The Caller

          The ache in my head is the first red alert I reacted to. My hand reaches for the back of my head finding a nice sized knot.

          A memory of walking in the forest after wrecking my car flashed the instance my hand touched the bump. The uneasy feeling of being followed was ever present. The feeling quickly vanishes into nothing.

          I have returned to the present only to be freaked out by the fact that I just saw something that must have happened a short time before. Never in my life have I experienced something that crazy.

          Slowly I look around to try and place where I am at and to try to forget what just happened but all my eyes focus on is red. Everything is red. I must have gotten hit harder than I thought.

          I try blinking to clear my sight but it doesn’t work. I rise slowly to search around and discover what I’m surrounded by. Walking up to one of the strange objects, I can make out a phone inside what looks like a box of mostly glass. I’ve never seen anything like it but I look around and see hundreds of them surrounding me.

          Nothing tonight seems ordinary. I was on my way to meet my boyfriend and wind up in this strange place filled with strange telephone filled boxes. I think to myself that if I ever find myself out of here I will never drive somewhere I’ve never been before.

          I turned to leave, to try and find some help, when I hear a faint ringing noise. Startled, but curious I walk towards the noise. I stop when I see a lone blue box similar to all the others except, for color, lit up. Inside the box is a telephone that is ringing.

          Reality checks in right before I open the door to answer the phone. I’m suddenly aware that I’m in the middle of nowhere, a telephone in a strange box is ringing, and I’m fixing to answer it. Something is definitely wrong with them picture.

          While I’m thinking these things, the ringing stops. I turn to leave, relieved that I no longer fill obligated to answer the mysterious call. I only get about a foot away when it starts ringing again, this time I run to the phone and pick it up. I’m answered by silence for a brief moment until I hear, “It’s time you join in my crusades, Red.”

          Instantly, I know who it is and fear emerges from a place so deep inside. I now know that Cinderella has found me and this time I won’t get away.