Claudia, a doll horror tale

This is a previous story I did a little work on. hug your dollie tight when reading 😵

Claudia

Billy and Dave got a job cleaning out an old man's barn. OK it was only $100 each, but it was cash. Being juniors in college, it was cash to let them but the tickets for the ball game they wanted to go see and some left over for a pizza party afterwards with some of their class mates (and girls).

Dave drove his Camaro to the farm, parking near the old barn.
Getting out of the car, Bully adjusted his black plastic framed glasses and said,”It's doesn't look too bad.”Dave looked towards the house. “Here comes Mr. Peters.”

The old man walked over to the boys.“Come in, I'll show you what I want.”

Just inside the barn were a rack of tools. Mr. Peters motioned as he spoke. “I need you guys to clean out these stalled here. Pitchforks, shoves, floor brooms, are all over here. Over there's the cart. Toss all the hay and debris into the cart then take it out in back of the barn and dump it in that shallow place outside. If the stuff piles up, no big deal. I'm getting some new livestock for the nephew this next week, and I need these stalls cleaned out.”

“You got it, Mr. Peters,” Dave said and brought the cart over to the first stall.

Billy grabbed a pair of pitchforks and gave Dave one. They got to work tossing old hay into the cart.

They worked at it a while, then Billy screamed and flailed.

Dave watched him flail back and bump into the wall. Wide eyed, Billy pointed and yelled, “It's a body!”

Stepping closer to where Billy was pointing, Dave eyed the woman figure Billy had partially uncovered. He saw the tangled blonde hair and the blank face and one shoulder.The cloth of her shoulder was ripped, but so was the shoulder itself. Not all the way through, but deep enough Dave saw metal underneath.

He let out a relieved chuckle. “It's fake, some kind of manikin,” he said with a grin. “Billy, she's not real.”

Billy paused his frightened panting and came a bit closer. “Sure looks real.”

“It's not. Help me clear the hay away so we can get it in the cart.” Dave said.

Billy went over and lifted the form up, Dave cleared hay and debris from around it. As he lifted the form up, the head tilted his way. He looked into the sky blue eyes, then at the full chest and slender arms.

“Hey, loverboy, need help getting it up?” Dave chided.

Billy blinked and looked at Dave.“She's beautiful. We can't just throw her away like trash.

”It's broke,” Dave said flatly.

Billy pulled the woman shape up and dragged it out of the stall and sat her gently in the corner. He eyed her a moment, then went back to cleaning out the stall.

Dave shook his head and went back to work too.They got one stall cleaned out, and had the next one mostly finished when Mr. Peters came out to see how they were doing. He checked the first stall, then eyed their progress on the second one.

:Nice job so far boys,” he said happily.

Dave only replied with a “thanks”

Billy pointed to the corner and asked, “Did you want to keep her?”

Mr. Peters looked back confused. His eyes settled on the doll propped up in the corner. “No, got no use for her.”

“Then can I have her?” Billy asked quickly. “I'll even pay you for her.”

Dave cast Billy a look of shock.
Mr. Peters grinned at Billy. “I take it you want Claudia? I'd forgotten she was in here.”

“Her name's Claudia?” Billy asked eagerly.

“Yup. Used to belong to my brother. He died a while back. Claudia's not in the best of shape any more.” Mr. Peters said, eyeing the doll.

"I don't mind, I bet I can fix her,” Billy said brightly. “How's fifty dollars sound?”

Mr. Peters snorted. Dave cast Billy a scowl. “You cant be serious!”

“Fine by me,” Mr. Peters said with a shrug. “You boys finish that last stall. I'll be back in a bit.”

As soon as Mr. Peters left, Dave turned on Billy. “What the hell's wrong with you? You are really going to buy a broken … fuck toy?”

Billy shied back a bit. “Her name's Claudia, and I'm going to fix her up. I think she's pretty.”

Pointing a finger at him, Dave stated, “You realize the ribbing you'll take if you take that thing back to your apartment? Billy, you already get picked on, the last thing you need is full harassment! That's what will happen if anyone sees it. You know that, don't you?”

Shying back, Billy said, “I'll keep Claudia hidden.”

“You are nuts!” Dave spat. “How are you going to even get it inside?”

