Take the lift

Leanne figured she’d try to lift. She was a little unsteady after her last encounter so thought it’d be better to save her legs. Her head was still fuzzy as she walked along the corridor towards the elevator. After she pressed the call button she stood waiting. One hand on the wall for support.

Eventually the doors opened but before Leanne could enter a short, plump figure stepped out. "Hi, I'm Marie."

"Um, hi, Marie." replied Leanne. Her eyes nervously gazing at the exit. "I'm Leanne."

"That's a very nice dress, Leanne." continued Marie. Blissfully unaware of the young woman's weak condition. "You're very beautiful."

Leanne felt uncomfortable with the way the rotund girl was looking her up and down. She was a little shorter than Leanne but about the same age. Her straight, mousy brown hair hung down, with a low fringe just above a pair of thick glasses. She wasn't ugly but her face did have a kind of imp-like quality to it.

"I'll bet you don't work here, do you?" she added. "You're much too beautiful to work in a place like this."

"Actually I'm volunteering here for the day," replied Leanne. Immediately regretting her response.

"You are? That's great!" grinned Marie. "My grandad lives here. I was just visiting him. Why don't you come see him?"

Leanne, grateful that the statement was phrased as a question rather than an order she'd be **** to act upon, thought for a moment. She wasn't sure rejecting this girl's appeal would be such a good thing. But then again there was something just a little unsettling about Marie.