I blink, turning my head around, then the other way.
One second ago, I had been pushing my shopping cart to my car. And then, in an instant, the world had ignited.
Except...no...it hadn't. This wasn't the world...the shopping cart, the parking lot, the whole shopping center were all gone. They had been replaced with new surroundings. It's a large, almost empty space. It's definitely indoors, with charcoal colored walls, and long scarlet banners decorating them. I look up and see a very large, ornate chandelier hanging above me, its crystals looking like they could fall on me like raindrops. Looking down, a maroon, plush, aisle runner leads...somewhere...but before I see where, I catch a glimpse of my body.
My skirt and sweater are gone, replaced with a sleeveless, sort of tan, robe. The material is not quite soft, but not uncomfortable, like a good quality towel. My blonde hair isn't tied back, but instead brushes against my face, the chin-length forming a curtain. I'm barefoot, and I feel them press into the soft carpet.
That's when I lift my eyes and see what this ruby road leads to. A large, deep violet throne with ornamental spines adorning it everywhere, like thorns on a poison rose.
And sitting in it, well, rather, lounging across it, is a woman. As I cautiously approach it, I start to make out more of her features. She is incredibly tall, not too curvy, but with a very full bust that seems to only want to escape her sleeveless, low-cut, garnet ball gown. Long, curly black hair falls on her shoulders, the bottom ringlets curling right around her navel. Her skin is almost a pure, snow white. She has high, protruding cheekbones, thin, arching eyebrows and thick, scarlet lips. A small, silver circlet contrasts sharply with her midnight hair.
I stop about fifteen feet from her throne, and I nervously call out. "Hello? Where am I?"
She chuckles, a low, rich, yet completely feminine sound. She makes a sweeping gesture across the space. "Where do you think, darling?"
My breath briefly halts, and I pray that she didn't notice. Instead, I look her calmly and firmly in her eyes and ask, "What's your name?"
She straightens in her throne, looking absolutely regal. "These days, I go by Lucy. Lucy Fir."
I narrow my eyes. "That is...just about the least creative name I've ever heard."
She smiles and sighs, shrugging. "I never did claim to be clever."
As she rests her hands back onto her lap, I notice, for the first time, that she is wearing elbow-length black gloves.
I feel my blood boiling and my hands curling into fists.
"Alright, listen, the reason I left the Catholic Church is because it is stupid, and evil, and causes-!"
"Oh, shut up!"
It's not loud, but it is powerfully commanding, and I immediately cease my tirade. She rolls her eyes and rests her left cheek into her left palm.
"This isn't, like, a religious hell. Sorry to burst your bubble, but there isn't one. You're here for other reasons, sweetheart. I'd suggest you make peace with yourself for that."
With those words, I feel small. I feel trapped, within my mind, within these walls, within her gaze. Her lips twitch and slowly form a tight, closed-lip grin. I rack my brain in search of words.
"Well then, why am I here? I didn't kill anyone, destroy anything, steal anything major, or anything like that."
She chuckles again, and I flush, feeling more and more like a fool who doesn't get the joke.
"I just
love