“You’re perfect.”
She blinked, focused, and looked at her hands, now tattooed white like her face. She tried to rub off the ink, and when it didn’t smudge, confusion turned to worry. She pushed off the couch, but her legs wobbled as her head no doubt spun.
“Not too fast, Destiny. It’ll take time for the drugs to clear.”
She staggered a step, crumpled to one knee. “What’s happening? What have you done to me?”
“I’ve made you perfect.”
She looked at her delicately painted fingernails, and as her gaze rose, she caught her reflection in a large mirror he kept in his studio. She froze, shocked. Tears mingled with disbelief. “What have you done?”
He didn’t like the judgment in her voice. A perfect doll didn’t judge. It didn’t get angry. Look at you with disgust and horror. A perfect doll was still. Accepting.
“Shh,” he said. He put his camera aside and reached for a drink cup with a straw. “It’s okay. You’re fine.”
With a trembling hand, she touched the wig and then her bow lips. “I look like a freak!”
Worry crowded out his happiness. “Don’t say that. I’ve made you perfect.”
“I’m a monster!” Her hands trembled. Red-rimmed eyes spilled more tears.
He hated to see a woman cry. They used their tears to make him feel bad and to manipulate him. “Don’t be ungrateful.”
Shaking her head, she raised her hand to her head and felt the wig. “My hair?”
When she tried to tug the wig free, he brushed her hand away. “Don’t do that,” he said, trying to remain calm. “It took me a lot of time to get it right.”
“It’s not my hair. Not my skin.” She forced herself to stagger toward the mirror. Her face inches from her reflection, she gawked.
“You must be pleased with the work. You’re one of my best creations.”
She rubbed the round blush on her checks and the dots of freckles. Worry ignited in her eyes. “What have you done to me?”
“I’ve made you beautiful.” He snapped more pictures, enthralled by this instant of discovery. She might be shocked now, but she would be beholden to him when she realized the beauty of his work.
Her fingers curled into fists. “You’ve ruined me.”
“I’ve made you a living doll.”
With a yank, she pulled the wig off and smoothed her hand over her bald head. She screamed. The shrill sound cut through his head, shattering his calm.
She glanced wildly around at the large four-poster bed, the rocking chair, and the small table with the tea set. When she saw the door, she stumbled toward it. Her knees wobbled as her skirt skimmed the top of her shins.
She yanked on the knob, and realizing it was locked, screamed, “Let me go!”
“No one can hear you,” he gently said.
She pounded her fist on the hard wood, crying for help and mercy. “This is a nightmare!”
“You need to calm down. It’ll be all right. I have taken such good care of you.”
Her eyes blazed with hate and disgust. “You fucking freak!”
Her harsh words belied the angelic features. “That’s not necessary.”
“Like hell it’s not! Let me out of here! Let me go!”
As her raw words mingled with more weeping, he knew he had to silence her. Dolls were not supposed to speak, and Destiny was not supposed to cry.
He moved to his worktable and hurriedly dumped a powder into a glass. As she shrieked louder and pounded on the door, he added fruit-flavored water because he knew she’d like the taste.
Mixing the drink with a straw, he stood beside her. “Here, drink,” he said, raising the straw to her lips.
She slapped at his hand. Red drink sloshed on her white skin. “Get away from me. I’m not drinking anything else.”
“You have to drink,” he coaxed. “It’ll help you, and when you wake up, you’ll be better than you were.”
“How can I be who I was? This shit is all over me.” Her hands clutched into fists, she slowly slid to the floor, her legs crumpling under her like a rag doll.
“I promise. Drink this and you’ll be fine. You’ll see.” He pressed the tip of the straw to her lips that now were always smiling. “Please, drink.”
“I don’t want to drink.” She tried to stand but couldn’t rise. “I want to go home.”
“And I want you to go home, too.”
The Dollmaker wiped the tear from her cheek with his fingertip, pleased her face remained unspoiled. No smudged mascara or faded blush and lipstick. No one would undo his work.
She stared up at him, eyes large with fear and hope. Finally she sipped, her throat and mouth clearly parched.
When she finished, he pulled the straw away and dabbed the corners of her mouth. “You like the taste of cherry, don’t you?”
She nodded.
“That’s a good girl.”
As she stared up at him, her breathing hitched, and she tried to suck in air. She drew a stuttering breath. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s okay. This is what’s supposed to happen.” The Dollmaker smoothed his hand over her bald head, already eager to put the wig back on her. “Soon your lungs won’t work at all, and you’ll stop breathing forever.”
“What?” she gasped.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be right here with you. I would never leave you alone at a time like this.”
“You’re killing me?” Her tiny voice was now a hoarse whisper.
“No. I’m finishing the job.”
Destiny tried to speak, to scream, but her lungs were paralyzed. He knew she was afraid, but her fear would soon fade. Gently, he tilted her back so he could peer into her eyes and watch the life drain from her body.
Her hand rose to his arm in one final attempt to cling to life. Her grip was surprisingly strong for someone who teetered so close to death.
He let her hold on to him, smiling and touching her cheek softly. “Shh. Let go.”
Her fingers twitched and slackened a fraction. No more tears moistened her painted cheeks. Death pulled.
The Dollmaker leaned forward and kissed her warm, full lips. Slowly, her hand fell away as the remaining spirit faded from her body.
When her eyes closed, he removed a clean tissue from his pocket and wiped her face, marveling at the peaceful stillness settling over her.
God, she was a perfect creation. In all his years of practice, he’d never made anything so beautiful.
“Death has made you my permanent little Destiny doll.”
He kissed her lips again, savoring the sweet tranquility. “I wish I could keep you forever, but we only have two or three hours. But don’t worry, I’ll be as careful as always. You’ll see how much I love you.”
CHAPTER THREE
Tuesday, October 4, 6:45 a.m.