“I can carry her.” Billy said defensively.

Dave let out a huff. “I want nothing to do with it! You take that thing and you're on your own.” He angrily began scooping up more hay to fill the cart.
.
Dave and Billy finished cleaning the stalls. Mr. Peters came in with a colorful blanket folded over his arm. He inspected the stalls, then gave them their money as he said, “Thanks boys, this helped me out a lot. Don't have the energy to do stuff like that any more.”

Dave noticed he got a hundred dollars, Billy only got 50. “Mr. Peters, it was a hundred each, right?”

Mr. Peters nodded, then waved to the corner and said, “Yeah, and Billy here paid fifty for Claudia.”

He then handed Billy the blanket. “This is Claudia's. You best wrap her up in it before you move her. Don't know if anything's real looseon her.”

“Thanks, Mr. Peters!” Billy beamed and ran over to wrap Claudia in her blanket.

Dave asked in a sarcastic tone. “Feel good about fleecing Billy out of fifty bucks?”

Mr. Peters eyed him. “I didn't do anything. He offered to buy her. Maybe he'll be happy with her.”

Dave pocketed his money and went over to watch Billy lay Claudia in the floor, then roll her to wrap the blanket around her. He had a hard time picking her up over his shoulder, but Dave didn't help.

Getting to the car, Billy opened the door and in shifting Claudia into a bride's carry, a hand fell out of the blanket. Seeing Billy couldn't reach it, Dave tossed the hand in and shut the door.

Dave got in the driver's side and started the car. As he pulled out, the radio came on with Shania Twain.

'I'm keeping you forever and for always, We will be together for always...'

Dave turned the radio off. “I hate country music.” he grumbled, being mad at Billy.

“It wasn't that bad,” Billy said.

“And don't change my station any more,” Dave grumbled.

“I didn't touch your radio,” Billy replied.
.
Driving back to their apartment building, Dave found his worst nightmare. Three football players were sitting on the steps, drinking beers and laughing at something.“Great, the fun starts now,” he grumbled.

Parking in the lot, Dave pointed to the side door of the building near the dumpster. “We'll go in that way.”

Billy struggled out of the car and got Claudia back into a bride's carry. He looked at the hand on the floor. Dave snapped it up and put it on the doll's lap. “Ahh, Dave, the stairs to the dumpster are kinda narrow. We should go in the front.”

Dave eyed him. “You see who was in front and getting drunk? Jake and his buds from the football team. Trust me, you want to go in the side door.”

Billy winced, “I'll never make it up those stairs.” He turned and headed for the front of the building.

“Do you remember what you're carrying?” Dave asked harshly.

“She's covered up,” Billy countered.

Dave let out a huff. Being in a good mood, when they got to the steps, the boys drinking all got up to let them pass. Jake, the 230 pound mass of muscle then frowned. “Is that a hand?” he asked, staring at the hand on the blanket.

Meekly, Billy said, “Yeah, Claudia lost her hand getting her in the car.”

Dave face planted.
“Claudia?” The bushy haired boy that also bore a hefty frame asked, eyeing Billy.

Jake then lifted the top folds of the blanket. He chuckled. “Geek boy got his own sex toy, she's even a blonde!”

Laughter broke out, as Dave was expecting.

“Hey, at least he figured out how to get some!” another boy laughed.

“Guys,” Dave grumbled. Like he didn't see this coming.

Jake let out another laugh, then raised his hand, “Hey guys! Not Geek-boy's fault! This is probably the closest he'd ever get to getting laid!”

They burst out laughing harder. One boy dropped his beer in his mirth.

Dave got the door and pulled Billy inside. Closing of the loudest of their mirth, he frowned at Billy. “You just HAD to come in the front, didn't you? You know how fast that's going to spread around?”

Meekly, Billy said, “But those stairs were too narrow.”

“Go,” Dave grumbled.

Getting Billy into his apartment, Dave waited as Billy gently laid Claudia on the floor and rolled her out of the blanket. The first thing Dave noted was she smelled like barn.She was dirty, had some rips in her, her right had had fallen off and her head looked to be all but falling off.

“And you paid money then got picked on, for this,” Dave said sadly.

