My heart was pounding faster and faster with each soft step. The unsettling footsteps were growing louder and closer. They were not slow, however, they were not fast either. You should have been present to understand. If this is how it feels dying...agony and fear swelling your soul...I do not want to pass when I am alive. I will pass in my sleep, thank you very much. I could not wish my parents and Calista farewell...but they know how much I love them. My parents do anyway. I dream of me and Calista being a couple before I die. Or she dies.

It had to be that dummy. He was the only other person in the house. But I locked him inside his trunk. He was lying in it as I was closing the trunk. He could not have gotten out. How the crub did he? If so, I could not wait until Calista left to take care of him. If I was not rushed to the hospital. Had I not coughed up my own blood or felt nearing death, then I would have closed and locked the bathroom door. Or just grabbed Calista tightly and dragged her out of said house. I did not dare move, not wanting to swallow more pain. Besides, my body felt as if it could not move. It would not even if I ordered it to.

My head was heavy. I rested it on my shoulder. Having nothing else to do, I shut my eyes and concentrated on my breathing. Hot, sticky liquid started running out of my nose and down my lips and chin. Gee, was my nose bleeding?

"Gosh. Now his nose is bleeding. Both nostrils," Calista reported to the operator, who was also a nurse.

Guess that we are taking a trip to the hospital.

"Clay."

I forced my eyes to open and slowly twisted my head in Calista's direction. I assumed that she spoke my name. But when I noticed the person standing in the hall...my heart dropped. The puppet was facing us and waving. I could not utter a word or even a sound. Is it because of fear or agony? Perhaps both. Calista did not notice him because her back was facing him.

"You should have let me help you," he hissed. "All your dreams that we could have made come true."

How could Calista not hear him? She was probably too busy chatting with the nurse and too panicky about my unknown condition.

The puppet straightened out his suit jacket. "Honestly, I should be ticked off at you. Throwing me in the trunk and trapping me and all. If I were not entirely magical, I would likely torment you to death." He shook a finger at me. "You are certainly one lucky boy." He tapped his fingers on his chin. "Well, you would be if you were not bleeding out from every opening on that delicate body. Feel your ears. Now blood is seeping out of them too."

I wished that he was yanking my chain. Unfortunately, when he mentioned it, I felt the hot liquid oozing down the sides of my face after ticking my ears. Coughing up blood. Bleeding from my nose and ears. What the heck was happening to me? What was wrong with me?

"I can stop the bleeding and make the pain vanish with a flick of my wooden wrist," he continued. "All that you need to do is ask me nicely - and promise to never lock me in the trunk." His creepy smirk grew. He moved his finger left and right. "Or you will not be so lucky."

Should I believe him? Why would he offer helping me? He must have something to gain. Would he make what was causing my body to hurt and bleed vanish - only to replace it with something as bad or worse?

Wait. Was he the reason why I was in this putrid state? Was he making my blood ooze out? 'Cause I threw him in the trunk? Or to see my misery and Calista panic?

The puppet grabbed his suit jacket and raised his other hand. "I solemnly swear that I will never make you feel like crub again - as long as you never anger me."

Again? He is doing it! He is making me suffer! Why the heck would I trust him? I would rather die than put my life in his hands. Stupid dummy!

I turned my head and plopped it on my other shoulder. I forced myself to mumble, "Go choke on an egg."

His tone deepened. "That was not very nice. Obviously, your parents did not teach you manners. Lucky for me, I know how to get kids to respect others - including the people a bit on the short side. Hahaha!"

Calista laid a hand over the phone's speakers. "Did you just laugh, Clay? That was quite a laugh. It gave me the creeps."

Before I could choke out that it was not me, I suddenly felt a blow to my head. My vision became black.

"Wakey, wakey, Clay," a voice rasped. I felt that person flick my cheek. "You will not want to miss this."

I moaned and stretched to awaken my painful body.

"Wake up now. Do not make me slap you."

I mumbled, "I am, I am. Jeez. Give me a minute."

"Your crush wishes that she had a minute more."

My eyes shot open. The dummy was standing on top of me with his hands on his hips. I was on my back on my bed and had an excruciating headache. Neither my feet nor my hands were tied up, thank goodness. I searched my room for Calista.

"Where is Calista? What did you do to her? If you even laid a finger on her, I swear—"

"She is alright. Physically and emotionally. Want me to bring her in?"

"Yes. I want...need to see her."

Someone dropped into the room.