“Nope!” Sianne tents her fingers. “I’m so jealous you get to use this. I made it myself!”
“Yourself?” Lisa freezes. “Oookay, we’re doomed.”
Something in me possesses me to jump in. The whole crazy extended family is still family angle, maybe. “Sianne’s actually pretty decent at engineering. She’s just socially awkward.”
“Conversing, confabulating, and words in general don’t make sense how they make sense. What even is grammar?” Sianne removes her foil hat to scratch her head.
“See?” I glance at Lisa. “Anyway, Sianne, how do we control this thing?”
She bends down to point out the accelerator. “Like any other car. It’s got an engine and everything. It’s just shrunk down to your size. Don’t crash it, or it’ll bloooow.”
Lisa slides into the seat, buckling in and gripping the steering wheel. “Sweet. We’ll head towards the apartments.”
“How will we get in?”
“With your upgrades,” Sianne says. “Those handy spikes, like the old Ella doll. You should be able to pick any lock.”
“Too easy.” Lisa turns on the car and revs the engine, smiling at the sound. “Oh hey, Sianne, if you can find a way to transport us closer to the company, that’d be great. It’s not far from here. As soon as I transmit the signal, we’ll want to storm the place.”
“Orders orders, more orders.”
“Damn straight,” Lisa says. “This may be pink, but boy does it have a sexy motor. Let’s get out of here.”
Without warning, she speeds forward before I can put my seatbelt on. Thank goodness we’re dolls, because that would’ve given me serious whiplash.
“Slow down!” I scream, each pebble and twig hazardous.
“No time,” Lisa says, jaw clenched.
Our bottoms are in the air more than they’re in the seats. I desperately hold onto the dashboard as Lisa swerves through the park.
“Do you even know where you’re going?”
“Yep.”
“Then could you turn the headlights on?”
“Nope. We don’t want to be seen.”
We close on the edge of the park, and there’s a busy road up ahead. I can’t understand how it’s already so hectic at five in the morning.
“We’re going to drive through the cars.”
“What?!” I shriek.
“Through the traffic, dummy! Ready?”
“No!”
“Steady?”
“Stop!”
“Here we go!”
Momentarily airborne, we speed through the park and shoot off the sidewalk, landing in the middle of the road with a bounce and a grunt. Screaming in unison, we tear right through, narrowly avoiding the tires. Crashing into the lip of the sidewalk across, Lisa revs to get over the hump.
Flinging the jeep into the shadows, she rips off her seatbelt, her hair mussed and wild. “Let’s hurry!”
“And leave the jeep here?”
Lisa hesitates. “No. You’re right. It’ll be quicker to take it in.”
“Wait. I didn’t mean that!” My words are muffled as Lisa reverses the jeep, aiming straight for the glass door. “Lisa, stop! The alarm will go off! The doorman will chase us!”
“And they’ll arrest two dolls?” She smirks. “We could hula the handcuffs. Anyway, I know Frank the doorman. Look at him. He’s three-hundred years old. It’ll be next week before he registers what just happened.”
She revs and we roll forward, dodging Frank, who is staring up at the sky, humming to himself. He’s stooped over and missed a button on his shirt. I feel a little sorry for him. Hopefully, we won’t get him in trouble.
Bracing for impact, I instinctively cover my head as we smash through the glass. Shards scatter in the jeep as Lisa charges through the lobby.
I glance over my shoulder to where Frank painstakingly bends over to check the glass. Lisa’s right. It’ll take him a while to catch up. “Why is he still working here? Isn’t he a little—”
“Over the retirement age? He used to manage the place before his nephew took over. He likes being close to the residents, and his nephew doesn’t have the heart to put him out to pasture.”
Oh man. Now I feel a lot sorry for him!
“How are we supposed to get anywhere?” The lobby seems pretty much devoid of exit points.
“Take the wheel for a sec. Keep aiming for the elevator.”
“Wha…” I gasp as Lisa takes her hands off the wheel. Leaning over, I grab it, on the verge of a panic attack.
Lisa rips off her right arm, and like a gun, aims the hollow limb at the button. She flicks a switch by her elbow and a small ball shoots out, hitting the button. The doors slide open just as we skid to a stop—inside the elevator car.