“I'll fix her,” Billy said firmly.

“Yeah, OK. I gotta go, don't forget we have to go early tomorrow to get tickets for the game. See ya later.”

“Yeah, later,” Billy agreed as he looked at the loose hand and tried to fit it back in place. It went into place, but didn't stay. He got it, superglue!Holding her hand, Billy noted the nice rise in her chest. Reaching up, he petted the shape of her boob. It was soft. He then petted her dirty cheek. “Don't worry, Claudia, You are real pretty, and I'm going to fix you up good.”

The radio on the kitchen counter came on with a snappy song '...And we can build this dream together, standing strong forever, nothin's gonna stop us now...'

Billy hummed with the happy music, paying attention to Claudia. He blushed, he had to undress her to clean her up. He was happy with that, and took his time to clean her good and noted where he had to fix her as he listened to music.
.

Dave had a date with a cheerleader. Amy was slim and pretty with strawberry blonde hair that went halfway down her back. While she wasn't a 'normal' girlfriend, he did get his share from her, and being supple, she showed him sex positions he didn't think was possible. His mood did dim when after they sat down to eat, she grew a crooked grin and said, “I heard Geek-boy Billy got a girlfriend?”

Dave rolled his eyes. “Ughhh. I suppose everyone knows about that now?”

“Oh yeah,” Amy said smoothly. “What I can't understand is you were with him when he got it?”

Dave hung his head and told her the story about the job to clean the barn. Of course, she picked up on the most embarrassing part. “Wow, he named her Claudia?”

“Old man Peters said that was her name. The doll belonged to his brother. I guess he died a while back.” Dave explained.

“So, it's an old one.”

Dave nodded. “And not in the best shape, dirty and smells like barn. Billy insisted on keeping it. He even paid for it.”

With a snort, Amy said, “Billy has to be hard up to do something like that.”

“I think he lost his mind,” Dave said firmly. “Even if he wanted one of those, why grab a worn out, smelly and dirty one? I mean, a hand fell off it before we got it to the car.”

Amy laughed. “He'd be better off renting a street hooker. He could also ask Betty or Tina, I know they both hook on the side and at least they are real. Hell, I'm sure either one of them would agree to be a regular for him. Even having a paid girl he'd be happier getting regular sex. I know Tina would clean his place for extra cash too. She could go over, do him and his apartment. I can give him her number if he wants.”

Dave shrugged and waved a hand. “I don't get him. I told him he'd catch hell, but he didn't seem to care. We didn't even get inside before Jake and his buds found out. They laughed so hard, Greg dropped his beer.” Pausing, he looked at Amy again. “Say, you wouldn't want to do a weekly thing at my place, would you?”

Amy grinned. “What's it worth to ya?”

“I only have a small allowance. How's a hundred a week, on Saturdays?”

Amy thought, then said, “Sundays, and you give me rides to and from school. You buy the rubbers.”

Dave smiled. “Suddenly, I'm looking forward to Saturdays.”
.
Billy had a good sleep that night, filled with dreams of him and Claudia making out by a pond, walking through a park with their arm around each other, and plenty of hugging and kissing. When he woke up in the morning, he had a raging boner. He also felt weight beside him.

Turning over, he saw Claudia was beside him under the covers. Reaching out under the covers to touch her, he felt she was naked. Billy swore after he had glued her hand and rips together, he'd left her sitting on the couch, but she was right here. In the kitchen, soft music was playing.

'Do that to be one more time, I can never get enough of a man like you...'

Leaning up on an elbow, he tipped her head towards him and kissed her. He swore she kissed him back.Kissing, he slipped up on top of her. Yes, this was fantastic!

'Oh baby, do that to me once again...'

This was the best day of his life!

Billy got up and dressed, pausing to kiss Claudia again. Not wanting to put her ruined clothes back on her, he put her in his white dress shirt. Damn, she looked so sexy in that! Billy carried her to the kitchen area and sat her at the table. He found a comb and combed her hair gently,

taking to her.

“You are looking much better now sweetie. I do have to buy you some clothes, not that you don't look fantastic in my shirt. I want you to have some nice things.” He got her hair combed and kissed her forehead then smiled at her. He was getting breakfast, OJ and a couple poptarts when someone knocked at the door.

