By grapehyacinth

After two weeks of training, Julie and Rhea were officially couriers of South Street Shipping. Julie was proud of this. Rhea was not.

The two college grads both were at a dead end. Julie had lost several jobs, and Rhea hadn't even been employed yet. When Julie informed her that South Street was hiring, Rhea scoffed at this. “I didn't get a college degree to go carry stuff around.”

“Well, I don't see anyone else offering you a job. And I need to make money somehow if I want to stay in this apartment with you. They pay really well at the courier service.”

“For being a glorified mailman? Ridiculous.”

“Until something better comes along, I'm doing it. And if you want to pay your rent without your mom helping you out, you might want to also.”

Donned in their new South Street uniforms – a gray shirt and slacks, the two girls made their way to their first destination. It was an old brick building on the edge of a bad part of town. The door was slightly ajar, and Julie pulled at the heavy door to enter.

Rhea hung back, annoyed at the blonde for her lack of caution. “Look at this place. It's falling apart. You really want to go in there?”

“Would you rather stay out here?”

Rhea studied around the dilapidated area around them. There was no one around, but nonetheless, she did not want to be caught alone in this area of town. “I'm coming in,” she mumbled, and followed her friend inside.

The door opened into a dank hall, the walls dotted with peeling, faded posters. “We have to pick up two boxes from here. But what is here?” Julie uttered.

“Hell if I know,” Rhea returned. The chunky brunette glanced at one of the posters, which, if she scrunched her eyes in just the right way, she could just make out the words: 'Grant Circus, Live Marionettes Saturdays at 8!' And the one beside it: 'Join us for our annual 'Toys for Tots' program! Special one-of-a-kind toys for one-of-a-kind kids!' And then there was the one that made Rhea chuckle, which she rarely did, 'Tina the Transformer: Woman Becomes Machine Before Your Very Eyes!'

The hall ended in a door with a yellowing sign that read, “enter and make the world a more joyous place!” in annoyingly-pink letters.

“Well, hell, I'm good with that,” Rhea snorted at the sign.

When they opened the door, the sight that met their eyes amazed them.

Unlike the shady outside of the building, a dazzling, stadium-sized room was before them. Every color and shade seemed present, painted on the walls and ceilings, and bright lights and glitter dotted every surface. Cloying carnival music played in the background.

But the biggest shock was what the area contained. Lining the perimeter of the room were toys, many of which were one-of-a-kind specimens that neither Julie nor Rhea had ever seen in their lives. Julie, a doll-collector, drew in her breath at the array of dolls. There were life-sized rag dolls, tiny plastic Barbie-like ones, and porcelain beauties on a line shelves several feet off the ground... There was a grouping of toy soldiers toward the back, both life-sized and miniature. There were stuffed animals of all sizes, Jack-in-the-boxes that seemed very realistic, and wind-up toys galore.

“What is this? Some kind of toy depot?” whispered Julie in delight.

“Where's the damn boxes?” mumbled Rhea. She was just as captivated as her friend was, but she would never let Julie know. Julie often called her “Debbie Downer”, and for good reason. “Hello?” Rhea called out. “Anyone here? We're from South Street!”

Suddenly static came over a loudspeaker overhead. “Welcome to my workshop, Julie and Rhea! You're in the place of dreams!”

“How do you know our names?” Julie asked nervously.

“South Street gives the names of the couriers to their customers,” Rhea explained in a low voice. “You should know that. Remember all that training?”

Julie made a little silly grimace.

“Uh, where are the boxes?” Rhea called out.

The unseen woman tittered, causing some feedback. “My dears, you're to be my next project. Forget boxes!”

Rhea turned to her friend, openmouthed. “Next project? What the hell does that mean? This is too creepy. I'm getting out of here!” she edged towards the door.

“Calm down, Rhea. You're so paranoid.”

Julie was right. Rhea was paranoid, and she knew it. She tried to force herself to remain, but something just seemed off. “No boxes, projects...Julie, let's go.”

