[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

????: …and that’s what we gotta do! Easy as can be!
 

You blink, the silhouette next to you is shrouded in dark, as is the entire room.
Their figure is blurry and distorted, static coursing through them in what little light you can see.
You notice some other shadows in the room, though they just look like chairs.
You're also sitting on something plastic, you think.

????: …you okay, Polly?
????: You’re all shaky, like something’s wrong.
 

The words that come out of your mouth aren’t your own choice, but you know they are yours without a doubt. 

POLKA DOT: I’m just…nervous, that’s all. 
????: I mean, it’s gotta make the door show up, right?
????: We heard it from those teddies down in the doll aisle! It’s a surefire win!
????: You know we can do it…you, me, and Sandy. 
POLKA DOT: Sandy’s…
????: I know, it’s just as worried as you are right now.
????: But you two need to relax!
????: It’s not like this is something new, right…?
POLKA DOT: It’s…different this time…
????: Why? You scared of going all the way with it?
POLKA DOT: I mean…
????: Where’s my Polly gone, huh?
 

They reach forward and rub the back of your head, as if to ruffle your unmoving “feathers”.

????: You used to be so good with that bat of yours…
????: Even better than Sandy, and it’s way bigger than you.
POLKA DOT: It’s different now-
????: How? How is it different than what we did to get food for all that time?
POLKA DOT: ….
????: People tried to kill us first. You know that they’re trying to find the door too.
????: Think of it like…a rite of passage! I don’t think anyone could hold it against us when they’re trying to do the same thing.
POLKA DOT: ….
 

They withdraw their hand with a disappointed scoff.

????: You’ll get it.
????: Hopefully sooner rather than later, you know I don’t want you in here as long as I’ve been. 
POLKA DOT: I…know.
POLKA DOT: I know.
????: Then just…trust me, okay!
????: Friends til the end, right?
 

They reach forward and take your hands, and you can’t help but feel a nervous, fluttery feeling. It’s…not unlike how you felt when looking at Willow, but somehow, incredibly different, and mixed with something…darker.

Dread. Deep dread.

POLKA DOT: …yeah. Friends til the end.
 

The silhouette fizzles out, and you are alone in the dark room.

You stand up, not of your own volition, and navigate around the other chairs to a door.
You turn its plastic handle and walk through. 
And you can feel... something else, something on you.
You're wearing the outfit you picked out today. Somehow, you just know.

Your legs move you down the hall to a door, but other footsteps mimic your own, walking in tandem.
When you reach a certain point, you find yourself turning to stand just in front of it.
From here, you turn to look down the hall to find a... floating black suit, complete with white gloves and a purple bowtie.
Where you expected to find a head, you only see wispy, disjointed smoke... or maybe steam.

Other than missing a body and a head, the suit mirrors your movements perfectly, turning to look at you at the exact instant you turned to look at it.
You feel your hand raise up towards the door, and one of the gloves follows suit.

Your hand reaches out.
So does theirs.
You knock on the door.
At the same time they do.

You stare at that wispy head, feeling like you were making eye contact, even though you couldn't see their eyes. Was it even a person?
The door in front of it opens, but yours stays shut.

You do hear a voice beyond it, though.
But, you can only make out one word, the rest sifting into static.
 

????: ... ... .... .. .... . minute. ... ...... ..-
 

…You wake up.
Your key fob is beeping, and when you reach over to look, it says that you’ve got 30 minutes left. Great.

You sluggishly move out of bed and head to the shower, indulging in a quick water break before getting your clothes on and grabbing your pamphlet. 

You don’t want to think about that dream.

You don’t know why, but you just…don’t. 

There’s a note under your door, sticking out just enough for you to pull it inside.

Silk Ribbon-
Heard you read through your pamphlet and are curious about more hours and playroom access- come to my office and we can talk things over.

-Laurie

No reason not to, you guess. Getting access to the rest of the place would be great, and you think you’ve got enough under your belt. You shove the note into your slowly filling pockets and get walking. 

Humming a song works again, and you find yourself at Laurie’s office before you know it. Minnie gives you a quick “hi”, and you make sure to wave. You think you’re getting better at this whole…friendliness thing, really. 

You need to, if you want to make up for things.

You chase the unwanted thought out of your head, knocking on the door.

LAURIE: Come on in.
 

The room smells like perfume today, and you realize very quickly that Laurie must be doused in the stuff. Somehow it doesn’t phase you, and as you take a seat, you feel pretty at home.

LAURIE: I’ve heard good things, Ribbon. Not bad at all for a first day!
LAURIE: Though…I have some questions if you’re going to take on more work.
LAURIE: Firstly, how did things go yesterday? Overall, really.
LAURIE: Secondly, what did you think of that pamphlet? Tell me about it.
LAURIE: Thirdly…
 

His gaze is inquisitive, but not hostile at all.

LAURIE: How did you sleep?