Chapter One

Tap, tap; footsteps echoed off of the solid, concrete walls. Dense, thick walls. The walls concealed the noises, so nothing, not even an excruciating screech, could be heard outside of the building. Steps echoed so loud that although she was at the other end of the structure, she could hear them, the delicate, angelic steps. Whoever was walking amongst them did it so carefully, that the noises were hardly audible.

The pattering became thunderous as the individual came closer. It was on the verge of ear splitting, and absolute deafening. She tuckered down, hiding the articles of clothing she attired, which was very few. The “thing” came closer. Even closer. She didn’t dare to raise her head, fearing for the utmost worst. Could it be that horrendous doll again? Or on the contrary, was it a rescuer? If it was a human, would she be saved? No, that was impossible. No body had the ability to enter the building, and that also includes exiting it. No body except her and her sisters, that is. But it wasn’t the matter of how to enter the structure; it was how to escape the monstrosity.

She doubted that they would be able to find an opening, and if they did would it have an opening accessible from both the inside and the outside? That was unlikely. It was so unlikely that she hardly could stifle a chuckle at her foolishness. It was unlike her to make a deficient comment, but it was this building’s fault, somehow it had warped her brain. Nah, it was on that senseless doll’s accountability, the creature was quite adept at paying tricks. It is highly unlikely that she’s escape from this place or dimension. So while she was alive, shouldn’t she have a bit of fun? Her mouth formed a haughty smile, contemplating several ideas of her own. The clown of a doll shouldn’t hold her back; she could do whatever she wanted, either horrendous or pleasant. Pleasant wasn’t something she cared for though, especially since moving into the abandoned-run-by-doll illusion.

Yes, she named it the “illusion”. This only came to mind after a few torturous days, and it stuck like a piece of bubblegum in hair. Why illusion you may wonder? Hah, that’s because it differed greatly from the human world, full of cheerful sanguine moments. And although the normal world did have gore, this place gave gore a whole new meaning. Perhaps she had not deceased yet, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t in her near future. Basically she thought her time was nigh, and since she was still zoetic, why should anything hold her back, including that absurd doll-type-thing? She still grasped the handle of her life, and apparently her hold was not enough, but hey, cut her a little slack, her fingers were still intertwined in the material. At least whilst the doll was determining how to attempt a death blow, she could enjoy the life she had.

Click, clack. A pair of shoes was abruptly a foot away, pointing directly at her face. Huge chunks adorned the pair of boots, and a crimson red coating wrapped its way up the sides. Snowy, white frills covered almost half of the set of shoes, indicating that either she was wearing a long skirt or dress. A velvet bow was tied around the waist, almost as tight as a corset, and a laced arm was limply lying by a side.

The doll was standing in front of her.

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Althea entered the school, clutching her math book and a few miscellaneous items. Her golden brown hair bounced as she spun the combination of her locker, which she completed hastily because her hands were still full of supplies. Swoop. Althea bent down to set the items for a moment, as her hands were becoming numb holding the materials. Rubbing the blushed palms, Althea intently stared down at the mess she had created of the school’s hallway. Her face was as red as a strawberry, a plump, ripe strawberry that is. Seven classmates, give or take, glanced over at Althea and laughed, before returning to their materials. She quietly finished spinning her lock, and placed the items in, rather lethargically. Assuming that she had an extra ten minutes before homeroom, Althea was okay on time. But of course that was considering she had these sacred minutes.

‘Wait, does school start at nine or nine ten?’

Let’s pretend we didn’t assume anything.

Anyway, Althea headed towards the nearest classroom, which luckily was her first class of the day. Unlike some students, Althea had it quite easy when it comes to finding her classrooms. All she had to do was walk in a straight row, turn every so often and there she was, and it was practically a step from that. She peeked into the classroom, only to find about twenty-five teenagers reflecting her bewildered stare.

“Uhh, hello!” Althea rushed, quickly averting her eyes to the ground.

The other students nodded, after sharing a few comments Althea couldn’t make out, and she was sure that she didn’t want to know. She shoved a binder into a random desk, and plopped down onto the chair, which was directly under the desk. With a whisk, she flicked tendrils of long hair behind her shoulders, and straightened her bangs.

Littering the room was junk, which perhaps a day ago was vital to the teenagers. What she had learned from this class was that they had no use for letters, magazines, and what not that was more than a day old. They were worse than pigs, and she thought that was as bad as you could get. Shivering, Althea slipped a book from her binder, and flipped to a page. Although she did not have a clue about what she was seemingly reading, Althea ignored this and kept scanning the inked pages. It was a pretty dull book after all.

‘Why did I even buy this article?’ Althea shrugged unsure how to answer the question herself. She rolled her eyes, annoyance visible.

Her attention was directed towards the center of the classroom as a voice was heard. Althea stuffed the forgotten book into her already-overflowing-desk. Her emerald green eyes moved from the desk to the teacher, at a leisurely pace. The woman was wearing red stilettos adorned in crystallized gems.

