She Activates

The doll’s eyes fluttered and its latex face moved unnervingly, looking suspiciously around the set, then locking onto you. “Greetings, new pet,” it said, sounding eerily like the character in the movie. “Where am I?”

You cocked your head at the response, but then rolled your eyes and set the card down. “At least it works.”

“I asked you a question,” it demanded, tone ice cold.

Double-taking at the doll, you scoff. “Damn, that’s creepy,” you say, picking it up and sliding it back in the box. “Well, that’s one thing off the list,” you talked to yourself, re-sealing the box with the tape and then going back to the dolly to get the next one. As you did, you could swear the Maleficent doll’s eyes were watching you the whole time, but that would be ridiculous. It’s 10pm, you’re probably just seeing things from the fatigue. Ignoring the creepy feeling, you unloaded the rest of the villainess dolls: the Evil Queen from Snow White, Yzma from the Emperor’s New Groove, Ursula’s human disguise ‘Vanessa,’ a thinner and prettier version of the Queen of Hearts and Cruella de Vil, Mother Gothel, Lady Tremaine and her daughters Anastasia and Drizella. You set all their boxes down on the tea table, at least then they’d be ready for unboxing and shooting come Monday. Looking at the first of the four sets of dolls arranged on the table, you sighed with relief, dusted your hands and left to go log your reports and sign out.

Unbeknownst to you, however, Maleficent’s indignant eyes followed you every step, until you were out of the room. Once the door closed behind you, she thrust her arms up, pushing the plastic cover off her box and stepped out onto the table. Sneering at the direction you left, her foot slid on the command card you left on the table. She peered down at it, then at the other dolls. “Hmmm….” Maleficent said, a sly look on her face. She turned to the other dolls, found each command card and spoke their activation phrases.

Just as with her, the eyes of all nine dolls began to flutter, then their bodies moved on their own. “What is this?” The Evil Queen demanded.

“Why is it so cramped in here?!” Anastasia complained. They all began to speak when Maleficent stepped forward with a finger to her lips.

“Hush, ladies, we must be quiet.”

One by one, the vile women of Disney were freed from their boxes and congregated.

“Where precisely are we?” Lady Tremaine asked flatly.

“I do not know,” Maleficent admitted, “…But there is a young boy about who may.”

“Have him brought before us, then,” the Queen of Hearts said, folding her arms.

“It is not quite so simple, I’m afraid,” Maleficent answered, “We lack our powers and our forces in this strange realm. We will have to secure him ourselves.”

“How do you mean?” The Evil Queen asked evenly.

A slow, evil smile grew over Maleficent’s face. “We will set a trap for him, and he shall have one more chance to serve willingly…”