OKAY FANS! DON'T KILL ME! MY 1ST FAN MADE MYSTERY! PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I DID! I DON'T CARE HOW HARSH YOU ARE ABOUT IT I TRIED AND IT WASN'T EASY! JUST DON'T KILL ME!
Chapter 18: Curse Of The Robot Dummy!
*Dilton's POV*
I was rummaging in my basement, looking for old inventions I could improve or don't need for parts, and forgot how many boxes I had to go through.
"I have more than I thought." I muttered to myself as I went to grab a different box. Unfortunately I miscalculated and ended up having a few boxes fall on me.
"Wah!" I yelped when they fell. I managed to wiggle and crawl out from under them before I stood up and adjusted my glasses.
"Great. A bigger mess." I mumbled as I then noticed a strange box.
"What's this?" I questioned to myself as I opened it. It was my old robotic ventriloquist puppet. He had black hair, green eyes, and in a dark green suit. What was his name? Alfred? No. Edgar? Nope. Not that. What was it.
"I remember. It was Vlad." I said as I looked at him.
"What a failed project. Maybe I can use some of the parts." I thought as I brought him, and a few other gadgets, upstairs into my room.(Think of Screech's room from 'Saved By The Bell' alright?) I set them down on my desk and started to pull a few apart. I didn't need them anyways. I then looked at Vlad.
"It'd be ashame to take you apart. I don't think I could fix you though." I thought to myself as I started to have flashbacks of the times Vlad and I had together until I made him alive through technology. I shook away the memories as I undid his back.
"It needs to be done. I don't want him anyways." I said as I started messing with his wires and screws. I hit a wrong wire and ended up shocking myself.
"Ouch!" I shouted as I dropped him on the desk and the screwdriver on the floor.
"Great." I muttered as I bent down to pick it up. I sat back up and looked at where I put Vlad but I didn't see him.
"Strange. I thought I left him here." I muttered.
"Hello Dilton!" I heard a creepy familiar voice. I gulped and turned around to see Vlad, turned on and sitting on my bed, looking back at me.
"Wah!" I screamed as I fell off my chair and trembled.
"Don't worry Dilton. I won't hurt you. Even though you forgot me and left me to rot. Did you really try to take me apart? Why? Friends forever remember buddy?" He talked to me as I trembled in fear.
"I created you. I-I can e-e-easily get rid o-of you." I tried to sound brave but stuttered. Next thing I knew I got slapped by him and then grabbed by the collar of my shirt.
"Listen buddy. I'm willing to forgive you for all that but I want one thing." He said to me as I looked at him.
"What's that?" I asked him as I gulped.
"I want a new friend." He said to me.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because you don't want me. I want a friend who is smart and will care for me. I'll keep you as my friend until then." He said as I shuttered.
"You started making me your servant." I scolded him.
"Same thing." He said to me. Now what am I going to do?
*Next Day Aria's POV*
Man I wasn't feeling so good. It's been almost 3 days since the imps attacked and I felt a bit sick. I ignored it and figured it would pass. It wasn't so bad. I just didn't eat much was all. Anyways I was next to Dilton during science class and he seemed off today.
"Dilton? Are you okay?" I asked him as he nodded.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" He asked me.
"You don't seem like you is all." I confessed as I looked at him. I was worried about him.
"I'm fine." He said as I looked at him.
"If your sure." I told him as he nodded. I continued with my work. Dilton was acting funny but if he said he was fine then I had to trust him. I tried to talk with him all day but he ignored me. After school Archie and I went home and I went to bed.
*Why is he ignoring me? Did I do something wrong?* I thought as I heard a knock on my door.
"Come in." I said sadly as I heard my door open.
"Something wrong sweetie?" I heard my aunt ask.
"No. Not really. Just not feeling well." I told her.
"Alright. If that's all." She said as she closed my door. I got into my night gown and went to bed.
*The next day Aria's POV*
I had, yet again, tried to talk to Dilton but he pushed me away and was acting funny. It was now science class and he couldn't avoid me much now.
