The Hidden Heart

Rose

After finishing up her reports for the night, Katerina heads over to Henricks Department store to walk home with her best friend. Rose had been working there for years, and it was close. A year ago, she was found here in London, without any memories. Rose was the first person she met, that she remembers. Rose and her mother Jackie were kind enough to let Katerina stay in their spare room. As time passed, they became close. Jackie like a mother figure, and Rose as a sister.

[Henricks Department Store]

Katerina stands against the building just outside of Henricks, impatiently waiting for Rose. Kat was unsure as to why, but she has been on edge all day, something just didn't feel right. Something felt wrong, like danger was lurking. The longer she waited, the worse the feeling got. Deciding enough is enough, she walks into the building and security informs her that Rose had just went down to the basement to give the lottery money to the chief electrician, Wilson. Katerina follows with a huff, the feeling only consuming her more. She enters the lift, wanting nothing more than to get home.

"Wilson? Wilson, I've got the lottery money. Wilson, are you there?" Rose shouts outside Wilson's office door as Kat exits the lift. "I can't hang about 'cos they're closing the shop. Wilson! Oh, come on." The girl groans.

The basement is dark and dingy, filled with spare displays and extra dummies for the shop. Katerina's hairs stand on end as she steps further into the basement, following the sound of Rose's voice. As Katerina treads toward her, she stops in her tracks hearing a loud clattering noise down the corridor. Rose hears it too, walking towards the noise. "Hello? Hello, Wilson, it's Rose. Hello? Wilson?" Katerina follows after her, the bad feeling growing worse.
Rose opens the door to a storeroom and turning on the lights. With the lights flicker on, she scans over the boxes of clothes and dressed dummies. "Wilson? Wilson!" She calls out.

"Rose, forget the money lets go." Katerina calls out to her, fearing for both hers and her friends safety. If Katerina was sure of anything in her mind, it was that they needed to leave. As if reading her mind, the doors slam behind her. Fearing being locked in, Katerina frantically attempts to open them.  Rose joins her at the door, both pulling on the door. Unfortunately for the two, it won't budge. "You're kidding me." Katerina groans. More noises come from behind them, Katerina turns towards the noise. She tries to search for a cause but is met with nothing but items from the shop above.

"Is that someone mucking about? Who is it?" Rose calls out once again walking deeper into the room. Katerina follows behind her noting the dummies turning to watch as they pass. A million possibilities run through the girls mind as she prepares for whatever situation they have walked into.
Katerina steps in front of her friend instinctively as her senses heighten. One of the dummies creeping closer than the rest. "Yeah, you got me. Very funny." Rose states in disbelief behind her, eyeing the dummy suspiciously.

"Rose, stay behind me. Back up." Katerina states giving Rose a shove back, now entirely sure they were in danger. Rose's mind starts to search for an explanation as she takes note of the dummies inching closer.

More dummies start to walk towards them, their pace quickening. "Right, I've got the joke. Whose idea was this? Is it Derek's? Is it? Derek, is this you?" Rose states panicking, unsure of what's actually happening. Her mind insisting that this must be a practical joke, dummies aren't alive, and certainly don't move on their own.

"Don't think it's a joke Rose, we need to move." Katerina states desperately searching for an exit. The girls are backed into a wall, Katerina refusing to budge from her spot in front of Rose to protect her. Suddenly, the dummies raise their hands, and Kat braces herself for impact. She closes her eyes in anticipation when a hand grabs her wrist. She turns to see an unfamiliar man.