[after 150ms]
If one were to judge from a glance at the situation, they would consider him an easygoing man.
[after 1000ms]
His appearance invited warmth—wool socks against the carpeted ground that reached towards his calves, leading to red plaid Christmas pajama pants fit for the season, which tucked in the fluffiest Christmas sweater in his wardrobe.
[after 1500ms]
However, there was something amiss about its face.
[[>>>->Opening]][after 150ms]
In rapid succession, each of the seven eyelids of the creature shot open, revealing the big black bulbous eye that sprang out towards Roxie, close enough for her little arms to reach out and touch the hideous thing.
[after 1000ms]
Spindly fingers caressed the cold telescoping eye like a spider spinning up its dinner. Only slow movements and micro adjustments came from those fingers.
[after 1500ms]
Her reflection fish-eyed in the black expanse of the singular eye.
[[>>>->Initial Reaction]][after 150ms]
She dared not to make contact.
[after 1000ms]
Roxie recalls just moments ago when her father was playing with her, tickling her on the stomach and letting her grip onto his slender fingers. He had just finished clothing her in a baby blue one-piece and a small beanie with the fuzzball on top for the cool weather.
[after 1500ms]
An atmosphere of giggling, warmth, and playfulness filled the room, but that all disappeared when he turned around. Gone was her father and in was the creature with the **big black bulbous eye**.
[[>>>->Movement]][after 150ms]
The creature moved aimlessly at Roxie's perimeter, bobbing as it drifted to its new location.
[after 1000ms]
With each movement of those spindly fingers, the telescoping eye engaged in a mechanical shifting back and forth with clicking sounds to accompany it. Squinting and opening its multi-layered eyelids, creating a pupil that could never decide its size.
[[>>>->Frozen]][after 150ms]
Roxie lay balanced on her back, her entire body frozen in place as not a single breath escaped her.
[after 1000ms]
Her crib, which was just previously a playground for her and her father, now imprisoned Roxie.
[after 1500ms]
Those wooden bars rose high as the creature crept closer. Roxie suddenly became aware of the chill in the air. There was no escape, not yet knowing how to proficiently operate her body, she could only hope that the creature would consider her unworthy prey!
[[>>>->Stalking]][after 150ms]
The big black bulbous eye hovered in place, stalking its prey like a tiger readying for the strike.
[after 1000ms]
The slender fingers have stopped moving. The mechanic shifting back and forth, the squinting too, have stopped.
[after 1500ms]
It stood suspended, observing with the scrutiny of a judge.
[[>>>->Anticipation]][after 150ms]
Roxie can only sit in anticipation of what's the come next.
[after 1000ms]
She wishes to cry, to alert her father, mother, *anyone*, of her fear. But every ounce of her body denies her. Instinct has taken over the little intelligence Roxie has so far accumulated.
[after 1500ms]
If she cries now, if she makes any movement, if she were to make even the slightest peep, that creature would most certainly devour her.
[[>>>->Cheese!]][after 150ms]
Under the big black bulbous eye of the creature, on the pale skin that holds thin lips, it bares its teeth, a contrasting white to the darkness of the eye above.
[after 1000ms]
A dreadful sound escapes the creature, "sheeez~," deep like the rumble of an earthquake yet quiet like a whisper.
[after 1500ms]
A singular finger twitches.
[[>>>->White Expanse]][after 150ms]
A blanket of dazzling white covers her vision. Roxie could no longer see even her own limbs.
[after 1000ms]
She appears alone, yet senses an invisible figure nearby.
[after 1500ms]
Is this the belly of the creature that devoured her? Is this death? Roxie did not possess the intelligence to ask these questions, but deep within her, call it intuition, the feelings bubbled up to the surface of her consciousness.
[[>>>->Faded]][after 150ms]
The dazzling white faded, leaving only a black spot near the center of Roxie's vision that followed wherever she gazed. It too faded soon thereafter.
[after 1000ms]
Revealed was a different, yet similar world. A world in which her father comes to save the day, the eye of the slain creature, discarded at his side.
[after 1500ms]
"Whoops," her father chuckled, "I had the camera flash on."
[[>>>->Tears]][after 150ms]
Roxie cried an agonizing cry, opening up her body to the embrace of her father. With a small, loving smile, he settled her on his shoulder and bounced her, soothing her soul.
[after 1000ms]
The big black bulbous eye sat on the nearby table. One by one, the eyelids closed and the telescope contracted.config.style.page.font: "Iowan Old Style/Constantia/Georgia/serif 18"
config.style.page.color: "#4c4139 on #e5dacd"
config.style.page.link.font: "underline"
config.style.page.link.color: "#4c4139"
config.style.page.link.lineColor: "#9a747f"
config.style.page.link.active.color: "#4c4139 on #9a747f"
config.style.page.header.font: "16"
config.style.page.header.link.font: "small caps"
config.style.page.footer.font: "16"
config.style.page.footer.link.font: "small caps"
config.body.transition.name: "fadeInOut"
--
{embed passage: 'First Impressions'}