“Good morning class.” the woman was wearing a badge that indicated her name was Mrs. Stanley.

Althea’s classmates chorused good morning after the woman had finished her sentence, although their tones were noticeably plagued. Althea twiddled her fingers in anticipation, somewhat eager for the class to start. ‘Then I won’t have to be bothered by those annoying stares.’ Mrs. Stanley started her reprimand on the subject Science. She still felt a few daggered glares headed in her direction, although quite lazily. ‘Never mind, Mrs. Stanley’s lesson still hasn’t grabbed my attention, and the glances haven’t gotten better in the least bit.’

            A random student leaned over. “Hey, Althea do something that will amuse us.”

Althea shrugged, winking the slightest bit. “Why should I?”

Her classmate evidently chuckled. He turned back, now facing his desk and scribbled a note. The handwriting was awfully composed, stray lines flooding the sheet of paper. Althea, impertinent, took a brief pause to peek over his shoulder.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

His mouth formed a wily smile. “Heh. Do you like it?”

Althea gawped. An absolute gawp. The crowd of students went berserk, engaged in the conversation that was currently displaying. A pink blush discolored her cheeks, her face resembling a strawberry once again. An overripe strawberry, that is.

“You... you... idiot. Get out of my face,” Althea somehow kept a lid on her emotions and kept her factual statement to a whisper, which seemed almost unfeasible at the moment. She palmed her face, desperately hoping the flushing-she-knew-she-wore would dismiss. Her wish was not granted, as she still received the glowing stares from the people.

The teenager she had been conversing with nodded. “Yes, yes, I am an idiot. But you should look in the mirror, as well.”

Althea was greatly offended as she achieved A’s on a daily basis. It was definitely him who needed another glance in the mirror, actually a few long minutes gaping at the glassed furniture. Hah, her jokes were always the best.

“You’ve got it all wrong. I have much more intellect than you do.”

Her classmates looked rather perplexed, so knowing they weren’t the smartest group of teens, she clarified. “I am of much knowledge, and you are not.”

Well to put this straight, they were dumbfounded. More than dumbfounded. Inside their wee-little-brains thoughts were over flooded with a more-than-stupid reasoning. ‘Why would she call me stupid?’

Wasn’t it reasonably conspicuous? Who knows what is churning inside their minds. Oops, it seems I have a correction; their meager minds. Hah, aren’t my jokes the best, too?

After a few, dreadful minutes the people of the class finally came to the conclusion they had been disobliged. Correct, for the very first time. That must feel very rewarding, if I must say. Anyway back to the plot line which is quite fuzzy at the moment.

“What? How dare you call us stupid,” the remainder of the class muttered, although they hesitated to yell it.

“Why not? You already know I am of greater intelligence.”

Mrs. Stanley cut into their interesting, indeed, conversation, “Class, I would appreciate it if you would pay a little attention, and if not I have the ability to send you all to the principal.”

Utter silence. An awkward utter silence at that.

Althea feeling responsibility for her part in the communication, broke in, “Sorry, Mrs. Stanley. I know how you must feel leading a class or rambunctious rats, such as them. It must be difficult, at the least.” Althea shot her darling classmates a grin. “They really are good people, and I know you haven’t known them too long since it is the beginning of the year, but I state the truth. It would be best if you didn’t mind moronic students, though, in my honest opinion.”

            She received quite a few inevitable glances, at her most recent comment.

Mrs. Stanley seemed in a lost of words, “Yes…err…I’d rather you not call them stupid…”

“Yes, I’ll abide to those words, ma’am. Excuse my abruptness, although I was just simply stating the truth. If this bothers you then I will most certainly stop, but it is a free world, you do know that, right?” Althea raised her eyebrows.

Another classmate recovered from Althea’s rudeness stated, “You’re really funny Althea. Last year I would’ve never thought you’d be a polite lady. Most people guessed you were shy and quiet.”

A light blush covered Althea’s cheeks. “Humph. Well I was trying my best to be amenable earlier, but I forgot you people were a little deficient.”

The teacher flicked her attention from each student, analyzing their personalities. Althea seemed to be quite a handle full, so she mental noted Althea’s need for a little discipline. It seemed as though Althea had changed over the summer break.

“You’re no fun anymore, Althea. It was fun to tease you last year!”

Mrs. Stanley held her hand high, signaling for complete silence. The class reluctantly obeyed, but every so often a snicker was sounded.

Althea sighed, knowing that it would be an enduring year for her and the students because so far they were already having more than a few problems. Eh, she didn’t care too much though; as long as her work got completed it was fine with her. Speaking of schoolwork, Althea had to start listening to the teacher or else the class would get the idea she was spacey too. That didn’t really matter either, but she wanted to keep a strong façade. Everything was A-OK, unless the students stopped respecting her, then it would be an ultimate issue. Oops, now she had not heard the teacher’s instructions for the next assignment. That really sucks….