H – Honeybee

This is a serialized story – be sure to read in order: from A (afterthought) to Z (zealous).

Courtney stopped with her mouth open. “Better close that before one of those,” Nash pointed toward a corner of the room, “flies in there.”

This time, the room was filled with flowers, hummingbirds, and honeybees. The air was fragrant with the scent the flowers. Courtney sat on a bench and closed her eyes breathing it all in while Nash studied the exit doors.

“I don’t know how they, whoever they are, did this, but I’m never leaving. This is my idea of heaven.”

Nash smiled as he studied the room and exit doors. “I don’t know either, but it is definitely intriguing. Two more lefts and we should be wherever it is we need to be.”  A grassy path led to the three doors. If he used the same logic, the red door should be next. “That one. Let’s go.”

Courtney crossed her arm. “Nope, not moving until you tell me what the heck this is all about. I jumped into this, um, adventure because you said you needed me to come with you. I had no gigs,” she shrugged, “so I figured, why not!”

Nash sat on the bench beside her. “I can’t really explain. It was something they said. Or maybe the way they said it.”

“Explain.”

“They told me when I got to the end of all this, it would be worth the struggle.”

Courtney leaned forward. “And you don’t have any idea who is doing this or why?”

“Nope. But they told me I would regret it if I didn’t play along with them.”

“Strange.” A hummingbird streaked across in front of her. “Someone went to a lot of trouble to set this all up.”

“I know, and a lot of money.” He stood. “Let’s keep going. Two more lefts…or is it one?”

“Hmmm, we turned right into the garbage room, then a right into the moving room. That makes this our first left, so two more.”

“See? This is why I needed you.”

She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the  “Then, let’s get going. I’m ready.”

Nash laughed. “I feel like we’re following the yellow brick road. I wonder what the next door will bring.”

Courtney stopped. “Let’s think about this for a minute. The first door was a dirty gray and it took us into filth. The second door was yellow and took us into the room that blinded us.”

Nash interrupted, “And moved!”

“Yeah. Then this one, it was a green door. Nature and serenity. I’m more than a little nervous about what a red door is going to bring.”

“Well, we’ll never know if we don’t open it.”

Courtney sighed, “Bring it on. I’m ready…I think.”

They both took a deep breath. Another door, another…who knows what behind it? The color of this door, blood red, was terrifying to them both. Another unknown awaited them.

“C’mon, let’s do this,” Nash prompted. “It’s just a door.”

Courtney repeated, “It’s just a door…”

Nothing prepared them for what was on the other side of the red door.

To be continued…