"Dilton? Can I come over to your house? Or maybe meet at the lab? I was thinking we could hang out?" I asked him.
"No. I have a friend visiting me right now." He told me.
"Cool. Where from?" I asked.
"Aria please. I'm trying to work." He told me. My head and shoulders dropped as I looked around in sadness. Maybe he didn't like me anymore?
*End of the school day*
I caught up to Dilton just as he was leaving.
"Dilton! Wait!" I called out to him as he stopped and looked at me. I caught up to him and smiled.
"I was wondering if you wanted to work on next week's science project together? Or maybe I could assist you with another project of yours?" I asked him.
"I think I'll just go home alone." He said in a solid tone as he began walking away.
"Oh. Okay. Maybe tomorrow?" I asked as I walked next to him.
"No. Maybe you shouldn't be around me." He said. I felt a pang in my chest.
"Dilton what's wrong? Please talk to me. Please. Is someone bullying you?" I asked him as I grabbed his hand.
"Aria. Please stop. My friend wants me home and I don't want you near him." He said. I looked at him shocked.
"Is he bullying you? Threatening you? Dilton I want to help. Please let me." I begged him.
"I haven't spent time with you in a long while and I miss it. Please." I continued.
"Aria please stay away." He looked at me with sad eyes but a strong voice.
"I want to help. Let me talk to him." I said in a demanding way.
"Just go away." He said as he pushed me and ran home.
"Dilton!" I yelled but he ignored me. I ended up going home and doing the same thing. Aunt Mary and Uncle Fred were a little worried and I knew that. I heard another knock on my door.
"Come in." I said in a monotone voice.
"Aria what's wrong?" I heard my door open and Archie ask me. I just sighed. I felt him sit on my bed as I got up and looked at him.
"Archie. I think Dilton's mad at me." I told him.
"What? Why would you think that?" Archie asked with a small bit of humor in his voice. I looked at him.
"He keeps pushing me away and I'm not sure why. I know I haven't spent much time with him and always pick him for a science partner. Maybe that's why. Maybe he thinks I'm like everybody else and just using him." I sighed as I laid back down.
"I'm sure he doesn't think that." Archie comforted me.
"He says he has a friend over at his house but I think he's bullying Dilton into not having friends." I told him. I didn't see Archie's face grow into suspicion.
"Well it's almost Saturday. Maybe you two can go to the museum together." He told me as I sighed again.
"I don't think he wants to." I said.
"How about I call him and ask?" He told me. I looked at him.
"If you want." I said as I laid back down.
*That night Dilton's POV*
I was talking with Vlad about how I didn't know anyone but he knew I was lying. He had made a device while I was gone to control my robots with a ring he wore.
"You're lying Dilton. I know you're still friends with Archie Andrews. I might not like him but he could work." He told me.
"No. You won't hurt anyone else." I told him. I got laughed at.
"You want me to yourself now? I suppose that wouldn't be so bad. That Andrews kid isn't that smart anyways." He said as then the phone rang.
"Answer the phone." He ordered me. I did as I was told.
"Hello Doiley residence." I answered.
"Dilton it's Archie." I heard Archie on the other line. Uh oh. I knew Vlad could hear this.
"What is it?" I asked him.
"I was wondering if you wanted to go to the museum with Aria on Saturday. She's starting to think that you don't like her anymore." He told me. I couldn't let Vlad find out about her.
"So what? Maybe I don't want to spend time with her." I told him.
"Dilton?" I heard him question in shock.
"Archie I have to go. Don't bother me anymore." I told him. I heard him calling me and try to tell me not to hang up but I already did.
"Who's Aria?" I heard Vlad say.
"She's no one." I told him.
"Doesn't sound like no one." I heard him say.
"Well she is." I told him. I couldn't get her or anyone involved.
"I didn't see her in the yearbook. Is she new?" I heard him ask me.
"She's no one. She's not worth it." I told him as he dropped it.
*Vlad's POV*
I let Dilton sleep as I thought about it. If he says she's no one then she might be someone important. I decided to take the phone and use it to dial back that Archie kid's number. It was 10 at night but I didn't care. I disguised my voice as Dilton's just when the phone picked up.
