"Nadia, wait up!" Aisha spoke as she tried to keep up with her daughter's pace. Although they arrived at PlayCare holding hands, Aisha knew Nadia's happiness of being here would cause her to break away and race towards Home Sweet Home with only one objective on her mind: seeing her best friend and only friend, Theodore Grambell.
With Aisha not far behind her, Nadia almost burst through the front doors, racing down the halls until she found Theodore's room, pushing through the door, and stopped when she saw him sitting on the bed.
"Hey, Theo!" Nadia exclaimed as she made her way to him and sat on the bed next to him, "Are you ready? Momma said we can go now if you are ready."
"Yes!" Theodore cheered, "I couldn't sleep last night because I was so excited. Are you sure I'm allowed to go with you?"
"Yeah, Momma asked the people and they said you can go out with us for one day so Momma planned a whole bunch of places to go today!"
"Oh wow, that's awesome! Where are we going?" Theodore asked. He had never been allowed outside, let alone out in the real world and going to real places so this was an experience he yearned for and appreciated. His time and life were spent in a dome with fluorescent lights and no access to the outside world, this was a privilege he'd only receive once and a privilege the other children would never experience.
"Momma said we are going to get breakfast first, then after that, we are going to the park, then the aquarium, the zoo, and the toy store. Momma said we're gonna try to do everything today! I'm so happy you can come with us!"
Finally catching up to Nadia, Aisha entered the room, a warm smile forming when she saw Nadia and Theodore. Theodore was already ready to go, wearing the best clothes he had with his shoes already tied. Aisha felt pity for the boy as he was not only an orphan but he wasn't even allowed to go outside and live life as a normal boy. Nadia had all the privileges and opportunities Theodore couldn't even comprehend and that alone tugged at her heartstrings.
All the orphan children were like this. Granted, PlayCare sheltered them, fed them, clothed them, and educated them but none of them could live normal lives as children. All they could do was hope and pray that someone would take an interest in adopting them. Adoptions did happen but they weren't on a massive scale so for some of the older children, most if not their entire lives were spent in PlayCare, not aware an entire world existed outside the dome. Aisha wanted to give at least one of the children a taste of the outside world.
Shaking her head, Aisha dismissed her thoughts for now and reached her hands out to Nadia and Theodore, signaling for them to come with her and they happily followed her. As they exited PlayCare, Theodore curiously looked around, PlayCare was the only area he had been exposed to so his eyes wandered wildly around the establishment, taking in every color and corridor his eyes could process. His "imaginary friend", The Prototype, had described the facility outside the PlayCare but seeing and processing it was different than what he was told.
After what felt like forever, they reached the lobby of Playtime Co and Aisha waved to the desk attendant before holding the door open for Nadia and Theodore, letting them exit first. Stepping outside, Theodore instinctively closed his eyes as the sun's rays hit him. Feeling the warmth of the sun and seeing the brightness of it was a first for him and he knew he was one of the lucky children to experience this.
Walking to the car, Aisha helped the children enter the car and buckle them in before getting in the driver's seat and buckling herself, adjusting her mirrors before starting the engine and driving off. As they departed the factory, Theodore looked out the window and watched as they passed the building, studying the scenery around the factory that consisted of vast fields and the field of trees leading into the woods off into the distance. Just for today, he was free from the factory and the horrific crimes that were being committed inside.
That day was the best day of his life. That day was his first and only experience with a lot of things many people take for granted in their everyday lives. He got to experience going to a diner and being able to have whatever he wanted for breakfast. He got to experience going to the aquarium and the zoo and seeing the animals he was taught about in the schoolhouse. He got to experience going to an actual park and playing on the swings and the slides. He also got to experience going to an actual toy store and picking out whatever toys he wanted. Although these toys weren't produced by Playtime Co, Aisha let him pick out whatever he desired and hoped Playtime Co wouldn't take the toys away, citing competitor reasons as their excuse. But for now, he could be a child and enjoy some type of normalcy.
