Chapter 16

Andy looked out the window of his room lost in thought. The sun was down below the hills and his homework was finished. Andy touched the glass.

He opened it and shut it while still pondering. He grabbed his duffel bag and started taking out the clothes he hadn't unpacked yet. Andy looked at his clothes, he opened the dresser door in the opposite corner of his bed and began folding the clothes and placing them in.

Well now, Chucky thought. It looks like o'l Andy boy's all alone. Maybe he'd like some company. Chucky leaned up and risked a glance. He pushed open the lid from the inside of Andy's big foot locker and the end of his bed. He saw Andy folding his clothes and planting them in the dresser droors. Chucky pushed the lid open higher.

But then Andy started to turn around and Chucky popped back down into the blackness before he could be seen. Andy left the room and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth. When he returned Andy grabbed his socks, scooping them up with both arms and walked to the footlocker and crouched down slowly opening it. It was empty and Andy let his socks tumble down into it.

The door opened, Molly peaked her head in.

"Oh honey, Ms. Malkum wanted to know if you ever got your package?"

Andy drew a blank. "Um no what package?"

Molly shrugged, "hmm maybe you'll get it tomorrow." She closed the door.

Andy scratched his head. Who would send me a package?

He grabbed his duffel bag and reached in to pull whatever was left out. Only a few extra shoes and...

A small picture frame was all he could get his hand on. Andy turned it around and was filled with a million memories. It was the picture he had of him and his mother when he was five years old. Before everything started. Andy stood up and walked to his dresser.

He placed the photo on top right next to a lamp and turned back around only to be tripped by what he didn't know was a tiny malformed hand. He tried to reach out to stop his fall but he only pulled down his backpack with him and his notebooks fell all over the place.

His face barely smacked the ground, Andy held his head. He turned around to see what had tripped him and watched Chucky stand up, holding a pocket knife in his left hand. Andy's blood froze.

"Hey long time no see pal."

Andy shook his head crawling back.

"No! No, you're dead, we killed you! Kyle and I- "

He cut himself off and Chucky's smile grew. The doll, the madman, took another step. His knifepoint leading the way.

"Ya'know know what they say. You just can't keep a Good Guy down."

Only a few feet separated Andy from Chucky and his knife.

Like a computer with a virus Andy's brain scrambled. I've gone crazy, this… this can't be real. It's been six years, why now? Why when I'm just starting over. Then he saw Chucky's eyes move to the right, scanning the boy He snickered.

"Andy, how you've grown."

Andy put up a hand, his back against the still open footlocker. Then he remembered something, something important.

"Y-you're not going to kill me, you need me. You need to transfer your soul into my body."

Chucky nodded

"With age comes wisdom I see. I've got a new chance to be human again and I'm not going to let you spoil it, not this time."

Andy took fast sharp breaths as Chucky looked around his room.

"You've got a nice place here pal. Soon it'll be mine, just think, Chucky's gonna be a rich kid." He laughed again. The demented laugh that could only be described as part witch.

Andy looked to his left and saw a spare shoe.

"I'm not going to let you do that."

He reached out and grabbed it.

"I'm not going to let you near my family!"

Without taking any time to aim he hurled it at Chucky. Hitting the doll right on the head sending him falling back. The knife tumbled to the floor out of view. Andy reached forward and grabbed Chucky. Andy repeatedly slammed the back of his doll head onto the floor. Chucky grabbed and pulled at Andy's hair. Causing Andy to shriek and pause as Chucky punched him hard in the face.

Andy dropped the doll just as the door opened. Andy looked at Chucky, he had quickly frozen back into a doll. Just a harmless plastic doll. Andy looked up at the door, it was Tyler, he shook his head and walked over to Chucky picking him up.

"Aww what the matter Andy? You homesick?"

Tyler dangled the doll in front of Andy.

"You miss your mommy?"

No jerk you're holding a killer, a murderer, he thought. He couldn't form words. Then Tyler admired the doll.

"Hey this is one of those Good Guys isn't it. I thought they stopped making them."

Andy reached out to grab Chucky and Tyler pulled the doll away.

"Give it back!"

