Daniel kneels next to me, tears streaming down his face. “Ella, breathe, sweetheart! Please breathe! We can turn you into a doll again while we repair your body!”
“Ugh,” I murmur, closing my eyes. “At least let me die human.”
“You’re not dying at all! Ever!”
“Now that’s just stupid. We only live because we die. I’ve lived the most I have in the past twenty-four hours because I was vulnerable. Let me go, Daniel. You need the closure.”
I stare up at the sky, enamored by the blueness. I never realized how damn beautiful it is. The gentle breeze ripples through my clothes. What a wonder life is. Even as my blood drains, I can’t help but be impressed by the intricate workings of our body.
Daniel says something else, but I never hear it.
I’m already gone.
… I moved the mountains for my family…
… I split the oceans…
… I gave my life…
…Gladly…
hat the hell am I on? It’s the most uncomfortable bed in the world. There’s an incessant beeping. I open my eyes, but my vision is blurred, like I’m looking through stained glass. White is the only color I can make out.
Ah. I know where I am. It’s cruel that hospitals make everything white. It tricks you into thinking you’ve gone to heaven, until you work out you’re actually in a form of hell.
I wriggle my body, but it tingles unpleasantly. Sitting up is not an option right now.
“Don’t move,” an unsympathetic voice warns. “Just stay.”
Adjusting to the light, I blink until the silhouette in the chair playing on her phone with her legs crossed resolves into… “Lisa?”
“Welcome back,” she says, not tearing her gaze from the phone. “Are you actually awake this time?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
Lisa puts her gadget away and tents her fingers. “Did you know that comatose patients don’t just sleep like they do in the movies? They actually get up and walk around. You can even have conversations with them. I’ve had several with you this past week. The patient just doesn’t know it’s happening.”
I hesitate. My mind’s foggy, but I’m definitely switched on. “I’m here. I think?”
Lisa’s eyebrows whoosh up. “Oh. So you are awake. I should probably get the nurse.”
“I’ve been in a coma?”
“Yeah. Not a big deal; you’re okay. You know when they knock someone out, and in that time they tie them up and transport them to a different location? Yeah, that’s falsified. If you were unconscious for that long, you’d be brain-dead. Stupid Hollywood ruins everything.”
“My legs,” I croak. “Can I still walk?”
“You’re fine,” Lisa dismisses. “You’re still ugly, but that’s it.”
Relieved, I laugh, but my throat is raw. “What happened back there?”
“Officer Bloom—I think that’s his name—came to New York once they abducted his daughter. Devin? Anyway, once that happened, he blew the whistle. He didn’t want to be in on it anymore, and a lot of the police who were against the idea in the first place backed him up. He couldn’t understand why his own family wasn’t exempt from the crazy rule. Turns out him and Chris never really got along. Families, eh. When he turned up outside, I ran over and gave him the skinny. He shot Chris. Good news is, you’ve made the papers. Your stream didn’t last long, but it grabbed the attention of plenty of geeky fanboys who shared it everywhere.”
“So… everyone’s okay…?”
“Yep. Thanks to me. The abductees are back with their families and the company is shut down. Meanwhile, I walk away scot-free with this little beauty.” She pulls the hard drive out of her pocket, waves it, and puts it back in. “Gabby gave it me. Begrudgingly so, but she wanted to honor your wishes. We all thought you were dying at one point.”
“And what about me? Am I going to prison?”
“Nah. I’m not going into all of that legal mumbo-jumbo. There’s absolutely no evidence to say that you or I hacked into the dolls and altered their transmission. Officer Bloom is on your side, so he swore up and down you were held hostage alongside Jason, Pam, Daniel, and that weird kid. Matt or something. Thanks for being my decoy, though. If I so much as stepped inside that building, there would’ve been trouble. I wouldn’t be sitting here beside you right now, that’s for sure.”
It’s amazing how calm she is. “But what about you? Is the whole company going under? Didn’t they kill your friend Jerry?”
She checks her nails, disconcertingly bored. “I don’t want to be sad right now, okay? I have time to mourn him later. The company split. Those who left with me before the abductions will be fine. The others will be spending every Christmas for the next few decades behind bars. Enough said?”
