chapter one:
when a doll breaks

The room was completely silent, not even a distant sound of breathing could be heard. It was simply too quiet, making the girl feel uneasy.

Her small frame hovered in the hallway, her fingers nearly tapping against the doorframe. However she couldn't bring herself too.

She let out a shaky breath, as she heard the sound of movement entered the quiet room. It was surely maybe the wind, or even her imagination.

Whatever it was, it made her move back. Her fingers falling to her sides as the door was ripped open, the wood nearly splitting apart.

A girl smiled back her "you could've just came in Charlie, my parents are out for the night". She shifted slightly her fingers wrapping around her wrist nervously.

"I thought you were gone" the girl laughed slightly as she leaned into the doorframe. "Well I was gonna attend the sleepover with the girls".

She smiled awkwardly as she pushed a leaf off her shirt. "I forgot something here, hence why I snuck in through my own window".

"Hanna, I swear you're always losing your key" she smiled softly. Hanna rubbed the back of her neck "so uh, what are you doing here?".

Charlie let out an awkward laugh, her nerves all over the place "just came to see what you were doing. I forgot about the sleepover".

"You can come if you want, it's just Ally and the girls" Hanna seemed eager for Charlie to attend. Every since the girl joined the group, she felt the urge to be with her all the time.

However it wasn't easy, Charlie kept to herself, and rarely left her home. Especially when the girls were all getting together for a sleepover.

"I don't know, mum isn't fond of me leaving. I sorta snuck over here". Hanna lightly shoved Charlie's shoulder "I'm friends with a trouble maker" Charlie laughed.

"I'm not that bad, besides I promised Jack I'd watch a movie with him. Maybe next time though". Hanna huffed "I swear your brother is always stealing you away from me".

Charlie's cheeks turned red slightly, she smiled "well I better get back, before my mum notices I've jumped out my window".

Hanna nodded as she pushed her hands behind her back letting out a soft breath. "Uh maybe we can get coffee in the morning, if you can of course".

Charlie covered her smile by turning towards the stairs "yeah! That'd be fun". She walked down the steps pushing the front door open.

She turned slightly Hanna standing near the last step with a smile spread across her lips. "Maybe we can hang out all day tomorrow too".

Hanna nodded and watched as the door shut, Charlie disappearing from her sights.

—

Charlie normally didn't fall asleep while watching movies, but something just felt off about today. The second the movie started she felt exhausted.

Jack practically begged her to stay awake, but she had failed. He left shortly after, even in her sleep she could hear the muffle of the television.

She moved slightly "Charlie" she jumped at the sudden voice slamming into her eardrums. She sat up gripping her chest "oh my god!".

She couldn't see who stood beside her bed making her turn her lamp on quickly. Alison smiled at her, her yellow top coated slightly in dirt.

Charlie rubbed her eyes "what are you doing here? You scared me". Alison looked around nervously before reaching into her pocket.

"I trust you Charlie you know that right" Charlie frowned "uh yeah, what's wrong?". Alison gripped Charlie's hands pushing something into it.

"Promise me you'll keep this safe, don't let anyone see it. Not even the girls". Charlie looked at the flash drive "Ally? What's going on".

"Promise me" Charlie nodded as she pushed the flash drive into her chest slightly "of course I'll keep it safe. I'm just confused is all".

Alison moved towards the window "just keep it hidden for me, don't watch it" Charlie nodded. Alison pushed the window open smiling at Charlie for a moment.

"See ya later" Charlie watched as Alison climbed out of her window. She felt worry hit her slightly as she stood up nearing the window.

She looked outside but Alison was gone.

—

one year later!

Music blasted into Charlie's ears as her fingers roamed along the fabric of dresses. She hummed lightly as she grabbed hold of a simple black dress.

Her mother insisted she dress up nice for dinner, the woman claiming she had big news for the family. Charlie would've normally refused, the simple thought of dressing up making her feel sick.

But her mother stopped her before she could even muster the words "dresses are lame". So here she was looking at the dresses with disgust.