“Holy crap,” I whisper as Lisa aims at the buttons. She selects ‘five’, and as the doors close, she blithely twists her arm back into place.
“Sure wish we had these upgrades back in the day, right?”
“How did you even know you could do that?!”
“Sianne’s crash course as you were dosing off into your doll form. Neat, eh? Eh? Ella, isn’t it neat?”
“Sorry, I just need time to process everything.”
Lisa frowns. “There is no time. We have to get back to our bodies which are currently freezing their butts off in the middle of Central Park, protected by a crazy lady. Man up!”
The doors open and Lisa revs, turning left and stopping at the unit numbered ‘504.’
“Hello, Josh,” Lisa says. “Arrogant, cheating piece of crap! Dimwit.” She growls, showing the door a rude gesture. “He wasn’t even that good-looking, you know. Or funny.”
Someone’s bitter. “Do we use our arm guns to get in? Or our spikes?”
“Hmm. Spikes? You know how to break into houses with a credit card?”
“No.”
“It’ll be just like that, but with the spikes. Give me a boost.” If she expects me to ask how she knows how to break into houses with a credit card, she’s in for a disappointment. I may be a doll again, but my self-preservation instincts have translated loud and clear.
I climb onto the jeep’s hood and Lisa leaps onto my shoulders with ease, jumping onto the doorframe, and shimmying up until she reaches the handle. I flinch when spikes shoot from her body. She looks like a tiny porcupine clinging to the doorframe. It’s hilarious.
Using her legs to jimmy the handle, she inserts her spikes into the gap and slides up and down. It’s an odd display, but after a few seconds, the door clicks.
With a proud grin, she slides down the doorframe, leaps back into the driver’s seat, and slowly nudges the door open with the jeep’s bumper bar.
It’s dark inside. Not to mention tiny. The kitchen is about the size of a toilet cubicle with outdated wooden cupboards. The white, ultra-modern furniture is the only thing that makes this place look dapper, but even then… Maybe this is the cheapest unit in the cheapest building. Then again, there’s that prized view—through the tiny, claustrophobic windows.
The jeep crawls into a poorly decorated bedroom where a man snores. A crinkled blue uniform hangs by his bedpost, shedding random gadgets.
“How did Josh afford such an expensive place?” I ask. “On a policeman’s salary and all.”
“Because he’s Daddy’s little prince, and Daddy owns like a billion insurance companies.” Lisa rolls her eyes. “I won’t lie, I was attracted to him because of the money. And the uniform. But he’s legitimately the worst. Plus, his apartment is crap.”
I manfully refrain from pointing out they sound like a match made in Heaven and point instead to the oak desk in the corner of the room. A laptop is open and left on, plugged into the wall. “Go on. I’ll keep watch down here.”
Lisa nods and kills the engine. She jumps out and bolts towards the chair, performing fancy acrobatic flips to pull herself up. The first thing she does is turn the volume down, then proceeds onto some arcane things I assume will get her into the locke
d computer.
I fidget in the jeep, shuddering every time the cop so much as breathes. Lisa’s right. He’ll probably be awake soon.
Slowly, I slink out of the jeep and inch towards his bedside, where the clock throws its sickly green light onto his pillow. Surely he has an alarm. If I can turn it off, it might buy us more time.
As he chokes on his snore, I stare up at him. He’s about thirty and not bad looking. In fact, he’s quite a catch, even if he is the enemy. Glancing at the bedside table, I wrap my hands around the leg, considering performing fancy tricks like Lisa. She made it look so easy.
“And what do you think you’re doing, Ella?”
I stop. That voice is too sweet to be Lisa’s.
Spinning around, I spot a blond doll with pigtails and a red catsuit glaring at me with her hands on her hips.
“Who are you?” I whisper.
“Delilah,” she says at a normal speaking level. I want nothing more than to shove a sock in it. Literally. “We got word that you’re in trouble. We’re supposed to report you.”
“You don’t want to do that.” I keep my voice down. “We’re helping you.”