The loudspeaker voice crackled, “Oh, please don't. You'll miss it, and you'll be so sorry! Come, everyone, let's bring these lovely ladies into the fold!”

Both girls gave a nervous shriek as many of the bigger toys shuddered and stood up.

“Cute! How cute!” Julie, recovering quickly, burst out excitedly.

Then the toys started lumbering towards the two girls.

“Look, Rhea! They're so adorable!”

Julie, captivated, watched the toys. Transfixed, Rhea nonetheless moved closer to the door.

“Don't run, Rhea,” emitted one of the female soldiers. “You'll miss your chance. You can be so happy with us! You'll feel good, and you'll make everyone happy!”

“Julie, this is freaky! It's like a horror movie!” Rhea cried, now genuinely concerned.

“Oh, Rhea! They're dolls! And they talk! What can they do to me?”

When the dolls began to grab Julie and restrain her, Rhea raced to the door, screaming. It bothered her how Julie was simply accepting this and not fighting to escape. These were not people in costume! These somehow were...living...toys...What would they possibly want with her friend...?

“Julie, get away from them!” Rhea shrieked, pulling at the doorknob. It wouldn't budge. “They locked us in! They're going to do something horrible to us!”

Julie giggled as the dolls led her away. “They'd never hurt us, Rhea! They're going to make us happy!” her voice died off as she was carried through a small door towards the back. Rhea could just make out the words of the sign on this particular door: “Herein lies your dreams, and theirs.”

And then she passed out.

Julie was led into another bright room, although it was smaller than the toy-filled one she'd come from. There was a small platform in the middle, and a buxom lady sat at a pink desk, filing her nails. “Hello, Julie,” she turned to face the girl. “You guys are a bit later than we expected.”

Wow, South Street must have given them an ETA, thought Julie. Too bad we got a bit lost on our way here. “Sorry,” she said meekly.

“Kanya, can you close the door all the way?” the woman asked the amazingly life-like toy soldier behind Julie.

“No problem. I'm going to need some winding soon, though, Rosie.”

“I'll be happy to.” The woman watched the toy solider go and do her bidding. “The wind-up ones are the most fun. Don't have to change their batteries,” she commented to Julie.

Star-struck, Julie emitted, “We have to pick up your boxes for the courier service,” she said, as Kanya returned and beamed at her.

“Julie, do you like how I turned out?” the soldier asked, holding out her wooden arms as if to display herself.

Julie turned to the life-size toy in shock. “She seems so real. She's a computer?” she asked the woman at the desk.

Rosie stood up and walked to the doll. “No, she's a toy soldier.”

“But...with a computer to make her talk? Or one of those–”

“No,” Rosie cut her off. “she's a toy soldier. Well, her body is, at least. Her mind is still human.”

“And I'm so happy like this, Julie. I've never been so happy,” Kanya inserted with a taut grin.

Agape, Julie merely stared at the toy. This was crazy. “How do I know you're not a computer?”

“I guess you don't,” she replied. “But I know you love dolls, and you want to be one deep down.”

Julie was now speechless. How could this...toy know her deepest fantasies?

“You dressed up like one for your last boyfriend,” Rosie winked.

“You're...like...witches or something...” Julie breathed at last, but there was no fear in her voice. There was wonder, curiosity, and ...embarrassingly enough, hope.

“No, no!” chuckled Rosie. “I'm a toymaker. Kanya's a toy! Everyone out there is a toy, and they're all so happy!”

“If that's really true, how happy are they just sitting there?”

“Oh, they are! Just...being that way is pleasant. No worries, no cares. Just sit and look pretty! And if any of my toys ask, I'll let them play. We also have a program where less-fortunate children are brought in from poor neighborhoods or orphanages, and they get to pick out which toy they want to take home!”

Kanya explained, “You don't have to volunteer for the program if you don't want to. Some of us are enjoying ourselves just being on display and helping Rosie.”

“And others want to be sold at stores, or even online,” Rosie nodded her head at the soldier. “That was Kanya's idea.”

