Talk of the Town (Uglydolls Book 1)

The Talk of the Town

"Your name is Ava. You are an artist/musician/actor/model."

A few stumbled steps, and the latest addition to the Institute of Perfection entered the courtyard. Up ahead was the portal to the Big World.

Ava. Ava. That's me. But it doesn't feel me. Why Ava?

Ava decided to explore this place. It was very dull and grey. Not exactly the best environment for one being given the title of "artist". Everything was built with pretty good attention to detail.

However, it seemed like everyone was staring at her. Ava looked down at her hands. They were a pale tone with purple-colored fingernails.

Maybe no one has different colored nails? Is that it? It seems like an insignificant detail.

Ava looked at her clothes. It was similar to what the other girls wore, so that couldn't be it.

Maybe I just need a mirror! That should do!

Ava looked around for anything shiny. She came across a large nearby window and looked at herself with it.

Just as she expected, her uniform was the same skirt with a gray top and black tie. She had brown hair tied back into a ponytail with a strand loose that she tucked back. Nothing seemed off. Except for her eyes.

Bright. Violet. Ava's eyes weren't green or blue or brown. They were a bright shade of Violet.

"Someone finally looked in a mirror?"

In the mirror, Ava could see a trio of girls standing behind her. A pink-haired girl, a purple-haired girl, and a blue-haired girl. Ava turned to face the girls directly. The girl who had spoken, the pink one, spoke again.

"What is up with those?" she asked.

"Pardon?" Ava asked. Her voice was quiet but bold and almost like a songbird. The girl spoke again.

"Those eyes," she said. "No one else here has eyes like those."

"Um," Ava mumbled before saying, "Yay?"

The pink one threw up her hands and said, "No! How did you even get those?"

This kind of baffled Ava. Why would you ask someone where they got their eyes?

"Um," Ava said, "I was made with these?"

The trio looked taken aback. The pink one walked closer to Ava with a weirded-out expression on her face while the other two started to poke and prod at her.

"How did this one get past the assembly line?" The purple one asked.

"Maybe it's defective?" The blue one wondered.

"Defective? She's pretty!" the purple one snapped at the blue one.

"What's Lou going to think about this?" the pink one muttered.

"Wait a minute, wait a minute," Ava said, backing away from the trio of crazies, "Who's Lou?"

The girls gasped and grouped back together in front of Ava. The whole place went dark, and a spotlight zoomed in on her, and she jumped in surprise.

"Who's Lou?" The pink one asked. "Were you born yesterday?"

"No," Ava said matter-of-factly. "I was born today."

"Watch," they pointed at their eyes, "listen," pointed to their ears, "and learn!"

They gestured behind them at a large mansion. The spotlight above Ava disappeared, and a new one shone on a doll she hadn't seen around standing on a large staircase. A crowd started to gather. They were all chanting that doll's name.