Thank gosh that I did not wet my bed. But I had bigger problems besides trying to not wet said bed. Above me was a face. A dummy's face. His glassy eyes stared into my soul. I was face-to-face with Quinn's dummy. I was too frightened to utter a peep. I grasped my sheets and swallowed hard. The dummy knew that somebody was hiding in the bush after all. I spied on him and his pals and knew too much. He followed me - and would make me pay.

Wish that there was a book on how to fight living dolls.

The lamp on my stand switched on. I could see Quinn. Her hand was in her puppet's back. He was perched on her arm with his crooked grin. I glared at Quinn before sitting up and pushing away her doll. I wanted to know what she was doing and why she scared me. I was close to breaking him. I would not feel sorry for Quinn if she kept this up.

Quinn's smile turned upside down. She walked around my bed and laid the puppet on the sleeping bag. "Sorry for scaring you, Zoey. It was not our intention. We just want you to have fun with us. I know that it has been a tad awkward since that we came..."

"When you say we...you are not including your dummy - are you?"

She let out a horrified gasp and hissed, "I said to never call him that. Awful things happen to folks who make a puppet mad."

"Pfft. I am not afraid of him." That is a lie. I was totally frightened. I just did not want her to assume that I was a chicken. "Now can we go back to sleep?"

Quinn was twiddling her thumbs. "But it is morning."

"It is almost five. My family never awakens until seven or eight. But if you are staying up, then leave my room. I have school tomorrow."

"Do you think that we could...go with you?"

I scratched the back of my head and squinted. "Do you even go to school?"

"We have never been at school."

"So you are homeschooled."

"My mom did not love me enough to homeschool me. I had to learn on the streets. I would not have succeeded without Telco. Telco is my friend's name."

I lied back down and pulled the sheets to my chin. I let my aching head sink in the pillow. "Of all the awesome names...why Telco?"

She shrugged. "I can ask Telco if you want. He thought of the unique name."

I rolled my eyes. "Just go to sleep."

I watched her slip back into the sleeping bag and shove her hand back in her dummy. I rolled onto my side, my back facing her. I closed my eyes.

"Zoey?"

I sighed. "What?"

"I hope that you and I can be friends."

"You already have a friend."

"It is not a sin to have more than one."

"He might get jealous."

"But it was his idea. Telco wants us to be friends."

I yawned. "We will discuss this in the morning."

"But it is mor—"

"Do not start."

Eight o'clock creeped upon me. You know the feeling. I had to leave this comfy bed. The only thing keeping me warm. I hate when it is cold in the morning. Makes me want to jump back in bed. I groaned as I kicked off the covers and slid off the bed. I crossed the room towards my closet and rubbed my eyes. It was not until I got all dressed that I noticed that Quinn was not in the room. She was not in the sleeping bag. Her dummy was lying on the sleeping bag and looking up at me.

I picked up the puppet by the shoulders. I remembered what I witnessed last night. He and Quinn summoning zombies - and more living puppets. Children who were clearly hypnotized. I felt sorry for them. I wished that I could help them. I carried the dummy into the hall and called to Quinn. I was not worried about disturbing my family because they were already awake. I tucked Telco under my arm and entered the kitchen.

I expected most of my family to be in said kitchen. So I was surprised when I found it empty. Nobody in here - except for Randy. He was setting the table and grinned at me.

"Morning, Sleeping Beauty."

I uttered a long whoosh of air and walked to said table. I laid the puppet on the table and covered his face with a napkin.

Randy quirked an eyebrow. "Sis. Why are you covering Quinn's puppet?"

I ran my hand through my hair. "You will never believe the night that I had."

"Did ya have a nightmare about the doll or something? 'Cause it would explain why you have his face covered. Zoey is afraid of dummies!"

I put my hands on the table. "You should get the award for Most Obnoxious Brother."

He bowed. "Thank you, thank you. I try doing my part. You are my favorite person to annoy."

"Not sure if I should be honored - or punch your face."

He pretended to be surprised. "Zoey. You would punch this face? My fabulous face?" He tried giving me puppy eyes. He is horrible at the puppy eyes. "You would hurt your own brother?"

"Only if you continue pushing my buttons - and calling me Sleeping Beauty."

"Not my fault that you resemble Sleeping Beauty."

"Well...if I am Sleeping Beauty...you are a henchman."

"What?"

"You cannot be the prince because I am the princess. A boy related to the princess cannot be her prince."

"Who says?"

"Um...God and genetics."

Randy looked up. "You think that this is funny, huh?"

My heart dropped when we heard a voice. I recognized it and gazed at the dummy.

"Perhaps that I can be the prince."

The dummy sat up and laughed.