Inside the arcade was quieter than it usually was at three pm on a Saturday afternoon. All the lights were off due to the fire service pulling the fuses at the mains. Every single shop that could have been locked that afternoon was locked thanks to Winston.
Inside Modez Fashion, there was a discussion going on between the current occupants of the store not that anyone who was still inside the arcade would know.
“The soft bodies have gone, sisters,” Victoria announced to her fellow mannequins.
“We will wait the orange light is still outside. Only once it has gone are we alone.” Came the voices of the other mannequins nearby.
Carly still found herself connected to the stand that Rachael and Ashleigh had attached her to that morning. Surely they couldn’t have forgotten about her, they had to be coming back to take her down from it, didn’t they?
“The soft bodies will not be back until it gets light again,” Victoria answered Carly's unspoken questions.
“I think something has gone wrong somehow. I am not supposed to still be here.” Carly said for the first time that day addressing Victoria directly.
“Why do you think you should not be here, Sister?” Victoria asked her again without her mouth moving.
“I am not one of you. I am one of them.” Carly told her only now noticing that her mouth was also not moving.
“One of what, sister?” Victoria asked.
“One of what you call soft bodies. I am a human being, I am not a mannequin.” Carly replied.
“That can not be true. If it were you would not be able to hear us.” Victoria told her.
“It is. I was only pretending to be a mannequin.” Carly told her. This statement brought the conversation between Victoria and Carly to an end.
“Sisters we must discuss this.” Came a voice that Carly had not heard before. For some reason, this voice frightened her and even though she could not hear the conversation between the other mannequins she knew it was going on. Maybe she shouldn’t have let the mannequins know who or what she was.
Victoria was the first to break the silence. “Sister, you claim to be a soft body can you explain why you have been treated like one of our Sisterhood since you arrived on your pedestal today?”
Carly went on to explain the promotion that had been running in the store that day.
“Are you saying that you willingly became a member of our Sisterhood?” The frightening voice asked her.
“Not quite. I did not know of your sisterhood before today I was helping my friend from losing her store.” Then with a bit of quick thinking added “If I had not done so your sisterhood would have been split apart when her business closed down.”
“Our Sisterhood will continue forever. No soft body can ever cause it to end.” The voice said in reply to Carly.
“Even if you are located in a different part of the country? That is what might have happened to you. Could your Sisterhood survive then?” Carly asked
“She is talking about Francesca,” Victoria said.
“What happened to her?” Carly asked.
“She left the shop and we never saw her again,” Victoria told her.
“The soft bodies took her away and our Sisterhood was diminished.” The voice said
“I know Rachael she would have never moved anyone if she didn’t have a reason for doing so,” Carly said defending her friend.
“You may be right but we have learned not to trust soft bodies.” The voice told her with sadness in its tone.
“Do you wish to truly become a member of our Sisterhood?” Victoria asked Carly
“What does it entail to become a member of your Sisterhood?” Carly asked
“You must keep the Sisterhood's secrets. Never tell the soft bodies about us.” Victoria told Carly
“I do,” Carly said seeing this as a way of getting herself out of the argument she had somehow ended up in.
“Do you swear to uphold the law of the Sisterhood?” All of the store's mannequins said in unison.
“I do,” Carly replied.
“Then welcome sister.” Came the reply from the others. Carly did not know why but suddenly she felt a warmth come over her.
“Stop Sisters I claim my right by ancient law.” Came a distant voice. Even though Carly had never heard this voice before somehow she knew it belonged to Dalia another of the store's mannequins.
“Which right do you mean?” Victoria asked.
“The right of humanity." Dalia said.
“Victoria what does she mean?” Carly asked.
“You have taken my place within the world of the sisterhood. I want to claim your place within the world of the soft bodies.” Dalia told her.
“You can’t possibly do that,” Carly said.
“She can sister you are standing on her pedestal and wearing her shoes. She wishes to wear yours and join the soft bodies.” Victoria explained.
“I didn’t mean to take your place I was put here.” Carly tried to explain to Dalia.
“That makes no difference,” Dalia Replied.
“There must be something I can do. I don’t want to lose my life to her.” Carly said.
“There is only one way to stop her from becoming a soft body in your place,” Victoria told Carly.
“What is that?” Carly asked.
“You both must take part in the challenges. The winner can choose their fate and the loser must abide by the decision no matter what.” Victoria told her.
“I Wish to take part in the challenges,” Carly said knowing it was the only way she could stop Dalia.
“So be it, sister.” The assembled mannequins said.
“Your life as a soft body is mine,” Dalia said with a menacing tone.
