The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray Read Free Book Online

mashed-potato arms in some type of position—”
    My jaw falls open. “Teo!”
    I’ve only spoken his name, but it’s as if I’ve stolen a megaphone and wailed Silence! Seven couples hold their collective breaths. Even the air conditioning seems to pause out of shock and apprehension, and the musician in Cleo’s music knows to soften her voice, her once-articulate stanzas becoming slurred.
    I watch as Teo’s shoulders rise and fall and hate that this party isn’t going well. That’s how class was sometimes with Teo. On the bad days, no one would speak a word, so fearful that he would snap. On the good days, though, no one could stop talking about his high spirits and how nothing was better than learning with him. And that’s what I want right now. Those good days when everyone sees that what Teo does is for a purpose, and he’s always thinking ahead so we can learn as much as possible. He is, after all, the reason we had the highest math scores in the state.
    This is not one of those good days, not at all. Plus, I’ve broken Teo’s cardinal rule: never interfere with what he says. I’m mostly mortified I somehow forget about that unspoken rule, but I can’t help wondering why he thinks calling people names is okay. But that’s Teo. His mind is so far ahead of everyone else’s that he has a hard time being patient sometimes. My rebuke must have been embarrassing for him. For that, I can’t help feeling a little dismayed at myself.
    Teo rounds on me and sneers; rightly so, but it still hurts. “The others in this room have learned never to interrupt their Director.” He grabs me by the arm and drags me past the massive Egyptian statues by the door. “Never interrupt me, Persephone. Never question what I have to say.”
    My face twitches again, and it takes all I have not to hang my head and weep. Teo expects a reply, but the singer in Cleo’s music steals my focus. I can just now decipher what she’s trying to say: Little monkey, be my friend, be my friend, be my friend . Pushing the sound away, I look Teo directly in the eyes and say, “I understand.” My face doesn’t twitch or anything.
    Teo sucks in his lips, then swivels his head again. “Can’t you see what I have here, Persephone? I’ve built our perfect world.”
    I shake my head; it’s impossible to be perfect. Of course, Teo knows that, but who am I to challenge his authority? He’s the reason why we’re alive. He’s the person who had the foresight to build this place. If he hurts people’s feelings, maybe I can make it my own personal goal to swoop in and patch things up along the way—only after he leaves the room.
    Before I can say that I see what he’s trying to do, he grips me by the wrist, opens Cleo’s front door, and pushes me out. I stagger; never has he shoved me like this. My fingers begin to twitch like I’ll defend myself, but I force them to remain still. He pushed me because I didn’t appreciate his work. I can’t question him in front of everyone. I can’t.
    Teo follows me, slamming the door behind him, making me jump, but I force myself to remain calm and to still my twitching face.
    Electricity simmers in Teo’s gaze. I feel like he’s stockpiled the entire world’s energy and infused his gaze with it. I can almost hear the sizzle from all that power directed at me.
    “Go inside, Persephone,” he spits, making me flinch. “Learn the names of your neighbors. All of them . Then return to me tonight and show me you can pass this second task.”
    Second task? My heart slams inside my chest—Teo yelled at me. But I should have known to hold my tongue. While Teo was rude, I need to remember some things are better left explained away after he leaves. He doesn’t think before he speaks , I could explain to poor Ana. See, I’m twitching myself .
    Yet, Teo has provided safety from the monsters outside. We are protected against the Living Rot, and he has a vaccine.
    “Wait,” I call to Teo as he moves away