“How does the doll feel? Object of affection, without a voice.” Anne B. Garret

Chapter 4: The House Full of Pretty Things

“Elijah Ce Raphil, I’m your biggest fan!!!” No that doesn’t sound right. I wonder if The Head honcho will be hard to crack. Won't be too difficult, these neighborhoods.” Rachel spoke aloud, humoring herself.

“I do love a good giveaway: shiny watches, designer wallets, golden spoon galore.” A catering gig again? No, maybe I could hitch a ride with- No, I can’t rely on that weirdo.

Steven!

Right, right? He changed it to Sean. Sean on the other hand is filling in as the getaway driver. Maybe he could help me decide on what exactly we’re stealing because there’s no way in hell I'm going to jail for a painting of bloody tits. I don’t give a flying fuck Josh and his small dick big dreams attitude can go suck a dick for all I care. Might as well Suck “A do” Whatever his stupid name is that’s all he talked about when briefing me on this job. The guy is so unprofessional it blows my mind how self-absorbed he can be. He had one fucking job, at least do it right.

There’s no way, How many acres and just one camera for all we know, could be in the artwork and sculptures?

That’s not a bad idea. I’ll remember that for later. Sometimes I can’t believe I let him hit. They would be so disappointed in me. The Cunt was never good for anything but at least she had standards.

I could die of embarrassment right about now but let’s get back to business instead of dwelling on the past.

The only reason why I’m taking the job is because money is running short, and it doesn’t exactly grow on trees. I can’t be a Dancer again, I just can’t. Don’t get me wrong it paid well, but it was way more work than I bargained for. At least being a thief lets me work on my acting chops.

I can see it now: “Rachel P. Anderson Mega Super Star,” too early 2000’s.

“Rachel Anderson, superstar actress extraordinaire” Scrap the whole book. I'll use a stage name, when the time is right.

“Two days, two days.” I’ll buy a wig this round, the others won't be due for something this extravagant. Get things in order before… “Rob,” stops by. I should give up on dating apps. I have given up on dating apps. I shouldn't have to do anything but grab and go.

“Rob and his rod better make it quick,” sixth time the charm. “Fifty-five, your profile said thirty-two…“THREE MINUTES LATER>” said in Bikini under the bottom font.

“Too quick,” brunette hair a mess, her eyes sleepless, born in Seattle. Rachel had adjusted her walk of shame so that the magical mystery of modern-day birth control and “Satan’s, time of the month”, as her mother would put it, would tag-team the bastards seed right in the bud, before she finished her bowel of glucose free-all-you-can-treat cereal. She would hate to have to track down some nagging housewives, Dog of a Husband.

“He didn’t even have the decency to take off the ring.” To, infidelity.

==

Twenty-four hours later, I was in Josh’s warehouse apartment, clicking my nails together in disbelief.

“This sounds too good to be true. How the hell does a man so rich only have two cameras to monitor his property? I'm not a fucking idiot, I’m not putting my life on the line for scraps and a shitty grudge” I yelled waiting for his comeback.

"Remember bitch you belong here, you may be the dirtiest, whore I’ve ever met but you're good at what you do,” Josh and his lack thereof making me question being here.

“Wow, such a backhanded compliment you might just get to third base again, that's if you manage to catch me at another low.” I countered.

“Don’t tempt me,” the strawberry-blonde gremlin said in a voice that made my skin crawl in disgust.

Sean and his shaved near bald head watched the show not letting the faintest hint of emotion show on his stone-pierced face. The sick bastard was probably thinking about watching.

“We need a better plan,” I said looking around the apartment. The guy cleaned the place up since he knew I was coming over.

“We should work during the event, not before, not after. I’m sure I could get in as a caterer.” It was a good idea.

“What is it with you and feeding the rich fucks always the caterer, the sue chef, the cum whore who never follows the plan that I so painstakingly set out.” Josh and his big mouth were getting on my last nerve.

“I’m getting tired of your bullshit! Any more shit talk about me and I’m fucking out of here! You need me, not the other way around!” I was reaching my limit. My patience was cut short by the doofus, but it wasn't anything new.

“Sean speak the fuck up! You are acting so weird! Weirder than usual” I said, looking at him in suspicion with my blond wig with black roots. The way he stared at it was pissing me off.

Two people were having a conversation right in front of his eyes and thought the top of my head was more important.

Sean opened his mouth full of yellow and white crooked teeth.

“You're not going to like it.” He said in his druggy meets overgrown skater dude voice. I became self-conscious for a second but then I shook it off after looking at the two musty men in front of me.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“How do you know what I would or wouldn’t like?” I teased putting my arm around his neck thanking God that he didn’t smell- As bad as I thought he would.

“I think we should take the girl.” I stood there looking at him trying to recall what he just said because maybe I didn’t hear him right.

“Hear me out,” Sean said, slinking an arm over me.

“We want money, we can get the same amount of cheddar just by stealing a couple of pieces from anywhere. The difference between the other targets and this Adousa guy is that he doesn't flaunt his wealth. Paintings, lying around, waiting to fall into our hands.” He almost lost me for a second, but he continued. “So why not steal his most valuable treasure? The possession that he’s been keeping locked up in this estate is his darling girl. Josh, you said it yourself, she seemed like a tame little bitch for the most part. You've stolen a dog, why not the girl?”

I stood squinting at a madman. 'God, why did I have to cross paths with these weirdos!?'

“What the hell did I do in my past life to be this cursed.” This motherfucker has been planning a kidnapping longer than I and the dickhead had realized.

