Doll Sized Love

Aubrey looked at him. "Haha, nice one."

Charles grabbed each of Aubrey's hands. "Aubrey, I'm serious. I'm Charles Lee Ray. My partner is Eddie Caputo."

Soon, a man opened the door without knocking. "Hey, Charles, we gotta go."

Aubrey and Charles looked at the door.

Eddie began to laugh. "Charles, what the hell is this?"

Aubrey let Charles go. "Oh, I, I think I should go."

Charles shook his head. "No, don't." He looked at Eddie. "What do you mean we have to go?"

"The police caught up to us! They found out where you live!" Eddie looked behind him.

Aubrey stared at Charles. "I have to go too!" Aubrey began to walk toward the door.

Eddie stopped her. "Are we going to kill her too?"

Charles took Aubrey's hand and pulled her close to him. "We're not killing her, dammit! Aubrey, I'll visit you when I get a chance."

Aubrey nodded. "Okay. Please, be careful." She kissed his cheek then ran out the door.

Charles grabbed a gun from underneath his couch and loaded bullets into the chamber. "Come on, let's go."

Aubrey ran through the door of her house. She looked at the kitchen clock that read 11:45pm.

John turned on the kitchen light. "Happy Birthday!" Derek and John said together.

Aubrey's skin was as pale as a ghost. "Oh, thank you."

John sat her cake down on the table. "Bre, is everything okay?"

Aubrey nodded. "Yes...no...I don't know." She sat at the table.

Derek sat next to her. "The cake is chocolate with purple icing..your favorite."

Aubrey looked at Derek. "Purple? You think purple is my favorite color? Purple is our school color."

Derek shrugged. "So?"

Aubrey began to walk up the stairs. "I'll have some tomorrow. I need to go to bed."

John looked at Derek then to Aubrey. "Do we need to talk?"

Aubrey rolled her eyes then turned around. "No, John! Just leave me alone right now!"

Aubrey took her heels off then quickly took a shower. She changed into long pajama pants and a T-shirt. She threw herself on her dark blue bed and cried. "Oh, Charles." She dug her face into her pillow.

/

"Aubrey! Aubrey, wake up!" John shook her.

Aubrey quickly sat up. "W-What? What is it?"

John shoved the newspaper in her face. "They caught the Lakeshore Strangler! He was gunned down at the Toy Store!"

Aubrey's eyes filled with tears again. "Why did you show me this?!" She buried her face in her pillow again.

Soon, a knock came from the door.

John quickly ran downstairs and answered it. "What can I do for you gentlemen?"

Aubrey listened in on their conversation.

"We're looking for Aubrey Barton. I understand that she lives here?" A male voice was heard from downstairs.

"Aubrey!" John yelled upstairs.

Aubrey quickly cleared the mascara dried on her face from crying. She walked down the steps and looked at the police officer. "I'm Aubrey."

"I'm Officer Norris and this is partner Officer Hindell. Can we speak to you beside the car?" He asked.

Aubrey nodded then followed them to the car. "Why are you here? If you're here to talk about my mother, I really don't-"

"We're not here to talk about your mother, Miss Barton." Officer Norris interrupted her. "We found this at Charles Lee Ray's place." He took her purse from his partner. "Do you have any idea why?"

Aubrey crossed her arms and leaned against the cop car. "Actually, I do. Let me explain the whole thing. I was at band practice one day and I noticed he was staring at me. I introduced myself and he told me I was beautiful and really admired me. After my Mom..passed... He wanted to make me happy. I accepted his invitation to his house and we slow danced."

"Did you have any idea he was the Lakeshore Strangler?!" He asked.

"Of course not! I mean...not long after he gave me this gift." She held up her treble clef necklace. "After he told me his secret, his partner, Eddie something-"

"Eddie Caputo?" Officer Hindell reminded her.

"Yea, and, he said they had to go because the cops found out where he lived. I cheesed it out of there and I must have left my purse." Aubrey took it from his hands.

Officer Norris nodded. "Thanks for sharing that story. Well, let me tell you the good news. We aren't going to arrest you for anything. But he could have killed you."

Aubrey shook her head, smiling. "He wouldn't do a thing like that to me. He's my knight in shining armor."

"Miss Barton, he's killed dozens of people. He's a monster." Officer Norris frowned.

Aubrey clutched her necklace. "I know, but, he had a soft spot for me. He wouldn't have killed me. Eddie though, he was tempted to."

