The Purple Corona

Fred wrinkled his nose and breathed shallow breaths from his mouth. The stench was starting to overwhelm him. He poked his hands outside the iron bars. Fortunately for Fred, the reek was too strong for the guards, too, and they avoided the cell as much as they could. Fred held the key by his index finger and thumb, and slowly brought it near the keyhole in the cell's lock. Fred felt light-headed from both anticipation of getting burnt from the magic in the key and from a slight oxygen deprivation in the cell. He brought the key closer - a space as long as Fred's index finger now separated the key from the hole. A purple glow started forming at the tip of the key, and Fred could hear a quiet crackling sound.

1. Fred quickly thrusts the key into the lock. A burning feeling, and then numbness, flash through his thumb and index finger as they are forced to clutch the key.
2. Fred slowly eases the key toward the lock. Suddenly thin, bright, bluish white sparks arc between the lock and the key. Startled, Fred drops the key.
3. Fred draws the key back.

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