She tilts her head to the side. “Helping us? We don’t need help. We’re happy, silly.”
“You’re not. My guess is, you were probably a criminal. I’m sure you committed a victimless crime, but that doesn’t matter to them.”
Delilah bats her eyes, clearly affronted. “I am no criminal! I’m a helper. I do chores for my master. I pick up crumbs, order groceries online, and ensure that my master is looked after at all times.”
I frown. The sad truth is Delilah probably is happy. I mean, she could rot away in a prison. Instead, she’s able to live a relatively carefree life in an apartment overlooking Central Park. See, this is where that good versus bad stuff gets really complicated.
“They’re controlling you,” I say. “You’re not meant to live like this.”
“No one controls me.”
“It’s a company. They transmit signals into your brain. You’re basically a robot.”
“And you’re not?”
I shake my head. “No. I’m different.”
“Well, you look like me. So you’re not different. I think, therefore I am.”
“Robots think. They create music, art, hypotheses. What are they? We’re pushing the boundaries of existence. I love, therefore I am. The animals that protect one another love, so they exist. A robot can’t love. Neither can a human brain controlled by signals and wires. That’s what you are. So there you have it, Delilah. I am different. And you can be, too. You just have to fight the transmissions!”
Delilah remains expressionless. She takes a step towards me, her hips squeaking. “I’m not fighting anything.” She blinks. “Only you.”
With unexpected speed, she runs at me, tackling me to the ground. My back cracks, as she clenches her fists and pounds my head. It doesn’t hurt; it’s just unpleasant.
“Shh!” Lisa hisses from the desk. “What are you doing down there?”
“Just a fight to the death!” I say, pushing spikes from my body. Delilah jumps backwards and stares at me in horror. “Nothing major.”
“What are you?” she shrieks, scanning me up and down.
“I told you.” I inch closer. “I’m not like you.”
Delilah backs into the wall near the power point, glancing up at her master.
“Don’t you dare scream!” I whisper, preempting her action. “Lisa? How much longer?”
“Substantially longer due to the fact my foot is the size of my human index finger. It takes forever to type anything.”
The cop stirs, as Delilah’s eyes dart from him to me. Her lips pursed and her fingers wriggling, she opens her mouth.
I run and wedge my fist between her teeth before she can speak. “Don’t do it. I’ll break you. Lisa, type faster!”
“It’s showing their proposed coordinates all over the world,” Lisa says, almost to herself.
“What?” I jam my fist further into Delilah’s mouth.
“The dolls. They want to expand it everywhere. Australia. England. Portugal. Africa. Holy crap. They want to dominate the world with freakin’ dolls.”
If I could feel my stomach, it’d sink. “Have you accessed the NYC server?”
“Yeah. I can transmit local waves. We’re close enough to headquarters to send them out.”
Lisa jumps on the keyboard, swearing when she hits the wrong button.
Delilah squeals when her eyes roll to the back of her head and clamps down on my fist. I pull my hand out and withdraw my spikes. Then I study her, as she blinks several times.
“Sianne,” she says. “Find Sianne at the company. Listen to Lisa. Take down the company. Get our bodies.”
“I was half-tempted to give them demonic orders. Think gritty, horror movie. Totes cool. Eh, maybe next time.” Lisa jumps off the desk and into the jeep. “Come on. We have to get back to the park. The dolls will be coming.”
“Why did you send them to Sianne?”
“Duh.” Lisa grins. “She can give them upgrades.”
Josh’s eyes fling open, and he leaps out of bed. “What is this?!”
Like rabbits in headlights, Lisa and I stare at the cop.
“Ella,” she says through her teeth. “Disconnect.”
With one swift movement, Lisa rips off her foot and flicks the switch, her doll form going limp.
I go to do the same, but the cop has already picked me up. He’s not so attractive anymore. “Oh, no you don’t. So you’re the little troublemaker everybody is talking about.”
“Talking?” I titter nervously. “Really? About me? I think you’re confusing me with somebody else.”
“We’ll see. You’re coming to the station with me.”
“Sianne. Find Sianne at company. Listen to Lisa. Take down the company. Get our bodies.” Delilah repeats, turning on her heel and leaving the bedroom.
