Marlon got up to leave, without any further discussion on the matter.

I knew it. I screwed up, big time. I expected him to understand, to be more proactive, and perhaps cooperate with me to make sense of all the paranormality.

But I chose the wrong time.

"Hey?" I uttered softly, confused. "You're going?"

He said nothing, rummaging his bag. He picked out a book and left it on the table, near the untouched plate of chocolate chip cookies. I didn't give it a second look, though. My attention was focused on his body language. It was a subtle movement, but he glanced at the clock. I did the same and took note of the time. Seven past eleven.

He was in a hurry to get out.

And it felt like a knife stabbing into my heart.

I knew it was a short interaction we had, but... I trusted him. He confided his sister's death to me, which was a personal matter, so I thought...

I bowed my head in defeat. In the end, he was another one of those people. A classmate, not a friend.

I befriended people very easily, but I couldn't keep them for more than a day. There was no value of such friendships. They would start drifting away and never talk to me again. I was of nobody's taste.

Before I would know it, a year would pass, then two, and suddenly we all would've graduated. As usual, my name would not be on a single farewell party's list. It would not matter to me anyway.

"We could figure it out!" I called after him. "You may have mistaken her death!"

Again, he didn't respond.

Every time I tried to make a connection with someone, I seemed to be desperately hanging on to them.

So I let go this time.

My heart started feeling frozen, devoid of emotions. I finally got a clue of when the switch got flipped. It would only be when I lost a hang upon myself.

She was gaining control of my body, that other me.

I didn't resist. She was stronger than me, both physically and emotionally. She knew that she was born alone and would die alone. And that was why neither family nor friends mattered to her.

Actually, what was so complicated about it? Why should I yearn for the warmth of another, anyway?

My eyes followed him closely. I didn't know him that well, but I definitely could guess he wanted to leave at or before a specific time. Like ten past eleven, or so.

His behavior angered me. I had to stall him somehow.

It was suspicious, but not an issue. He tried to gain my good graces, but his façade got blown when I touched his weak spot. I forced him out of his delusion. And he forced me out of mine.

Could I kill a human being, though? Probably not. But could I paralyze them? Yes. Yes, I could.

I didn't even have to resolve myself beforehand. I had come to accept that the world was my enemy. The knife was on the shoe rack. I could have easy access to it while sending him off.

"You don't trust me?" I asked. It sounded like an accusation. And perhaps... it was. "Is it because I miraculously survived the doll? Is it because you wanted your sister to–"

He could be Marlon inside-out, but he would never be the Marlon Lowe I could sit near calmly again.

He turned. He was a complete mess - red eyes, desperate attempts to hold back sobs, and trembling lips. "No. Like I told you, I'm glad you lived. Glad you... survived."

I narrowed my eyes. Another pity attack, just like that lady within the doll had attempted. But that appearance and those words wouldn't get me a second time.

What did people think I was?

"Thanks. But I don't want that coming from you. Almost sounds like an insult."

"Ava, look. Someday... you'll soon understand what I'm doing. It's for the better–"

"Stop trying to act noble, as if you'll save the world. You could be a hero of the story, I'm not denying that. But, by then, I'll be dead. Dead, just like your sister."

"What do you mean?"

I felt the presence of that unknown creature again. The atmosphere shifted into a tense one, causing my blood pressure and heart rate to rise. Marlon stood petrified. At first, I was skeptical, thinking the change was because of the thing inside me.

But then, smoke materialized into words, and I was sure of the existence of another being. The being who had chosen me prey, three days back, watching me commit my first murder.

The message read: The dead girl was a warning.

I could not tell if it was meant for me or Marlon.

The four of us were intertwined, connected through the unfortunate death of Marlon's sister. The doll I killed, the unknown being, Marlon, and myself. And it was not a pretty combination.

Marlon whipped around to look at the clock. It was eleven past eleven.

He had run out of time. And it was not just him.

I had too.

I was in a third person point-of-view, watching through the eyes of someone else. I knew what was happening, but I had no control over it. I was only an observer.

"My body is organic yet porcelain," she, the sinister side of me, answered on my behalf. "I'm part-human, part-doll. And I would've killed you outright, but I have some sympathy, since my human values you.

"So I'll give you five seconds. Run."

~~

A/N (a little long this time): The real plot starts NOW.

Hope I delivered an intense (though short) chapter, as promised!

Please help me out this time too, for this chapter has passed only two or three rounds of editing. It was written in a hurry because, on one hand, I am a little short on time. But on the other hand, I was afraid I'd lose the inspiration (that I gained while bathing-), so I had to write it down!

Dedicated to all my readers; special thanks to Chris (@D4rlin9) and Thalia (@VocaloidThalia) for being so supportive!

Honestly, this book survives on my gratitude. I'm so grateful to all the kind people who I've met throughout the years and all my friends and readers! Despite the premise of the story, I smile while writing. I just want you to know that I appreciate you. And I base Marlon's character on you.

Kind. Knows that undone assignments aren't the end of life. And always tries to make everything better, though sometimes it gets screwed up, but that's okay.

(But you aren't a side character!)

Anyway, since we're at the biggest cliffhanger so far (I think), could you rate this story on a scale of 1 to 10? 1 being terrible and 10 being terrific.

All ratings will be donated to my brain and my heart, so that I can improve. Bad ratings are not an issue, feel free to let me know if you don't like something!

And, as always, thank you for reading!