Unwound by Yolanda Olson Read Free Book Online

sounds of drills
    and tools and manic screams echoing. As I made my way across
    the second floor to the next set of stairs, I realized that I hadn’t stopped the night before to look around and at this moment I
    wasn’t particularly interested in doing so but I made a mental note to stop here on the way back up tonight and take a look around.
    I quickened my pace as much as I could with the shuffle I had
    started using to ease the pain on my legs and practically hopped
    down the last flight of stairs. The room was much brighter now
    since the sunlight started pouring in. It didn’t really seem much
    different than it was when I saw it last night but I just noticed
    extra little things. Like the cracks in the walls, pieces of bricks on the floor, actual cobwebs from some of the dolls to the tables. It was desolate and lonely but that also made it mine and I identified with my new home and that made me a little happy.
    Scanning the tables I selected the largest one which harbored
    the most materials. Scraps of cloth, actual cloth, looked to have
    been tossed carelessly across it as well as an array of needles and pins. I selected two different colored scraps, a white one and a
    dark green one, and then sat at the end of the table that housed the sewing machine. I stared at it for a moment not remembering if I
    had seen London ever use one before. It looked simple enough;
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    place the cloths together and run them under the needle. I cleared my throat and with a glance made sure there was thread in the
    machine before I started. I slid the materials under the machine
    and waited. For some reason nothing happened.
    “Try using the pedal,” a voice said.
    I got to my feet and looked around but saw no one.
    “Who’s there?” I asked.
    The voice stayed quite but I heard the sound of feet shuffling.
    It seemed to be coming from the door that was directly across the
    room from me. Squinting I could see a figure standing in the little bit of shadow that was in the factory but I couldn’t tell what
    species it was or if it was male or female and the sound of the
    voice was no help in distinguishing either.
    “Who’s there?” I repeated a little sterner this time.
    “I’m not going to harm you, but until I’m sure you won’t
    harm me, I’ll answer nothing,” the voice replied defiantly.
    “Fine, just stay in the shadows and away from me then,” I
    instructed as I sat back down and turned my attention again to the machine. This time, I used my fit to locate the pedal that the
    shadow had mentioned and found it almost instantly. Again, I slid
    the materials under the needle this time pressing down on the
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    pedal and the machine sprang to life.
    I let out a small shout of glee as the two pieces started to
    become one. For a brief moment I forgot about the intruder and
    continued to maneuver the pieces until I was satisfied that I had
    made something suitable enough to cover most of my scars in the
    warmer weather. I held it up and inspected it. It wasn’t as perfect as I had seen worn by everyone outside but it was just enough and
    I was proud of my first try.
    “May I make a suggestion?” the shadow asked.
    I glanced in its direction for a moment. I wasn’t particularly
    interested in what it had to say, but it seemed to want to be
    helpful and that was something that I had been receiving a lot of
    lately so why not listen?
    “I will listen to you only if you step out of the darkness,” I
    replied.
    I thought that was a fair request to make and apparently so did
    she because when she stepped hesitantly out of the shadows I was
    finally able to see who had invaded my home.
    She kept her eyes on my cautiously as she approached slowly
    at first and she was radiant.
    She was older than London I could see it in her steel blue eyes.
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    They were serious and almond shaped and framed by a heart
    shaped and flawless face. Her wide, thin lips were covered in
    some kind of deep red colored