Where No One Dares

Chapter 6: The Hollow Puppet

"Marco...what do we do now?" Janna whispered into the walkie-talkie.

"...I...I don't know," Marco replied. He turned to Ferguson, who slowly got up off the floor. The crowd was cheering as Stardoll moved about without a puppet master.

"See how she needs no manipulation!" Madame Moon beamed. "Isn't she marvelous?"

Marco had a light bulb moment. "...Backstage. Backstage! Now! Go, go, go!"

He and Ferguson got out of the row and ran down the aisle, spotting Janna as she disappeared out the door according to Marco's orders.

"...So how do we get in?" Janna whispered as they met up outside the auditorium.

"...Leave it to me," Marco said, clenching his fists. "You guys, keep watch."

"Okay." They shrugged.

Marco stomped down the stairs to the backstage door. It had a big star on it with the words 'Cirque de Mewni', so it was pretty obvious. He reached out to open the door when he sensed someone behind him.

"Hayi-ah!" Marco turned, grabbed their arm, and slammed the person to the ground.

They groaned, and Marco frowned. It was the small man who had done all the daring tricks for more than half an hour.

"Where are the keys?" Marco glared down at him.

"...I'm not telling." River glared back, jumping up.

"Actually..." Marco pulled the handle and the door creaked open. "Never mind. It's not locked."

"I'll call security," River threatened.

"I don't really think you want to do that..." Marco gestured to Janna and Ferguson coming down the hall and locking the door behind them. "I'd keep your mouth shut if I were you," Marco advised as Janna cracked her knuckles. "She knows jujitsu."

He grinned and dashed off through the door.

And he seemed to be just in time, because Star was being put in her room as he came past. He slipped in just as the door was being closed, and was then left inside with a giant doll staring up at him from laying on the floor. Marco turned around and went to Star's side, and picked her up. She was surprisingly still heavy as he placed her on the chair in the corner.

"...Star?" Marco whispered, searching her eyes for something, anything. But they were glassy and empty.

"Star?" He gently shook her. "Star!"

"That's not Star," Madame Moon's voice came from the doorway. "That's just a shell. Her body turned into wood and flax. Her soul —her essence —that is not here."

"Where is she, you psychopath!" Marco suddenly shouted at her. "Tell me!"

Madame Moon flinched, startled, but then she smiled. "...I don't think I like your tone, boy."

"I don't think I asked for your opinion," Marco shot back. "Now give me my friend back."

"Your friend, huh?" Madame Moon moved around the room. "You could have fooled me, Marco Diaz. Is that all she is to you? Be honest."

Marco paused, frowning in thought. Star was a friend —he didn't...he couldn't see her as anything else.

"...I don't have time for this," he snapped. "Do you have any idea what situation she's in? She was in the hospital this morning! She's sick —like, really sick...coughing up blood...she's not fit to be here, whether she wants to or not."