The Doll awoke once again to this unnatural heat that she had still yet to grow used to. She lay in bed for a moment enjoying the darkness that sleep gave for a fleeting moment. Before getting out of bed, she told herself.
Repress.
Ignore.
Move.
She would walk into the closet grabbing a uniform before entering the bathroom. She would take a shower, brush her teeth, and apply makeup before getting dressed and looking over herself. Just as she had done the morning before.
For a moment it seemed as though nothing had changed; it was as if she lived the same lonely life she had not a day earlier. This illusion, however, was immediately shattered upon opening the door to face the outside world when she heard a high-pitched yell she had yet to grow used to, “DOLLIE!” The Doll felt a weight ram into her side as she fell to the ground with a painless thud and a light weight atop her.
She looked up and saw the person who had mounted herself on top of her, with twin drill pigtails of a light color accompanied by light eyes. Quite an unbecoming way for a princess to greet someone, but Malina seemed entirely uncaring when it came to matters of etiquette.
As The Doll mulled over the proper response to this informal greeting, she heard another such quieter voice speak up, "Pr-Perhaps there were ge-gentler ways to greet her.” Despite being unable to see her The Doll figured this was Lila.
Had the two already met up and decided to come fetch her?
How strange.
Malina suddenly jumped up off of The Doll and began profusely apologizing. “Ah oh, I'm so sorry. I don't want to hurt you. I didnt even think about the fact that you just passed out in class an—" It seemed that Malina wouldn't stop talking anytime soon, so The Doll simply got up and brushed herself off.
Seeing her get up, Malina seemed to decide that now would be the time to stop talking as she instead turned and looked at The Doll expectantly. The Doll simply sighed and said, "It's fine.” Then before The Doll could say anything else, Malina jumped on her much more gently, wrapping her arms around her.
Malina shot a look towards Lila and stuck out her tongue as she said, “See? She's not mad at me, Shyla.” The Doll was beginning to grow annoyed.
Lila frantically put her hands up and nearly shouted, “Wh-What? No, I-I would never imply that!” The Doll could practically feel Malina's satisfied grin at this reaction.
Growing tired of these antics The Doll gently pushed Malina away and declared, “We have wasted enough time already. I don't intend to be late for class already.” Malina visibly deflated at this declaration as The Doll turned to walk towards the exit, followed quickly by Lila, and shortly after, The Doll, feeling Malina's presence, catch up to the two.
As the trio exited the building, The Doll felt the morning breeze brush against the skin as the hot sun beat down on her. It was too soon to declare that she would have a peaceful morning, but she hoped things would turn out that way despite the scene Malina caused in the hall.
These hopes were quickly crushed as The Doll saw a girl she was hoping to avoid walk towards the group with a friendly smile. Their encounter last night was brief, but it was hard to forget the face of someone who threatened to stab you hours earlier.
Cecilia.
She brought her likely umber hand up and waved towards the group, signaling she intended to talk to them. Lila spoke up at their side. My ro-roomate?” She phrased the simple statement in such a way that it came off as a question.
Cecilia was Lila's roommate.
Could that be a coincidence?
Was Lila also a pillar who only approached The Doll to keep an eye on her?
No, she had to be overthinking this; the crown wouldn't send two of their elites to Dreadwood—that would be extreme, to say the least.
When Cecilia reached the group, she presented herself with a deep curtsy and looked to each of them: “Princess Regius, Lady Kurath, and Lady Ashencroft.” Her eyes narrowed toward The Doll as she listed off her title. Her voice sounded completely different from the confrontation the two had last night. If The Doll hadn't seen her face, it was unlikely she would have even noticed it was the same person.
Why had she revealed her face then?
Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!
Cecilia spoke in that unfamiliar, upbeat voice. “Can I walk with you guys? Me and Lady Ashencroft had a conversation last night, and I was simply charmed by her.” She waved her hand and laughed as she looked directly at The Doll. “The two of us were fast friends, to say the least. Right.” Her eyes narrowed again at this last part, sending a chill down The Dolls spine
The Doll opened her mouth and spoke despite the fear, "Yes, she helped me find my way from the infirmary.” She felt Malina's eyes narrow in her direction after this declaration.
Was this suspicion?
The Doll suddenly felt herself pulled towards Malina, who declared. "No, you can't walk with us; she's all mine.” Then without wasting a single moment, Malina stomped off, dragging The Doll with her and leaving both Lila and Cecilia to stand there in a stunned silence.
Hurried footsteps from Lila shortly followed after them after she made what The Doll assumed to be apologies. Once she caught up, Lila hesitantly asked, “Wh-What was that about?” Malina didn't reply and kept walking towards the academy, not letting go of The Doll.
