Fragments

-Natalia-

Something isn’t right. Baby Doll acts like she is all here. But something seems… off.

“Hey, Izumi,” I said.

“Hm?” she asked. How was I going to come out and ask this? I decided that I would just go in on it. I took in a breath.

“Have you noticed anything odd about Baby Doll?” I asked. She turned and looked up at me.

“Like what?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” I said. “She seems… She doesn’t seem that she’s here. I mean, her body is there but…

“Her mind isn’t?” Izumi asked.

“Exactly,” I said.

“Yeah,” she said, nodding. I paused for a moment.

“You don’t think…” I began to say. We looked at each other. There was only one way to get the answer we needed.

----------

Izumi and I cornered Masayuki near the stairs. He looked up at us with a confused look on his face.

“What’s going on?” he asked. Izumi grabbed him by the shoulder.

“Did you get all over her back?” she asked. “Did you really?”

“Yes,” Masayuki said. “Why? What’s wrong?” He looked at both of us. Izumi glared at him.

“Did you?!” she asked. I put up my hand.

“Think,” I said. “When you went to go get her, did anything happen? Think back. This is important.” Masayuki took a moment to think.

“That creepy guy did grab her while we were trying to escape,” he said. He noticed the worried look on my face.

“What is it? Did I do something wrong?” Masayuki asked. Izumi’s grip tightened on his shoulder. The boy gasped in pain.

“Izumi!” I shouted. She let go of him. Masayuki rubbed on place where Izumii grabbed him.

“Ow,” he said under his breath.

“Where is Baby now?” I asked while trying to stay calm.

“Upstairs in one of the rooms,” Masayuki said, frowning. I turned and went up the stairs. Izumi and Masayuki followed behind. If we got there in time, we could still catch the missing piece in time.