CHAPTER 9 Shadows of Connection

"Hiii, Mom! I'm " she gasped as she entered. She ran up the stairs and fell onto her bed. "Elizabeth! Where are you?" she cried out, desperately.

A gentle, familiar voice replied. " I am? Behind you, sweetheart. My love… my everything."

Veronica was frozen. Elizabeth's smile was comforting yet unnerving. "veronica came closer to elizabeth ," the doll whispered. "you will give me a kiss."

Veronica's heart hammered. What? No… She experienced an odd tug, as if the boy and she were somehow linked in a manner she couldn't grasp.

"Veronica… Veronica… you think too much."

Elizabeth leaned forward and kissed her softly on the eye. Elizabeth's fingers went to her lips. "Shhh… just leave it," said the doll.

Fear crept through her. "Dinner's ready," her mother called from downstairs.

Veronica pushed Elizabeth aside and ran down, leaving the doll lying on the bed, Elizabeath starts waiting for her. She ate quickly, murmured her goodnights, and darted back to her room.

The next morning, Veronica woke early and prepared for class. As she entered, a boy stepped inside, scanning the room. “Okay, everyone, I’ll check your uniforms.”

Veronica's eyes went wide. It was him—the boy in the lab. She glanced down, hoping he wouldn't see her. But he came over. "You're wearing a color pin. You'll need to pay the fine," he said, voice smooth but authoritative.

Veronica blushed, juggling with her uniform. I don't even wear pins, she thought.

The bell called out, and she hurried to look for him. Her quest took her to the gym, where he was being helped to tighten his bag. His eyes locked with hers. "What a beautiful lady you are," he exclaimed,

Veronica blushed and smiled sheepishly. "What's your name?" she asked.

"My name is Keido," he replied.

He leaned against his locker, lightly pressing his lips to hers in a slow, almost tentative kiss. Shocked, Veronica pushed him away.

A girl’s voice called from the corridor. “keido, we’re waiting for you.”

“Yeah, I’m coming. Bye, sweetheart,” Keido replied, giving her one last look before leaving.

Veronica ran to an empty classroom, breathless. Elizabeth was already there. She threw her arms around the Elizabeth. “It’s… it’s totally strange when he kissed me , Elizabeth. It’s like we’re linked somehow,” she whispered.

Elizabeth hugged her back gently. “Don’t worry,” the doll said softly. “We’ll face it together.”

The air seemed electric, a charge hanging between Veronica, Elizabeth, and the enigmatic boy. Something had altered, and Veronica was certain that whatever it was, it was not finished.