoing #freewrite serial story.

ACT TWO CHAPTERS

Chapter One *** Chapter Two *** Chapter Three

Chapter Four*** Chapter Five*** Chapter Six

Chapter Seven*** Chapter Eight*** Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Here is Chapter Twelve.

And here is the ACT ONE Chapter List, with all of the links for Act One.

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Written in five minutes from the writing prompt, "fingernail" as part of the #freewrite exercise. Image is by me as well. You can view the prompt here. Be sure to check out the other entries; but don't be too… picky. Thanks to @mariannewest for creating and running this well trimmed arrangement of literary hygiene.

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Writing and images by Greg McCann, the author of this post and owner of this Steemit Channel. To view more of my work, please visit www.fireawaymarmot.com.