Lassoing the Cresent Moon

13. PJ Pugapillar

How had I not noticed?

She was an orphan that lived with us, spoke to us. To think she was that annoying I had to know her for some time!

I ran out of the room as I looked around for the last game, Statues. Seeing the sign i ran towards the arch.

We had forgotten about her.

Hell- I remembered playing with mommy long legs! How must she have felt? Watching us helplessly after experimentation knowing that we had forgotten about her?

How many others did I forget?

How did they force her to act so happy and motherlike all the time to babysit us?

"Oh god. Marie!" I yelled as I skidded into the Statues room. "I didn't know! I'm sorry!"

My voice was drowned out as the TV whirred to life, signaling the start of a new challenge.

"Welcome to statues"

Ugh! This stupid game! "I remember now! We can talk this out!"

The only acknowledgment I was given was the continuation of the TV. I could see her silhouette high above me behind an observation window. She didn't move as i caught her direct gaze. I crossed my arms as I stared back at the TV. Fine... I'd play.

"This advanced obstacle course is designed to test your physical endurance and strength."

Lovely! Two things i didn't have!

"The rules are simple. The lights will turn off. You can move through the obstacle course at this time. However when the lights turn on, you can look around but can not move. You may move again once the lights turn back off. The lovable PJ Pugapillar will follow you."

Loveable?? I somehow didn't think that was the case.

"If PJ reaches you, your test is over. That's all. Good luck"

"Thanks... I'll need it." I grumbled. The TV continued on with some background music as I got into position. I took a good look at the bright colored obstacle course through the barred entrance before I heard mommy speak.

"It was always so sad to see the kids go.They called me mommy because I was the closest thing they ever had to one. They'd come for games and never come back. They left Mommy to die alone... Mommy didn't deserve that."

I furrowed my brows at the memory. She was right. The orphans would run to her, hold her, cry with her, ask for advice... We would go to bed or the next room as instructed and leave the toys to be. We never wondered how they felt or what they did when we weren't there. We never could have known that they were kids like us.

"But you...you lived here. You survived... if anyone deserves to die alone. It's you."

I couldn't imagine... Marie was alone in life, alone whenever she wasn't caring for children in her next life, and alone now. She was forced to care for those who had taunted her- and to be a disposable item afterwards.

"I didn't know they'd turn you into this!" I exclaimed. "You were scared- I thought they'd help!"

She didn't respond. Instead the barred entrance to PJ's obstacle course swung open. I frowned as I entered. "Marie, there was no way I could have known what they did to you!" I was about to say I didn't even remember her until I realized how that sounded. I shook my head as I forced myself to focus on the game.

If this was anything like the last two I'd need to focus!

The light turned on and I froze. I started to hear the pitter patter of hundreds of mini legs coming towards me.