I sit back, struggling to accept her explanation. How can I ever trust her? I’ll never know what’s true and what’s not. But for now, I’m too tired and dopey to argue. My stomach feels bruised and sore, as if I’ve attempted fifty billion sit-ups in five minutes.
“Don’t touch your stomach,” Lisa snaps. “Look, I oversimplified. You had a lot of surgery after the bullet went gallivanting through your organs. Don’t go poking at things, all right? Trust me.”
There’s that word again. Trust.
Complying, I put my hands by my side and try not to focus on the throbbing band of pain around my abdomen. Just concentrate on the harsh lights above… the stiff blankets… the cheery view through the window—even if it’s just a red roof covered in bird droppings, it’s still better than looking at Lisa.
“Where is everyone?” I keep my gaze on the roof.
“The professor? He’s been by your side this whole time. He left about ten minutes ago to get a sandwich. I thought I’d sneak in. He still kinda hates me. Some people, right? I’m gonna split in a few minutes. Don’t want to miss my flight. Or run into him.”
I turn to look at her. “Flight? What? Where are you going?”
She shrugs. “Australia. I’m due for a holiday, you know? I hear the weather’s bipolar over there, so I’ll have to pull a Sianne and pack for every occasion.”
“But what will you do?”
Her eyes roll to the right. “I told you, I have plans with this data. Don’t worry, I won’t be abducting people or anything like that. Oh, almost forgot, if you ever want a job, let me know. I couldn’t stand you at first, but I like your moxie. Or lack thereof. You listened to me. You’d make a good minion. Plus, the way you took the bullet for Daniel? That’s impressive. So if you decide you don’t want to live out your golden years with your silver fox, just so you know, you’ve got options.”
“Wow.” I shudder. “That’s a scary thought. I’m at the end of my life, aren’t I?”
“Or the beginning. Age is just a number. Hey, did you know if you can tickle yourself, you’re probably schizophrenic? It’s true. You’re also more likely to be a psychopath if you say ‘um’ and ‘because’ a lot. I’ve tried to stop using those words.”
Daniel appears at the doorway with mustard on his chin. He’s dressed in a woolly cardigan and jeans, and his eye is still swollen. “Ella?” he gasps through a mouthful. “Ella, are you awake?”
“I’m awake,” I croak. He rushes to my side and wraps his arms around me, kissing my forehead and cheeks, then glances at Lisa. “What the hell are you doing here? What did you do to her?”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, enough with the accusations!” Lisa grumbles. “When you’re off celebrating your second honeymoon, just remember it’s because of me. No, no, don’t bother with a thank you or anything, you ingrates. Ciao, losers.”
“Lisa, wait.”
She stops at the doorway.
“Thank you… I think. You gave me legs and stopped the doll apocalypse… even though you were kind of part of it initially… but… thank you.”
Lisa smirks and flicks her hair. “You’re welcome.”
It’s like déjà vu. She flounces off with a flo
urish, and I’m left with the assumption that it’s the last time I’ll ever see her. Only this time, I’m not so confident. That girl is all sorts of trouble, especially now I know she’s a psychotic genius. Yes. Psychotic. She may refrain from saying “because’” and “um,” but she’s just as messed up as ever.
As Daniel takes my hand, I run my fingers through his hair and bring him in for a kiss; our first in decades.
Stunned, he pulls away, wiping off the mustard. “Ella?”
“I love you, Daniel.” Tears flood my eyes. “I love you so much. I never told you that. I didn’t want you to die thinking I hated you because I don’t. I never did. The whole doll thing just really messed me up. This is our second chance at a life together. So when I’m better and out of this stupid hospital, I’m going to work up the courage to ask you on a date. Do you still like lobster?”
Mirroring my tears, Daniel chuckles. “One doesn’t simply stop liking lobster.”
“Then it’s decided!” I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him again, tremulously rediscovering the comforting warmth of his lips.
He gently pulls away and squeezes my hand. “I’m thinking about retiring.”
“We’re not old enough for that, are we?” I try to sit up, but my sides ache.
