Paper Dolls Read Online Free

into a frenzy.
    The officer rushed her to mom. Mom cradled her as paramedics began setting up an IV line—whispering to her that she was okay now.
    A doctor injected a liquid into her thigh. She woke with a sharp intake of breath. She let out a high-pitched scream. “Monsters!”
    I knelt beside her. “It’s me, Philly. Calliope. There’s no monsters here. No monsters. These are good people.” A tear slid down my cheek. “You’re safe. You’re safe, baby. Tomorrow, you’ll see sun and flowers.”
    Her eyes wide, she clung to my arm. My mother stared at me.
    Detective Kalassi stood with Detective Bryant, thumbing his chin. “Her name is Philly? This one isn’t Frances?”
    I touched a finger to my mouth. “She’s been Philly—Philomena—for the past year. It’s what she knows. But yes, you have her name correct.”
    Nodding at me gratefully, he turned to speak into his phone. “Amy, Martin Kalassi here. We have Frances Allanzi. Yes, alive.” His booming voice was jubilant. “Please inform the family and have them escorted and waiting at the Sydney Children’s Hospital. Oh and Amy, tell them she answers to the name Philomena.”
    I brushed damp hair from her face. “Your family—everyone Missouri drew in the pictures for you—you’ll see them very soon.”
    She shook her head. “They’re all gone. Where’s Missy? Where’s my Missy?”
    I looked over my shoulder—Missouri was being brought out—her head lying limply against the officer’s shoulder.
    “No, they were never gone," I told her."You’ll see them, Philly. Your brother and sister, mummy and daddy. I promise. You’ll see Missy later.”
    I hugged her and nodded at the paramedics to take her. I didn’t want her seeing Missouri now. Philly’s stretcher was placed inside a waiting helicopter, my mother holding her hand all the way.
    I rushed to Missouri. Her face was alabaster, like a monument on a grave.
    Gazing at the officer, I could barely form the words, “Is she... alive?”
    He stared back with grim eyes, his face rigid.
    “No,” I breathed. My knees found the dirt.
    Rescue hadn’t come quick enough.
    Paramedics spirited her away—the chopper taking off almost instantly. A reporter scrambled to stand in front of the helicopter as it was taking off, yelling to the news camera that one of the abductees was dead.
    A large hand touched my shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
    I looked upwards at Detective Kalassi.
    “Can you tell me her name?” he said gently.
    “Molly,” I said. “Her name is Molly Parkes.”
    “That name I know,” he said. “She went missing here years back. We never found her.” He gazed regretfully at the helicopter as it disappeared into the night sky.
    He turned his head. My mother ran alongside paramedics as they carried a girl to a waiting helicopter. Mom held her hand as the IV was inserted.
    Kalassi and I went to her, Detective Bryant was already waiting at the helicopter.
    Sophronia lolled on the stretcher as they gave her oxygen and intravenous fluids. A paramedic injected her with the same stuff they'd injected Philly with.
    Her dark eyes fluttered open, but just barely, heavy with confusion. Sweat beaded on her forehead. She fixed her gaze on me. “I see it in your eyes,” she rasped. “You saw her—the other side of the shadow.”
    I bowed my head. Sophronia saw things no one else could. “Now
we’re
on the other side,” I whispered.
    Mom tugged the blanket up under Sophronia’s chin. “You’re safe. You’re safe now. You’ll be reunited with your family very soon.”
    “What’s your name, honey?” Detective Kalassi asked her.
    Her gaze moved from me to the detective.
    “It is Sophronia.”
    “I don’t know this one,” he remarked to Detective Bryant. She shook her head in reply.
    I wanted to tell Sophronia to give her real name to the police—so they could find her family. But I suspected she didn’t want to. She was smart enough to know what she wanted. Her eyes drifted shut