Through the Looking Glass

When I was born, I was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. Anemia -- 30% of women my age suffer from it. Having AB- blood doesn't help either, because of the rarity of the type. I have to have a very specific type of transfusion from a universal donor ... but you did not come here to read about that. Unless you did, in which case, I'll keep talking. My name is Melody. I'm 22 years old. My hair is brown and my eyes are pink. My blood type ... well, I mentioned that. I'm five foot two (157.4cm). My parents are Gilbert and Ida. I live in the United States, and I work at a cushy office job where I, thankfully, don't have to do much that is strenuous. I take iron pills alongside my breakfast every week, to try to strengthen my blood. I live by myself in an apartment complex that only houses women! I have a cat named Tomato. He's orange, and I love him to pieces. 

By all accounts, I'm normal. I like going on dates, and shopping for clothes, trying on the newest clothes at the thrift store, and hanging out with my friends. So why did this happen to me? I was relaxing after driving home one night when I started to smell burnt plastic. Thinking that I had left something on my apartment's stove, I stood up a little too quickly, and felt my vision spin. I stood there for a second or two before going to my kitchen where -- This is the part where it sounds like I'm lying, so pay close attention, okay?

I saw a ... thing. A thing that was growing larger and larger out of thin air, right against my fridge. It shimmered in colors unknown to humans and it hurt my head to look at. It stayed flat at first, but as the circular shape widened, the smell of fresh water started to flood my nose. Bewildered, I grabbed some tongs, and tried to pry the hole shut. But it latched, and fast, onto my fridge and slipped inside!

I heard Tomato meow on the other side of the ... hole in reality, and my brain stopped thinking. I threw the door open and yelled, "I'm coming!!" The fridge's contents were gone -- and soon enough, I was also going to be gone. Wind started to blow through my apartment! Faster and faster, until I too, was stumbling into the fridge. I heard the door shut behind me as the wind pulled me downwards, and then, SPLASH. Right into a lake!

I struggled to the surface and then to the shore, gasping hard, wringing out my hair as I tried to gather where I had ended up! The hole behind me had closed, and now I was knee-deep in lake water with no sign of my cat ... But I heard him meow from further down the shore, so I powered through. My mind was racing. How was I going to get my iron now? Did this place have free health care?! Wherever it was ... I scanned the horizon. The green trees and the glistening moon above cut a dark path before me. The clouds parted and as the moon graced me with her presence, I had a sinking feeling of despair! 

There was only one way out now, and it was through the woods. Shivering in the cold night air, I hugged myself as I went, wondering if I could snag one of the lanterns on the path. The gnarled tree roots and chattering bats guided me.

"Tomato! Where'd you go? Tomato!"

No response. But then, I heard him mew like he was getting head scratches! I raced forward and into a clearing, and saw a woman wearing a long, deep red gown with black lace and black ribbons holding up the bodice. Her long, crimson hair hid her face from view. That is, until she turned to look at me and the brows on her pale face rose nearly into her hairline! I stood there, shivering in the cold and unknown, and swallowed hard. Her red eyes scanned my face, and then my cat's expression. Tomato was happily purring away, glad to have found me again. He leapt onto my shoulder, like he had many times back home.

"H ... hi."

"What ..." She said with an airy tone to her voice, "Are you wearing?"

I looked myself over. A very wet sweater, some jeans, and I had lost a slipper. I looked back up, and she was approaching! There was a glittering golden tiara on her head from what I could see in the darkness, with rubies as red as the rest of her.

"I'm Melody," I managed to choke out before she was upon me. She grabbed my wrist and ...

... put it up to her nose?!

"You're an AB- ..." The strange woman said, "And you've got some low iron. Is that right? Oh, my manners."

She dropped my arm as I stared at her in bewilderment.

"I'm princess Scarlet Bordeaux, and you're NOT from around here!" 

"I--"

"Shh, shh. Well, it won't do for you to stay in the cold all wet like that! You'll have to come to castle Bordeaux with me! You're about my sister's size, she can spare some warm clothes for you. Come on!"

Scarlet lifted her skirts and petticoats and began the trek to the crimson castle in the distance. I looked at Tomato, who meowed at me. What other choice did I have?

I followed her, against my better judgement. But little did I know what I would be getting myself into ...