He did not want to see. He decided to go faster. He knew that he had touched that thing and that only gave him more momentum to run further, fixing his eyes on the door. He didn't want to look back, he knew that if he did, he would see this strange being that looked like a giant stuffed animal and it's goofy smile under those unblinking eyes.

He was close to the edge facing the exit door, but a sound made him turn, a giggle from the creature that sounded too close. He moved almost involuntarily, expecting in his mind to see the giant mascot nearby, but when he turned around, on the contrary, he didn't see anything.

It was when he returned his gaze to the door that he saw it emerging from the balls in front of him. It was the creature, smiling with it's mouth open. In a quick movement it hugged him, however, in his mind it felt almost as if time had stopped. Kaleb could feel the soft fur of the body of this thing. Despite the softness it's hug was firm and constant, and not even the boy's most frantic struggling could free him. Kaleb could only half squirm and growl as his lips were pressed against the creature's soft chest. He could feel the teddy's hairs on his tongue as, in a last resort for escape, he tried to bite it. Then he heard it laugh one last time.

-We will be friends forever! -the creature exclaimed without letting go of Kaleb. On the contrary, he could feel how it was sinking into the balls. He could feel them engulf him, as the creature's embrace only tightened.

And there, between hugs and colored balls, it seemed that Kaleb's path had reached it's...

END