A/N: So here's the next chapter. I wanted to post this hours ago, but I've been getting error messages every time I try.
Thanks to Immissone who is once again the only person who reviewed the last chapter!
This is the chapter where it becomes obvious that the inspiration came from Criminal Minds episode An Uncanny Valley. Also, picture the cover photo of PLL season 2 (the DVD cover, that is)!
Chapter 10: China Dolls and Tea Parties
It was just after midnight and the janitor of Rosewood High was nearly done for the night, there was only one more thing to do before he could call it a night and head home. One of the teachers had requested an extra five chairs be retrieved from storage and placed in his classroom before school commenced. That meant crossing the grounds to the auditorium, where all the spare chairs, and folding tables used for exams, were stored.
It had been a long but quiet and uneventful night, and when he entered the hall, what he found was the absolute last thing that he had been expecting. He had absolutely no idea what to make of what was on the stage. He hadn't heard anything about any sort of play, or project, or anything of that sort being in the works. It was bizarre.
The whole setup screamed old fashioned. The fancy antique table and chairs, the vintage dresses, the make-up, the jewellery – they looked like dolls, in the middle of a fancy tea party. The scene was complete with real food, sandwiches, fruit and biscuits and of course the fancy china tea set. It was almost peaceful.
Almost, but not quite peaceful due to the fact that they were smeared with blood and dirt. This contrasted greatly with the fancy dresses they wore, their hair which was perfectly styled so that not a hair was out of place, and the full red lips and rosy red cheeks. The combination of the two made it look like a scene right out of a horror movie.
The writing on the wall behind them, done in red paint built the atmosphere up even more.
It read: "Pretty Little Liars, - Kisses A" in block letters, the paint thick and dripping down the wall, giving the appearance of blood.
The four dolls sat around the table, positioned just so. Nothing more could be observed without closer examination. Or so he thought.
Suddenly the eyes flash open, one then another, then another and another. Again what one would expect from a horror movie. It must be a trick of the light, he thought and tried to convince himself that the eyes had been open the whole time.
He couldn't quite shake the feeling however, that he was being watched. The kind of feeling that has your heart beating so fast you think it'll burst right out of your chest, and which has the hairs on your arms and the back of your neck standing straight up. He tries to ignore the eyes of the dolls, which follow him as he moves around the room. Tries to pass it off as his imagination. After all, dolls don't move, not on their own. Do they? He questioned himself, as the eyes continued to track him.
Still, you're intrigued so move closer. You start to notice a slight movement; first one and then, upon closer examination, all four. The slightest, barely noticeable rise and fall of the chest and suddenly, flashing through your mind, is the thought that perhaps they are alive! But that's ridiculous. Now, staring one right in the face you realise the eyes are once again closed. The tricks of your imagination have you backing up hurriedly, when suddenly the dolls eyes flash open. Now you know for sure – it's not your imagination. The dolls eyes are startlingly blue, so blue as to be unnatural. As you watch one of the eyes appears to slip down, like a lazy eye, except for the brown eye that replaces it. This is the last straw, you cry out and back away from the table. As you do you trip over your own feet and fall down the stairs, taking a podium down with you and making an awful racket which is projected through the whole room. It is not long before you hear footsteps racing towards you and voices calling out to you, but you can't answer.
All you can do is stare at the stage in shock.
They aren't dolls.
They're people.
Living and breathing people.
A/N: *update* I've deleted the two chapters I originally posted following this one as I was not happy with them no matter how many times I re-wrote them. The truth is that this is as far as I saw it going in my head, so I've now marked this as complete. It is still my intention to re-write this and fix the inconsistencies in this story and to post an updated version, at which point I might continue the story or I may write a sequel instead.