Tyler snickerd,

"You gotta be kidding, what do you need with such a stupid little thing." Andy shook his head, he licked his lips.

"Come on, it's a gift from my mother."

Tyler laughed, a cruel sound. He waved the doll at Andy.

"Oh boy you're breaking my heart you know that?"

Tyler laughed, "Tell Molly you lost it. And clean up these goddamn socks."

"But.. but what about the doll?"

Tyler turned back and grinned,

"I'm sure I can find someone dumb enough to give something good for it. And if you weren't such a pussy you wouldn't need it."

He turned and gripped the door handle, beginning to close it behind him when Andy spoke up.

"And maybe if you weren't such a fucking asshole, people would actually like you!"

Andy paused, he couldn't believe what he said. He had just sworn like Chucky did.

Andy looked down at Chucky who's doll face made a barely visible grin. He's proud of me, thought Andy. Proud because now I'm starting to act like him. Andy locked eyes with Tyler who also smirked.

"Looks like Molly's little angel isn't so sweet after all."

He said in a taunting gesture. Andy stood his ground.

"You don't know me. You don't know the hell I've been through."

Tyler face was now full of anger.

"You? Don't even talk about your supposed harsh life in front of me! I've had it worse I'm sure! You don't know what it's like to have your mother, the woman who was always there for you die when you're oly ten! And your dad doesn't want you so he gives you up for adoption. You don't know what it's like to go through so many foster families who treat you like shit because you're not their real son! You don't know what it's like when you try to find a place to call home and realize that you'll never have that! And then when you do find a place to call home you're so full of anger and hatred that you fuck everything up!"

Andy was taken back by the sincere hurt in Tyler's voice. It was obvious that he too had been through a lot. "So don't tell me about your pathetic cry-baby stories!" he finished as he carried Chucky out of the room. Andy watched his pal, his good guy from hell dangling from behind. Andy saw his cheeks, his eyes. They looked so plastic and normal when just moments ago they could've been made out of silicone. Chucky moved his plastic eyes to meet Andy's and said in that cute good guy voice.

"I'll be back"

Andy winced, and Tyler lifted Chucky up to his face. Stupid little thing. Then he disappeared down the hall, with Chucky.

He stood in the silence of the room, holding back tears.

Again, Andy felt so alone. He walked to the door and shut it, turning around and leaning his back against it.

How did he come back? I can't do it, not again. It was over. Kyle and I ended it but he's here now. There's no end to it, no end. Andy took a breath. He looked at the mess of the room. The clothes scattered across the room, Andy licked his lips. He bent down and grabbed the knife. He held it as he sat on his bed and began to think.

Andy thought about Kyle and how they took on Chucky together. In the factory when Chucky was climbing up the cage to Andy. Jabbing his knife in between those metal rollers then using it to pull himself up. Kyle pulled a lever and Chucky's hand was trapped. Then she shoved the tune of molten plastic in his mouth and blew him up.

Kyle was so brave. How did she do it? Andy remembered when he sat on his old bed at the Simpson's house, a long long time ago. He was listening to Phil complain to his wife about him. He didn't hear all the words just enough to know they were fighting about him. That was when Kyle came in all made up and ready to go to another party. Andy had looked at her and told her they were going to send him away.

She had sat down beside Andy and talked to him about all of the foster homes she had been thrown out of. He didn't remember everything she had said, but one thing he could recall even now.

"Every time it happens it just makes me stronger. Because it reminds me that the only one I can count on is myself."

That one sentence stuck with Andy even all these years later.

"You have to count on yourself Andy. That's all you'll ever really have."

Her words echoed in his mind like a ghost

Kyle was so brave but Kyle's not here. Neither is Mom, or Mike. I'm all alone. Andy began to cry quietly but audibly. I'm all alone this time. Then he sat up and wiped away his tears. Nobody's here to protect me so I have to protect myself.

You have to count on yourself Andy, that's all you'll ever truly have.

He wiped away any remaining tears and refused to cry anymore. He looked at the knife and felt a old emotion he hadn't the strength to muster in so long, Anger. I'm done being afraid, I know what I have to do.