So it was that Edgar started his business, the people did not even consider the ethical dilemmas of bringing back their loved ones. As a week passed, he sold dolls at a high price, there were many reasons for why people wanted to buy the mechanical dolls.

Edgar purchased a building near his house and hired a few people, he started turning the house into a big store where he would sell even more mechanical dolls. People were hired to craft more of the mechanical dolls as Edgar had made very detailed blueprints. He was finally going to earn his own money instead of living on his family’s fortune. But what about Fay? Let’s go take a look at her.

Fay sat in a carriage with beautiful red seats, hidden from the world. She hated how Edgar had started selling the mechanical dolls. Someone knocked on the door, “Come in.”

Silof stepped in and sat down next to her, “It seems you have found a nice hiding spot, a carriage in the garage. What are you doing here?”

“I am bummed about the news, did you hear that he is opening up a shop?”

Silof nodded, “I even read the paper, it is all over the news, his business will be a big success. Do you know what I just read?”

“Tell me.”

“He is going to make dolls with a wooden frame, even ones with clothes, he even made some kind of poll to see what kind of doll people would like the best. He might have gone off the deep end, but he is doing great. The live sized mechanical dolls are slowly appearing everywhere.”

Fay nodded as a melancholic smile formed on her face, “Imagine if he had put this much effort into something noble. I went inside the carriage because one of your customers had one of those dolls with her.”

Silof let out a deep sigh, “Yes, I noticed that, I think that was the woman from the demonstration, it must be Carl. She was driving him around on a cart. I cannot refuse people for that reason, Fay, if I find a way, I will.”

“I know, there is something else, I am pregnant.”

“What? It wasn’t me, I haven’t touched you.”

Fay had to grin, “Thanks for trying to cheer me up.”

Silof smiled, “You are welcome,” he turned serious, “Is the father, Edgar?”

“Yes, I think the baby is about a month old, give or take.”

“How do you know?”

“Because that was the last time I was intimate with him, the time before that was easily two months. It was because of something stupid, you probably don’t want to hear it.”

“No, I do, you can confide in me Fay.”

She smiled at him, she even took his hand, “About a month ago, I was tending to my garden while Edgar was sitting on his sofa, reading the paper, looking for a job. I asked him for a cup of tea, something simple, right?”

Silof nodded eager to hear where this story was going, “Yes, go on.”

“He brought me tea, after complaining, he had given me the wrong tea, and not even the amount of sugar I wanted, I was furious. He has literally known me all his life, he should know when I change my drinking habit. We got into an intense fight.”

Silof sighed, “A fight over tea, understandable, but it should have been a sign things are not going the right way.”

Fay leaned back, “I know, he apologized, he said he would get a job, he even wrote down what tea I liked, he was very nice and charming. For a moment, I saw the Edgar I fell in love with. We were intimate that night, I don’t know what to do.”

“You can have your child and raise him, raise him to be unlike Edgar. If you want my help, I will help.”

Fay stared at him, “Why would you even do that? We are not an item, we have known each other for a little more than a week.”

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Silof smiled, “Because you are a smart and pretty woman. It seems you can use my support, I am not going to force myself upon you or chase you. But, if you’d like, I will be there to take care of your child.”

Fay shed a tear, “That means a lot to me, can we go for a walk? I want to see the shop he is building, there is also something I fear, but I hope is not true.”

Silof opened the door for her, “Lead the way, I am right behind you.”

They walked across the streets and came past her old house, people were standing in line in hopes to get a chance to see Edgar and get their loved one back, Silof scoffed, “People are so ignorant.”

Fay nodded as they walked to the store, she gasped in awe, she had not expected something like this, he had gone, all out. He named it, the Elysium Emporium.

The Elysium Emporium stands as a majestic structure with a façade that captures the attention of anyone passing by. The exterior is adorned with intricate steampunk-inspired embellishments, featuring gears, cogs, and metallic ornaments. A large, eye-catching sign hangs above the entrance, bathed in a soft, ethereal glow. The sign proudly displays the shop’s name in bold, golden letters, flickering as if powered by unseen forces.

