One Last Hope

Chapter 7

⭐"You will heal when you are ready to, not when they say you should"⭐
___

Before going into Lorie's room, I stop a minute in the doorway.
It's a real princesses room. Exactly what all the little girls in the world would like to have.
Pink is definitely her favourite colour.
When I was Lorie's age, the walls of my room were painted the same colour. It brings back memories...
Everything, from floor to ceiling is pink! There are also tons of toys and cuddly toys.

At least we'll have plenty to do!

Still astonished, I see that she has her own dressing room. My own wardrobe seems ridiculous. Lorie tugs on my hand.

Lorie: "Come on... let's play!"

I join her on the bed as she lines up her dolls and cuddly toys. They all look very peculiar.
And this scruffy rabbit that she drags everywhere, what's more, these toys look as if they're straight out of a horror film...
She goes to look for a huge dolls house which she puts next to the bed, then she hands me one of the prettiest.

Lorie: "You can have Princess!"

Nora: "Okay, what about you? Who've you got?"

She shows me a dreadful looking thing, which looks a bit like a scarecrow.
One eye missing and a row of sharp looking teeth in the place of a smile. Its hands are stained with red paint as if they were covered in blood.

Not terrifying at all!

Lorie: "It's Sharp Teeth! He eats the Princesses!"

Nora: "Are you sure you want to play this?"

She starts pouting, and I don't want to upset her on my first day.
All of a sudden, I like my doll less! I try to hide my look of shock, but it's not easy.
The important thing is that she has fun!

After two hours of trying to escape the cannibal scarecrow, Lorie gets tired and changes the dolls.

Lorie: "Here you are..."

Nora: "Um... Lorie? This doll has no head, sweetie!"

Lorie: "Yes... It's Mr No Head!"

Nora: "Um... Yes, that sounds about right."

I still think the Bartholy's should ask for some psychiatric help, given the games she plays.
She chooses a pretty doll dressed like a gardener.

Nora: "And what's the story now?"

She shrugs and thinks for a moment.

Lorie: "Mrs Sharp and Mr No Head are very much in love."

Nora: "Ah, I like that... It's nice to be in love..."

She shakes her head and frowns.

Lorie: "But Mr No Head is jealous of Mrs Sharp!"

Nora: "Oh, why?"

Lorie: "Bah, because she has a head!"

Yes, logical!

Nora: "So what does he do?"

She smiles mischievously.

Lorie: "He slits her throat!"

Nora: "Lorie, I think your characters could imagine something other than killing each other."

Lorie: "If that's the way it is..."

I watch her getting caught up in her twisted story.
Once her doll is "dead", she throws mine off the bed.