The one she held was the best option she could find, however she was cut short when she heard the muffled sound of a voice.

Her eyes looked away from the dress locking with Hannas, the girl smiling brightly at her. The duo hadn't seen one another since that night.

Charlie couldn't bring herself to be around the girls after everything. When she learned Alison was missing she felt such guilt, and it made her push everyone away, even Hanna.

She was hesitant to take her headphones off, but she did and Hanna looked relieved at the sight of it.

"What's the occasion?" Charlie looked at the dress "just a family thing" Hanna tried to not look disappointed. It was rare to see Charlie out.

So the second she saw her she nearly broke her high heels by running over. Charlie looked so different, Hanna didn't notice until now.

"It must be something big if you're wearing a dress, I mean you never wear dresses". Charlie blinked sighing to herself "I actually have to get some books before the shop closes".

Hanna smiled sadly as Charlie walked off nearing the cash register. The girl paid quickly and walked off towards the book shop.

Hanna wasn't just gonna give up that easily, she pushed her hair away from her face and walked quickly towards the book shop.

Charlie walked along the aisles looking over each book title carefully. She let out an annoyed breath at the sudden movement beside her.

Hanna looked at her with a bright grin, her hands behind her back as she looked at the shelf beside them. "Mystery, I love that genre of books".

Charlie blinked, stunned for a moment when Hanna grabbed a book off the shelf. "I figured you were more into romance" Hanna shrugged her shoulders.

"I was when I was little, I grew out of that phase" Charlie smiled awkwardly as she grabbed hold of a book off the shelf.

"I uh better go" she walked past the girl but was stopped by the sudden force of Hanna standing in front of her. She could practically smell her perfume, she didn't know if it was new or not.

"Okay, this has gone on long enough. I wanna be friends again, why don't we get coffee tomorrow? Or we can hang out at my place".

Charlie smiled nervously her flesh burning up for a slight second making her look away from Hanna. She could practically feel her eyes glaring at her.

"Maybe, I'm not sure what's going on tomorrow" and with that she walked towards the cash register. Her hands slightly shaking as she grabbed her bag and ran out of the shop.

She pushed play on her music walking off down the road, she truly didn't know if she'd see Hanna the next day. It all really depended on how she felt.

—

Funerals, the simple thought of attending one made Charlie feel uneasy. After hearing the news of Alison, the girl felt like throwing up.

Her mother canceled the special dinner she had planned, claiming Charlie didn't need to know. The girl felt so small as she pushed a black jacket over her dress, her mother waited downstairs.

The loudness of her on the phone could be heard. Charlie let out a weak breath as she leaned into her bed frame, pinching her eyes shut.

"Sweetheart! It's time too go!" Charlie opened her eyes sighing deeply as she walked towards her door. She knew the others would be there.

The thought of seeing them made her feel sick to her stomach as she walked down her steps. She knew today wouldn't go well for anyone.

She got into the car sitting in the back, Jack sat in the front blasting music into his eardrums. He didn't know Alison, but he was forced to attend.

—

Charlotte walked into the funeral and approached Mrs. Dilaurentis. "Charlotte I'm so glad you came. I asked the other girls to sit together up front. It's what Alison would have wanted".

Charlotte looks at the front where all the other girls sat, they looked at her, surely shocked she even attended. She felt so awkward with them glaring at her, she locked eyes with Alison's brother.

"I'll just sit with Jason" she didn't say anything else, her mind refusing to let out any more words. She sighed deeply as she sat down beside Jason.

When the funeral was over Charlotte was approached by a man. His tallness making her feel uneasy as she looked up at him.

"Charlotte right?" She nodded weakly, his gaze making her feel uncomfortable.

"I'm detective Wilden. I understand you were good friends with the victim".

"Yeah I was, but we weren't really close, we didn't hang out much, but we were friends".

"Of course I understand however I intend to go over your statements, this case is my number one priority. I look forward to speaking with you".

He walked away and she pushed her headphones in as she walked home. She frowned deeply at the sound of her phone going off.

I'm still here bitches, and I know everything- A