Story: Perfect Match

"But my mommy says that I shouldn't play with you," the boy said.

"It's okay," it said. "She would not have left you with me, if she had."

"I don't know," said the boy again. "It kinda scares me."

"Don't be afraid," it said. "I won't hurt you."

The boy reached out to touch it, and brought his hand back just before contact.

"What's wrong?" it asked.

The boy frowned. "You promise it will be okay?"

A deep sigh issued from it. "Yes, it will be just fine."

The boy reached out again, and touched it lightly, before finally grasping it firmly and stroking it hard.

Frightened again, the boy dropped it.

It fell to the floor with a laugh, and said, "Now, child, run, run for your life. Run to your little bed, and hide under the covers."

He ran, as fast as his little legs would carry him, up the stairs and to his room. He leaped to his bed, and threw the covers over his head, crying loudly.

He fell asleep there, soundly, deeper than any sleep he had encountered before.




It was hot when he awoke.

He sniffled once, trying to clear out his nose of what was left from his cry earlier. Instead of clearing out his breathing, he soon found that he had a harder time.

Then he heard the voice, starting softly, but soon filling his entire world.

"See, child," it said, "see what happens when you talk to strangers? See what happens when you play
with things your mommy told you not to? You should have listened to your mommy, child."

A deep, booming laugh filled the room, as the heat and light converged around him, choking him, burning him, making him feel that his world was coming to an end.

"See what happens," it laughed, "when you play with fire?"