In Nightmares We're Alone by Greg Sisco Read Free Book Online

touch her. And never, ever come in this room again. You’re not grown up enough for it and I think you’ve proved that. You are not responsible enough to touch Mommy’s dolls anymore.”
    “Okay,” I say, wounded. I don’t see the use in fighting.
    “Go get ready for school. You can make your own lunch today. I’m not doing it.”
    “Okay, Mommy.” I start to walk away and I stop. “I’m sorry your dolls are… I’m sorry I broke your dolls.”
    She just keeps shaking her head. And up above her Beth is grinning that baby grin.
    While I’m making a peanut butter sandwich in the kitchen I can hear Mommy sweeping up the mess and mumbling to herself about how she can’t do this anymore. I can’t do it anymore either. It wasn’t perfect before Beth got here, but it was never this bad. Maybe me and Sissy can run away somewhere. Maybe if I could find out where Daddy went he’d let me come live with him. But I don’t know how much longer I can be in a house with Beth. Even if she doesn’t kill us, I don’t think I can take it.

    * * * * *

    When it’s time for Show and Tell I raise my hand right away. I’m the only one with my hand up. Mrs. Harris doesn’t look thrilled about it.
    “Macie,” she says. “Maybe you want to tell us why you weren’t at school yesterday?”
    “No,” I say. “I brought something to show.”
    I reach into my backpack and get out the doll. Kaylie. Wearing the dress Mommy made for her instead of the original dress I liked. I walk to the front of the room holding her at my side.
    “This is my doll Kaylie,” I say.
    Eyes shift from side to side. Boys look like they can’t wait to hear where this is going and girls look ready to close their eyes and cover their ears. Mrs. Harris looks unamused.
    “She’s not the witch doll,” I say. “The witch doll is my mom’s. My mom’s only had the witch doll for a week or so but I’ve had Kaylie for two years. Even though I threw her in the garbage, she came back. And every night I bury her under clothes in my closet but when I wake up at night she’s on a shelf in my room and pointing to my mom’s doll room.”
    “Macie…” says Mrs. Harris.
    “I don’t want to get rid of Kaylie, because I love her. But I want to get rid of her because I think she’s friends with the witch doll and that’s why when I throw her in the garbage or bury her she comes back, because the witch doll won’t let me get rid of her.”
    “Okay Macie. That’s enough. Back to your seat.”
    “The witch doll has one blue eye and one green one and when I wake up at night that’s always how Kaylie looks. Her eyes change when I’m the only one around so she can look like the witch doll.”
    “Macie, am I going to have to call your mother again?”
    I stop. I realize I’m being immature. I look at Mrs. Harris and say, “Please. Just another second. It’s important.”
    Mrs. Harris pauses. “If you aren’t going to tell the truth…”
    “It is true!” I say. “If any of you have parents that know about ghosts or monsters or anything, you have to help me. The witch doll talked to me the other night and I think it wants to kill my mommy or take her away from me and I have to stop it!”
    Mrs. Harris is shouting “Macie! Macie! Macie!” over and over, trying to grab me and shake me so I’ll stop talking, but I won’t. Not this time.
    “It said it wanted to be my new mommy. It talks like an old woman in my mind. I think I’m running out of time. It gets scarier every day.”
    Mrs. Harris grabs my arm and tries to pull me away from class, but I resist. I start banging Kaylie on Mrs. Harris' desk as hard as I can.
    “I don’t want her anymore! I don’t want this doll or Mommy’s doll or any goddamn doll!”
    I keep screaming and pounding and crying until Kaylie’s head breaks off on the desk and bounces through the classroom and the whole class is silent and uncomfortable save for one bold boy who keeps suppressing chuckles and looking