ALL OF THEM.

"Really, Mia. You've been here a dozen times. Couldn't you find your way?"

Surely, she would be late. She may arrive by foot, no less. Mama would not be pleased about that, leaving the old Jaguar out in the wild, unattended. But there was nothing to be done. The car was surrounded by what her 8th grade science teacher would likely call enormous cilia, a pulpous growing field of pink protuberances.

They had spread and grew the further in she drove until it became quite clear that a hasty exit was required. With a heavy sigh, Mia pushed through the vibrant flesh-like tubers and hoped that nothing popped beneath her stilettos, putting this beautiful Vuitton outfit in danger. The viscous feeling she had against her legs and gloved hands suggested that such a thing was unavoidable.

She heard the creaking of metal and glanced back to see the things envelop the car even further, crushing it against itself, pulling it down to God-knows-where. Mother will be very upset indeed.

She took another struggling few steps and then cursed out loud as a tentacle wrapped around her handbag and snatched it from her grip. Her cellphone was in there, along with an engagement ring. Armond would have been such a delightful husband, perhaps even a better father. But it was not meant to be. Today was her first outing after mourning for what felt like an entire empty, cold, tired lifetime of sadness. As if there were any other kind.

A mascara tear dripped down Mia's cheek, mind flooded with memories. Nothing to lose, she thought, and crossed her hands over her chest, falling backward.

When she awoke, it was dusk. She looked for the car but it was gone. She did not recognize this place until she spotted a light ahead, shining through a stained glass window. It shone through the bathroom of her parents' cottage, miles from where she had given up.

She exhaled through her nose, the cold showing as much, then brushed at her skirt before adjusting her shoes and stockings. Pulling her hair from its disheveled bun, she walked toward the house as if just recovering from a stumble on an icy sidewalk.

Of course it couldn't have been that easy, she thought, and never spoke of the incident to any living thing but her cat.