Keisha's Song

-Chapter 01: The Dollhouse

Keisha

"You’re being relocated Keisha." My social worker Carmen said. I blinked at her not saying anything, and she sighed.

"Nakeisha please say something." she said calling me by my full name. I sighed, what was there for me to say? This wasn’t the first, second, third, or even the fourth time this has happened.

Basically you get dumped into a crappy foster home for a couple of months -years if you’re lucky- and then once the school notices your strange bruises or your foster mother wonders why her boyfriend looks at you in that way, your out and shipped to another home.

Even if you get lucky and are placed in the home of some nice people, even that won’t last long. It’s easier, this foster care shit, for the younger kid. They’re still considered cute and innocent.

Once you become a teenager and puberty hits, it’s harder. Now if people say they want you it can’t mean anything good. Either they just want a maid, babysitter, or someone to abuse.

"I think you actually might like this place. It’s a facility for girls, like a home run by a woman named Leanne Baker. It seems lovely." Carmen said reaching over and patting my hand. On instinct I snatched it away, after everything I’ve been through no touch is a good touch.

"You say every place is lovely. When are you gonna realize that’s just the bullshit they feed people like you?" I snapped at her. I don’t get why they never realize the people are lying, of course they’re gonna tell Child Services whatever they wanna here. They want those fucking checks.

"Nakeisha, maybe you should try and be positive for once. Do you realize how fortunate you are to even have somewhere to go at this point?" she said to me angrily.

"Whatever, when do I leave?" I asked her in a bored tone.

"Soon. Ms. Baker is coming to pick you up after she picks up the other girls." Carmen said.

"Other girls?" I asked her.

"Yes, she’s picking up more girls. Apparently something happened and a large group of like 10 girls ran away." Carmen said flipping through a pamphlet.

"That’s comforting." I said sarcastically.

“Anyway the name of the facility is The Dollhouse and-“

"Carmen are you serious? That doesn’t even sound safe. It sounds like some type of cheap strip club or something." I said cutting her off. She shot me a warning look and I smiled sweetly, I know I was pushing it.

"Like I was saying they offer a lot of sports and fun programs from the girls. They require all the girls living there to take martial arts and several other self defense classes." she said smiling at me.

"Sounds great. Can’t wait." I said bitterly.

"Look Nakeisha, can you make the best of this? Your options are running out. You’re in the system until your 18, that’s one more year. You should be grateful that Miss Baker was even willing to take you. The Dollhouse isn’t just a regular home, the girls stay there until the Miss Baker and her staff feel like you’re ready to be on your own." Carmen snapped.

“So basically I can’t leave once I turn 18? I have to stay until they feel I can live alone.” I said giving her the straight face.

“Yes and you’ll do it. You have no other choice, it’s either this or the streets.” she said. Damn she’s really riding this places jock strap. Her phone rang.

"Hello this is Ms. Milton." she said putting on her phone voice.

"Okay she’ll be down in a second." she said growing excited and smiling at me.

"The van is here! You’re leaving." she said standing up and walking towards me.

"I’m so happy for you. I actually think this might be it, your final home. I’ve watched you go grow so much from when I first met you." she said tears in her eyes.

"Aww Carmen don’t go crying, man up." I said joking. I hated when people got emotional over me or around me. She looked like she wanted to hug me but like I said before I’m not one for people touching me. I gave her a quick hug and she blinked back her tears.

I tried to fix my clothes so that I looked appropriate. My body didn’t match my age, I was 17 with the body of a grown woman. I’ve had these damn clothes for years so the fit me horribly. Enhancing my already voluptuous body. Plus it didn’t help that I was covered with tattoos I threw my Juicy Couture backpack over my shoulder and followed Carmen outside.

A big lady with a pretty face was sitting behind the wheel of a van, it looked like a prison van to be honest. The windows had bars on them and you couldn’t see inside. I turned to look at Carmen with disbelief.

"Is this how they escort all their guests?" I mumbled to Carmen, she elbowed me and the woman got out the van approaching us.

"Hello I’m Miss Baker!" she said jogging towards us in her suit and heels.

"Hello I’m Carmen Milton and this is Nakeisha." she said elbowing me again.

"Hi." I said. Ms. Baker said smiling at us and eye raping my body. What. The. Fuck.

"Go on in the van honey, while I discuss some things with Ms. Milton." she said. I said goodbye to Carmen and walked towards the van getting in.

There were six other girls inside the van already, all of them looked like they could’ve been through all types of hell and took no shit, but I probably looked the same. I said a quick hello to all of them and climbed all the way to the back.

"Have you ever been to The Dollhouse before?" one of girls asked me. She was blonde and very pretty.

"Nah, have any of you?" I asked all of them.

"No. But Miss Baker said we’re going to pick up one more girl and she’s been here before  but she’s one of the girls that ran away." Another girl said. I nodded and pulled out my iPod putting my headphones in my ear. I felt sleepy and soon I fell asleep.

***

"Psst…girl wake up." The blonde girl said shaking me out of my sweet dream. The other girls giggled and I looked at them confused.

"You got a little uh-" the blonde girl said pointing to the side of her mouth. I wiped it and saw I had mad drool on the side of my face.

"What happened, are we there yet?" I asked the blonde girl. She shook her head no.

"No we about to be though. But right now Miss Baker getting the girl look." she said moving the curtain so I could peek through the bars.

I saw Miss Baker walking behind a girl as they walked towards the van. The girl tried to run and Miss Baker snatched her by her hair and threw her on the ground slapping her a few times. My heart sank into my stomach as I watched.

They got into the car and we all grew silent, the girl climbed in the back next to me. I glanced over at her quickly and she was crying and shaking. Was she that scared to go back? If so what is she scared of?

"I’m Molly by the way." the blonde girl said and then we all introduced ourselves and were having a good conversation. I actually was starting to think maybe I might enjoy myself here and even was forgetting about the girl.

"I’m excited to see the house, I can’t wait to turn up." One of the girls Kayla said laughing. We all started laughing

"Are you stupid? The Dollhouse isn’t paradise. Why do you think I ran away? Everything you’ve been told is a lie." the girl said loud enough for only us to hear.

"Is it bad or something?" Molly asked her, her eyes wide.

"The Dollhouse is hell." the girl said shaking and her eyes wide with fear. I bit my lip nervous not sure what to think. I glanced at the other girls and they all had looks of fear and doubt also. Now I was afraid of what was in store for me.