Free Unwound by Yolanda Olson Page B

mirror, I
    grabbed the cog that had fallen out of my arm. I wasn’t going to
    let Jared’s last precious gift to me before London took his life go to waste and with as ill as I felt at the moment over what I knew
    needed to be done. I stood in front of my reflection and slid his
    golden brown eye into my empty socket and wedged it into place
    with the cog. I took a deep breath and stared at myself as the
    small wheel disappeared behind it. I blinked a couple of times and suddenly the world started to come into place as I had never seen
    it before.
    Silently I thanked Jared for the gift he had been tortured for
    and placed the eye patch he had given me over the side of the
    mirror. It would always be there when I looked at it and I would

always think of him whenever I could bear to bring myself to
    look in the mirror again.
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    A thought had occurred to me as I turned away.
    I had to find Morrison as soon as possible because if London
    was killing everyone that had done me kindness, she would be
    next. Grabbing my jacket, I ran out of my room and started down
    the flight of stairs. As I passed the elusive second floor that I
    never had time for I heard the sound of something dragging and
    echoing dully throughout.
    I stopped at the stairway entrance and squinted into the
    darkness. Now that I had the precious gift of two eyes, it would
    take less time for me to adjust to seeing in the dark.
    I took a tentative step into the room and the dragging came to
    a halt. I wasn’t afraid as I thought I would be. I think it was
    because I was still feeling grief for Jared and anger for what
    London had done to him.
    In the room I heard something snap and heard a set of
    footsteps run out of the room and make their way down the last
    flight of stairs. I ran over to the window to see if I could catch a glimpse of who had just been in my home but whomever it was
    had been faster than me. I never saw them nor did I honestly care
    at the moment, I was more curious about the sound that I heard
    before they left.
    How are there no lights in this damned—Oh. There it is, I
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    thought as I ran my hands along the side of the wall.
    With the flip of the switch the entire room became illuminated
    and I gasped.
    Somehow this room seemed to have stayed intact regardless
    of the fire Morrison had told me about. There were the faceless
    dolls sprinkled throughout, some with clothes others partially
    dressed, and only a hand full had nothing more than a measuring
    tape draped around them. The machines here looked brand-new.
    There were boxes of sewing tools around the room and new
    spools and pieces of cloth that had yet to have been touched.
    I smiled as I walked across the room looking at everything in
    wonder. I had thoughts of moving my cot down to the second
    door as I ran my fingers along the tables; I just felt that it would all seem so much safer here.
    For a moment I had forgotten what had brought me into this
    room until I heard a noise in the darkest corner of the room. Close to the door on the other side I heard a cranking sound. I stopped
    walking and craned my neck to see if I would be able to make it
    out from where I was, but I knew I would have to get closer to be
    able to see it.
    Swallowing hard, I walked a little closer as the cranking
    sound intensified. As it came into view I saw a small box and
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    with a handle on the side going in a circle by itself. It seemed to be emitting a melody. I took a step closer and grit my teeth.
    I knew exactly what song that was but I refused to let it strike
    fear in me. It had caused me enough sleepless nights before.
    I stepped closer still.
    The cranking went faster and faster until finally the top
    popped open and a small clown with big evil eyes and a wide
    toothy grin popped out attached to some accordion looking
    apparatus. Curiosity took over me. I noticed something was
    hanging from one of its hands. It looked almost like human hair
    with skin still