“Yup. WeRToys4EVR.com!  Visit us! Oh, let me show her Firenza! She's all boxed up to be shipped tomorrow,” the soldier marched into another room, returning with a sparkly box. Through the outer plastic, Julie could see a beautiful, smiling doll in a silver dress. “Enjoying yourself in there, Firenza?”

When Julie lifted the box's flap, they could hear a high-pitched voice answer. “I love this! I love being boxed and on display! I almost wish they wouldn't take me out...but then they won't play with me.”

“She's real?” Julie exclaimed, a hint of jealousy in her voice.

The soldier handed her Firenza's box. “Say hi to her.”

Gingerly, Julie lifted the flap some more. “You're so beautiful, Firenza,” she breathed.

“Thanks!” the little doll called up to her.

Gulping, Julie murmured, “Have fun with...your new...owner.” She handed the box back to Kanya. “Can she talk to people?”

“No, only to us. That could get a bit out of hand if we talked to our owners,” Kanya winked.

“Okay! Enjoy, Firenza. We'll let you rest.” The soldier put the doll back in the other room.

“Oh, my God. Please turn me into a toy soldier!” Julie gasped the moment Kanya left.

“Gladly,” Rosie smiled.

“Why are you trying to get away? I don't understand, Rhea.”

For a moment, Rhea could not respond. She lay on the hard floor, and a beautiful foot-high doll stood beside her face, looking into her eyes. But this doll could move and speak, and she was too life-like to be an unmoving, inanimate object...

“A bunch of crazy dolls took my friend. Wouldn't you try to escape if that happened to you?” she snapped, her face creasing in misery. “Well, you're one of them, so what would I expect you to answer...”

“You friend will be very happy. We want you to be too.” This was not the doll talking, however. A plush female panda with red cheek-circles had just joined them.

“Oh my God, please don't hurt me,” Rhea shuddered as more small toys approached her.

“Hurt you? How could we hurt you?” asked a little top with a face on it...that moved.

“Don't you think we're cuter this way?” demanded a ragdoll.

“Cuter than what?” Rhea tried to pull herself up, but even more toys surrounded her.

“Than you are.”

“Cuter than me? I'm not so cute,” Rhea cast her eyes to the floor.

“Cuter than a human, silly.”

“I guess you're cuter than human, yes,” the girl acceded grudgingly.

“So join us. Julie's going to, and you know you're curious.”

“Curious? What the hell are you things?”

The panda looked at the ragdoll. “She doesn't want this? What's wrong with her?”

“So let her go. She obviously doesn't deserve it.”

“We can't force you. If you don't want it, then go.”

A larger doll somehow unlocked the door. “Good-bye, Rhea. Sorry you can't have happiness.”

Rhea ran out without a backwards glance.

After Rosie wound Kanya back up, the soldier escorted the willing Julie onto the platform. “I'm so excited for you,” the doll exclaimed, tapping her hands together in a machine-like clapping motion.

Taking a deep breath, Rosie approached her. “Are you ready for this?”

Shaking in anticipation, Julie replied, “Yes. Please, yes.”

“You'll love transforming,” smiled the soldier. “I'd love to do it again.”

“You want to be something else for a bit, Kanya?” Rosie asked with interest.

“Hmm. I just love my soldier form so much, I don't know what else I'd be!”

The talking was already too much. “Change me, please change me,” Julie muttered impatiently, half under her breath.

Rosie grinned, amused by her enthusiasm.

When the woman's hands grasped at Julie's shoulders, it delivered such a jolt through her body that she was rendered speechless. The hands remained clamped onto her, delivering whatever power it was that was making her feel this way. There was a warm pleasure penetrating every bit of her body, surrounding her in an envelope of calm and making her rock and moan softly.

Rosie slid her hands down Julie's arms, which sent sparks and shivers of electricity through the changing girl's spine. “Yes, yes,” the woman murmured hypnotically, “change for me, my dear. Change for me.”

