I uttered a small gasp and almost lost my balance. I looked at the gloves that I was wearing and tugged on them, desiring to take them off and see my bare hands, however, I knew better - or so I thought.

Dr. Maxwell would absolutely despise to see me without the gloves. In fact, he would hate if I changed even the slightest detail. Under his roof and care, I was not allowed to dye my hair any other color, wear any piece of clothing other than my dress and nightdress, or cover my feet and toes.

Even before I turned evil, I had this desire to break free of the invisible chains and do what I wanted to do. I loved and cared for my "father," but wanted to have a choice in the matter.

It is like that he was showing me that another person's opinions did not matter. Huh. Sounds like you-know-who.

"Ada? Ada!"

Mary Sue freed me from my deep thinking, and I shook my head to return my soul to fictional reality. I spotted Mary Sue standing a few inches from me and pointing at the closet door.

"Is she in there?" she asked me.

I brushed dust off my dress. "If you mean Sarah, then yes."

"I thought so." She pounded on the door. "Sarah, please. Come on out."

"Never!" Sarah answered. "You are a monster!"

I froze my body in place and told my used-to-be friend that she referred to me as a monster too. That is when we heard a click!, and Sarah opened the closet door.

"You think that I called you the monster?"

"Yes. I mean..." I played with my fingers. "...I was talking to you, and it sounded like that you called me that."

Ignoring Mary Sue who was breathing over her shoulder, Sarah closed the closet door and apologized for the misunderstanding. Turns out, she had visited Dr. Maxwell's lab many times in the past and always encountered Mary Sue while she was there.

She came close to me and whispered in my ear. "Between you and me, I know that she is not really the monster type. She is...well, a Mary Sue, and those characters are super annoying."

I winked and whispered back. "I totally get where you are coming from. She is my friend, and she and her dad practically live here."

The blond girl straightened her back and massaged the backs of both of her hands. "Speaking of dads...yours is Dr. Hugo Maxwell. Do I have that right?"

"Yep! Have you met him?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

I was confused. "Unfortunately?"

Mary Sue joined in and explained the relationship between Sarah and Hugo. She said that they hated each other for basically the same reason. Sarah hated him because what he did was evil, and Dr. Maxwell hated her because she had too much good in her.

I was rubbing my chin and shrugged. "Sorry. I honestly do not see the problem."

"Wow," Mary Sue said. "And you say that I am too perfect, Sarah."

Sarah scanned the area, and then stared straight at me. "Do you have a room where we can chat some more, uh...what is your name?"

I did a curtsy. "Ada Maxwell. I was brought to life the other month. And to answer your question, yes, I do. The three of us girls can go to my room and do girl stuff." I clapped. "Will that not be fun?"

Not even a minute later, we were in my bedroom and sitting on the floor. I had my legs crossed and covered them with my dress.

"Where were we?" I said.

"Boy, are you forgetful, Ada," Mary Sue commented. "My best - and your new - friend needs to tell us something. I assume that it is important."

Sarah opened her mouth to speak, but I intervened. "Hold up. Mary Sue, you stated time and time again that I am your best friend."

She giggled. "Silly Ada. People can have more than one best friend."

"Yeah, but—"

Sarah cut me off. "Do you know when your dad will return, Ada?"

"Oh. Um...I am not exactly sure."

She ran her fingers through her blond hair and let out a whoosh of air. "I will tell you what you need to be aware of. After that, I will escape this place from the window." She motioned to my bedroom window.

"Are you sure that you want to do that?" Mary Sue questioned her. "We are on the second floor. You will surely break your leg."

"Well, I would rather break my leg than confront Dr. Maxwell."

I crossed my arms. "I do not understand why you cannot be evil like my dad."

Sarah looked at me funny. "Pardon me?"

"You heard me. The two of you would get along if you were evil as him."

She was stunned. "Ada, do you hear yourself?"

I snapped my fingers. "Listen to me. My dad may not be the best person in Forlot, but his heart is in the right place."

"Right place? Now I know that you are being manipulated by him."

"Manipulated? What is that?"

"It is when someone lies to you into believing a false fact and makes you do his or her dirty stuff," Mary Sue explained.

I narrowed my eyebrows. "That does not sound like my father."

We then overheard the door from downstairs.

"I am home!"

"Yay! Daddy is home!"

"And I am out of here," Sarah announced. She rushed up to my window. "And Ada? Look in the mirror." She jumped out of my open window and fell.

Mary Sue and I climbed to our feet, and I asked my used-to-be friend what Sarah meant by that.

"Do not worry. It is just an innocent expression. Now come on."

She raced down the stairs, and I peered in my mirror. Looking back at me was my reflection.

What was I supposed to see?