"Hello?" I heard a sleepy voice pick up.
"Archie?" I questioned.
"Dilton? It's 10 at night." He questioned me sleepily.
"I wanted to apologize about my rudeness earlier." I told him as I tried not to gag.
"It's fine." He muttered.
"Listen. I was wondering if I could talk with Aria tonight." I told him.
"Well she's in her room right now but I can see if she's awake still." He said. So they live together? I don't remember Archie having a sister. Maybe a cousin?
"Mm. Hello?" I heard a sleepy female voice answer.
"Aria?" I questioned just to make sure.
"Mm. Hey Dilton." I heard her respond. Her voice was soft and gentle. I liked it.
"Hey. Listen I'm sorry for being rude towards you." I told her. I didn't feel like gagging as much this time.
"Dilton." She said as she sighed.
"Listen. I don't know what your friend is doing or saying to you but I'm here for you. If he's bullying you or anything like that then you can talk to me. We're best friends. I don't want to loose that friendship over an old friend hurting or scarring you." She told me. So her and Dilton are best friends? And he didn't want me to know. Hm. Interesting.
"Dilton?" I heard her ask.
"I'm still here. He's not a bad guy. He just wanted me as his only friend. I've been his only friend until he went away. I'd like for you to meet him." I told her. This was perfect.
"Really?" She asked me.
"Sure. I might still act differently towards you. Don't take offense to it. I won't mention anything about this at school either because I only want you to know and meet him." I told her.
"Um. Okay. If that's more comfortable for you." She said as I smiled. This was too easy.
"Okay. I'll see how things go tomorrow before anything is set on meeting him." I told her.
"Whatever you want Dilton. I'll see you in class tomorrow." She told me.
"I'll see you soon." I told her as I hung up the phone. I chuckled. A female that Dilton likes? This would be interesting. When morning came around I hid in Dilton's bag and went with him to school. I was going to hide in his locker until he got me so I can see this Aria girl for myself.
*Morning Aria's POV*
I was feeling much better this morning.
"Good morning!" I said in a bright and cheery voice.
"Good morning Aria. You seem better." Uncle Fred pointed out.
"That's because Dilton called for her last night." Archie pointed out as I blushed a light pink and lightly smacked him.
"So that's who called last night." Uncle Fred said in a typical adult tone.
"He called to apologize to me about the way he's been acting and all. He has a friend from out of town staying with him and I guess that friend doesn't like Dilton having friends. I guess my reassurance got him to want his friend to meet me. Only me for now I guess. Maybe then I can see what's going on." I said while I was grabbing scrambled eggs and sausage on a plate and brought them to the table so I could eat with them.
"That's wonderful dear. I'm glad your a good enough friend to help." Aunt Mary told me.
"Thank Archie for calling him to try and make plans." I said.
"Well he didn't seem to found of it but I'm glad he had a change of heart." He said while we ate breakfast. Soon we finished eating and I grabbed my stuff and headed outside to meet Archie and go to school. He was getting his car back this weekend so I was happy. I was socializing with everyone and before I knew it science class rolled around.
*He said not to mention any of this during school hours. I guess I won't.* I thought to myself.
"How do you feel today Dilton?" I asked him.
"Fine." He said as he tried to ignore me. I remember him saying not to take offense to it so I tried not to.
"Careful." I told him as I stopped him from spilling something.
"Sorry. Thanks." He said.
"No problem." I told him with a smile. He smiled lightly before he shook he quickly frowned and went back to work. I took that as a sign. School flew by as I decided to meet him at his locker.
"Hey Dilton." I greeted as he came up.
"Please don't get mad but I heard that tomorrow we won't have school because of a teacher conference. So I was wondering if we could talk a little bit before you go home. I'm sure your friend won't mind being a bit late." I told him with a smile. Dilton just sighed as he began to unlock his locker.
"I'm not sure. But I do need to talk to yo-AH!" He started talking but he opened his locker and something scarred him. I looked and saw an adorable looking ventriloquist dummy in his locker. It seemed to be looking right at us with it's green eyes.
