Faded

Molly

Feeling the hot kiss of the sun against  my throbbing cheeks, I laid back and took a deep breath.

" I swear  lacy, the next time "Mr. Doosh" decides to make us pick weeds for late work, I quit."

She laughed, then looked at me sideways, but only for an instant, seeming determined to keep her eyes on the road.

" You said that the last time Mary." she says, 

" I know, but i mean it this time" I Argue

I get nothing but a crooked smile and a eye roll from her, as we both blankly stare out into the distant road, the gravel descending underneath our old station wagon.The swaying of the car and hot summer breeze maid my skin melt as i lay there and think of what time has to offer. 

" What are we gonna do when school starts" i ask, shifting my body in an uncomfortable position, bringing up the conversation we once almost lost our friendship over.She gave a huge sigh then pulled the car over, shifting her body in the same awkward position.

" I don't know Mary" she said, her eyes starring right through me as if she were talking to a ghost. Her mouth dropped and i froze afraid that there was some mask murderer behind me, I then scanned my surroundings, and noted that my house was only a block away , i grasped my door handle ready to fling out and run for my life. But when i turned, i was disappointed to see. That there was no one there. Only the sad remains of an old  beaten doll, hanging by its neck from an old oak tree. 

" Who in the world would hang a doll on the side of  the.." My voice trailed off to a whimper  as i stepped out of the car, and noticed a small crippled piece of paper on  its stomach, it read "Shiane and Mary."  I snatched the doll off the tree, almost detaching it's head in the process. I starred at the piece of paper. And thought to myself how such an damaged little doll, and an crippled piece of paper,  could hold so many mysteries. But every one of those furious unreasonable answers were blown away when i felt an heavy hand on my shoulder,  i jumped and stumbled on the remaining questions that still clouded my head.

" Mary" said lacy alarmed, fear in her olive green eyes, " whats wrong ."

It took me a while to process her words, but when i did i tucked the doll in my bag and  headed toward the car.  " I'm fine" i said  knowing that i wasn't,  that all hell was about to break loose.

                                                                                        ****

I couldn't sleep that night. It was as if my eyes were stapled open, i could feel the water draining from my eyes, and i swear i heard a crunch every time i blinked. After 3 long torturous hours, listening to nothing but the crunch of my eye lids, i finally got up and gathered the guts to go over and look at the doll. At first i was disgusted at the once antique looking doll, who was now dirty and looked as if a pack of mad dogs came and played tug a-war with it, it stunk of blood and decay, but i soon found myself picking it up and holding it so close to my face that i could smell the mold growing out of the blistering holes inside of the doll.

" clang, clang, clang, " i jumped at the sound of wood and medal banging together, i ran over to my bed and hid under the covers, after 5 more ear bursting bangs, it stopped leaving me alone with silence. I slowly lifted the blanket, sweat trickling down the side of my forehead,  then froze in mid step as the faded figure stepped out of the tormenting darkness of the hallway. The figure turned as i studied it trying to see through its matted hair , but when we were face to face i noticed that her head hang low, but that did not stop her  from giving  an menacing grin. A short figure appeared behind it, holding the same doll i held in my hands,  it was then that the short figure spoke" Sissy."