Chapter 7: The Cracks in the Dollhouse
569 Words
The training session ended, and the dolls moved in perfect formation toward the exit. Jade followed, keeping his steps even, his face neutral, but his pulse pounded with urgency.
Rai-19 was like him. He had seen it in the way Rai hesitated, in the way fear had flickered in his eyes when Jade whispered the truth.
He had to find a way to speak with him-alone.
Mina-13 walked beside him, her expression unreadable. She had noticed too.
Once back in the dormitory, the routine continued as always-dolls laying in identical beds, staring at the ceiling, waiting for lights-out. But Jade wasn't waiting.
He had spent too many nights staring at this ceiling, too many hours feeling the crushing weight of his cage. He wouldn't waste another moment.
He turned to Mina, whispering so low it barely made a sound. "Tonight. We need to talk to him."
Mina's eyes flickered toward Rai's cot. She hesitated, then gave the smallest nod.
The minutes dragged. The overhead lights dimmed.
Then-silence.
Jade sat up slowly, every movement deliberate. Mina followed. Across the room, Rai-19 lay motionless.
Jade took a breath and made his move.
He crept between the rows of cots, his bare feet soundless against the cold floor. Mina was right behind him.
When they reached Rai's cot, Jade knelt. "Rai."
No response.
He reached out and touched Rai's shoulder lightly. "Rai, wake up."
Rai-19's eyes snapped open. His body tensed. For a second, he looked like he might yell-then he saw Jade and Mina, and something in his expression softened.
He sat up carefully. "What are you doing?" His voice was low, wary.
Jade took a slow breath. "You hesitated today."
Rai's body stiffened.
Jade continued, keeping his voice barely above a whisper. "You think, don't you? Like us."
For a moment, Rai said nothing. His fingers curled in his blanket, his breathing uneven.
Then-very slowly-he nodded.
Jade felt a spark of relief, but it was quickly smothered by the weight of what this meant. They weren't just dolls. They weren't just tools.
They were wrong in the eyes of this place.
And if the instructors found out, they would be erased.
Mina leaned in, whispering urgently. "We have to get out of here."
Rai's expression darkened. "You think I haven't tried?" He let out a bitter laugh. "There is no out."
Jade frowned. "There has to be a way."
Rai shook his head. "I've spent months looking. The doors, the walls-everything is controlled. Even if you made it to the other side, they would find you. You can't run from them."
Mina swallowed. "Then... what do we do?"
A heavy silence filled the space between them.
Jade's mind churned, every instinct screaming that they had to do something. If escape wasn't possible, if running wasn't an option-
Then they had to change the game.
Jade looked at both of them, his voice steady. "Then we fight."
Rai inhaled sharply. "That's suicide."
"Not if we find more like us." Jade's jaw clenched. "Not if we make them fear us instead."
Rai studied him carefully. "And how do you plan to do that?"
Jade exhaled. "We stop being their dolls."
Mina's fingers tightened on the edge of her blanket. Rai looked away, staring at the ceiling as if searching for an answer.
Then, finally-
"...I'm in."
Jade nodded.
The first ember of rebellion had been lit.
And soon, the fire would spread.
- Writer
