Mannequin

Crossroads mall had been abandoned for a number of years. Knickknack stores made their use of the place for a while, selling eclectic paraphernalia amidst sparsely populated hallways. Now it stood in silence, a chain on the door, waiting for someone to either renovate or demolish it.

He moved in like a wraith. His shadow crept over the walls. The place was barely dilapidated yet, beyond a bit of dust. There was nothing particularly haunted about it save for the emptiness. It was a vast sort of thing, stretching out to an apex at the food court near the center. The glass ceiling there arched high, and he slid his way down from it, hands moving with ease over the lowered rope. He had done it many times before.

And as before, he’d lowered his bag first.

He walked. The large duffel, enormous and black, was like a slug on his back. Like the cocoon of some hideous worm. And it was, really. When he thought about it he realized that was exactly what it was. A chrysalis that would soon burst and let forth the ravishing butterfly.

The store was further in than most. It was a Hot Topic, but it had long since been cleared out so only the jagged logo remained. That, and the mannequins, who stood faceless in the dark. He walked inside, his breathing quickening as he passed through the doorway.

The lights had to stay off. That was critical. The others couldn’t see his big reveal, not until it was finished and perfected. They all had to be on equal footing or there would be fighting, and he so hated it when they fought.

He set her up. Getting her out of the bag was the easy part. He cradled the new addition in his arms. Smaller than usual, and unmade like clay unmolded. That would soon change. He took a stand out of the closet and hooked her to it, her arms held forcibly out, her feet dangling, her head lolling. That wouldn’t do. With a strap, he hooked her skull against the metal bar securely.

She was pale and bloodless. Of course, that was because he’d drained her. So the makeup had to go on first. A layer to give her face life, some blush to make her cheeks rosy. She wasn’t old enough for full on lipstick, no. It wouldn’t do to have the baby of the family looking like some slut, now would it? He went with a more natural color, to give them merely the fullness of youth.

Then her clothing. Yes, he’d brought that too. A nice sundress full of flowers. He fixed her golden girls about her head, smiling all the while. How beautiful she would look when he was finished. Prettier than she ever had before. The others would simply adore the new mannequin.

When it was complete, he pulled out a small flashlight, cupping her face so that the others couldn’t see, giggling. Just one more thing. He used to spoons to clear the holes, and then inserted the glass eyes, blue eyes that shone even in the dimness. The lids sagged down over them, but that was fine. In time they would shrivel and she would always stare out, always smiling.

Grinning from ear to ear, he danced over to the wall. He grasped the kerosene lamp there and lit it, before moving to another, and then another. Light splashed on their faces, all their teeth forcibly born with twine through their cheeks.

“I want you all to meet a new addition to our family!” He sang out, before running towards the oldest woman present and kissing her on her rotting lips. Her he kept naked. It made things easier. Taking off the clothing every time they made love had been causing her to fall apart faster. Besides, he knew she wanted everyone to see how lovely she was. "Meet Maggie!”

He waved his arm excitedly towards the dead little girl, saying sweetly, “Welcome home.”