The Doll

Penelope immediately felt scared when they entered the house. This house, perhaps, is so beautifully elegant and big yet it made her feel alone and scared.

"I-i'm tired. I'm going upstairs." she said. Mrs. Hossler smiled sweetly at her and her hair using her fingers once again.

"Okay. Wash up first, darling. I'll be there after you finish washing up." She said calmly.

Penelope silently goes to her room. Minutes later, the maids entered her room to prepare her bathtub. The maids set up all her needs in her bath. After they finish it, Penelope walks in and dips herself at the badthub like a robot who was programmed to do this every day. She is staring into space while she cleans herself. She is scrubbing her body softly and carefully as if her body was a diamond which cannot be scratched but, every second that goes by, her scrubs slowly get hard until her skin becomes red and sore.

"AAAAH!!" She screams in anger while scrubbing her arms to her neck. She screams until it becomes a painful and sorrowful cry. And that was the cue for the maids to enter and stop Penelope from hurting herself.

When the maids entered the bathroom, they started to stop Penelope, dry her and dress her up calmly. They assist Penelope like they are used to doing this every time. Like they are used to Penelope acting this way. After they finished assisting Penelope who is now like a zombie. No emotions in her eyes but her tears keep dripping on her cheeks. She has no strength so she lets the maids move for her. She is now wearing a beautiful silky nightgown, sitting in front of her table. Later on, Mrs. Hossler entered her room. The maids bowed at her and left them.

"When will you stop hurting yourself when you are taking a bath?" Mrs. Hossler said while she was approaching Penelope who was staring at her reflection. "Look at your skin, it's reddish again. What if you get a scratch and it becomes a scar?" Mrs. Hossler continues as she gently touches Penelope's skin. Penelope didn't answer her and just continued looking at their reflection at the mirror in front of them.

Mrs. Hossler gets the hair blower and starts drying Penelope's hair. She is smiling while doing it, enjoying what she is doing. After drying Penelope's hair, she gets the hair brush and starts combing Penelope's hair, softly. As she combs her hair, she is looking at their reflection, amusement and enjoyment is written on her face.

"You are so beautiful." She said while smiling adorably at Penelope. "Don't get any scars in any part of your body or else you will be hideous." She whispered in her ear. Single tear fell from Penelope's eyes. "And, do not cut your hair. Your hair is perfectly beautiful when it's long." Mrs. Hossler continued. Penelope closes her eyes so her tears fall. She breathes deeply, suffocates in her own room together with the woman behind her who is gently combing her long hair.

After Mrs. Hossler combs her hair. She looks at their reflection in the mirror, holding both Penelope's shoulder and their face close to each other.

"You are my precious thing, Penelope. Only you." She spoke then, smiled. She is looking at their reflection with satisfaction. After she adores Penelope's reflection, she starts putting different products on her face to keep it smooth and beautiful. After that, she told Penelope to stand up and go to her full-length mirror. Mrs. Hossler is behind Penelope, still smiling because she is enjoying what she is doing.

On the other hand, Penelope only stares at herself in the mirror, do not care what Mrs. Hossler is doing to her. She is used to this, her being a subject, like a doll. She just wishes for the night to end… every time she goes home to this house.

Mrs. Hossler looked at Penelope in the mirror. She tilted her head, examining Penelope's whole body. "Hmm. I don't like that night gown that the maid wears to you." She said and went to Penelope's closet.

When she opens her closet, different colors and plenty of clothes that were arranged perfectly welcomes her. She pick-out a very pretty and expensive maroon nightgown and went back to Penelope who remained standing in front of the mirror.

"This would look perfect." She said while lifting the nightgown and trying it at Penelope's reflection. "Strip." Like a robot, Penelope does what she said. She strips without removing her gaze at the mirror. After she strips, Mrs. Hossler puts on the nightgown for her.

Mrs. Hossler clapped as if she made an achievement. "I knew it. This nightgown fits you perfectly." She said while fixing it. Then, she looked again at the mirror with a wide smile on her face.

"You are all beautiful. My beautiful and perfect creation." Penelope's tears, once again, fell down, while looking at herself in the mirror.