Julie could feel her body seize and begin to solidify. She could no longer move, but the paralysis was strangely comforting to her. She could feel a pressure in her back, and realized that was where her wind-up key was growing. She giggled, which made her shudder slightly, and Rosie smiled again. “Yes, yes, enjoy, my dear. Enjoy your changes. You're transforming very well; you're becoming a lovely, lovely toy. You'll be so happy.”

Julie's hands were flat at her sides, and her legs were tight together. Her clothes had simply changed with her, and now she was gaining a painted-on red soldier outfit. She could feel the hat growing from the top of her head, which was the oddest sensation.

The feelings of transformation felt so good, she could feel her hardening face blush. But the color remained there, gathering onto her cheeks into two painted-on circles.

Rosie grasped her harder, completing the transformation with a burst so powerful, Julie thought she could literally see stars.

And she was done.

Kanya ran at the new doll. “Oh, you came out adorable! Go look in the mirror!”

The new soldier did not move or speak. She felt too good like this. Strong, indestructible...

“You can talk, my cutie.”

Julie pushed her wooden lips to move. “Oh...wow...” she stammered, trying to move her legs.

“Careful, you're made of wood now. Your walk will be a bit...woodener,” Rosie laughed. “Do you like the way you feel?”

Julie made it over to the mirror and studied her reflection. She was truly the most exquisite toy soldier she had ever seen; she still looked like Julie, but her features and hair were simply painted on. And she wouldn't have had it any other way. “I love the new me,” she breathed in grateful delight.

Rhea was hiding in a grove of bushes near the building, trying to decide on her next move. She hated to leave her friend, but she had to retrieve help. Yet as she decided to leave, the door opened, and there stood Julie. Only it wasn't quite the Julie she was familiar with. It was Julie the toy soldier.

Rising from the bush, Rhea paused. She couldn't quite fathom what was before her her very eyes...

“Rhea, are you out...here...you need...to become one...too...so goooooddd....” the soldier's voice was lowering and slowing, and Julie froze in place.

Shocked but suspicious, Rhea remained where she stood, watching her friend for several minutes. When no one else came out of the building, she crept over to the doll, circling her and examining her. “Julie, it's really you... how did they do it...” She stared at the wind-up mechanism jutting from her friend's back, then came back to face her.

“Rrr...” said the soldier.

“You can talk like that?” Rhea gasped, unable to take her eyes off the flat, painted wooden face. Something had happened here, and as scary as it was, it also fascinated her. Had her friend really become a wooden wind-up doll? How was she still talking, thinking, or seeing? For that matter, how was she even alive if she'd been somehow turned completely into wood?

“Rr...wwwiiiinn.....ddddd....” The doll was shuddering vicariously, and Rhea grabbed at it so it would not topple over.

Her rigid friend in arm, Rhea gazed at her. She was perfect in every sense, and for some reason, Rhea grew jealous. She had always struggled with her body image, even battling anorexia for several years. How fulfilling to be a perfect toy like Julie...

Wait a minute – what was she thinking? Who would want to be an object the rest of their life? It was utter insanity! Julie needed help, desperately!

“Rrr...rrr...www...” Julie began again.

Rhea's hands came in contact with Julie's key. “Oh, 'wind'? You need...to be wound?” Despite the bizarreness of the situation, she grasped the mechanism and, somewhat hesitantly, she began to turn it.

Julie sprung to life. “Oh, thank you! Thank you!” she shivered deliciously. “It feels so good...all the gears and machinery starting up and whirring inside my new body... Rhea, you need to join us! We could be someone's toy, or we can be on display, or we can help Rosie...”

Rhea's mouth fell open. “You like this?”

“Of course!”

This gave Rhea pause for only seconds. If Julie was happy like this, she wasn't going anywhere. She wasn't in her right mind, obviously. Rhea would have to return with the police. She darted off into the woods.

But she didn't get far. A wooden hand grasped her and held fast. “Don't run, Rhea,” said Julie sadly. “You'll hurt Rosie's feelings. She won't do this to just anybody, you know. I'm going to have to convince her to take you back as it is.”