"Do you know where Eddie Caputo lives?" Norris asked.

Aubrey shook her head. "Nah, I knew the guy for a minute."

Norris nodded. "Okay, we'll let you get on with your day. Thank you for your time."

Aubrey walked back into her house where John and Derek sat at the table. "What did the police want?" John asked.

Aubrey tucked her hair behind her ears. "They found my purse at Charles Ray's house."

"What was it doing there?" Derek asked, even though he already knew.

Aubrey sighed. "When I said I went out Lola, I actually went to his house."

John looked at her. "What? You had relations with this animal?"

Aubrey nodded. "Yea, but he was different! But, I guess it stopped so you can't be mad at me now."

John shook his head. "Aubrey, he could have lead you on and killed you."

Aubrey ran her fingers through her hair. "So I've heard. I'm going back to bed." She slowly walked upstairs and into her room. "Terry, could you comfort me with you bright voice?" She cuddled the doll.

"She told me the doll's actual name!" It thought.

"Hi, I'm Terry and I'm your friend 'til the end. Hid-e ho!" He said followed by a laugh.

Aubrey giggled. "You remind me of Lola. She has freckles and that color hair too."

"I liked to be hugged." Terry recited.

Aubrey laughed. "Okay, I'll play along." She embraced him.

"She smells SO good!" It thought. "Her hair smells like strawberries..."

Aubrey stared at his adorable face. "Can I tell you a secret, dolly?"

"Of course. You can tell me anything." He chuckled.

Aubrey pushed up her glasses. "I had a huge crush on this guy. He was a notorious killer named Charles Lee Ray." She sighed. "But Officer Norris killed him and I hate him for that. I didn't even do anything serious with him, ya know? I wish I did.." She hung her head.

"Hey, wanna play?" The doll asked.

Aubrey lifted her head. "Not really." She sat him on the bed while she changed into some black shorts.

The doll turned his head. "Damn..." It thought.

Aubrey rummaged through the wardrobe to find her purple Hackensack High School shirt. She put her hair in a bun then inserted a clip in her hair.

"Aubrey..." Charles voice came from behind.

Aubrey quickly stood up, looking around her room. "Charles? I mean, Chucky?" But no answer. "Chucky, please. Are you here in spirit?"

"Kinda..." Charles responded.

Aubrey turned around and stared at her doll. "Chucky...?"

The doll then stood up. "Aubrey."

Aubrey sat on her bed and kissed Chucky on the forehead. "How did you get into Terry, my doll?"

"Actually, this is a different doll from the toy store. Terry was thrown over the balcony and into the woods." Chucky sat on her lap.

Aubrey smiled. "How did you put your soul into this doll?"

"You know the Damballa thing on my wall? It was from my voodoo studies by a guy named John."

"Oh." Aubrey played with his hair.

"Which reminds me, I have to get out of this body. Can you take me to downtown? John lives there. He'll know how to get me out of this body."

"Great!" Aubrey smiled. "Wait, you watched me undress?" She held him to to her face.

"Uh..no?" He was obviously lying.

"Yea, okay!" She giggled.

She held Chucky in her arms as she slipped on her black converse by the door.

"Where are you going now? And why do you have a doll?" John asked.

"Dad, I'm taking this Good Guy doll downtown so I can sell it." She grabbed her keys and backpack.

"Didn't Derek get you that? Why would you do that to your brother?" He pushed his glasses up.

"Just don't tell him." She grabbed a chocolate cupcake before leaving. "Sorry this is unattractive but I'm starving." She took a huge bite out of it.

"I don't care, Aubrey. Why do girls always say that shit?" Chucky looked up at her.

Aubrey licked the purple icing from her lips. "It's just a heads up. Making sure you won't think I'm disgusting." She sat Chucky in the passenger seat.

"I'd never think you're disgusting. You're so pretty." He smiled.

Aubrey backed out of the driveway and onto the main roads. "Aww, thanks Charles."

"Hey, anytime Princess." He looked out the window.

"First, I need to stop and get something to drink." She turned right. "There's a small convenient store. They have the BEST hot chocolate."

Chucky looked up at Aubrey. "Ya know, I make the best hot chocolate."

Aubrey laughed. "What? You? Charles Lee Ray? The Lakeshore Strangler makes the best hot coco?"

"Hell yea!" He laughed.