Page 23 of The Doll Factory
If I could scream with horror, I would.Instead, I’m stuck in my resting position, arms at my sides and waiting for Dr.Miles.
Blood sprays in torrid waves across the woman’s face, chest, the bed, everywhere.Even on the scientist, who acts as if he completed a successful surgery.
“I must clean my hands and then we’re off.”Dr.Miles says, hurrying to the nearest bathroom.My husband’s limp and deceased figure falls on top of the other doll, who continues to lie in the same position she was, but her eyes are widened and focused on the ceiling like she died, too.
Frozen, I can only stare at the scene in front of me until the doctor’s footsteps approach.A sharp pinch invades my arm and when I glance down with my eyes, I spot a syringe filled with the heavenly blue liquid, the one that sends me into dissociation.Dr.Miles thrusts the plunger in slowly.
“Blue…for my doll.”
* * *
Straps surroundmy wrists and ankles.The lull of cloudy thoughts lingers as I awaken in a dark lab filled with green lights.I’m laying on a medical table, but one I haven’t seen before.
Silence fills the air for so long, I lift my head to find my master.When I do, everything in me wishes I hadn’t.
Along every wall are giant tubes filled with bubbles of neon colored liquid that flow upward in rapid waves.Behind them stand women with various tubes coming from every orifice they have that snake around their bodies.When I wonder if they are dead specimens, one blinks.
No…no…
“My doll.You were such a disappointment.So close to Mother, but not there, yet.I need to make one tweak on the next specimen to perfect it.I’m sure.However, I can’t let you go.You’reminefrom now until forever.”Dr.Miles scoots between my legs and waves a palm toward the women in the tubes.“Do you like my doll collection?”
“No!”I scream, surprised by my own voice.The serum must have worn off.I fight against my binds, but Dr.Miles makes a soothing sound.
“Shh… You werealmostperfect as you were.But now, you won’t have a choice.”He lifts a syringe of a thick oily substance, flicks the tip of the needle until it oozes, then rams it into my arm as I pant a protesting grunt.
The fluid enters my arteries like sludge filled with sharp glass.Pain sears through every nerve I own as my heart pumps it throughout my body.Everywhere it touches solidifies like metal.
Dr.Miles pulls his scrubs down, gives himself one stroke, then thrusts inside me.For the first time, I see a tiny smile on the corners of his mouth.“Yes, beautiful.Embalming fluid is just what you needed to stay with me.And you’ll remain in my collection forever.”He grunts with every piston of his hips.“Oh my darling doll.I love you.”
My face locks in a terrified yell as I’m mummified alive.
My last thought is