Billy answered it. It was Dave. “Hey Dave!” he said happily, “Come on in, come see Claudia!”

Dave came in and saw Claudia sitting up at the table, hands out in front of her. He stared, then scrutinized her. “Wow, she looks great and even smells good!” In fact, if Dave didn't know better, she looked like a real woman. “You really
did fix her good. Great job!”

“Told you I would!” Billy beamed.

“If I didn't see it, I wouldn't believe it,” Dave stated. “You about ready to go? The ticket line gets long, fast.”

Billy nodded, downed his juice and carried his poptarts with him. Passing Claudia, he paused and gave her a kiss.

Dave noted this. As they went out, he prodded, “Billy, you know she's not real, right?”

“She is.” Billy replied. “She's just not human.”
..

Although they got in line early, there were still 20 people already there, waiting their turn. Still, it was better than over a hundred already in line. Dave stood just ahead of Billy in line. The guy in front of him was another track and field participant like Dave was.

He turned. “Hey Dave!” he greeted, then looked behind him. “Geek-boy? Dave, you're hanging out with him? You know he's got one of those sex toys.”

Billy frowned and leaned over to say, “Her name's Claudia, and she's not a toy.”

Dave face planted again as a few guys laughed. “Billy, just … shut up will you!”

“But she's not,” Billy insisted.

A guy behind them said, “He just doesn't like silicone boobs, he wants them ALL silicone!”

Another guy started singing 'Barbie girl' in a falsetto voice.

The comments and laughing kept on.Worse yet, some of these were Dave's classmates and friends. The teasing was so bad, Dave grabbed Billy and dragged him out of linebefore he ended up punching someone.

Getting back in his car, Dave turned on Billy. “Thanks a lot! I always wanted to get laughed out of line! How about if you learn to SAY NOTHING if anyone teases you?”

Looking like he was about to cry, Billy weakly said, “But, Claudia's nice, they just don't know her like I do.”

Dave frowned and took them back to the apartment. All the way back and retreating to his own apartment, Dave knew he had to do something before Billy was harassed right out of college. He decided to call Amy and ask for her help.
.

.Amy agreed to help. Yes, she would take Billy out on a date (no touching!) to show him what a night out with a real girl was like. Before she met with Dave, she called Jake to help give Billy a reason to start seeing real girls.

Dave arrived with Amy at Billy's place.

Billy let them in and motioned to Claudia who was sitting at the table hands out in front of her, facing them. “I got her those bracelets today, I think they look nice.”

Dave looked, Amy slipped by him. “They do look nice, those aren't real diamonds on that ring, are they?” she asked Billy, casting him her best smile.

Billy blushed. “Ah, no, I can't afford anything like that.”

Casting him a shy smile, she assured him, “It's the thought that matters. Say, I don't have a date tonight. Why don't you come with me? Dave is coming too.” Quietly she added, “We can lose him later.”

Billy blushed again. “I ahhh.”

“OH come on!” Amy coaxed. “How often do you get out? We'll only be a couple hours, I'm sure Claudia will still be here when we get back.”

Dave added, “Yeah, Billy, you hardly ever get out. Come on!” He then grabbed Billy by the arm and towed him for the door.

“But...” Billy protested.

“No butts! You're going out with us,” Dave insisted.

Quickly Billy said, “Lock the door!”

“I'll get it!” Amy called. She waited for the boys to leave then said, “OK silicone fake, you get yours tonight.” She then paused. Claudia's eyes had moved to look right at her. Her brows were also furrowed. Suddenly the radio came on, volume at full blast.

'This is not your party, so get out while you can! Cause you're ain't woman enough to take my man!' The radio then stopped.

The sudden loud noise made Amy squeak and jump back. She glared at Claudia. “Freaky Bitch!” she spatand ran out. She also made sure the door was unlocked behind her.

.

Claudia 2

Billy had a decent time with Dave and Amy. Not great, he thought Amy was a bit flirty, though something didn't seem right with her. Yes, they had dinner and drinks afterwards, but Amy's smile never seemed to reach her eyes. She also seemed to be studying him. Their talk was normal, though again, Amy seemed to be forced, but Billy had no idea why.