"Aw he's cute. I didn't know you had a Ventriloquist dummy. Do you practice?" I asked him before he quickly grabbed it and put it in his bag.
"I don't. I gotta go." He said as he suddenly slammed his locker closed and bolted. Did I embarrass him? Was I not supposed to see it?
*Oh great. Progress lost.* I thought as I sighed and decided to meet Archie and head home.
*Dilton's POV*
I ran home as fast as I could. Once I got there I went to my room, saw a note that my parents would be gone from now until Monday, and threw Vlad out of my bag and onto the bed.
"What were doing in my locker?" I screamed. Soon he sat up and looked at me.
"I wanted to meet Aria. She's even more lovely than I thought. Is that why you didn't tell me about her? How you two are best friends?" he asked me.
"How would you know?" I asked him in slight worry and fear. Suddenly my robots grabbed me and brought me to my chair and tied me to it.
"Because I talked to her last night when you were asleep. I disguised my voice as yours to talk to Archie about her. I had no idea that he had a cousin. She was worried about you. Worried that your friend was bullying you. Ha! I told her she would meet me and she did! And now do you know what?" he asked me as he jumped on my lap and covered my mouth with tape.
"I've decided I don't want her as a friend. I want her as a bride instead!" He told me and then laughed. I was wide eyed and shocked. I had put some of my personality into him and now he likes her like me. Only he's going above and beyond. I was trying to escape to stop him as he grabbed the phone and hit dial. No!
*Third POV*
Dilton was struggling to escape as Vlad used the phone book to dial Archie's number. It rang twice before the line picked up.
"Hello Andrews residence Aria speaking." Aria had picked up the line. Vlad disguised his voice to Dilton's again.
"Hello Aria." he said to her while the real Dilton was struggling to escape. Aria smiled over the phone that Dilton called her.
"Hi Dilton. Listen I'm sorry for seeing the puppet in your locker. I'm sure your mad at me or embarrassed for seeing it." She told him in hopes to make him feel better.
"It's no problem. Actually I was glad you saw him. My friend put him in my locker I guess. Since he did that then that means he does want to meet you." Vlad said with a gleam in his doll eyes.
"Really?" She asked him.
"Oh yes. In fact he told me he saw you and is looking forward to meeting you. Maybe tonight since we don't have school tomorrow?" Vlad asked her as Aria thought about it. To her this was starting to sound creepy. She didn't want second thoughts but something was off with him.
"I can't tonight. I've got homework to finish. I can show up in the morning though." She told him in hopes it would work. She was going to have Archie secretly go with her in case something happened. Vlad was scowling on the inside at first but then smiled. He would be better prepared then.
"Yeah. Actually Vlad just whispered in my ear and said tomorrow would be better. He said he's nervous to talk to a lovely girl and is glad to make it tomorrow. I guess he wants to practice talking. He's never talked to a girl before." He said to try and calm her nervousness he heard. Aria smiled at how shy and awkward he sounded. Kinda like Dilton could be. Maybe she was wrong about the bullying and maybe Dilton was just more concerned over his friend.
"That's fine. If you two are more comfortable that way then what time?" She asked as happiness swelled inside her. She was looking forward to spending time with Dilton again. Vlad was happy to hear this while Dilton, who was hearing this, struggled even more to try and break free and warn her.
"How does 8 sound?" He asked her. Aria was a little nerved that it would be that early but if it was to spend time with Dilton then she wouldn't complain.
"Of course! Archie's car isn't fixed yet so I'll be skating there. Is that fine?" She asked him. Vlad was happy to hear that so no one else would linger around.
"As long as you arrive then I'll be happy. So would Vlad." He said as he tried to make it sound pleasant.
"Great." Aria said with a smile.
"Any chance I could say hi to him over the phone?" She suddenly asked. Vlad was shocked about that.
"Um. Hold on." He told her as he thought about it.
"If he's to shy then that's fine." She said in an apologetic way. To Vlad she was angelic.
