My life was falling apart at my feet. Despite this fact, I couldn't stop looking at them. My shoes were adorned with many holes and stained with blood, a tangible representation of what was happening to me. I frowned, wishing that I could smile, and started walking towards the dingy shop across the street from where I was standing. There was a glowing neon sign in the front window that read '99 Cent Dreams.' Water from the rain puddles on the street leaked into my shoes, drenching my old holey socks and calloused feet.
The first thing I noticed in the shop, besides the musty smell, was the eerie neatness that the shop displayed. I had been expecting a dim, dirty room cluttered with useless junk. Instead I found slightly dusty victorian furniture and an expensive looking dining table set with lace table clothes, delicate white china teacups painted with curling roses, and a matching china teapot. A white and gold tray of biscuits and cookies and chocolates was arranged in the center of the table.
"Hello?" I called, my heart sinking at the sound of my cracked, empty voice that accompanied my tiny body hidden beneath my soiled gray cloak.
A short, fat woman waddled out from the other room conjoined to the main one. She wore a pink and gray victorian-esque dress with a plunging neckline and a antique key necklace. It matched her shop quite nicely. Was it even so much a shop?
The woman clasped her hands together, sighing. "What is a lovely girl like you doing here?" She inquired, tilting her head to the head slightly, causing her tight curls to bounce around her shoulders.
"I'm... I'm here to find some dreams. I see that they're only ninety nine cents? It seemed like a bargain, and I need some dreams. I don't have many of those anymore."
The woman grinned, taking a seat at the magnificent dining table and patting the seat next to her, motioning for me to take it. I walked slowly, feeling the weight of the water in my shoes with every step.
"When you said that you don't have dreams much anymore, do you mean as in dreams that you get when you're sleeping, or do you mean the kind of dreams that are your aspirations and hopes in life?" She asked, pouring herself some tea and sipping it, nodding her approval before pouring me some. I didn't drink it.
"Both," I replied. "My life is all nightmares and doubt."
The woman shook her head. "Well, maybe with an attitude like that. What's your name, anyway, darling?"
"My name...my name is Alice." I stuttered.
"Such an innocent name. Why don't take some treats and tea, Alice?"
I opened my mouth, eyeing the pastries. I hadn't gotten much to eat lately. "No, I'm fine," I declined, folding my hands into my lap.
"No, really, Alice, it's my pleasure, darling. Just take a few," she insisted, pushing the tray closer towards me. Once again, I denied the sugary food and tried to change the subject. My sister had died because of a poisoned meal, and I wasn't about to fall in her footsteps.
"So," I said, pushing the tray back towards the middle of the table and turning my attention back to the woman. "What's your name? Besides, you know mine now."
The woman considered it for a moment, then began smoothing out her dress. "My name's Franny. So, about your dreams."
"Right." I dug in the pocket of my cloak, pulling about seven dimes, for nickels, two quarters, and thirteen pennies. I laid the change on the table, and selected two quarters, five nickels, to dimes, and four pennies, and scooped the rest up and into my pocket. Franny took my change right away, and sipped more of her tea before saying, "Do you have any interest in dying?"
