Chapter 36: Protected

Another silent ride, this one uncomfortable. Rose's tension cut through Alice's internal battle over and over, though the doll drew Alice back after only a few seconds of distraction.

It argued with pictures, flashes of Evan shoving her into a closet and closing the door. The sound of his laughter at her pleading and screaming to be let out of the dark. Images of herself standing before Claire's mirror, the ugly purple dress hanging from her like a sack.

The long line of bullies, tormentors, people who were cruel to her, marched through her head. The boys who tried to hurt her, to hurt Peter.

When the doll hit on Mrs. Talbot and the nasty little dog, Muffin, Alice flinched.

It had gone too far hoping to pull her closer, instead pushing her to her limit. She'd almost killed someone.

As though sensing its mistake, the doll fell silent just as the car came to an abrupt halt. Alice looked up, out the window, realized she was home already.