Billy split the tab with Dave. They walked back to the apartment, Amy telling Billy he should get out with girls more often. She even gave him the phone number to a girl named Betty, insisting she'd be good for him. Billy accepted it, and thanked her.

Getting to his apartment with Dave and Amy, Billy went to unlock his door and found it open a crack.

“Huh?” he asked and pushed the door open slowly.

Inside, he found ruin. The table was upside down, the legs sticking in the air. On one leg, Claudia's headless body was impaled facing up, her clothes ripped open. She was split open from crotch to ribs. The radio was in the sink, battered, the case split. The air stunk of something melted. Staggering into the mess, Billy was slack jawed. He noted the microwave screen was dark, A tendril of blonde hair trailed out under the door. Inside the microwave was Claudia's partially melted head.

Billy dropped to his knees, staring at the mess.

Amy put her hands over her mouth. “Oh, GOD! I didn't know they'd do THIS!” she cried.

Dave eyed her. “Who did this?” he asked in a hard tone.

Amy gaped at him, then turned and fled.

Dave grumbled, “Billy, come stay with me tonight. We'll...”

Billy, in a toneless voice said, “Get out.”

“Billy, I...”

“GET OUT!” Billy roared.

Dave could see he was shaking in rage. “Call the cops, breaking and entering and vandalism.”

Billy didn't reply. He only knelt, staring at the partially melted doll head in the microwave.

“I'm really sorry,” Dave said softly and left, closing the door behind him.

.

Billy didn't know how long he sat staring at Claudia's ruined head. His eyes burned with tears. His heart burned with rage. Once he'd knelt long enough to really feel the ache in his knees, he stumbled up and pulled the microwave door open. He was blank faced as he pulled hard to get the misshapened head with burnt hair out that was stuck to the glass plate. He put it on a clear space of floor, then went over to Claudia's ripped open body that smelled of urine and pulled her up off the table leg. As he pulled her up, one breast that was cut mostly though, fell off. He
got Claudia and all her pieces laid down, face up. Only them he burst out crying miserably.

Wailing out his misery, Billy hugged Claudia's ruined chest. Some time in his crying, he felt something on his bicep. He also heard a soft pop. Looking up he saw Claudia's hand on his arm. He looked at her head and saw the right side of her head was reformed, one eye was looking at him.

He wanted to say he was sorry. He then noticed the hand she now gripped him with was holding him solid. He knew her entire face had been melted, but not the right side of her face nearly looked normal. He got the idea she was looking at him, waiting for permission.

Billy sat up. He saw her one eye tracking him as he did. Softly, he nodded and said, “OK, show me.”

Billy then sat watching in awe as Claudia's head expanded back out into shape, losing the burnt look. Her hair washed out blonde and perfect. Her body and clothes came back together just as they should be. Then Claudia sat up and hugged him. He hugged her back and cried with joy. She petted his head and kissed him gently.

Very softly, Billy swore he heard Claudia say, “First, we fix the kitchen. Then I track down those who did this to me.” Billy was confused because she was kissing him when she said it.

.

In their common garage, Jake, Henry, Greg and Tony were having their whisky party around a card table. Leaned back, drinking, they were laughing at what they'd done.

“So much for that sex doll. Decapitate and cook the head!” Greg said happily.

“Split it widen open, had to take a piss, and the insides looked soft. Bet it stinks a bit.” Tony said and chuckled.

“But what was with that radio suddenly blasting out?” Jake asked, “One of you guy turned it on?”

Henry frowned. “Naw man, it just kinda came on. Maybe it has a short. Turned off quick enough when I smashed it.”

“Guys remember!” Tony announced. “If anyone asks, we've been here all night.”

“Right!” Jake agreed. “And we never saw Amy either.”

A car pulled up into the driveway. The four only noted it until is sped up, racing at them. A second too slow, and their eyes got wide as the car rammed into the garage. The table and them were plowed into the back wall, then the back wall burst out.

Jake had been hit enough only to be knocked out of his chair and get wedged in between some broken wall and the car. He hurt. When the driver's door opened, he cried out as his leg snapped. Something was then splashed on him. He cried out and bellowed, “You stupid fuck!” Glaring up at a form, he saw the outline. The figure had a lighter. It lit it. He also smelled gas.

