The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Confinement
by Melissa R. Mendelson

I found the doll in the garbage.  Well, it wasn’t in the garbage.  It was left on top of it, and I almost didn’t see it when I was walking the dog.  But then it caught my eye, and there was the doll staring back at me.

The doll was left in front of my neighbor’s house.  Only one light was on, which might’ve been her bedroom.  I remembered that she had long, red hair, and the doll’s hair was like hers.  Then, there were the rumors.  One neighbor had heard from another that she could not have any kids, and then that neighbor told my mother.  Shortly after that, little girls began to disappear around town, which reminds me that I should head back.

I walked away from my neighbor’s house when I noticed a thin, red string lying on top of my hand.  Maybe, it came from the doll, which I tucked under one arm as I picked at the string, only to find that it was stuck to my skin.  I began to pull at it, and as I did, my skin wrinkled and turned red.  I pulled harder, and my flesh gave way, becoming one with the string.  I now clawed at it, trying to save what was left of my hand, and in my panic, I let go of the dog’s leash.  And he took off, running for home.  When I looked down at my arm, all I saw was string, and I screamed, pulling, tearing, ripping until my body gave way.

My neighbor appeared over me.  Her long, red hair swept over one shoulder.  She smiled, and she knelt down and touched the string.  She held it softly in her hand, and then she pulled.  And I gasped, feeling myself drift, carried like a doll back to the garbage, where it would wait for the next little girl.

 Fiction © Copyright Melissa R. Mendelson
Image courtesy of Marge Simon

More from Melissa R. Mendelson:

Please visit Melissa’s blog for more of her writing which includes her current feature, chapter one of I’m Not My Father’s Son. 

About the Artist, Marge Simon:

A writer-artist since the mid-1980’s, Marge Simon has illustrated numerous poetry collections for Sam’s Dot Publications/Alban Lake; as well as multiple print magazines. She illustrated covers and interiors of every issue of Niteblade (Rhonda Parrish, editor). Currently she illustrates for Lorelei Signal, Carol Hightshoe, editor.  Check out her art galleries at www.margesimon.com

Marge is also one of the Ladies of Horror who writes for this challenge.