Clara stumbles into the blacked out room. She bumps into the table and exclaims “oops” as she feels her way to her seat.

“Are you okay?” A voice answers through the darkness.

Clara’s eyes widen, she knew someone would be there, that was the whole point of her being here. But the voice surprised her because even though it hadn’t said much it gave her the tingles. It was the perfect voice.

“I’m … okay thank you, sorry sorry my name is Clara!” She holds out her hand only to retract it remembering it couldn’t be seen.

“I’m Alma” the voice says in a cheery tone.

Clara’s heart freezes “Alma?” She asks for clarification.

“That’s right, I’m Alma and you are Clara right?”

“Yes … I am. That’s so funny because Alma was the name of one of my favourite characters growing up.”

“Coronation Street right?” The voice responds.

“YES! Oh my gosh you know her?”

“What do you like to do for fun?” The voice changes the subject.

“It’s a bit weird, but I like playing badminton.”

“That’s not weird at all, I too love badminton and squash and almost any game involving balls or a shuttlecock.”

Clara cackles at this.

“You have a beautiful laugh.” The voice states.

“Oh, thank you, you have a lovely voice.” Clara blushes.

They two converse for their allotted time, Clara feeling closer and closer to the voice. She pushes the thought that it’s too good to be true to the back of her mind.

“I wish I could see you.” Clara smiles sadly.

“All you have to do is say the words.” The voice responds.

In all her excitement Clara had forgotten she was on the brand new dating show ‘Dating in a Darkened Room!” All she had to do to see her match was say the line “light me up!” Which is exactly what she did.

The lights switched on suddenly causing a moment of distortion for Clara as her eyes blinked to adjust.

They eventually settled on the figure before her, the owner of the voice who reffered to itself as Alma.

Clara screams and in her haste at getting up fro her chair knocks it to the ground with a crash.

“What is this? Is this a joke?” She cries as she runs towards the door.

“Clara please wait, we were having such a lovely conversation!” The voice calls back.

Clara runs to the door which is opened by an assistant.

They comfort her as the camera operators make sure to focus on her distress.

The camera inside the room focuses on the owner of the voice.

A screen lights up in the green room as Clara cowers in a corner.

A producer assesses the footage of the figure composed of wires and metal. And shouts “CUT!” Before walking off set and smiling to themselves “we’re gonna win that Emmy for sure.”