The Doll Boy

Chapter 1

A white-haired boy stepped out of a limousine wearing the private school's blazer and a backpack on his back. "Bye-bye Papa! I'll make sure to be a good boy! I'll tell you all about today on the phone tonight!" He smiled and ran into the high school's front gate. Looking up at the large boarding school in front of him, he hugged the teddy bear in his arms and headed towards the dorms, a butler carrying the boy's suitcases behind him.

After the limousine left the entrance, a smaller and less shiny car pulled up to the front. "Don't forget to call me tonight, Andrew! I want to know all the details!"

"Yeah yeah. Love you, Mom." A slender, brown haired, freckled boy got out of the car and opened the trunk, getting a suitcase out and setting it on the ground to close the trunk.

"Oh, Honey!" Andrew's mom got out of the car and ran up to hug him, putting kisses all over his face. "I'm going to miss you so so much!!"

He smiled softly and hugged her back. "Yeah. Me too, Mom. I'll contact you tonight after I get everything set up." He stepped towards the gate, waving to his mother and walking to the dorms.

Andrew held his phone in his hand, searching for his room with the number he had written down. He held the room key he had gotten earlier in his hand, twirling the keychain around his index finger. After finding room 327, he opened the door, only to be greeted by the back of a man in a suit, bowing. 

"That is all, Young Master. I'll be on my way now." The dark-haired man turned around, nodding his head at Andrew and leaving the room.

Andrew looked around and noticed that half the room was already set up. A bed was covered in stuffed animals and in the middle on the overcrowded bed was a white-haired boy with a small frame, staring at Andrew, not saying a word.

Andrew waited for him to say something, but he was given only silence and a blank stare. Creeped out and feeling uncomfortable, he chose to speak. "Hello. My name's Andrew McGregor. I'll be your roommate from now on."

The other boy's face remained expressionless and he didn't reply. He kept staring at Andrew without blinking, and Andrew found himself wondering if the boy was simply a doll until he stood up.

Walking over to Andrew, the boy was eerily silent as he held his teddy bear close to him, its head partially covering his face. He put his hand out, in a gesture similar to a high-five and patiently waited for Andrew to do something.

"Do you... want me to touch your hand?" Andrew questioned, lifting his hand.

The boy nodded and Andrew put his hand to the other's. He found himself making eye contact with the smaller male.

After about half a minute of silence, the boy smiled and put his hand down. "My name's Nelle. Let's be friends!"

Andrew smiled, confused but happy he got the boy to speak. "Yes! I'd love that." Andrew went to the empty bed and set down his suitcase, once again examining the room.

Nelle was quietly staring at nothing while Andrew unpacked his things and set up his bed. After fixing his room, he decided to check out the bathroom. As he arranged the untouched side of the sink, he heard Nelle speaking to someone. Wondering what was going on, he exited the bathroom and saw him on the phone, face bright with emotion and his smile wide as he animatedly talked about the few things that happened that day. Andrew was surprised by the difference between how he had acted to him before versus how he was now. He brushed it off as Nelle being shy around new people.

After making sure to call his mom, he was tired from the long conversation and it was getting dark. Feeling sleepy and more comfortable in the dorm, Andrew crawled into bed. The bliss of sleep lured him in and he turned over to see if Nelle was asleep. His gaze was met with cold silver eyes staring right at him. Andrew smiled and waited for Nelle to close his eyes, but he didn't. Andrew felt an inkling of fear creep up on him and he shut his eyes. Still curious, Andrew opened them again. Nelle's eyes were still open, but now he wore a smile that sent shivers down Andrew's spine. It wasn't the same smile he had earlier. This smile was terrifying. Nelle's lips spread unnaturally across his face while his eyes held the same expression as before. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to sleep if he saw anymore of that face, Andrew turned back towards the wall, trying to push down the feeling of dread building in his stomach. Finally, after what felt like forever, he fell asleep.

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(One Month Later...)

