Dim candle light barely illuminated the small room. A girl stood in the middle of the room, looking around in the near darkness. Her bright green tank-top and white pajama pants seemed to glow slightly, and her short brown hair lifted as though gravity couldn't quite affect her. Her reddish-brown eyes warily observed the twelve figures in front of her. Glassy eyes stared back blankly from artificial faces, matte porcelain mimicking the appearance of skin. Life size dolls. Eight girls and four boys were artfully displayed in a semi-circle, five sitting politely in dining chairs in the first row and seven more standing behind them. Many were foreigners of varying ethnicity. All of the dolls were dressed in loose white clothing, as though they were patients in a hospital. The youngest of the group seemed to be about thirteen, a boy with startling green eyes. He had wild dark hair and clear olive skin, and his expression was permanently set in a grinning combination of confidence and mischief. The oldest was a woman who still appeared to be in her early twenties. She had soft features and light brown hair tied in a neat bun. Fair skin, gray eyes, and a gentle expression completed her appearance. Every doll in the group was gorgeous and strikingly detailed, so that it was hard to tell they weren't real people. The girl startled as humming began behind her, turning to see the source of the sound.
Another doll was laying on a large wooden workbench, the complex ball joint system exposed without the loose white outfit to cover him. For some reason, his features were blurred to the point where she could only make out blond hair and fair skin. A shadow leaned over him, painting red symbols on his chest. The shadow man didn't seem to notice the girl sharing the room with him. He stepped back, and a thin dual-toned whistle pierced the air. The girl covered her ears at the noise, feeling it vibrate through her teeth and echo unpleasantly in her head. It built, despite her attempts to block it out, until she was teary-eyed with pain before it abruptly cut off. The doll on the table convulsed violently, back bowing until it threatened to break. Bright blue eyes snapped open, and jointed hands clenched as wrists pulled at restraints. It looked for a moment as though the doll would tear itself to pieces trying to reach the symbol drawn on his chest. Then, just as suddenly, it was limp and lifeless again. While it seemed as though whatever the shadow man was attempting to do had failed, he merely chuckled at the doll.
"Very soon, you will be my masterpiece." The girl watched on, disturbed by the development until a soft clicking at her heals and a small tug caught her attention. There was another doll on the floor beside her gripping the hem of her pajama pants, one with fiery orange-red hair and fair skin. If not for the cracks riddling her form, her cheerful and energetic grin would have blended in with the other dolls. Red bubbled up among the cracks, dripping down the doll's face and arms and staining the white dress. Blood! It was horrifying, seeing the doll's face petrified in an expression of cheer while her posture begged for help. The girl lurched back with a cry of shock, bumping into a tall figure behind her. Turning, the girl found herself outside the room. She was in a warm, dark space with bubbles of light floating up around her. The tall figure was someone she knew, and he watched her with gentle concern as she calmed down slightly.
"Gene." She let out a relieved sigh, taking in familiar dark hair and blue eyes. "I don't understand. What did I just see?"
His pale face expressed deep sadness and concern as he responded. "Mai. John is in danger."
Mai snapped awake, staring at the red 3:12 am on her alarm clock. John is in danger.
