Ramblings of the Soul (✅)

Would You Like A Balloon?

April showers and beautiful wild flowers were what made up most of Annalee June's normal days.
Normal days that would not remain that way.
Life is long, Life is strange, Life is peculiar in more than one way.
Annalee June hummed a soothing tune one night beneath the light of the moon.
The night was quiet, completely silent, but the woman appeared without a sound.

"Annalee June, would you like a balloon...?"

The woman was black in more than just skin tone.
Her skin, her hair, her mere existence was ebony as if she was sewn.
The moonlight failed to reflect off the strange lady, who was clearly more than a bit shady.

Who gives out balloons in the middle of the night in a meadow? Annalee June thought to herself.

However, Miss Annalee June of thirty-three was not rude to anyone, you see? Even if they were mysteriously giving away balloons in the middle of the night, Annalee June was not the judgemental type.
Even though unsettled and confused, how could the kind-hearted woman refuse?

"Yes, I will gladly take a balloon," smiled Annalee June as she clutched wild flowers in one hand and held out the other.

"Good, good, Annalee June! You are brave to take a balloon!"

Annalee June thought it was strange, but she took the balloon anyway.
The string was coarse, but she held no immediate remorse.

A balloon is a balloon, what could go wrong by accepting a simple balloon? Thought Annalee June.

Departing with a wave, the woman went on her way, away from the mysterious lady.
With the balloon clutched tight, Miss Annalee June felt alright.
She retrieved her usual wild flowers that had been watered by the sunny day showers, and afterwards recieved a balloon.
Annalee June loved her little balloon so much that on the way home she attached her flowers from the sunny day showers to the string.
Once she got home she placed the balloon in the corner in order to dress for bed.

Do you like the color red?

A voice whispered in her head.

Annalee June jumped with fright that would eliminate any sort of sleep that night.
She whirled around to find not a thing except for the balloon with wild flowers from the sunny day showers attached to its string.
Letting out a sigh and fighting the urge to cry, Annalee June turned from the balloon.

Do you like the color red?

The repeated words filled Annalee June with dread upon hearing it yet again.
She let out a frightened gasp and whirled around for the second time.

Please, do not fear Blenheim the Balloon, Annalee June.
I ask a simple question.
Do you like the color red?
Please, do tell me before you lie in bed.

Annalee June utterly froze.

Balloons do not talk! I must have went on too long of a walk! She thought to herself.

Running a hand down her face, she looked around.
Should she answer?

"The color red...?" she scratched her head. "Well, I do enjoy the red flowers from the sunny day showers, so yes. I do like red," she said.

Good, good, I am glad to hear.
Now, dear, may you come near?

Annalee June's eyes went huge.
How crazy must she be to be talking to the balloon she received from under the moon?!
Making a note to visit a doctor, Annalee June approached Blenheim the Balloon.

Color red is the color of the dead.

Without a second to scream, a crooked mouth full of jagged teeth spread across the balloon, tearing into Annalee June.

The shade of the dead looks lovely on your silken bed.
I bid you goodnight, Annalee June.
I cherish your answer to my simple question.
Your soul shall forever be my most precious possession.