But, as with all good things, that day came to an end and Theodore had to be taken back to the factory. It was bittersweet for all three of them and Aisha felt genuine guilt returning a child to the conditions he lived in. After Nadia tearfully gave Theodore a goodbye hug, she approached her mother before following her back out of PlayCare.
"Momma," Nadia started, "I don't like leaving Theo here when we go home. Can we take him home with us one day? Like he can come live with us? He's my friend and I want him to have a home like I do."
"You mean like adopting him?" Aisha did consider the idea, "I'd have to talk to your stepdad but I can try. Theodore deserves a loving home."
If only they both knew Theodore's life would be taken before he could even obtain the opportunity of a home.
~
Dark brown eyes flew open as Nadia awoke, scanning the room before sitting up and raising her hand to the wound on her neck, hissing at the painful irritation it caused her. There was no mirror in sight to check how it was healing or the extent of how serious her previous wound was but she accepted that she was fine for now, considering she wasn't bleeding out on the floor and she could still properly breathe and speak.
Standing up, she slipped the GrabPack's straps over her shoulders, adjusting the straps, and started to head towards the door. Before she reached the exit, a hallway to the right of her and a box at the end appeared in her vision. Walking towards it, it became clearer in view and she began to make out what appeared to be a doll in the box. The doll had curly red hair styled into pigtails held up by blue bows with a porcelain white face and a blue fluffy dress.
Now, standing in front of it, she couldn't help her curiosity as she opened the case, just expecting to be able to examine the lifeless doll before leaving and trying to find an exit out of this hellscape excuse of a factory.
But that's not what happened.
As the case was opened, the doll's eyes beamed open, blue irises boring right into hers. Oh no. This doll was alive, just like Huggy Wuggy was. Nadia's eyes widened in terror, a small scream leaving her before turning around and fleeing towards the door, frantically unlocking it and almost tripping over herself as she raced across the catwalk.
Nadia didn't dare to look behind her as she desperately looked for an exit or at least somewhere to hide. She began to aimlessly run down hallways and take sharp turns, desperate to elude the doll she was fairly certain was chasing her and would kill her if she failed to get away.
As she reached a dead end, panic coursed through Nadia as she turned her head in every direction, mentally begging to find a way out. She froze as she heard hard and heavy footsteps behind her and turned around, her eyes widening at what she saw in the hallway, slowly approaching her.
Genuine fear and terror rushed through her veins as she made out the figure that was approaching her. It was insanely tall, the same height as Huggy Wuggy, and looked exactly like him except this figure was pink instead of blue. Possibly a female version of him. In its hand, it held the doll Nadia had released.
Violent memories of her ordeal with Huggy Wuggy flashed through her mind, and her breath caught in her throat. Her lungs ached as she began to get close to hyperventilating. Backing up, Nadia's back hit the wall as she fell to the ground, holding her hands over her face as she begged for her life, "Please don't kill me! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!-"
"Hey," The doll began, "It's okay-"
Nadia didn't listen and continued to desperately plea for mercy, "I'm so sorry, please don't hurt me! Please don't kill me! I just want to go home, I want to go home, please let me go home! I'll never come back, I promise."
Nadia expected a final blow and her existence to be snuffed from her. But it never came. Nadia froze for a few moments before moving one of her hands so she could see in front of her. The doll and the female Huggy Wuggy just stood in front of her, unmoving as if they were waiting for Nadia to calm down.
The pink figure lowered her hand to the floor, the doll hopping off of it, slowly approaching Nadia and held her hands up when she noticed Nadia still trying to scoot away, even with her back against the wall.
"It's okay," The doll began to speak again, "It's okay, I know you are scared, we aren't going to hurt you at all. You're safe here."
Although fear was still occupying her mind, Nadia's breathing began to soften as her muscles and limbs became less tense. Even though the doll wasn't even half her height and the female Huggy Wuggy didn't appear to be hostile, she still was cautious and on edge.
"W-Who are you?" Nadia bravely asked, her eyes looking at the doll and then back up at the pink figure, "H-How are you both alive?"
