Red String - A Short Story

The Red String

"Anyway," Elanor said pointedly, turning her phone to face the table and popping a green bean into her mouth. "I've been having these crazy dreams ..."

Kira's eyes widened as she snapped her head up, suddenly uninterested in her makeup. She was more than a bit superstitious, and prided herself in her so-called ability to "decipher dreams" and "read horoscopes."

"I'm listening," she purred, leaning forward to look intently at her friend. El raised an eyebrow but continued.

"Well, it usually starts out where I'm running through this fog, and, um... the fog is thick. Like, really thick. And then I feel something, just, pulling on my hand. Like it's trying to lead me to something."

Kira's eyes widened. Elanor continued.

"And then... then someone starts... calling my name."

Kira responded with a dramatic intake of breath, evidently shocked by this confession.

El looked at her friend expectantly. "Well?" she asked, gazing up at the blonde. "Aren't you going to - I don't know - decipher my dreams, or something?"

Kira shrugged. "Actually," she began slowly. "That just sounds creepy. You got anything else?"

Elanor sighed. "Well, there's actually one more thing," She said. "Although, you're probably going to think I'm crazy if I tell you," she added sheepishly.

"Oh, honey, that ship's sailed," Kira said, waving her hand dismissively. "Go on."

"Ok, well," she began slowly, "I keep seeing this... red yarn sort of thing. And, like, it's only there for a second, and then when I blink or close my eyes, it just disappears."

Kira tapped her chin with the tip of her finger, apparently deep in thought. "Well, I have to say, El, this does seem very... peculiar," she said. "I'll do some more research later, but if I had to guess, it seems as if something - or someone - is looking for you."

 ____________________

Levi bobbed his leg up and down anxiously, running his hand through his dirty-blonde hair in frustration. He slammed his textbook closed, drawing annoyed glances from the other students in the library. Levi smiled apologetically. Swinging his backpack over his shoulder, he stepped out into the cool early-spring air.

He pulled out his phone and dialed his friend Devon's number.

"Let me guess," said the voice on the other line. "It's only your freshman year of college and you're already dropping out."

Levi rolled his eyes, unamused by his best friend's taunting. They had known each other for seven years, and Devon still felt the need to annoy him every chance he got.

"Hey, Dev," he sighed, holding his phone in place with his shoulder and chin while he fumbled in his pockets for his car keys.

"Whoa, man," Devon replied, laughing slightly. "What's up with you? You sound like someone just murdered your cat."

"I'm fine," he said, taking the mobile back into his hand and spinning his keyring around on one finger. "It's just... college isn't... all it's cracked up to be."

His friend chuckled. "Is this about... a girl?" he asked, and Levi groaned, rolling his summer-green eyes.

"No, this is not about a girl," he protested, slightly annoyed.