Don't Keep the Lights On

Chapter 12

My hands reached out blindly and I touched cold, wooden floorboards. My mind wandered to five years ago, when I was nine. "So Joseph and Mary stayed in the stable, and baby Jesus was born. Far away, a three shepherds were making their way across the land, guided by a shining star." I narrated. My feet were bare, again on wooden floor boards as my voice carried into the crowd. I was the narrator angel. My heart thumped with anticipation.

That was how I felt now. My vision cleared. I was on stage, like I had thought. Only this time, I saw my mom and dad laughing at me. Andrea and Tanner were there too. Next to me, Dolly, James, Connor and Hannah were shocked, stunned and crying. Me, Hannah and Dolly had matching make up on our faces. James and Connor had weird makeup as well. The Puppeteer grinned, coming over to us. "Why, hello again, children..." He cackled. "I think it's time to put this show on." He held up ten sharp needles. Puppets! I thought.

He was going to turn us into living puppets! Hannah gave a stunned scream. "HELP! Help us!" I shrieked at the crowd, but they simply just sat and laughed heartily. The Puppeteer went over to each of us and stabbed the needle into our hands. I gave a gasp and started crying, but it was so painful I couldn't scream. The needle was in and I couldn't pull it out. The Puppeteer taped our mouth shut and smiled. "My puppets. Now go out there and give them a show!"

As I went out on to stage, I couldn't help feeling grateful as the Puppeteer moved me. I doubted I could move on my own, and who knew what sadistic punishment there was for not moving. Hannah and I did a gig. James and Dolly sang a choked up duet. And Connor did his own thing, a weird flute solo that made our laughing audience cry. At last, when the final note hung in the air, applause thundered in the air, the curtains covered our faces and we were once again dragged into darkness.