The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray Read Free Book Online Page A

from me to the street, his coattails billowing behind him, “what about the vaccine?”
    Teo turns a cold look on me. “You have not earned it yet. Everyone must prove themselves first.”
    Prove ourselves—by learning everyone’s names. At least, I hope that’s what he means. But how can he hold onto the vaccine like a collateral while the sickness is mere miles away?
    This echoes his reward systems in the past. He would say before the math meets: Perform well and you can ride with me . Complete the extra credit and we can move on to higher things . Like listen to him play the violin or meditate with Gregorian chants—activities like these were rewards for accomplishing the simpler tasks. That’s when we may enjoy a higher purpose , he would say, and suddenly everything makes sense.
    I learn the names, I receive the vaccine, and we can move on to him explaining his vision for Elysian Fields, his dream. Why am I always so obstinate? So unwilling to accept his direction? He did refer to himself as our Director, after all.
    I watch Teo stride away from me, his powerful legs moving down the street. He even moves like he’s in control. I need to show him I’m willing to learn his ways.
    As his black suit coat disappears inside the house at the very center, the one where I woke up, I can’t help wondering if it hurt him to be angry, if he realizes how much he hurt me. But it doesn’t matter; I’ll do anything to prove myself to him. Because I can show him I’m worthy of his love, his dreams, this place. He might have unrealistic expectations, but I can do better. He will see.

4
    With the pointy-eared Egyptian statues flanking every nook and cranny of Cleo’s too-warm house, I feel like I’m being watched. Like Teo’s given the statues orders to report back to him. Part of me wonders what it would be like to see them move—to see their powerful bronze bodies marching about the room. Their footsteps would echo the drumbeats inside my chest, the never-ending pounding.
    If I’m to learn the names of the couples, I must forget the oversized statues, digest everyone’s faces as well as their names. It can’t be that hard to learn fourteen names.
    Leaning against the wooden door behind me, I watch the one person I know best—Marcus, with that black, floppy hair. He needs a haircut, because he keeps shaking his bangs out of his eyes. He’s talking to Cleo, heads close together on the couch. But with Teo out of the room, I take the time to really study Marcus. The way his gray knit shirt actually has to stretch over his shoulders and chest, and how a shade of dusty plum enshrouds one eye. He must have been in a fight, though I can’t imagine with whom. With those ripped arms, though, it’s not hard to imagine him tearing someone apart.
    Cleo’s beads slap into his cheek, and he laughs like beads have never been more amusing in his life. I don’t know—I guess I feel betrayed. I figured he would be an ally, but he wouldn’t let me inside his house. And he’s chitchatting with Cleo ? I think I sort of hate her, the way her boobs are spilling out of her dress.
    Marc’s eyes dart to me and flicker before he looks away. His eyes always lit up when he saw me before, but today it’s like he purposely pushes the light out. I’m suddenly finding it hard to stand.
    It has happened before, when I ran into him at the grocery store. He was buying ingredients for lunch. I remember him balancing rice, asparagus, and cooking wine without a shopping cart. I asked him what he was making and he seemed to grit his teeth and wouldn’t meet my gaze, which was really strange, coming from him. He didn’t joke with me, didn’t look at me the way he usually did. I left feeling disheartened, wondering what had happened to the friend who always tried to grab my ponytail at the math meets. The one who sang my name. Instead, he stalked off to meet Teo at the front of the store. I wanted to follow, but I didn’t want to go where I