“No thanks, I don’t want that on my conscience,” I said laughing it off putting some distance between us two.

“See I told you." He replied.

“Yes, yes you did,” I responded.

I looked over to the man who had a plan. "You're not actually considering this are you” I said, causing Josh to play his laugh track. The bastard laughs like a duck when he’s been caught red handed. Makes me want to choke the living daylights out of him.

“He makes a good point; it seems well thought out. "Josh spoke.

Holding back the rising anger swallowing it back down. “How the hell does that seem well thought out? How the hell are we supposed to steal a thirteen-year-old child!?" These two were starting to give me a bad feeling.

Josh grew silent “Fucking idiot,” I mumbled. The words exited my mouth again as it does, too many occasions to count.

“Then it’s settled, we steal all we can steal, preferably on the second floor like you suggested Josh.” Knowing full well he didn’t suggest shit he’s a fucking dimwit. He should be bleach blonde, there isn’t a single brain cell in his head just pebbles and paint.

“We escape through the back gate.” I threw in. Both of them silently nodded at each other, which I didn’t like at fucking all.

“Speak up!” I shouted.

“Agreed” came Sean, “Agreed” came Josh. Always finishing last, the slow bastard.

“Now let's do what we do best and take what’s ours” I rallied.

_

_

##

Nervous, anxious those weren't quite the words to describe what I felt. Two days had gone by in a blur, a few days maybe. Nothing too weird happened. Papa asked me if I wanted to go shopping for the event. I told him “Yes” of course. This being one of the first times I went outside of the compound my bed let me reiterate “Mansion”, that I would most likely remember. He asked me some weird questions involving “lethal weapons and mass destruction.”

I was a little confused.

I mean I like blades and practicing self-defense as much as the next girl, but bombs and guns were far out. ‘No, it was beyond me.' The periodic table could only do so much. It was a moment to remember. Nonetheless, I’ll talk about it another time. I don’t know.

Picking out a dress to wear took an exceptionally long time. I wanted it to be memorable. It was only natural for Papa to help me dress to impress, buying me the finest shoes and the prettiest dresses and I even managed to convince him to buy me a couple of suits as well. I doubt that I would ever have the courage to wear them, but Papa and Father always looked so dashing and regal in dress suits. Could you blame me for wanting to join the party? Besides, it wasn't that much of a deal. I've seen many teenage girls wear such slimming suits online. Who cares if a thirteen-year-old girl gave it a try? The internet was full of “out of the box” fashion trends and choices I’ll dig my hands in, whenever I find the time.

Enough about suits I wasn't going to wear one this time around anyway. one step at a time. I wouldn’t want to stumble, fall, and never get back up.

It wasn’t exactly unusual for me to take on too much at once causing a nervous breakdown or sensory overload. Even the shopping trip took a towel. Can you believe people just walk up to you invading your personal space whenever they feel like it? The mall was a bizarre experience and that's besides the specks flying left and right drawing my attention now and then. “Adena Ce” Okay maybe I shouldn’t use my name in the first person. I pondered, “It makes me sound like a narcissist” so close to putting down that thought.

I heard a whispering “no”.

That was the cue for me to handle my business and get down the stairs.

Following the usual Hygiene routine has been a big daily help in making me more than just the ghost girl of the Mabtali mansion.

Papa came into my room to comb and fix my hair, something he always did with a professional touch and attention to detail.

He told me that he got the skill from his mother and was deathly silent after that. Even braided my hair when he had the time saying that “It would be a shame to dirty such a pretty head."

I never really wanted to ask questions about my grandparents. It seemed to make the knights in my life uncomfortable and that was always a spectacle. Making Papa uncomfortable was an impossible task in itself.

As far as anyone attending the party knew I, Adena Ce Raphil Mabtali “Oops, I did it again” was a normal girl.

I asked my parents questions galore and had my bratty moments like anyone else. Who could say otherwise? Hours had passed since breakfast. The breakfast of a rude awakening. My dad's made it known that “besides greeting a few people at the door with them by my side, my job was to enjoy the night, nothing too overwhelming.”

A part of me wished kids my age would attend but maybe I was deluding myself, so I ran back up to my room to avoid Hermand. “Who’s Hermand”? you ask. To put it in simple terms, Father has five assistants. Mike the longest working, second Paula the woman who was made out of bricks, two others that I’ve never actually met but I assume that Father wouldn’t lie to me about, and last Hermand the bearer of fog.

Hermand is an old man who looks like a butler, talks like a butler, and acts like a butler. Mind you, he only comes around on my birthday to help set up the party, but he never stays because He’s not a “fucking” butler.

The whisper had won.

I covered my mouth in a gasp hoping to excuse my language, praying that Papa had walked a distance away from my engraved wooden door. I hate these whispers. “Why do I avoid Hermand?” I avoid Hermand like the plague because of the gray thick suffocating fog of specks the guy carries around on his back. It’s like a cloud of cold moving with him wherever he goes, and I just can’t stand it. Gray specks I’ve seen before everybody has them, even Father I assume it’s hard strenuous work looking under all that black. Hermand on the other hand, is swimming in the Clouds of Gray.

I’m surprised it doesn’t bother him “Actually never mind, I’m the only person who can see them” Either way, it’s uncomfortable and almost unbearable. The guy's body is a mess speck-wise throat down he’s just a mass of gray.

Anyway, after having my alone time that had passed by pretty quickly.

Father and Papa walked into my room to escort me down after tightening the bow on my black dress making sure I was tidy for the coming day.

An evening to remember had begun.