“What?” the cop brays. He goes to follow Delilah when he spots his laptop. “What did you do to her?”
“We saved her,” I say simply. Without wasting another second, I push out my spikes, and the cop lets me loose. I pull off my foot and press the switch, just as he bends over to pick me up again.
I’ve never been happier to welcome the darkness.
t’s freezing. It’s dark. It’s not Central Park.
“Lisa?” I struggle to adjust to the dim lighting.
“Here.” Her hand reaches for mine. I can’t see her, but her touch is reassuring, despite how icy her fingers are.
“Where are we?”
“Beats me. We’re moving, though. I think we’re in the back of a truck.”
“Where’s Sianne?”
“Ella, I’ve only been here for a minute longer than you. Your guess is as good as mine.”
The alleged truck slams to a stop, and we roll forward. I forgot how much my palms could hurt when they smack into the cold surface. A door bangs outside.
“It must be the company,” I choke. “Oh God, they found us. They got Sianne!”
“Relax. I’m sure Sianne just found transport.”
The doors swing open, the bitter breeze an unpleasant greeting. Standing outside with a bent aluminum hat is Sianne.
“What’s this all about?” Lisa scrambles to her feet and jumps out, not bothering to help me up.
“I stole a truck. The birds were laughing at me, so I showed them who’s boss.” Sianne motions for me to hurry up. “Quickly. I think I did perpendicular parking. That place is over there. What now?”
“We’ve sent a transmission to the dolls.” I groan as I step out of the truck. We’re in an empty parking lot, and the sky is pale and murky. “Lisa told them to meet you at the company. Can you give them upgrades?”
“Ah, I’m not too sure about that. I can’t give them everything. That takes a while. I guess I could spring for some spikes. And fire. It’ll be a rushed job, though. I’ll have to get creative.” Blinking ra
pidly at the small doll in a blue overcoat stumbling towards us, Sianne screams. “IT’S COMING FOR ME!”
“Oh good, there’s one already! Could you practice on her?”
Sianne bites her thumbnail. “I brought explosive balls. They’re kinda like mini-grenades. I could insert it into their stomachs? I can’t wait to see them storm the place, destroy the labs, the whole shebang!” She claps her hands together. “Payback is a-coming!”
I grin. A genius is hidden behind Sianne’s madness.
Picking up the doll marching mindlessly towards us, Sianne gathers the bags from the truck.
“We’re really doing this,” I murmur, rubbing my arms. “I feel sick.”
“I feel buzzed!” Lisa squints at the herds of tiny dolls coming from all directions. “Man, I’m a God. I could make them do whatever. I. Want!”
“Right, Lisa.” I roll my eyes. “You’re a God, sure.”
It’s a real eye-opener watching the dozens of dolls. I always felt invincible and safe; but looking down on them now, they seem so vulnerable and puny. Why did I ever choose a fake life over the real deal?
“Vermin! Rodents! Pests!” Sianne mutters when the dolls reach out to her, vying for attention. “Just shut up and stay put! I’ll get to you eventually.”
Their eyes click when they blink in unison. It’s both creepy and adorable.
“What’s the plan for us?” Lisa bounces on her heels. “Do we revert to dolls? We’ll probably be safer. I mean, we won’t die in that form.”
“No,” I say through gritted teeth. “I can’t. I can’t go back to that.”
“Why not? You’ve lived half your life as a doll. What’s another hour?”
I kick the tarmac, unable to face Lisa. “You don’t understand. I’ve wasted my life. Just tossed it aside like stale bread. Could you even begin to comprehend how selfish and cowardly that was? You’re only twenty. There’s no way you could imagine an entire lifetime.”
Scoffing, Lisa blows into her hands and rubs them together. “Look, Ella, you know I don’t sugarcoat things, so I’m just going to say it. You made a choice. You were one of the lucky few in the world to even make a life-changing decision. There are two things that irk me; the first is fundamentalists and the second is privileged whiners. So what if you regret something? Either pick yourself up or throw yourself off a cliff, because we don’t need any more whiners.”
Shattered Girls (Broken Dolls Book 2) Page 15