"Hello?" Vlad asked in his normal voice. He didn't like it sounded creepy for her but he could care less.
"Oh hello. You obviously know this is Aria. I'm looking forward to meeting your acquaintance tomorrow." Aria said with a small shock on her face. He sounded creepy but she knew not to judge to quickly.
"I'm not so shy over the phone. It's just face to face I am. I am looking forward to fully meeting as well." Vlad said to her. She sounded smart and he liked that.
"Tell me something though. Are you related to Archie Andrews?" Vlad asked out of curiosity.
"Yes. He's my cousin. I'm sure Dilton probably mentioned that and mentioned how I'm living with him until next year." She said as she figured he didn't believe Dilton about the cousin thing. Everybody asked about that in shock.
"Yes he did. But I didn't believe him after seeing you. You look nothing like him except the orange hair and freckles." He told her. He remembered seeing Archie in the year book and wasn't surprised that he didn't change much but compared to Aria they were different.
"Well the red hair is hereditary from both of our fathers, who are brothers, are Scottish. The fact we both turned out with red hair and freckles was incredible." She said as she realized she was rambling. Vlad, however, was now thoroughly impressed with how smart she was.
"I'm sorry. I'm rambling again." She apologized.
"Quite alright. Actually I love smart girls. Not many around you see. I heard your in science class with Dilton. Are you smart like him?" He asked her out of curiosity.
"Well I'm getting A's in all my classes and, thanks to Dilton, an A in the chemistry part of science. I tend to miscalculate every so often and I tend to help Dilton with his inventions." She confessed.
"Wow. So your not paired up with him to use him at all?" He asked her as he grew curious now. Dilton obviously had a crush on her but did she to him as well?
"Oh goodness no. I could never take advantage of Dilton like that. I pair up with him so 1. Nobody uses him for an easy A. 2. Because he's my best friend and 3. So this guy in my class won't pair up with me to flirt with me. Dilton knows that. At least I hope he does." She confessed as she had no idea that a tied up Dilton heard all of this and was now desperate to escape. He needed to warn her but there was no sign of escape it seemed.
"That's very nice of you. Well I can't wait to see you tomorrow. I have something special for you." He told her. He was telling the truth about that. Aria was in surprise about a gift for her from him.
"No no no. You don't have to-" She started but he cut her off.
"It's alright. I insist on giving it to you. I'd rather you have this than anyone else." He said with evil intentions on his mind.
"If your sure." She mumbled. She didn't want to be given anything.
"I'm sure. When you get here just come on inside." He told her.
"I need the address." She said to him.
"I've never been there before." She confessed. To Vlad this was perfect.
"Of course. I had no idea you've never been here before." He replied to her. Soon he gave her the address and bid her farewell as he hung up.
"Ha! She's a little more trusting than I thought. This'll be perfect." He said as he went to the desk and pulled out another ring.
"I'll make a few adjustments with this and I'll go get her dress. After all, A bride should look lovely on her wedding day." Vlad said as he laughed maniacally before leaving. He soon left the house when it was dark and found a store that sold wedding dresses. He broke in and rummaged through the whole store until he found the perfect dress. It was perfect he thought. It was white ans strapless with sparkles that was slim and went to her knees with gems around it before it sheered out on the bottom. A mermaid gown he thought it was called. He found white sleeved gloves that showed the fingers and had a loop to put through her middle finger(think of bloom's gloves from her fairy in form from Winx Club but in white.) and a gem studded headband with a veil on it. He wanted her to look like a perfect bride after all. He soon found a gem off another dress and took it before he left. He got back and set up the marionette strings for her and adjusted the ring to he could use it to control her. Then he glued the gem onto the ring to make it look like a perfect wedding ring. Everything was ready for her when she came. He looked at Dilton and laughed.
"Imagine. The girl of your dreams will soon be mine." He taunted Dilton before waiting until morning. Aria during all of this had no idea of the horror waiting for her. She had told Archie about this and he said he would pick her up later. Something in Archie's mind was going off. Where had he heard the name Vlad before? This was going to bug him all night. Aria had gotten ready for bed and set her alarm. She couldn't wait to see Dilton. She was smiling in her sleep all night.
