Ficlets

Wonderball Comes to Life

Emily’s stomach turned in a mix of relief and dread. Wonderball was not entirely certain she would die this year.

“Wait, so – a coma? Will I end up in a coma this year?”

Wonderball sat in her lap, its shimmering surface beginning to swirl. For what seemed an eternity, Emily sat and waited on its response. How was this thing, supposedly able to answer only in numbers, giving her this information?

The answer cube finally clicked against the glass window – Yes.

“Oh god!” Emily gasped. “How do I end up in a coma? What kind of sick toy are you? How could you possibly know all these things?” Emily dropped Wonderball for the second time that day, burying her head in her pillow.

From across the room, she heard a click. Warily, she slid off the bed and picked up Wonderball, checking its response – Ask Again.

Emily almost laughed at the absurdity. “What in the world,” she started, voice trembling, “could possibly put me in a coma this year?”

The cube, almost immediately, returned its answer – 34.

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