“Let me go! You're crazy!” Rhea screamed, but her friend had an iron grip, and she could not escape the very strong toy. She was thrown over the soldier's shoulder and carted back to the building, Julie singing happily all the while.

“Let me down, you bitch! Let me down!”

Julie held her friend before Rosie, who was frowning. “Julie, dear, she's struggling. I won't do this to her if she doesn't want it.”

“She'll love it. She's never been happy! She's the most negative person I've ever met! Give her a chance, and you can change her back if she doesn't like it. Don't you promise that to all your toys?”

“Yes, but they all wanted to be toys. And I sense the need deep inside her, but she hasn't come to grips with it yet,” Rosie uttered.

It irked Rhea that they spoke of her like she wasn't in the room. And what did the woman mean about sensing the need deep inside her? It wasn't like she had a lifelong wish to become a freaky doll-woman!

But Julie seemed so content – her painted face actually glowed, and it probably wasn't just due to a good paint job.

“Rhea, just try it. Please.” Julie begged, placing her down onto the platform.

“You tricked me, you bitch!”

Julie looked truly hurt. “Don't you see that it's for your own benefit? It's so lovely and relaxing! You never have to worry about your health problems again, either!”

Rhea stopped struggling. It was true, due to her fibromyalgia, she dealt with chronic pain almost daily, and the doctors and medications could only do so much. She stood on the platform, looking lost. The idea of being perfect and having no more pain was beyond tantalizing.

Kanya drew closer to Rhea, uttering in a hushed, gentle tone, “Rosie's magic saved my life, Rhea. I was dying from a rare cancer. They gave me six months. Now I'm immortal.”

“Now I'm immortal...” the words reverberated through Rhea's brain. A burst of pain ran through her body, as if her fibromyalgia were reminding her it was there. “Yes...” she whispered almost inaudibly.

“Come change for me, dear,” Rosie demanded, and she placed her hands on the girl, who did not resist.

As Rhea groaned blissfully through her metamorphosis, she could only wonder why she had not submitted to Rosie sooner. She had never felt such pleasure, and the mere touch of Rosie's hands removed every bit of pain that usually plagued her. It scared her how close she'd come to turning this experience down.

She made a lovely soldier; her bland features in life becoming impressive and beautiful when forged in wood and paint. “Rhea, at some point you'll need to step away from the mirror,” Julie giggled, tapping her friend on the back and making a hollow thump.

“I'm made of wood,” Rhea chirruped happily.

“Rhea, come have fun with us.”

“Let her admire herself a bit more, Julie. Then, Rhea, come help me set up. We have a group coming soon.”

Without turning around, Rhea queried, “Group?”

Kanya, who was standing at attention in the corner of the room, began to fill Rhea in on all Rosie's good deeds.

Rhea laughed. “Funny, I thought you were an evil witch-woman who was changing innocents into toys for her own amusement or whatever.”

Grinning, Rosie explained, “I use my power to help the less fortunate and make life happier for whomever I can.”

“I've never seen Rhea this happy in my life,” remarked Julie. “Oh, can you wind me? I'll need it soon.”

As Rosie wound up Julie, Kanya continued, “Rosie does so much. Sometimes she likes to visit orphanages or poor children and she transforms them into whatever they want for a night.”

Rosie blushed. “I have such fun like that, and it gives the kids something to look forward to.”

“You're like a fairy godmother!” gasped Rhea.

“She often makes herself look like one when she goes to them,” Kanya added. “Of course, she does have to put a spell over them so they're incapable of disclosing her secret.”

“Of course.”

“Now come join us, Rhea. For your first 'job', you'll help the children to pick out what toy they'd like to take home. Just make sure you let us know whom they pick. Rosie keeps a stronger mind-link with her toys that are out in the world in case, for whatever reason, they need help.”

Rhea finally pulled herself from the mirror. She couldn't wait to help. She finally had found her dream job. And her dream existence.