Through the Big Blue Box

Chapter 1 - Alice

    “Goodbye, Alice,” Matt Winthrop said, exiting the restaurant.

            Alice got up; ready to scream terrible things at Matt, but (probably for the best) she just sat down, tears already starting to come to her eyes. Alice and Matt had been together for about a year, and Alice had genuinely loved him. Now that she thought of it, she could name many bad qualities about him, especially that he had heartlessly broke up with him in the middle of a crowded restaurant during the seven o’clock rush – honestly she’d rather be broken up with over a text where she could just cry at home without feeling so embarrassed around these people.

            So, grabbing her purse, she ran to the bathroom. Then she heard a scream. Then she realized there were two pairs of feet in the stall next to her. Then she saw that only one pair was human, and in a second the human pair was gone.

            As quietly as possible, Alice left the stall, eyes still red. She saw a man in there, with a glowing stick-thingy. This was what made her scream. The man swore and pushed Alice out of the door.

            “Everybody! There’s some… thing in there! There’s a monster in the bathroom!” Alice screamed, but everybody just looked at her, and some laughed. That was the point at which the monster thing, which had two feet with three scaly toes and big fat belly that was green and gross. It had a grotesque face with three eyes and large mouth. Everyone in the restaurant ran out. Alice was near the door when the monster picked her up.

            “This your companion this time, Doctor?” the monster said.

            “Let go of her!” the man yelled. It looked like the man was trying to figure out what to do when Alice’s purse dropped.

            “Yes!” the man cried as his whole face lit up. He immediately opened Alice’s purse and looked through it, finally pulling out her ancient iPod. He took his glow stick and pointed it at the headphone slot in the iPod and it made a terrible sound that made the monster drop Alice. The man caught her and put her on the ground, before blasting the monster with a nearby gun and making it disappear. As soon as the monster was gone, the man turned to Alice, eyes filled with worry.

            “Are you okay?” the man asked. He was scarily close to Alice; she could feel his body heat on her skin and it was weird. Alice was socially awkward, especially with touching, but this felt kind of good. He seemed warm with a shot of adrenaline.

            “Yeah, I’m fine.”

            “Oh my god, did this happen today?” the man said, pointing to a few of Alice’s various bruises, “God human’s bruise fast…”

            “No, it’s from awhile ago. Thank you… uh, who are you?”

            “The Doctor,” he said, sticking out his hand, “and you?”

            “Alice Lively,” Alice said, getting up gingerly, as the doctor pulled in his hand and helped Alice up.

            “Thank you, doctor,” and Alice got up, limping the slightest bit as she headed toward the door.

            It was already nine at night and dark outside. So Alice headed home. The doctor left soon after her.

            “Hey, Alice, are you alone?” he called to her, she nodded. He ran to catch up to her.

            “Well, I’m headed this way, too, so why don’t we walk together!” he suggested.

            “Sure,” Alice said, smiling, “So what’s your real name, Doctor?”