Daniel laughs, but I barely hear him. “Maybe not you.”
“Then what will you do all day? Men need projects. That’s why they built the pyramids.”
“I suppose if anything, I’ll retire the doll concept. Things got out of hand. My best invention nearly destroyed everything. Maybe I’ll focus on hoverboards.”
“We’re well past due for hoverboards, aren’t we?”
Daniel laughs again, but his eyebrows are furrowed. I can’t understand why he’s sad. “I’m so proud of you, Ella,” he chokes.
Frowning, I pick the fluff from his cardigan. “Why?”
“You’re an inspiration. For well over thirty years, you lived as a doll, determined to leave your past behind. Yet when it came down to it, and when we needed you the most, you stood up without any complaints. You saved us. You sacrificed yourself to help others. You’ve grown so much.” He brings my hand to his lips and kisses it. “My Ella.”
Blushing, I look away. “When you grow up with somebody like Gabby, even if it’s four decades too late, it’s hard to stay selfish. She’s an amazing kid.” I jolt. “Where is she? Is she okay?”
“She is well, dear. They’ve returned home. Jason, Pam, and Gabby are sorting out their lives and getting to know one another all over again. Gabby’s a lot happier now.”
“And Sianne?”
“Back at my place. She’s decided to adopt a bunch of cats for some reason. Said she needs to get on their good side before they turn. She’s been reading far too many books about cat vampires.” He shakes his head. “You know Sianne. She’s a worry sometimes, but I commend her work. She got you walking again! Sadly, we can never tell anyone about that. I’m never sharing our family’s concepts again.”
“And Maddox?”
“The kid who tried to shiv me?” Daniel shudders. “He’s back with his family… I get the feeling his story isn’t over yet. He has a lot of issues. Under no circumstances is Gabby ever allowed near that boy again. I still haven’t decided how to deal with that situation. As for Officer Bloom; he is on every media outlet trying to sort everything out. He won’t be charged for… what he did to Chris. Unfortunately, I may have to stand trial to tell my side of the story, but I think I’ll be okay. Officer Bloom said this Daxon character never loses.”
“What a wonderful justice system we have,” I say with a sly smile. “So, reckon we can blow this joint? Take a vacation? I’ve always wanted to go to Florida, or Hawaii.”
Daniel grins and offers me half his sandwich. I take it gratefully, surprised by the taste. I almost forget how to chew and swallow properly.
“Whatever you want, my doll.”
appy birthday, Ella!”
“Oh God, we should stop celebrating birthdays at twenty-five,” I say, the warm glow numbing my face. “That’s a lot of candles.”
“It’s a lot of years,” Jason needles me, resting the cake on the table.
I may not like the occasion, but I do love marking it with my family in the backyard under the starry night.
“What are you going to wish for, Nan?” Gabby asks, her hair cut into a short bob.
“Gabby, I told you that freaks me out. Ella, please. I’m too fab to be a grandmother!”
“What about Nanella?”
“It sounds like a delicious snack,” Daniel says, laughing when I playfully hit his shoulder.
“Okay, okay. I wish for…”
“Don’t say it out loud!” Sianne warns. “The universe will eat it and spit it out!”
“Even if I wish for world peace?” I ask.
“There will never be world peace. Be selfish and wish for a sports car.” Gabby runs a furtive finger along the icing and licks it.
“I don’t want a sports car,” I murmur. “I know what I want.”
Taking a steady breath, I blow, the smoke drifting up into the inky sky, my wish floating aimlessly into the universe. All I can ask is for my family to be happy and healthy. A selfishly selfless wish.
I cut the cake into large pieces. Life’s too short for small slices, especially considering how much weight I’ve lost. Walking is the best gift I’ve ever received.
“Gabby,” Pam says. “Could you go put some music on, please? And Jason, turn the fairy lights on; it’s too dark.”
Mouths full, Gabby and Jason comply, lightheartedly bumping into one another. Life is perfect. We’re happy and we’re normal, and all dolls in the house now belong in the arms of several charity groups. They kind of freak us out now.
