Playing With The Puppet Master

23

I held a stuffed bunny close to my chest when I woke up this morning. Donna's arm was wrapped around my waist as she spooned into me from behind. The early rays of dawn peaked into the room from the window. I slowly turned in her arms. Her grip tightened on me as her eye remained closed. She purred like a satisfied kitten when her head nuzzled against my neck. Something inside of my chest bloomed as I watched her sleep. Her snores were adorable and soft. I knew she was completely passed out.

"Donna?" I whispered just to be sure. She gave no reply. Instead, she was a whole other world away in dreamland. "I'm insane," I whispered so quietly I barely even heard it. "I think I might be in love with you." My lips pressed against her forehead before I settled back in. My eyes grew heavy and fell back into a blissful nap.

"Ohhhh shit," was all that escaped my lips as I closed my eyes as tight as they could go. Angie hummed in her own satisfaction as she floated around me like an airborne parasite. When I opened my eyes again, the nightmare did not go away. Adrien was passed out on the ground with a slight trickle of blood smeared down her head. I walked up to the passed-out figure and stared down at her. Her chest heaved slightly, so at least she was alive.

"Do you think she's gonna die?" Angie asked in something akin to amusement. I glared at her.

"It's your fault. You are going to be the one explaining this to Jordan."

"What? I'm innocent!"

"Who is the one that jump scared her off the damn tree she was trimming!?" I argued. My glare left no argument and the doll looked down at the ground.

"I thought it would be funny."

"Well, we need to find you a different sense of humor." I knelt down to Adrien next. My hand slapped gently at her cheek. "Hey! Wake up." Adrien groaned in response, but her eyelids remained closed. I glanced back at Angie. "You are SOOOO lucky she's not dead." Angie backed away slightly as I turned back to Adrien and shook her shoulder. Adrien's eyes slowly opened. They squinted as a hand ran to block the view of sunlight.

"Fucking damn..." Adrien murmured as she slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, yeah...just...dizzy." I turned back to Angie. She helplessly watched on like a typical bystander.

"Go grab Jordan," I told her.

"Who?" Adrien inquired. My head whipped back to her.

"Jordan." Adrien wiped at her eyes before she blinked at me. Her face was completely washed of emotion.

"Who the hell is Jordan?" I immediately shot back up toward the retreating Angie.

"Don't fucking get Jordan!" Was all I screamed. Angie stopped at the backdoor. Instead, the woman came out on her own accord. "Shit," I hissed lowly. Jordan stepped onto the back deck. Her head tilted to the side in curiosity as eyes stared at Adrien.

"Honey, what are you doing on the ground?" Adrien did not answer. Jordan was taken slightly aback as she glanced back at Angie and I. Her attention turned back to the woman a moment later. "Adrien, answer me. Why are you on the ground? Why are you bleeding?" Adrien only stared on. I turned back to Adrien. Her eyes were sparkles as they stared at the cook. I took a small step toward her.

"Morgan, who's that?" Adrien asked with a dreamlike lull to her voice.

"Adrien, that's your girlfriend. Jordan. Remember?" Adrien shook her head slightly as confusion broke out. Jordan walked up beside me with her arms crossed.