*Morning Aria's POV*
I had woken up early and got ready for my day. I ate a super quick breakfast before leaving my family a note and skated off , with headphones on, straight to Dilton's. I looked at the address I wrote down and remembered where the street was. I then proceeded to find the house number. I found it and was happy to see the house before me. It was a two story light blue house. I went up and knocked on the door.
"Dilton? It's Aria." I said as the door suddenly opened. My gut told me to run but I didn't listen as I entered.
"Dilton?" I called out as I put my headphones and skates in my bag.
"We're up stairs. The door at the end of the hall to the left." I heard Dilton say. I smiled and followed the instructions. I got close.
"I'm happy to spend some time with you again Dilton. I hope your friend Vlad likes me too." I said as I then walked into the room only to gasp at the sight. Dilton was tied to the chair with duct tape on his mouth and his puppet on the bed looking at him.
"Dilton!" I screamed as I ran over to him. Dilton was struggling as I went to help him.
"Hold on. I'll get you out." I said as I went to untie him.
"No point in that." I heard a voice say.
"Vlad?" I questioned as I looked around. I remembered that voice over the phone. I didn't see anyone except the puppet.
"Right here." I heard the puppet say.
"Holy crackers! A talking puppet!" I freaked. Suddenly I felt something grab me. I looked and saw one of Dilton's robots as a few more came at me. I shrieked and started fighting them off me.
"No point in fighting. I always get what I want." I heard the puppet say.
"Who are you! Why did you do this?" I screamed as I was brought down to the ground. I struggled some more.
"You know who I am. We talked on the phone. I'm Vlad. I changed my voice to Dilton's last night and the night before. And why am I doing this? I'll tell you later. Right now we need to get you ready." He told me as he got up and walked over to me.
"Ready?" I questioned as he then appeared on top of me.
"Of course. I told you I had something special for you." He told me just as I felt myself get knocked unconscious.
*Archie's POV*
It was now close to noon and Aria hasn't called me yet. I was trying to remember who Vlad was. I looked in the old yearbooks and didn't see a Vlad anywhere. Maybe Jughead would know. He lived close to Dilton so maybe he could check on them. I decided to call him right away.
"Hello?" I heard Jughead answer.
"Hey Jughead. Can you go over to Dilton's and check on Aria for me?" I asked him.
"Sure but why?" He asked me.
"They're not picking up the phone and I'm a little worried. Aria said Dilton had an old friend visiting him." I told him.
"Well who is it?" Jughead asked.
"That's the thing. She said his name was Vlad. I know I've heard the name before but I can't seem to remember." I confessed to him.
"Wait? Did you say Vlad?" Jughead asked me in a small panic.
"Yeah. Why?" I asked. I had a bad feeling about this.
"Dude. Vlad was the name of Dilton's dummy. Remember? He turned it into a robot and it started doing weird things. Then one day it disappeared." Jughead told me. Now I remember. Things would end up missing or destroyed and Dilton was to blame. Later it was found out that it was the dummy Vlad. It was so long ago though.
"She said she talked to him last night. Maybe that's why Dilton was acting strange. Maybe Vlad got turned back on and now somethings happened to them." I panicked now.
"I'll go check on them. Arch you better hurry." I heard Jughead say as he then hung up. I grabbed my coat and started running to Dilton's house. I hope I'm not to late.
*Aria's POV*
"Wakey wakey." I heard someone say as I slowly started to wake up. I opened my eyes and looked around as I remembered what happened.
"Dilton!" I screamed and went to go to him but found myself stuck. That's when I noticed the strings holding me like a marionette. I also noticed that I was in a wedding gown and had a veil over me.
"What the frog?" I said as I tried to wiggle free.
"You won't get out until I say so." I heard Vlad say as I looked at him.
"Do you like my present? I got it just for you." He asked me as he then told me it was for me. I'm presuming the dress and veil.