Large, arched windows showcase a mesmerizing display of mechanical dolls arranged in various poses. The dolls appear to be frozen in graceful movement, each one meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of elegance and otherworldly charm. The glass is subtly tinted, casting a warm glow on the dolls, creating an almost ethereal ambiance. Silof whispered, “Is he seriously dragging people to his store with these showcases?”

Fay slowly nodded as she looked at the people gathered in front of the store. “Look, you can see inside through that window, I think it is some kind of stage.”

At the heart of the shop, a raised stage is set up for live demonstrations. Here, Edgar himself will soon orchestrate captivating displays, showcasing the resurrection process and the mechanical doll’s lifelike movements. The stage is equipped with an array of Elysium potions, batteries, and all the necessary apparatus for the enchanting performances. Silof sighed deeply, “This is all so wrong, why are these people this enthusiastic about the dead, even if they are their loved ones that are coming back?”

Fay looked down, “They are blinded by promises that are not true, I want to check something, come with me.” Fay started walking over to where the lab had exploded where Annabel died, next to it stood an abandoned factory.

The Forgotten Forge, once a bustling industrial complex, now stands as a decaying monument to a bygone era. The exterior is a patchwork of rusted metal and weather worn bricks, with broken windows and ivy creeping up the walls. A faded sign bearing the factory’s original name swings precariously from a single hinge, creaking eerily in the wind. Silof dragged Fay into the bushes as he heard someone talking.

Fay was shocked by his sudden act, but she quickly realized why as she heard Edgar’s voice, she decided to listen in on the conversation.

“Yes, the Forgotten Forge, I want to buy it, you can make it happen, right?”

“Edgar, this is a monument, it is decrepit and old, you cannot buy it. Not even you who can bring back the dead.”

He tapped his foot and rubbed his shaved chin, “What about this, you make sure that I can buy this factory, and the surrounding land, and I will bring back three people of your choosing for free?”

“Sir, that is a generous offer, but, I cannot accept that.” Silof pointed at a man standing next to her, he was silent and observed the conversation.

Edgar looked at the man, “Is this your husband?”

“Yes, why do you ask?”

Edgar pulled a sharp knife out of his belt and launched himself at the man, he stabbed the man through his heart. Blood covered him as he got up, the woman shrieked in fear and wanted to run away. Edgar grabbed her arm, “Miss?”

She quivered in fear and stared at him, “Why did you kill the man I love?” The woman started sniffling and crying.

“Now I have leverage, can you please arrange the factory and the land for me? I will bring back your husband as one of the three dolls I mentioned.”

The woman nodded, “Just make the payment as soon as possible, then you will have all this land, what do I say to the police? About my dead husband,” She wanted to show more emotion, but she wanted to be away from this murderer, her first instinct was to survive.

“Take his body, and tell the police you got mugged, I know where you live, tattle on me, and I will send the Mafia, then you will never see your husband again.”

The woman nodded, grabbed her husband and scampered off. Edgar smiled and looked at the factory, “This will be where I am going to build an empire. Silof will feel my wrath. Then Fay’s heart will burn for me as mine burns for her.”

As he walked away, Silof panted and shivered, “Oh my god, he just, murdered someone.”

Fay gulped, “Holy crap, we witnessed a murder, I never thought he was capable of this. If he gets this factory, all the dolls he will make, the money he will earn, we are in serious danger Silof.”

“I have noticed that, he is probably coming after me once he destroys my business. What do we do? Do we tell the police?”

“I don’t think that will work, he has everyone in his pocket, New Albion will bend to his every whim and wishes. If not, he will make them bend, we need a bigger, a better plan. We may be the last sane people in New Albion, and if we aren’t, people will soon be swayed by that murderous man.”

Silof grunted, “Damn, this is even worse than I thought, the shop opening up soon, the revival of this factory, the fact that Edgar is willing to kill people to get you back.”

Fay sat down, “I am afraid to tell him that I am pregnant with his child. What do we do now?”

Silof shook his head, “I have no idea, Fay, I have no idea.”