Red Tag by Ronin Bautista (Repost)
I challenged Ronin to come up with this last All Souls' Day. I really liked it. Happy Valentine's!
It was late at night and I had to get home when I remembered the tale of the red-tagged. So I rushed to the lift and made sure it closed right away. But I felt a cold touch from behind.
There was a red bracelet around the wrist that rested on my shoulder.
Then I fainted.
She’s pretty for someone pale. I woke up with my head rested on her lap and her face drew closer to mine; usually too close for comfort, but I didn’t mind.
“What happened?”
It was dark, but I’m sure I saw a smile, and I knew I was safe.
Until I realized that her breath was cold, so I pulled away.
Then there I was, I realized, back to the floor I was rushing to escape from moments ago, ogled by a woman clothed in white…
… and red-tagged.
“You’re warm…”
I could have moved, but I didn’t.
“You’re warm…”
Her soft, chilly hands crept from my hands to my cheeks, up to my ears - she moved closer as I sat still, cornered.
It was a cold night. But the hands caressing my face were colder.
“Make me feel warm…”
“I can’t…”
“Please?”
“But you’re…”
“Please?”
I couldn’t scream. Out of fear? Her soft voice rang on that basement floor corner, her eyes begging for the warmth that I couldn’t understand…
…like how her cheeks tinted red when I knew it couldn’t.
Then her arms went around me.
There was warmth in her icy lips.