"Why am I dressed like this?" I asked him with a glare.
"Well you have to dress like that for our wedding." He said as he hopped off the bed and started walking to another area.
"WEDDING?!" I shouted the question that could also be a statement.
"Yes. You see I used to be Dilton's best friend until they shut me off and left me to rot in the basement." He said as he went to a stand and started bringing it over.
"I was a trouble maker they said. So what if I was? Anyways a couple days ago dear old Dilton found me and decided to take me apart." He continued talking as the stand was then brought in front of me.
"Let me guess. He hit a wire and you sparked to life and want revenge?" I questioned.
"Yes I was sparked to life. I however, to show how good of a friend I was, decided to give him a chance to find me a new friend." He said as he went to grab something from a drawer.
"And he wouldn't. That's why he pushed us away." I concluded out loud.
"You are smart. I like that. When your cousin called him I had almost been willing to have him as my friend. Until he mentioned you. I then grew curious and called that night in Dilton's voice. I hadn't seen you in the yearbooks so I figured you were new. I told you all that over the phone. So I decided to hide in Dilton's locker in hopes of seeing you and I did. I liked you. You are lovely I wasn't lying about that. I liked how you thought I was cute to." He said as he pulled something out of the drawer and came back over to the stand and climbed up on it.
"I decided I liked you so much that I wanted you over here. Instead of making you my friend I want you as my bride." He said as he pulled out a ring and showed it to me. It looked electronic and looked like the one I see on him except this one had a gem on it.
"So I'm going to by using this ring." He said to me. I looked over at Dilton and noticed Jughead by the door. What luck. I couldn't let Vlad see him though. I had to distract him.
"So you had Dilton there tied up and changed your voice to lure me here? I'll admit that's clever." I said as I looked at Vlad.
"I'm glad your impressed. Do you know how this ring will control you then?" He asked me as I saw Jughead sneaking to Dilton. None of the robots were near him nor paying attention. Good.
"When you activate it you'll use your ring to control me. It'll use the electromagnets in my body to help power it and to control me better." I concluded while I looked at him.
"You really are smart. As I said I love girls who are smart. But do you know why I like you?" He asked me as I shook my head no. That I was curious about.
"Well it's because Dilton likes you. When he had 1st brought me to life He put some of his personality into me so we could be friends. I was happy but I didn't like anyone else. I broke a few things and stole a couple things as well to get him in trouble and to be home schooled." He was saying as Jughead was trying to untie Dilton.
"But it didn't work. Was it because of his parents?" I asked him.
"Yes and a boy named Jughead Jones. That brat saw me walking around and tattled." He said as I smiled.
"So now your roaming around. I'm guessing you stole this as well?" I asked as I motioned to my gown.
"Yes. Since Dilton seemed to like you a lot I had to know why and now I do. Your lovely, smart, and your voice is wonderful. I'd rather you be near me and do what I want then him." He said as he motioned to Dilton.
"So your going to basically make me a servant?" I asked him.
"Think of it as a being a wife." He told me as I glared at him. Just before Dilton was completely untied One of the robots spotted him and made an alarm sound. Vlad turned and saw the scene and grew angry.
"Get him!" He ordered.
"No!" I shouted as I tried to wiggle free. Soon Jughead was caught and tied up just like Dilton. Vlad jumped off the platform and went up to Jughead.
"Ah Jughead Jones. Remember me?" Vlad asked him in a taunting way.
"You won't get away with this!" He shouted.
"Ha! Yes I will." Vlad said as he looked at me.
"You saw him and kept me busy didn't you?" He asked me as I looked away from him.
"I should punish you for that but I'm a forgiving man." He said as he jumped back onto the stand.
"Leave her alone!" I heard Jughead say before some muffles. I looked and saw his mouth was now taped shut.
"Oh ho ho. This is rich. It seems that Dilton and I are not the only ones." I heard Vlad say as I looked at him.
"What do you mean?" I asked him an a demanding voice.
"I had mentioned that Dilton and I carry most of the same interests. Well I'm making you my bride for a reason dear sweet Aria. It's because Dilton has a crush on you." He said as I grew shocked and started blushing.