“What?” Jake asked. “That's...” His words were cut off as the figure tossed the lighter down on him. He burst in flames. All he did after that was scream. The figure walked out as he wailed and burned.

.

Amy went to her apartment feeling shaken. Yes, she wanted Jake and his buddies to make that doll unusable, but not destroy the kitchen area and make a huge mess! They had gone way too far. Now, she knew if the cops were investigating, she was sure to be pulled in for questioning. Already on probation, that could plant her back in jail if they suspected she had anything to do with it. Well she'd deny everything, she decided as she went into her bedroom.

Hearing a soft click, Amy perked up. Was that the door? “Hello?” she called as she came out of the bedroom. She went out to see the door was opened a crack. She looked around the room. “Who's there!” She said firmly. “This isn't funny, show yourself!” she demanded.

A figure raced around the corner right in front of her. Her throat was grabbed in an iron grip and she was lifted off her feet. Her eyes bugged out in terror and the feeling of her throat being crushed. Staring down at the one who had her, she saw Billy's doll glaring at her as it walked her back to her room.

Amy flailed, kicking and trying to break the hold. The doll only glared a her as she pushed her backwards into the bathroom. Her face turning deep red as she struggled for breath, Amy was thrown down onto the bathtub floor. The water turned on, hitting her in the face. The hand loosened up. She tried to breath, but water poured into her mouth. Frantic, she flailed and struggled. Choking now, she tried to get a scream out
that ended up as a wet gurgle. She flailed frantically until her vision faded and darkness took hold. Finally, her body went limp, her
lungs full of water. Amy knew no more.

.

In the morning, Dave knocked on Billy's door, hoping the man had gotten himself together. He was surprised when Billy opened the door just like it was any other morning.

“Come on in, I gotta get my books,” Billy said.

Dave went in. He saw the kitchen area looked perfect, nothing out of place. “Good job cleaning up.” he offered.

Billy eyed him. “What are you talking about? Everything's fine.”

Dave eyed him. Billy didn't have his glasses on, and unlike his usually unkept hair, it was neat and combed straight back. “This place was a mess last night. You threw the doll away?”

Billy snorted. “No, Claudia,” he said, stressing her name, “Is right there on the couch.” he finished, jerking his thumb behind him.

Dave saw her. Sitting back on the couch, arms out across the back and looking perfect. She was also looking right at him. Dave felt a chill go up his spine. From what he saw last night, this wasn't possible.

Dave watched Billy scoop up his books off the table, then went over to kiss Claudia and came to the door.

“Well, ready to go?” Billy asked with a raised eyebrow.

Dave nodded. He also noted Billy locked his door behind him, then rattled it to be sure it was locked.

Billy seemed different this morning, if Dave had to identify it, he'd say Billy was more confident. Getting in the car, Dave drove out and asked, “So what did you think of Amy?”

Billy tipped his head slightly. “Skinny, not much tit, but pretty, nice ass. Good firm legs.”

Dave grinned. “OK now you've assessed her body, what do you think of her?”

Billy was quiet for a moment, then said, “Skank.”

“What?” Dave asked in a chuckle. He'd never heard Billy say something like that. “So you're not in love, huh?”

Billy snorted. “Lemme tell you something about love. Well, true love is not just a happy feeling with someone special. It's all consuming, it's voracious, it wants every part of you and if you love back with that same intensity, then watch out world! NOTHING will ever get between you or stand in your way! True love will conquer all.”

Dave raised his eyebrows. Billy had spoken in a firm confident tone Dave had never heard from him. “Wow, read that in a book someplace?”

Billy thumped himself on the chest. “Feel it, live it. And you know what? It's the most fantastic feeling you can have. I read once that love conquers all. It really does.”

Dave noticed something else. “You forgot your glasses.”

“Contacts. It's called welcome to the new age,” Billy said with a smirk.

Dave nodded. Part of him thought it was good Billy was becoming confident. Then again, when he thought about the difference between last night and this morning, he got another chill up his back, like something was very wrong.

.