Dawdling over to the back gate, I lean into it and stare wistfully at the full moon.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” a husky voice asks.
“It sure is.” I sigh. When I realize nobody is near me, I search the area. “Who said that?”
“Down here.”
I glance down and find Gabby’s cat Jupes, camouflaged in the night. Sweet lord. It’s finally happened. I’m going mad like Sianne.
“You’ve been missing all year,” I whisper. “Gabby got a new cat.”
“Oh, I’m not Jupes,” the cat says. “Jupes is my spy, now.”
My heart flutters, and I lose my appetite. I point at the cat. “What the hell are you?”
“What? You don’t recognize me?” It purrs and flicks its tail. “It’s Lisa.”
I blink. “I really am going mad, aren’t I?”
“Hey, if we could transfer our consciousness into a doll, why not into anything else? Do you know how rich this could make me? Well, even richer than I already am. I’ve done the research, crunched the numbers. I’m not abducting anybody, the dolls that are already brainwashed in other countries are doing all the legwork for me. It’s cool to have mini-slaves. Win for the doll-apocalypse!”
My stomach churns. I almost wish I could be a doll again to stop the adrenaline and involuntarily bodily functions.
“Where are you?”
“My body is in a safe place. My mind? My mind is in this gloriously slinky cat. Just try jumping in this form. It’s like flying.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Duh! I already said it’s for the money! And world domination, of course. I’d make a great leader. Reckon you’ll join me, Ella? The offer still stands. This new company is controlled by me, and me alone, so it will succeed. That is, of course, unless you want to make it a partnership. Come on. You’re wasting that spunk of yours rotting in this town.”
I don’t swallow. I stare at Jupiter… I mean, Lisa… and cringe.
“Daniel?” I call. “You might want to come see this.”
isease is the villain of our existence. We can fight attackers with our fists. We can fight uncertainty with passion. We can fight fear with hope. But a battle with sickness? That’s a war
we’ll never win. We can defeat one, but another will emerge. Sickness never goes away. It may lay dormant long enough to convince us we’ve won. But it always comes back, stronger and smarter. It sneaks up on us at our most vulnerable. Even the common cold is intelligent enough to mutate.
I worry about our planet. What if we’re the deadly cells? We’re sure doing a good job of it… killing our host. It’s much easier to destroy something than to conserve it.
Makes sense why we’ll never beat illness. Humans evolved to terrorize the earth. Viruses evolve to terrorize us.
Disease will always find a way…
I suppose it was inevitable. The whole mad-old-cat-lady stereotype. I just thought I had a few good years left before I reached the point of no return.
“Ella?” Daniel rushes over, his eyes heavy. “What is it, dear?”
“The cat!” I point at Jupes, who is somehow inhabited by Lisa. “Oh God, Daniel, it’s Lisa! Lisa is in Jupes!”
He darts his eyes from the cat to me, then bends over to stroke Jupes’ head. Reaching up on hind legs, the cat meets Daniel’s hand with his head and purrs. “Meow?”
“Oh, you sly cow,” I hiss through gritted teeth. “Lisa, that’s not funny! Say something! I’m not mad, you know!” I stare at Daniel with pleading eyes. “Daniel, I’m not mad!”
Daniel stands and cups my face in his hands. “I know you’re not, my doll.”
“I don’t like hearing that word anymore.” My gaze lands on the cat.
“Sorry, dear. Just… don’t panic if you hear and see things that aren’t there. You know what the consciousness transferal did to Sianne―it’s likely to happen to you too, especially considering your age. We know it’s harder for old minds to handle.”
“I’m not going mad!” I sneer at the cat, who blinks smugly. “That’s Lisa! I’m telling you! She said she worked out how to shift consciousness into living beings!”
“That’s impossible. To shift into a living being, you’d have to remove the original consciousness. And where would that go?”
“She didn’t go into the science of it all. Even if she did, it would’ve gone, whoosh, over my head! I’m the creative type, all right?” I flinch when the cat continues to stare. “Argh! Stop looking at me!” Wow. I really am starting to sound like Sianne.
Shattered Girls (Broken Dolls Book 2) Page 17
