Alice’s heels tapped on the concrete path as she walked through the park. The night was heavy around her, the only light coming from the lamps lining the path. She clutched her long coat around her while her squirrely tail flicked, wondering if someone had known what was underneath and followed her from the bus. It was part of her instructions after all. She had to take public transportation and she couldn’t button the coat. She could have sworn the bus driver caught a glimpse as she paid for her ticket, or any number of passengers as she shuffled to her seat. It’s not like she could stay ambiguous with the constant buzzing inside her that surely gave her away to anyone passing close by.

As she neared the fountain in the park square, she saw a figure in a brimmed hat and long coat. It was just like he had described on the phone- though it was impossible to tell who it was with the shadow cast on his face and collar turned up. She walked up to him, head down in meek posture just as she had been instructed and swallowed as she worked up the courage to speak.After staring at the ground and fidgeting for an awkwardly long time, Alice managed to squeak, “I am yours… master.”

The figure shifted and Alice could feel his gaze upon her, glancing up at him but the light behind him left him silhouetted in the dark. When he spoke, it was in a gravely whisper that could have belonged to anyone. “You came as instructed?”

Alice nodded, unable to hide her blush as the heady rush began to mix with the realization that this was no fantasy. It was really happening.

“Show me,” it commanded.

-TB