[ FF ] - 250 Words ; 2 months Reddit Gold prize

Rose ran across the grounds with the speed and enthusiasm that can only be mustered by the young. 
 
 `` It's incredible! It's so big! Was this a princess's house?'' 
 
 Her mother and father chuckled mildly at their daughter as they craned their necks to take it all in. Before, they could have never have afforded such a place; it was something to be dreamed of, but never attained. But things were different now, changed since the war. Once proud houses stood like grand aristocratic husks, devoid of life. They sat silently in empty streets, waiting for people to come and fill them up again. 
 
 For the dilapidated mansion that seemed to spread itself in every direction, those people where young Rose and her parents, opportunistic and bold. Rose ’ s mother slipped her hand into the warm embrace of her husband's, smiling wearily at him as his expression mirrored hers. 
 
 “ It ’ s finally over, ” she dared to say. 
 
 He was about to reply when he realized they had lost sight of their daughter. 
 
 “ Rose? ” 
 
 “ Daddy, back here, I found something! ” came her tiny voice from the other side of a thick hedge. 
 
 They wrestled their way through and found their daughter atop a snub, bullet-shaped monstrosity buried halfway deep in the unkempt grass. Rose sat wedged between two large fins on either side of it. 
 
 “ What is it, Daddy? ” 
 
 Her father ’ s eyes bulged in fear as her mother screamed. 
 
 “ Rose get off there, right now! ” 
 
 But it was already too late. 