Andrew awoke to the sound of a quiet giggle from the bed across the room. Already knowing who it was, he sat up and looked over to Nelle. The white-haired boy was placing the finishing stitches on yet another stuffed animal and before placing the last thread, he pricked his finger and dribbled the blood into the stuffing, then pulled two longer pieces of hair from his head and intwined them in the needle, using them as the final thread. After doing this, his laughter became unrestrained and he grinned widely. "Papa is sure to be proud of me!" He hugged it tight as tears fell down his face.

Andrew sighed and stood up, getting ready for school. He was already used to his roommate's eccentricities. After dressing himself and brushing his wavy, unruly hair, he exited the bedroom and watched Nelle pull on his shoes and put on his backpack. Andrew grabbed his school bag and after a couple casual gestures, the two headed off to school.

After getting to first period, Andrew headed to his seat and got his things out. A few minutes into the lecture, the teacher switched to a question from the textbook.

"Was anyone able to solve problem six in last night's homework?" She asked, looking around the room for raised hands. Decided, she choose a student. "Nelle. Could you come up and explain to the class how you did it?"

"Yes, Ms. Evans." Nelle smiled, standing. Murmurs went around the room of awe and praise. In only a month's time, Nelle had established himself as a rich young master with a brilliant mind and a way with words.

Andrew watched his roommate explain his process with ease and in perfect detail. Andrew let his mind drift off as he heard the boy's voice. When I first came here, I came to the conclusion that Nelle was probably special needs, so I didn't think too much of it, but in normal social situations, he thrives. It's almost like he has split personalities, although I don't think that's it. Andrew snapped back when Nelle sat back down at his seat and Andrew noticed he hadn't written anything down.

School went by quickly, and before he knew it, Andrew was on his way back to the dorms. Entering the dorm room, he let his eyes adjust to the darkness. He learned that Nelle liked the room dark in the afternoons. Andrew didn't want to see what would happen if he went against Nelle.

Andrew was always second to get to the dorms because of his schedule that gave him two electives but made him have an extra period after many students went back to the dorms. Whenever Andrew got to the room, Nelle would be on his bed, speaking to his stuffed animals about his day. 

Feeling curious and a little more comfortable with the boy, Andrew decided to initiate a conversation with him. Sitting down on his own bed, Andrew laid on his side, facing his roommate. "Hey, Nelle."

Nelle's head turned and he stared at Andrew. "Yes?"

Andrew smiled and sat up. "We're friends, right? Wouldn't it be nice to get to know each other better?" Nelle nodded and gestured for Andrew to come to him. "I can sit on your bed?" Andrew confirmed.

Nelle nodded again and Andrew crossed the small space between their beds, sitting on Nelle's. Andrew smiled and let himself relax a little bit. "Your bed is comfy." He looked at the stuffed animals. "I've seen you make about three of these little guys since you've been here. Are these all your creations?"

Nelle shook his head. "No... Since I came here, I promised I'd make Papa something precious from me. The other ones are from Papa." Nelle picked up the stuffed animal he would hold the most. "This one was made by both Papa and me. It even has bits of Papa in it too." He held it close, closing his eyes.

Andrew felt disturbed by the boy's last line. So he learned that disturbing and unsanitary habit of pricking himself and using his hair from his "Papa"? Wanting clarification, Andrew decided to ask Nelle a little more about his home life. "So your Papa is your dad, right?"

Nelle only tilted his head. "Papa? Papa is Papa."

Andrew sighed. He wasn't going to get much out this kid. "What about your Mom? I don't hear you talk about her."

"Mo....m?" Nelle stared into Andrew's eyes and something snapped in him as he grabbed Andrew by the neck, pinning him to the bed. "I TOLD YOU I DON'T HAVE A MAMA! I'M PAPA'S DOLL! I'M HIS DOLL! STOP HURTING PAPA!!"

Andrew was frozen in fear, but before he was able to fight back, Nelle erupted in tears. He curled up in the corner of the bed again, muttering words to himself. Concerned that he might have another outburst like that, Andrew slipped back into his own bed, thinking over what had just happened.