Inspired by short film, Elma
Snow fell sharply, the wind whispered, the world was asleep. A deathly silence had taken over - not a peaceful one. Ice crystals – that weren’t sparkling – lined the stone cold, grey buildings. An alleyway stood between these buildings; an alleyway so small, only a little girl could fit through.
Not a soul could be seen, well until little Elizebeth skipped in. She was only 6, too young to understand our world. Her jaw-dropping blue eyes and silky blond hair made people say she was perfect, as perfect as a doll. She cuddled into her pink fluffy coat, and smiled. She was happy to have freedom, happy to be alone, but still so naive. She loved to disobey her mother; she was an unruly girl.
Her mother's words echoed in her head: "Never go there darling, it’s dangerous. Ok?"
"Why?" Elizabeth had asked, sweetly.
"I told you, it’s dangerous," her mother had said, in a firmer tone.
Elizabeth brought herself back to the present. "What could go wrong?" She asked herself. She continued to plod through the snow. She vaguely glanced towards some sickly yellow posters, but she missed the small children begging to be noticed. As she continued her journey, she threw a look towards a little blackboard covered in names. One she recognised as her friend, her mum said she moved schools and after that she had never seen her again.
"In honour of my friend, I have to write my name!" She thought to herself. The chalk was cold and made a whining sound as she wrote, like a cry. "Elizabeth", she wrote. She dropped the dusty chalk and stepped back to look at her name. When she decided she liked it, she turned around and was going to start walking when she saw a small doll in the shop window. It instantly caught her eye - it had the same hair, the same pink coat, the same pretty blue eyes, the same everything. "It’s wonderful," she thought. “I have to get in.” She crept towards the menacing door and dragged it open. The doll was so pretty, it was like her twin, well more like herself. It was also strangely intricate. She looked around at the shop, but there weren't a few more dolls, there were hundreds…
Her mind filled with fog. All the dolls were children. Some had Victorian gowns, some had scarfs and huge coats, some had beautiful dresses and intricate hats. Some looked familiar, like people from her school. for a second she thought they were speaking, almost warning. "It’s just the wind," she thought. Suddenly, she saw a boy; no, a doll. It rushed to the door like it was trying to escape. "Silly doll," she thought to herself. When she looked back it was gone. Confused, Elizabeth looked around.
Then, she saw it sitting on a high shelf, looking perfect. She knew she had to touch it.
She started to climb. Bang. Bang. Bang. She fell down. She looked around. ‘"It's just the old doll banging on that door," she thought to herself. She began to climb again. Elizabeth clambered onto the midnight blue sofa, then the shelf. "So close," she whispered. As soon as she got to her doll, no, the doll, she reached out a small, sweaty hand...
Memories, year one graduation, her dad bringing her a dog, then black silence. Eyes opened. Not hers. She looked out of two pre-made glass eyes. Clink, clink, clink. She could hear her new eyes moving. Time stood still. Dolls blinked around her. Time stood still. The snow fell. She tried to scream - silence. This is her new life.
Forever...