12:

The moon was shining through a side window but Woody wasn't sure if that made things better or just eerie. There was a bin nearby and he took a peek inside. He nearly jumped out of his boots. Toy parts, all doll limbs, just waiting to be repurposed.

"Pull my string!" he groaned, shutting his eyes and looking away. He decided this room was definitely eerie.

There was a soft scuffling noise. Woody turned his head sharply toward it. "Hello?" There was no answer and for a moment he wondered if it was another rat.

Up high in the moonlight he caught a glimpse of movement. Someone ducked into the darkness. "Wait!" he called. "Wait, wait, wait!"

There was an ottoman nearby. Using his shoulders, Woody shoved it to the wall and climbed on top and up to the shelves where he was certain he had seen someone. As he reached the top, he couldn't shake a feeling of familiarity and he didn't know why.

Of course, he told himself. These were the same shelves from Doctor Marcella's picture. But now instead of holding hundreds of toys, they were empty.

Somebody was hiding around the corner, he was sure of it. "Hey now," he said in his gentlest voice. "Don't be afraid! I'm just looking for an old friend! Come on out!"

Someone moved into the shadow between the shelves and the wall. "It can't be…"

The voice brought a thousand feelings to Woody all at once, joy, familiarity, love…"Bo!" He began to run to her. "I knew it was you…"

"Pull your string!"

At the words he halted. "What?"

"Pull your string so I know it's really you."

"Bo, Honey, what do you mean? Of course it's me! It's Woody!"

"Just do it!"

Reaching behind him, he yanked on his pull string and let it wind into his back. "There's a snake in my boot…"

"There, you see? Sweetie, I've missed you so much…" He took a step toward her but she retreated further back.

"Please don't."

"What?" He wondered if he had misheard her. "What's wrong? What's happened to you?"

"How did you find me?"

"I saw you on one of Doctor Marcella's videos. I went to her website."

"It must have been an old video," she said softly.

"What in the world happened here? Why did everything fall apart? Why did Doctor Marcella abandon you guys?"

"She didn't."

"Then why?" he said. "Why are you living in an abandoned building?"

"She died, Woody. Four years ago." Even in the shadows, Woody could see Bo leaning against her crook. She sounded wistful as she spoke. "She was…quite a character. A true holdover from the hippie era. And she loved us. Nothing brought her more happiness than fixing a doll or a toy and making it as good as new. She loved to see the look on customers' faces as she returned their toys, especially children." She straightened.

"So she died? And that's was it? They just shut this place down?"

"Not quite. You see, Marcella loved fixing toys, but her children…not so much. She left them each a third of the business in her will and they've been in court ever since, fighting over what to do with the place. While they've been in court, we've been in limbo."

"Aw, jeez…Bo, I'm sorry! I wish I had found you sooner!" Once again he tried to step toward her. "Bo, will you please come out? I can't even see you!"

She made a noise that sounded like a bitter laugh.

"Please," he continued. "It's a beautiful night! The full moon is out! Just like…" His voice broke. "Just like our first night."

She paused. "It's a full moon?"

"Yes. Please, Honey. Let me look into your beautiful blue eyes."

Slowly, Bo finally took a step into the light. This time, Woody's legs did give way. In fact, as he looked at her, the entire room spun in a circle. This can't be happening…Not Bo…Not…

"That's going to be quite impossible, Sheriff," she said. In the moonlight, he could see everything: Her long graceful neck, her perfect pink mouth, and two almond shaped indents where her eyes used to be.