"W-what?" I questioned.
"Oh yes. And it seems that, after hearing him yell at me to leave you alone, that Jughead here has a crush on you as well." He added as I went redder. I looked at both of them for confirmation as they looked away from me with blushes. It was true.
"And by how red your face is you like both of them the same way don't you?" He asked as they now looked at me and I looked away.
"How precious. I can use those feelings to fully make you mine then." He said as he pulled out the ring and grabbed my left hand.
"No! Never! Let me go!" I shouted as I tried to get free.
"No one can help you. Your my bride now." Vlad said as he laughed.
"Not if I have anything to say about it." We heard a voice. I looked up and saw Archie as he then ran at Vlad.
"Archie!" I shouted as Vlad scowled.
"Attack!" He shouted as the robots went after him. Archie kicked them away and untied Jughead quickly. I wiggled some more as Vlad's grip tightened on me.
"I'll make you mine now! No more waiting!" He shouted as he went to put the ring on me. That's when we heard a snap. My right hand was free. I smacked Vlad away from me. He fell and the ring fell somewhere too.
"No!" He shouted as he started looking for the ring. I started to undo myself Just as Archie and Jughead smashed the other robots. Now Jughead was untying Dilton while Archie undid me.
"Archie. You came." I said as I hugged him.
"I asked Jughead about Vlad and he told me. Glad Jughead lives close to here." He said and I smiled.
"No! She's mine!" We heard Vlad yell as he jumped on Archie and attacked.
"Archie!" The three of us yelled before Dilton grabbed something. I saw what it was, a small hand gun looking device, and grabbed at Vlad.
"Let him go!" I shouted as Archie and I struggled to get him to let go.
"I'll have you yet!" He shouted as he suddenly let him go and clutched my neck.
"Hold on!" I heard Dilton say as he fired the gun and then Vlad stopped moving. I got him to let go and flung him away from me.
"What did you do?" I asked Dilton.
"It's an electronic stun gun. Basically an emergency turn off switch. I had just started making it." Dilton said as he adjusted his glasses.
"Are you alright though? I didn't want you involved for this reason." Dilton asked me as he came over to me.
"Dilton you should've told me from the beginning before it spiralled out of control like this. Or told someone." I told him as Dilton sighed.
"I know." He said.
"Why don't I get out of this dress so we can return it, bury the dummy somewhere and call it a day?" I asked them as all three agreed. As I was going to my clothes I thought about it.
"Dilton. Jughead." I said as I turned to them and they looked at me.
"I know now that you two have crushes on me. And now you both know I accept both of your feelings and give the same to you. But lets try not to make this weird." I said with a smile as I grabbed my clothes and went into another room, not caring which one, and changed. We did just that. Returned the dress and called it a day. But not before burying the dummy in the middle of the woods somewhere where no one will find it. Archie and I got started on our weird mystery as soon as we got home.
"Today was a rough one readers. Would you believe I almost became a bride to Dilton's robotic ventriloquist dummy? I don't and it almost happened. ~Aria. Aria told me something was different with Dilton because of a friend, that turned out to be Vlad the dummy, and I should've listened instead of nearly laughing about it. It just goes to show you that someone in your life can change you. Whether it's to protect you or hurt you. ~Archie. Dilton thought he was protecting me by not telling me. Unfortunately the situation got worse to the point where I was almost hurt. I guess this goes to show that if you have a problem you should tell someone. No matter how small. Because it might grow bigger. It also goes to show that even with trouble comes great friends to help you. ~Aria….Even in a little town called Riverdale! ~Archie and Aria." We ended the article just as I got a call.
"Hello Andrews residence." I answered.
"Aria. It's Dilton." I heard on the other end.
"Hi." I said to him.
"Listen. Archie asked me if I could take you to the museum tomorrow and I want to. Can we go together?" He asked me as I smiled.
"Sure. We can go." I said to him.
"Great. How does noon sound?" He asked and I agreed to it. We said goodnight as I then decided to go to bed.