Voodootown

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Sticks

Sticks stretched her shoulders as she hopped down the stairs next to Squat.  She hadn't felt this good all week.  It almost felt like they could get away with what they were planning.  But from Squat's grumbles, she was pretty sure she was alone in feeling positive.

He jumped down ahead of her, muttering to himself.  Camo had found the human sized stairs earlier that day.  They all figured it was the route Doctor Midnight was using in and out of Voodootown.  Last night he had taken a charm that had let him squeeze through the tunnels the dolls used.  The sight of him worming his way down tight passages after them had made Sticks run faster than she ever had before.  But these stairs made more sense.  Softening and warping your bones had to be uncomfortable.

She caught up with Squat, saw him frowning at her.  "It was just another slugger charm.  But no, the terrific three had to say no.  All I wanted was another bat to whack some of those thralls out of the park with.  Hell, why are we trying to distract this guy?  With a good bat, I could break Midnight's shins."

"Maybe that's what they didn't want," Sticks said.  "We're supposed to pull him away from the portal.  Not cripple him so he stays there."

"Et tu, Brute?"  Squat hit the bottom step and peeked around the corner.  He waved her along and stepped out.  They were on the outskirts of Voodootown.  "And what about Ju Ju?  I thought she was cool."

Sticks didn't answer.  She knew what Squat meant, agreed with most of it.  She had come with Squat because she'd rather be with him than with Twister, Flow and Ju Ju.  Flow had been indispensable these last few days and Twister was always making the other dolls look bad, the way she worked for her human.  Ju Ju did the same, had even turned herself into a nutjob by taking on her human's bad experiences and memories.  Hanging around them had been getting harder and harder.  It had made Sticks feel even more inadequate than she usually did.

But that wasn't all of it.  She had also left to keep from pinning Ju Ju to the floor.  The doll had used her power on Sticks two nights ago and even Squat had played along.  He had explained later that they were just trying to save her, but the cost had been too great.  Bambi's brother's doll had been taken by Midnight's thralls, and if it hadn't been for Blink, Bambi would be a mess right now.

She smiled as she thought of Blink and turned away so Squat wouldn't see it.  Blink had helped save her human in a way she couldn't, but she didn't resent him or his help.  Their humans had grown up together and she felt like Blink was the only doll she could really trust.

They walked down the street, close to the buildings.  Squat gestured but didn't turn back as he started talking again.  "And here we are, the two dolls who can't hide, blip away or run really fast, and we're supposed to punch this psycho in the nose and get him to chase us?  How does it work out that way?" he asked.

"Root and Ribbon can't do any of those things," Sticks said.

"Yeah, and they're getting a backpack ride right now.  Next they'll have a tea party with some stuffed animals and play dress up."

Sticks liked Squat, and figured he would protect her back tonight, but she still found him pretty annoying.  She tried to think of the best way to get him to shut up.  Maybe if she was actually nice to him it would help.  "You're tired.  I think you'll feel better when James puts his charm on and then you get to hit something."

He turned back to her, a frown on his face.  "You think I want that charm to make me closer to James?  Have you seen what that kid does at home?  He cooks.  He bakes.  You have no idea how hard I have to work on him to keep the rest of the football team from beating the crap out of him.  Teenagers can smell weakness, ya know, especially when they're traveling in packs."

Sticks gave up on the nice routine and rolled her eyes.  "You know, you get really chatty when you're worked up."

He sneered, turned back around and kept walking.  At the next corner, he stopped, looked around, then waved Sticks up.  She peeked around, saw the blue glow of the portal and the human standing beside it.  A huge crowd of dolls with metal collars around their necks stood waiting to invade other Voodootowns.  They were all at least a block away and looking the other direction, so Sticks let herself lean out more to see better.

Standing so close to Squat, she heard him muttering to himself.  "Just a stupid slugger charm, just one expandable bat.  That's all I wanted."

She put a hand on his shoulder.  "Why don't you throw something at him?"  She pointed at the piles of rubble that were scattered along the street. 

A smile grew on his face as he looked at her.  "That is a good idea."  He went to the nearest pile of rubble and grabbed a brick half as big as he was.  "Think a brick to the butt will get his attention?"

Sticks smiled.  "Just don't break his back or anything."

"What?" he asked as he hefted the brick.  "With this?"  He stood still a moment, stared at Doctor Midnight.  Then, he cocked his arm back and threw the brick.  It shot through the air straight at Midnight, and missed.

Instead of hitting the man in the behind, it went wide and only clipped the bottom of his suit jacket and tore the fabric.  Midnight jumped, looked around and turned toward Sticks and Squat.

"Very smooth," Sticks said.

Squat just shrugged, his palms up high as if he was serving her a portion of the blame.  "Hey, you're the one with the good aim."  Then he picked up another brick and hurled it at Midnight.

This time, the man held up his hands, palms forward.  A shimmer passed across his body in little, overlapping rectangles that faded away.  He planted his feet and rocked back a little when the brick struck him in the chest, but didn't suffer any damage.   

Sticks watched the man look down at the torn fabric by his hip.  "This was my father's suit, little doll.  I'll patch it with you."  He stepped toward them.

Sticks inched backward and Squat just smiled at her.  "Damn," he said.  "I really am good at pissing people off."  Together, they turned to run.  But before they did, Sticks saw Doctor Midnight and all his flunkies chasing after them.