the-eye-of-the-beholder FINAL TO SUBMIT

THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
“Hello,” I breathe into the microphone.
After a few counts of silence, I hear a voice.
“Abigail, listen to me. The vent behind you is about to unlock.
When it does, the security feed to your cell block and your
eyepiece will short circuit. I will guide you through the vents
and out into the street. Across the street is a bar named O’Neils.
I’ll be waiting for you there. Go now, hurry.”
My mind begins to race and flutter. Questions perform
circuitry laps within my brain and there is a distinct familiarity
to the voice. It is the voice of Abigail Ellen, and yet it is distorted
and different – its own unique birdsong.
Before I can contemplate any further, the magnetic lock on
the vent behind my head clicks and its casing flips open. The
camera droops. I feel a tingle in my eye as my eyepiece goes
offline.
“Go, Abigail, go,” the voice commands ominously from the
phone.
8