The rain pitter-pattered around her as she walked through the alley's tunnel-like darkness. When the light from the street turned into shadow cast down by the tall buildings, she shivered. The dark did not frighten her; it was the icy chill of the water that crashed down from above that caused the involuntary movement. The long shirt she wore clung to her almost bony frame. Her rib cage could be seen under closer examination. Black hair, lank and heavy with water, would normally be curly if combed and maintained on a consistent basis. That basis was gone, and the hair framed what would be a lovely face if not for the fact that it was hauntingly gaunt with hunger. Weary blue eyes scanned the trash cans that lined the walls. Settling on the nearest one, she approached it, digging through it and casting off the pale white figure that seemed to be standing at the other end of the alley. Figuring it was some imagined apparition produced by hunger, she paid it no mind; for after it's second long appearance, it was gone. Slowly her vision began to blur and she paused in her work, focusing on clearing her sight with a series of blinks. Like an old fashioned movie, her world began to shift, until surprise made her take in all that had changed. She was in a ballroom; huge in it's golden-walled splendor. Bulbs in the shape of candles subtly flickering like real fire despite being brighter then the thing they emulated. Gigantic chandeliers dominated the ceiling, but couldn't diminish the beauty of the stars beyond them. Her hair was kept as it should be, black and voluminous in it's true form and flowing down her body like the flow of the light blue dress she wore. Fatigue, bony body, the chill of the night, and rain were all gone. Warmth flooded through her, she felt alert and her body filled the dress out perfectly. She soon realized that she was alone on the dance floor but not in the building. A quick look around showed that there were people there—hundreds perhaps, all watching her with a joy she couldn't fathom. Looking expensive in their suits and jewelry. Though they stood looking expensive in their suits and jewelry, But two of the people there stood out from the rest. They were her parents, smiling at her from the pillars that held up this magnificent structure. It was real love that emanated from across the room and towards her. A love that she hadn't felt since child hood, and never expected to feel again. Before she could even take a step towards it though, a cold touched her shoulder. Naturally she turned in that direction and when she did, she saw a familiar pale white trail of some ethereal fog that circled her fully. When she got back to her original point, the figure before her revealed itself to be the ghostly figure that she believed to have imagined earlier. So lulled was she by the comfort of having food, warmth and parents again, that she didn't think twice about letting the cold feeling man with a prince's charm and face dance with her. An easy 1-2-3 and small spin after the third count. She was smiling and so was he; dazzling smiles, for both had a natural beauty. And just as sudden as she was tossed into this world, she shivered. The effects of dancing with a man seemingly made of frost would do that too you. A question since she appeared here had been lingering in her head, and now that they stopped spinning, she was able to voice it. "Where am I?" She asked, puffs of visible cold appearing before the space that separated them. "The land of the dead, my sweet." The man answered as if it were the most normal place to be. His gaze was paralyzing, and his smile now had and odd look about it—one that she hadn't noticed before. Fear let her break his eye locking as they had resumed spinning again. Figures turned to skeletons right before her eyes, immaculately dressed skeletons but the living dead all the same. There was one more twirl in a full 360 and she was brought to his chest. Too horrified to talk, too stunned to pull away from the chilling embrace. "Yes, my dear. You are dead." -Fuzzy B. Inspired by "Creepy Doll". Made for, my best friend's birthday present. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I had making. Anyone may write what they wish about the story. Opinions about this story will not be silenced.