"I am Poppy," The doll pointed to herself before pointing at the towering figure behind her, "And this is Kissy Missy, Kissy for short. We were made this way. We've been down here for a long, long time. I was locked in that god-awful case for so long until you freed me. I'm sorry we scared you."
"It's okay. I'm just trying to get out of here. I don't belong here. I got kidnapped and attacked and came here to hide. I just want to go home. My best friend probably thinks I'm dead and is looking for me. I need her to know I'm alive."
Poppy stayed quiet for a moment before looking at Kissy and then back at Nadia, "I think we can help with that."
Nadia tilted her head in confusion, "How so? This place seems like a maze and I am definitely lost."
"I know where we are," Poppy continued, "We can take you to the Game Station. There is a train there that will take you to the loading docks and you can leave through the doors there."
Kissy approached Nadia, holding her hand out to her. Looking up at Kissy, Nadia hesitated for a moment before taking her hand. Kissy helped her to her feet, giving her a small friendly wave afterward.
"Thank you," Nadia spoke as she began to follow Kissy and Poppy. As they traveled, Nadia could now focus on the dozen or so posters on the walls as they made their way to the Game Station. Some of the posters consisted of Kissy Missy and Poppy and even some of the now-late Huggy Wuggy and there were also posters of toys Nadia hadn't met or encountered yet. She quietly hoped she wouldn't. Sure, Poppy and Kissy Missy weren't hostile to her but she didn't want to take that chance with the others. Her only priority was to get home and reunite with her best friend, Nicola. Any extra minute in this place was not favorable to her.
Once they arrived at the Game Station, Nadia was in awe at the scenery before she spotted the train that Poppy was talking about. A small smile formed on her face as she met her way out. Finally, she was going home.
Stopping in front of the train, Kissy opened the conductor's door before motioning for Nadia to step inside. Following her orders, Nadia kneeled down and stepped in, sitting down and turning to face Kissy and Poppy.
"Kissy and I will have to stay here to operate the train for you. It is a long ride to the loading dock but nothing will bother you on the way there."
"Thank you so much," Nadia smiled at them and watched as Kissy closed the door for her.
The sound of the train starting and its horn blaring spooked Nadia for a moment but quickly regained her composure. As the train began to operate and slowly started moving, Nadia gave a thankful wave to Kissy and Poppy until they were out of her sight.
As the train picked up speed, Nadia sighed in relief. Her brain was still processing that her nightmare experience was almost over and that she'd finally see the sun again. She'd be able to go back to her life and continue pursuing her dreams. A smile stayed on her face the entire time, unable to mask her joy and excitement.
But it all came to a screeching halt when Poppy's voice came over the train's radio.
"I'm so sorry," Poppy spoke with a tone of sadness and empathy, "I can not let you leave."
"Wait what?" Nadia frantically conversed back, "Wait- what are you doing?"
"We've never met anyone like you. You are different than the others. You are strong. Terrible things have happened here and I believe you are capable of saving all of us and setting us free. I'm sorry, I truly am. I want you to go home but I can't let you leave. I hope you can forgive me. I'm so sorry."
The train began to accelerate and took a sharp turn off course, sending Nadia down a totally different path than she was intended to go on. She had no idea where she was heading and began to panic.
"NO! Poppy! Please don't do this to me! Please!" Nadia pleaded as she tried to pull the brake pedal, her panic rising even more when she realized it wasn't working. Tears began to stream down her face as she began to scream and cry in confusion, fear, and frustration. She began to have a panic attack as she tried to desperately think of a way to make the train stop and her anxiety only rose higher as the train began to pick up unsafe speeds. Still pulling on the brake lever, Nadia put all her might into pulling it down. The sound of the brakes squealing and the force of it send Nadia backward.
Shaking her head and looking up, her eyes widened in terror as she noticed the train tilting her, a guttural scream came from her as the train came to a halting stop, the force of it sending Nadia's body forward, slamming her head and immediately fell unconsciousness as the sound of the train crash loudly boomed through the tunnel.
Nadia was almost free and so close to freedom before it was taken from her again.