Living Dolls - Part One

"Get up Calvin. It's already eight."

"It is."

Calvin lifted himself out of bed and sees Lin putting on you dress coat. 

"Why is it so dark?"

"I don't know, but I'm going to be late. I'll see you tonight."

She picked up her brief case off the small desk next to the door and rushed out of the bedroom. Calvin stood up and walked into the bathroom. He turned on the light and found the mouthwash next to the sink. He took off the cap then a swig out of the the bottle. He started to swish it around when a scream came from downstairs. He spit and ran out of the room, thru the bedroom, down the hall and to the front door. He saw Lin's hands hanging onto the floor just inside the door. 

"Calvin!"

He ran to the door and grabbed her by the wrists. He pulled as hard as he could to lift her up to the floor. Once her waist met the edge she lifted her leg over and crawled her way back into the house. 

"What the hell happened?"

"I took a step out the door and fell straight down."

Calvin wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. He turned to look out the door and saw nothing but dark space. As his eyes adjusted he thought he could see the outline of the end of a bed and beyond that a giant dresser. 

"Where is the yard? The mailbox? The car?" Lin shouted. 

"I don't know."

"What's happening? Where are we?"

Calvin pressed his face against Lin and reached his hand around to stroke her hair. 

"Our house is the same, but out there is something else. I don't know what it is."

Lin sat up and now took a long look through the door. 

"I can't imagine..." 

Lin jumped up reached for the door. Calvin swiveled out of the way as she slammed the door shut and locked it. She turned to see Calvin sitting on the floor with a surprised look on his face. 

"I need to eat something." Lin said. 

She headed towards the kitchen. 

"I'm going to put on some pants." 

Calvin stood up and walked back towards the bedroom. 

When Calvin walked out of the bedroom he could hear the the sizzle of food frying. He walked into the kitchen to see Lin standing in front of the stove with a spatula in one hand and a pan in the other. 

"Are you cooking bacon?"

"Yes."

"You never eat bacon."

"Today I do. Do you want some?"

"You better believe it."

Calvin walked to the cabinet and took out two plates. He carried them to the table and set them in their usual spot. 

"Cal. Be a dear and get that bottle of wine out of the utility closet."

"The one we were saving?"

"Yes. Or do you think we will find another occasion to drink it?"

"I can't think of one."

Calvin walked out of the kitchen. Lin flipped the bacon onto a plate and patted it with a paper towel. She brought the plate to the table and divided the strips of bacon between the two plates. Calvin entered carrying the wine bottle. 

"Do we have an opener?"

"In the drawer, I hope."

Lin sat down and stuck a piece of bacon in her mouth. 

"Oh my. I've forgotten how good this is."

The sound of metal clinking together came from behind her. Calvin was rummaging through the drawer in search of a wine opener.

"I can't find it."

"Then just grab the bottle of vodka under the sink." She took another bite, "And the orange juice from the fridge."

Calving followed her instructions and returned to the table with the bottle of vodka and OJ. 

"I forgot the glasses."

He stood up to return to the cabinet when a bright light came through the windows. 

"Something's happening." Calvin said. 

They went to the window in the kitchen, but could only see a flat blue wall. Lin turned and ran towards the living room. Calvin followed after stopping and grabbing a few strips of bacon from his plate. Before he joined Lin at the window a booming voice filled the room.

"Meredith honey. It's time to get up."

Calvin looked through the window and saw two giant legs wearing designer black dress pants walk across the room. 

"Meredith, you'll be late for school."

A high pitched voice now filled the room.

"I'm up. I'm up." 

Lin turned to Calvin as he chewed on a piece of bacon with the same look on his face he had when he watched television.

"What is happening?" Lin asked.

"Seems like Meredith is late for school."

"Who's Meredith?"

The two legs walked out of the room and the sound of a bed squeaking was heard.* Then the long pink fabric of a nightgown came straight towards the window. The house shook with a slight waver as the roof opened up and the giant face of a child appeared over the living room. 

"Hey, where are my dolls? They're not in the bedroom."

Lin and Calvin walked backwards to take in the enormity of the girl. She spotted them and screamed as she dropped the roof. The house shook with a greater force sending Calvin and Lin to the floor. The girl's eyes appeared in the window then she lifted the roof again. 

"What are you?"

She stuck her head into the house to get a clear look at the two of them. Calvin and Lin were stuck to floor unable to move. The girl reached her hand into the house and Lin pushed herself onto Calvin and they both rolled towards the wall. Lin stood up and pulled Calvin up with her running back into the kitchen. 

"Wait. Where are you going?"

The high pitched voice pierced their ears. 

"Where are you going Lin?" Calvin asked.

"I don't know!"

The roof opened all the way as the girl laid it against the wall. 

"Come back here."

She reached both hands into the house, her fingers like huge logs coming in to crush them. 

"Make it to the bedroom and get under the bed." Lin said. 

Calvin grunted in reply as he jumped out of the way of the girl's pinching fingers. Lin dashed out of the kitchen and around wall down the hallway. 

"I just want to play." 

Calvin flattened himself against the wall and sidestepped towards the door. 

"I knew we should of bought a bigger house."

The girl reached her hand back down knocking over the table.

"Whoops."

She reached over to pick it back up. Calvin took off for the bedroom. 

"I don't want to hurt you."

Calvin dived and slid head first towards the bed. Lin's arm reached out and grabbed a hold of him, pulling him next to her. 

"Are you alright?" Calvin asked. 

"Not really. You?"

"She didn't get me." 

"So I'm guessing that's Meredith."

"I believe your guess is right."

"Where did you go?" Meredith's voice boomed. 

Her hands pushed around furniture searching for the two of them. She reached for the bed when another voice echoed off the walls.

"Meredith Marie! Playing with your toys when you should be getting ready for school."

"But mom, the dolls..."

"No buts. You get your uniform and into the bathroom right now."

"Mom!"

"Meredith. Please."

Meredith stomped on the floor shaking the house. A lamp fell in the bedroom and the sound of plates breaking came from the kitchen. Meredith opened her dresser and grabbed her school uniform and left the room. The light went out and the door closed with a bang. 

To be continued...