Daniella heard a low growl and she turned to regard the dog the paced the length of the cage next to the one that housed the family. She gazed at the white ball of fluff and sinew, shut her eyes and imagined him splayed out, his skin unfolding like the petals of a flower, leaving a blob of quivering flesh. When she opened her eyes, the dog was frozen in place, growling.
"Can you ... tell?" she asked, moving to grasp the bars of the cage.
The dog just growled.
"Am I not what I seem?" She paused, casting her gaze this way and that, checking for the humans that inhabited this house. "I am created. Might that be a lie? Might I be a damaged ... woman." She turned back to the cage that housed the humans. She felt alone in her unfeeling body. There was nothing left to clean.
She unlocked the door to the family cage and took hold of the little girl's leg. Then she turned and dragged the child after her. The child awoke just as she was being dragged up a set of stairs towards the doll room. She dug her nails into the steps, squirming weakly, the drug still coursing through her veins and rendering her muscles weak.
Finally they were in the doll room and Daniella released the girl and locked the door. For a moment, the girl just lay there. Then she slowly rose up to her feet, swaying wildly. The girl turned for the other door, took a few stumbling steps, went down on one knee, managed to get upright again. Tears flowed down her Azoth-infused features.
No, not Azoth. Humans possessed the spark of Azoth, not Azoth itself. The inanimate could not be given true life from the life of the humans for much of the essence of life was consumed at the moment of conception. But yes, there were remnants here, and as Daniella watched the remnants regard her fearfully, she felt herself hunger for sensation.
"Why do you cry?" Daniella asked.
"Where's daddy? Where's mummy? Where's Harry?"
"They aren't here."
The little girl massaged her arms, legs, face. "Why'd you drag me here?"
"I want to play a game."
"What kinda game?"
"I want to watch you."
The little girl sniffed and wiped her nose on her sleeve, leaving a trail of snot behind.
"But whatever shall we play?" Daniella turned around in slow circles, her gaze falling across everything in the room again and again. It took her several long minutes to realise that the little girl wasn't standing beside her any longer. "It is time to play chasey."
She got down on hands and knees to peer under the sofa. No one there. Then looked over at the cage to see if she was inside. Not there. She checked her pocket for a key. She had none. She went to the door. Locked. She went to the other door. Also locked.
Then she heard something scamper behind her, heard something jiggle in the door lock behind her, then heard someone small pant as they pulled open the door and fled. Daniella allowed all this, her hand still grasping the door knob, her head bowed a little. She had never had a childhood. She supposed it would be good to learn what children learned. If she did that, then perhaps she would be given Azoth.
She smiled a little and turned to face where the little girl had left. "Ready or not, here I come."
