“Oh you’ve done it now,” the voice whimpered. “Quick, get the towels. You need to stop it before it reaches the detectors. If they sense anything’s amiss, the examiners will be here. We’ll never get to spend any time together.”
A gentle pressure on Sophie’s cheek inspired her to action. She grabbed one of the dirty towels and started to wipe the wall. The bubbles popped louder and louder. Fumes wafted into her face. Her eyes burned and tearsstung her face.
“That will not do. Now get back. Let me take care of this.” The towels jerked from her hands. They flew against the wall, moving viciously against the bubbles that grew.
Sophie backed up, thinking she would make a run for the elevator, but one of the towels snapped out with a splat. It landed on the floor in front of her, blocking any retreat.
“No, no, no,” the voice screeched. “I try to help, and you want to leave me alone here.”
Another towel pulled away from the bundle. It stopped in front of Sophie, to stretch out with such speed, she was sure it would hit her in the face. Instead it stopped not more than an inch from her nose. The white tip, with flecks of something brown-black, wavered and pointed at her.
“I…I’m sorry.” Sophie froze, not able to make herself move one way or the other. She gawked at the towel as wavered halfway between ceiling and floor.
“That’s easy for you to say. Now prove it. Get back over here and brush that thing against the wall.” The towel jerked toward her, then flowed out to wrap around her right wrist and pull. Much as the towel had, Sophie snapped around. Without letting up, it pulled her back to the wall where the other towels moved on their own.
Pop, Pop. Froth grew, then burst as the towels slapped against it. Finally the bubbles lost the battle. The final one burst. All the residue was mopped up, absorbed by the white-brown cloth.
“That’s better. Now let’s get to the toilets.”
The towel that had pulled Sophie down the hall dragged her into the women’s restroom. The door of the first stall slammed open. Cleanser flew off the cart, almost hitting her in the head as it went past. It tipped up. White powder turned blue as powdery contents emptied into the water. The toilet flushed. The second door slammed open. The same thing happened after Sophie was pulled to act as witness of the magnificence of whatever creature the voice belonged to.
With all the stalls cleaned, the towel pulled Sophie back into the hallway. Another gentle pressure pushed her against the wall. A heaviness on her shoulders maneuvered her to a sitting position.
“Now we can get to know each other.” The soft female voice giggled.
Before Sophie could argue or find an escape, a form began to materialize. At first grotesque, it solidified into a familiar form. Sophie gasped. It was almost like looking into a mirror. Long blond hair pulled back into to a bushy ponytail bounced with a firm shake of the familiar head.
“How?” Sophie asked.