Getting to school, Dave found out about the horrendous accident that killed 4 football players. From what he understood, they'd been partying in a garage and a car that had been in the driveway somehow got out of park and crashed into them. They'd been drinking whiskey and a fire had killed the trapped men. Police were investigating but no suspects were found. So far it was a tragic accident.

This news was bad enough, then Dave found out Amy had been drown in her bathtub. This was being called a murder, she'd been found with choke marks around her neck and bruises on her hands. Again, police were looking into it, no suspects yet. Anyone even seeing Amy was asked to come forward.

Seeing a cop in school, Dave admitted his night with Amy and Billy. Knowing nothing looked wrong at Billy's place this morning, he omitted what they found upon returning. He also knew Billy had no way of cleaning everything up by morning.

Something was very wrong. He decided to skip the rest of the day's classes and go see Mr. Peters.
Dave drove to the old man's farm. No one was outside, so we went to the door and knocked.

Mr. Peters came and opened the door. “Hey son, sorry I ain't got any work for you today. Maybe when the nephew gets here with his sheep.”

“I'm not here for work.” Dave explained. “I'd like you to tell me about Claudia. Everything.”

Mr. Peters shrugged. “My brother's old doll. I'd forgotten she was in the barn.”

Dave shook his head. “No. Mr. Peters, five people I know are dead. All in one night. The last I seen of them was the night before. They had broken into Billy's room, and trashed the place and Claudia. They cooked her head in the microwave! This morning, Billy's place was immaculate, and Claudia was whole with not even a scratch on her. I need to know what happened. Billy is pretending nothing ever happened.”

Mr. Peters swallowed. He opened the door. “Son, you best come inside.”

Dave was guided to a chair. Mr. Peters handed him a photo album than sat down across from him. Folding his hands under his chin, Mr. Peters said, “For a long time I never understood the fascination Larry had for Claudia. She wasn't just his comfort bunny, he really loved her. I also realized there's something very wrong with Claudia. Most think she's an inanimate object. She aint. Most of the time, she stayed still and let Larry fawn over her. Bought her dresses, jewelry, took her places. Just like you'd to with a real woman.” He then raised a finger. “But, she could move
on her own. I seen it.”

Dave looked up from a picture of Claudia and Larry, he thought it was, standing by a fence, arms around each other. “She can move by herself?”

Mr. Peters nodded. “Bout, oh think it was 16 years ago. Was late at night. Day before a couple young misfits had come by and Larry tried to get them to move on. They beat him. Not bad but bad enough. That night I was up to check on Larry and saw someone walking towards the house. Looked like Claudia. Then she came in. Seeing me, she put a finger to her lips and went in her and Larry's room. Weirdest thing I ever saw. Later, net day, both those boys who hurt Larry were found in a well. They weren't drown, their necks were broke. No on ever found out who did it. Now I have no solid proof, but I'm sure Claudia killed them for beating on Larry.”

He had Dave's full attention now. “You saw her walking, outside.”

“Clear as I see you now. I gotta tell you, Claudia under the right conditions is very dangerous. She has no qualm about killing. Cold as stone she is if someone hurts her man. Don't know if she can talk, never heard her say anything. Claudia ain't no normal doll, that I know.”

“Jesus,” Dave said softly. “Is there any way to stop her?”

Mr. Peters frowned in thought a moment, then said, “There was one time. Larry's fiftieth birthday. He never wanted anything for himself, only stuff for Claudia. Knowing that I got her a nice gold necklace. Larry thanked me and we made a big deal about presenting it and putting it on her. The next day, Larry gave it back and said, she couldn't move with that on. He got her a silver one instead.”

Dave frowned. “A gold necklace stopped her from moving?”

“Wasn't no cheap thing, 24 karat gold. Still got it.” The old man got up and went to the shelf above the fire place. He got the long thin box down and handed it to Dave. “If you wanna stop her, get another gift box. She knows this one. You're gonna have to get it on her without her seeing it. If she thinks you're a threat to that other boy or her, most likely, she'll kill ya.”

Dave swallowed and took the box. “Thanks. I just don't want anyone else to die.”

“Just remember boy, be sneaky. She sees it before you get it around her neck, it's gonna be real bad for ya.”