After it became clear Malina had no intent to answer, Lila The Doll also attempted to get an answer: “I would also like to know why you caused another scene.” Malina didn't stop walking nor make any attempt to answer. “Can you at least let go of me? I find this uncomfortable and quite unbecoming.” The Doll tried once again, hoping for any reaction.
At hearing this, Malina stopped in place for a moment, having long left Cecilia behind at this point. She stopped dragging The Doll and instead moved her arms down, grabbing her hands and holding them up. She looked down for a moment, not saying a single word, just looking down. The Doll looked at the sight with a confusion that she was growing increasingly used to when it came to Malina.
Just as The Doll opened her mouth to break Malina out of this trance she seemed to be in she looked up and in her eyes The Doll saw a look she wasn't quite familiar with. Her eyes looked greedy; some might even describe them as crazy. The Doll felt herself shrink within this gaze. She attempted to break it and look at Lila to see what she was doing, but for some reason, she seemed to be unable to move her eyes from Malians.
Finally, after a moment that felt like an eternity under Malina's gaze, she spoke, “When I first saw you in front of the academy, I decided that you would be mine.” Her voice had a certain edge to it that The Doll hadn't heard from her before.
What had caused this sudden personality shift?
The Doll opened her mouth and attempted to get a word in edgewise before being quickly shut down by Malina, who ran her hand along The Doll's cheek before speaking again, “I know you don't realize it yet, and that's fine because I know you will eventually.” She then stopped speaking and started playing with The Dolls hair before saying, "You'll realize soon enough that you're meant to be my doll, nobody else's."
A shiver ran down The Doll's spine as Malina's gaze began to falter, and she felt the grip on her begin to tighten and pull. “When you passed out in class, I got…” Her voice trailed off as the pulling increased, getting more painful. “I got scared, Dollie. I dont want to…” Her voice trailed off once again with a tremble that didn't fit her usual confidence.
The pulling intensified once again. “I can't lose you too." Despite her discomfort The Doll couldn't help but almost feel pity for Malina.
Malina remained silent for a while, allowing The Doll to speak. After a moment of consideration for what to say, she finally said, “I won't leave you. I promise.” It was a simple declaration, one that The Doll figured would be best to get her out of this situation.
There was no truth behind it, not really.
That wouldn't fit into her plan.
Yeah, she was just lying.
Right?
While The Doll mulled over this, she saw Malina close her eyes, seemingly satisfied with her answer. Until Malina suddenly opened her eyes and The Doll simultaneously felt the pulling on her hair intensify: “LIE!” She shouted as she pulled one final time, pulling a strand of hair out.
The Doll heard Lila gasp as The Doll attempted to pull away the hand that Malina was holding but found her grip to be far too tight. Malina pulled The Doll closer. "Don't lie to me about that.” She said as a tear ran down her face, “Lie to me about anything else. Tell me you're okay when you're not. Tell me you were just sleeping when you went out. Tell me anything.” She tightened her grip. “But don't tell me you'll always be there for me when you won't." The Doll could tell that her hand was changing shade underneath its glove due to how tight Malina was holding onto it.
Malina didn't let go despite The Dolls discomfort evidently showing on her face. “Cecilia, Lukaz, the headmaster—all of them are trying to take you away from me. But I won't let them.” She brought the hand up to her face and began to caress it.
The Doll felt her knuckle run along Malina's cheek as she spoke in a low tone, “I was so worried when you passed out in the middle of class.” At this point The Doll had stopped attempting to pull away, allowing Malina to bring the hand to her lips and place a gentle kiss on the knuckles. “I won't let you leave my sight again.” Malina finally released The Doll's hand.
The Doll felt a sense of fear wash along her body after Malina did this.
Looking towards Lila The Doll saw her shivering in place, evidently also fearing the sight she just witnessed. Turning her attention back towards Malina, The Doll witnessed her put the piece of hair she pulled off into her pocket as her expression completely changed into its normal cheerful look. “Now let's get back to walking together.” She said in her high pitched jovial tone.
She then walked over to Lila and leaned in close. "Don't think I forgot about you; you're mine too.” This caused Lila to flinch back as Malina turned back around and looked at the two. "Let's go; we're going to be late.” She looked down and giggled into her hand. “You guys look so serious; we're friends, aren't we?" She then looked forward and practically skipped towards the academy.
The Doll looked towards Lila, who was still shaking in place, and back towards Malina.
What just happened?
The Doll reached up and fixed her hair in such a way that the missing strand wouldn't be noticed, a practice she had grown used to over the years. For now she simply had to head to class.
Repress.
Ignore.
Move.