Archer

8

Andy and I meet Falyn and Pugg at the Zed Mart while Omar and his buddies fan girl over the electronics. I sigh and wander over to the speakers, almost wishing I had one. "Ashley?" I glance down at Omar's Buddi. "Go away, Chode," I murmur, biting my lip to hold back the tears. "But.. I missed you. You're my best friend." "We aren't friends.." I hiss, tears welling up in my eyes. "That's too bad.. because if I can't be your friend.. then nobody can." I slowly look down at the doll. "W-What...?" "You said it yourself. Everybody leaves you. But I won't. I love you. You mean everything to me. But if you don't want me, well...."

You got a problem with me, you say it, ok?
No more using your little doll.
You got a problem with me, you say it, ok?
No more using your little doll.
I just want him gone.
I just wish he would leave us alone.
I just want him gone.
I just wish he would leave us alone.
I fucking hate him!

Fresh, cold horror freezes my veins. "Stop. Stop the video!" The doll completely ignores me, his eyes turning red.

Go away!
Sit down.
Sit down.
I'm not through with you.
What are you going to do about it, little miss slut?

"Stop! Please! Turn it off!" I barely notice Andy appearing at the other end of the isle, his eyes locked locked onto the televisions. "Stop it!" I scream. "Turn it off! Turn it off!" I grab ahold of the doll, but Andy shoves me out of the way and proceeds to bash the Ginger against the floor while I huddle back against the shelves. "What are you doing?!" Omar shoves Andy off the doll. "That's not your Buddi!" Andy exclaims. "Don't touch him!" "Look! Look at his eyes! They're red!" "What? Your shit breaks, now you gotta bust mine?" "It's Chucky! Look at his eyes!" "I said don't touch him! You deaf or something? Oh, that's right. You are." He flicks Andy's hearing aid off, and the brunette shoves Omar, punching him for good measure.

But my eyes are trained on Chucky.

He seems to register that fact and slowly looks over to me, a grin plastered onto his face. When did you become evil..? I'm knocked out of my trance when Andy slings Pugg against a shelf. I look back at Chucky, but his eyes are no longer a sinister red. Falyn helps me up as Mum ushers Andy out of the way. I grab Andy's hearing aid and... Omar's phone? I mull it over before pocketing it. We can't let him hurt anyone else.

______

"No. No no no no!" "Andy?" "He's going after Doreen!" My heart freezes, but I take off after my brother. We're too late though, and I watch in hopeless desperation as the woman rides off in the Kaslan car. I fell in love with the Devil.

______

"I saw Doreen outside.." Andy mutters to Mum. I sit stiffly beside him, keeping my hoodie sleeve over my nose. "Mom, I think Chucky did something to her." "Sweetie... Chucky is a toy. Okay? It broke. You got rid of it." "No, mom. I-I saw him. I saw him following Doreen." "No, you didn't. Listen to what you're saying." "Mom, he's gonna kill her!" I cry. "Not you too..." "He probably already did kill her!" "Why are you doing this?! Please, just be honest with me and tell me what happened to Rooney." "It was Chucky," Andy insists for the umpteenth time.

"Chucky..." "Why aren't you listening to me?! I have it on Omar's phone. He's following Doreen. I can show you." "Why do you have Omar's phone?" "I took it," I whisper. "Why?" "I had to.. I had to follow Chucky, mama.." "Ok." "We aren't crazy, Mom!" "I'm giving this back to him." "Mom, no one's listening to us. Please!" "I have to give this back to him so this doesn't get any worse." "Nobody's listening to me!" "Just stay right here, okay?" "Mom!" "And you're both coming to work with me." "He's trying to kill us!" "Do not move."

"Shit!" I lay my head on the table after Andy kicks it. "I can't believe this." "I can," I whisper. "He's isolating us. It makes us easy prey..." The television kicks on, and I slowly lift my head. "You don't know that," Falyn says. "We barely know these kids. They could be batshit crazy," Pugg insists. "What if Chucky never malfunctioned? They just... made it all up? What if they killed-" "Shut up."

I've watched them, Ashley. I've seen how they hurt you.

"Chucky." I shakily hand Andy a bat while I take a lamp. "Chucky, please. Killing people won't make me love you." The android growls. If they won't let us play, then they all go away~ Over here! Andy blindly swings at the boxes, including the new Kaslan speaker. "Why are you doing this?" He yells. Are we having fun now? Ashley, you're my whole world. I just don't want anything to come between us. His voice drops to a low growl. Rooney. Shane. Doreen. Don't make me have to add Karen and Andy. "Andy!" I cover my ears once he begins bashing in the tv, trying to rid us of the doll's voice. "Andy, Stop, please!" "Turn it off! Turn it off, turn it off, turn it off!"

He turns to find Mum staring at him in utter shock and fear. I curl up on the couch, shivering and refusing to acknowledge anything.

I love you, I do. And I know I shouldn't. But I can't help it. Why would you do this? You already had my heart. But I didn't know that you'd rip it out of my chest and hold it for ransom.