Dave left with the necklace. He drove back feeling jittery with that ice creeping up his spine. Which was odd, for his forehead was sweating as he thought about what he had to do, and the danger of doing it. He also knew that chopping her up wouldn't do any good. Someone did that and she recovered to kill everyone involved.

.

Dave found a store that sold gift boxes. He bought one, transferred the necklace to it then managed to get back to school before Billy's last class was done. Dave waited for Billy by his car. When he saw Billy coming, he waved. Billy waved back. They got in the car.

Billy immediately noticed the gift box. “What's that?”

Dave offered him a smile. “I got to thinking. Everyone gives you hell about having Claudia. I know I did at first, but from what I'm seeing, she's actually good for you. I thought about it and decided to get her a present. Something nice. You know, to make peace with your strange relationship. Maybe if I can put it on her, it will show you and her that I do support you.”

Billy grew a big smile. He clapped Dave on the shoulder. “All right! Thanks bud! You don't know how much that means to me and Claudia.”

“I just want you to know I'm on your side,” Dave said firmly. He was, he didn't want Billy hurt due to a Claudia rampage.

.

Going into Billy's apartment, Dave had to force his legs to move. Claudia was there on the couch looking at him. He'd been practicing in his mind what he wanted to say, and making it sound sincere. He really hoped he didn't screw this up.

“Beer?” Billy asked as he went to the fridge.

“Sure,” Dave replied, heading for the couch. Damn, just her watching him was making cold things crawl up and down his spine. He walked towards her and sat down beside her. Billy came over and handed him a beer and sat down on the other side of Claudia.

Dave had a sudden inspiration. “Billy, you got a mirror so Claudia can see how this looks on her?”

“Good idea.” Billy said with a nod. “Got one, be right back.” He headed into the bedroom.

While he was gone, Dave said, “I got this for you, Claudia. I want to prove I'm your friend too as well as Billy's friend. I seriously do not want anything to happen to either of you. It's just a token of my support for you both.”

Dave sat the box on the back of the couch, she was still watching his face. He got the necklace out and put it around her neck. When it touched her skin, he swore her face dropped. “There we go!” he said happily with a breath of relief.

Billy came back in and sat back down on Claudia's other side. Looking at the necklace, he whistled. “That real gold?”

Dave nodded, “24 Karat, it wasn't cheap but I didn't think you wanted Claudia to have cheap jewelry.”

“I don't,” Billy agreed. He grabbed his beer and held it up. “To friendship?”

“To friendship!” Dave agreed heartily. They clinked bottles and drank. He was happy he'd gotten away with it!

.

Dave went back to his apartment feeling good. He also had homework to do. Sitting down at his table, he got to work. Advanced math was taxing. He was focused on a problem when a gold chain dropped onto his papers. He recognized it. It was the gold necklace. He also felt someone right beside him. Snapping his head up, he saw Claudia scowling down on him. He froze in place.

Claudia pointed to the necklace then waggled her index finger at him in a no-no gesture.

“I...I ahhh.” Dave stammered, hoping she wasn't going to kill him.

She didn't. She cupped his chin, kissed him on the head and walked out.

.

A week later, Billy moved out of his apartment. From what Dave found out, he'd quit or just left school completely. He never saw Billy or Claudia ever again.

That is a great story. It has the makings of a good novel or even better: a movie.👍
I am left in suspense though and hopping for a next chapter.

Good story. Definit Christine vibes. 😉

I wonder if this story should be blocked from our doll's accounts so it doesn't give them any ideas. 🤣🤣

I do have other stories available here, including an epic version of Star wars (Kinda like Spaceballs), but is called DOLL WARS! With a cast of dollies and others.To name a few ....
Tabitha - Princess Leighme
Her boyfriend - Luke Longstroker
Phoebe - The rebel Queen
NIcky - NIckydemon
Darkanstenky - The evil dominant bad guy - current owner (Cough) of a certain forum .... that also got me kicked off that form when I posted it there.😇
Cookie - A RealDroid assassin.

I should figure out how to do some AI in that......

Sounds like a great idea. I would run the atories as a series too, not too much text all at once, keep them wanting more like what Tex does.

Not a bad idea, Storyteller!