I tried each of the bars in turn, making sure none of them were loose. If I could get even one of them out, I'd probably be able to slip through, and then I was just a smashed window pane away from freedom. Unfortunately, nothing budged. I figured if I had a screwdriver or other tool, and could figure out a way to use it at my size, it might take me, oh, a couple hundred years to get one of the bars loose.
Greatly disappointed, I put back the ceiling panels and made my way back down to the floor. From there, I pushed the wall section back into place so Irwin wouldn't know what I'd been up to.
I had no idea what time it was, but surely it was getting along in the afternoon. Moving to the chair, I turned on the TV so if he came in, it would look like I'd been at least doing something. Then I went over to the computer and turned it on as well, climbing up to the desk level to see what kind of games were available.
Just to make sure, once it booted up, I checked to make sure I couldn't reach the Internet. Naturally, I couldn't, and the system profile told me access had been disabled.
Hmmm. Disabled, eh? I looked further. Yep, the hardware was still in place, it had just been turned off. Computers nowadays are automatically shipped with wireless net capability, so Irwin must have done something to deactivate it. But what?
I searched around in the various control panels, looking to see if he'd used some kind of child control software to lock it out. If so, there'd surely be a password, and passwords could be broken. I didn't find anything of the sort, though. In fact, according to the settings, the net connection really should be working. Irwin must have turned something off inside the machine, I thought. Had he pulled something off the board? Or had he just used an internal switch?
I turned off the computer and tried to get the case open. Like most newer machines, it was disk-shaped, and only a few inches thick, the vast majority of the interior being used to keep the CPU cool. However, it was possible to get inside and make modifications. If Irwin had done that, and I could reverse it, I could get to the Internet after all. Then all I'd have to do is email Mark and I'd be as good as rescued!
Unfortunately, the damn case wasn't cooperating. It was held in place by four screws, none of which would budge. I needed a screwdriver, I thought, but then I looked more closely. There was some kind of shiny stuff around the edges. In a moment I realized what it was--glue! Irwin had actually glued the computer case shut!
DAMN that man! He thought of EVERYTHING, didn't he?
Still, all was not lost. If I could get my hands on a knife, or anything else with a sharp edge, I could simply cut the plastic away around the edge of the screws. It didn't matter if I destroyed the case getting it open--the CPU was protected inside its own metal refrigerator inside, anyway. But where was I going to get a knife? Naturally, Irwin had not left me anything even resembling a cutting tool to work with, lest I use it to saw my way through the door or something.
It didn't matter, though, because even as I thought about it, I heard the sound of footsteps above. Irwin had come home!
I put the computer back in its place, hurried down off the desk, and ran over to the chair. By the time he started coming down the stairs, I was sitting down, pretending to watch one of those stupid interactive talk shows. I didn't have time to look for anything else, so instead, I lolled my head to the side and pretended to be napping.
"Hello, Ashley," said Irwin as he bent over me. "I'm home!"
I faked a yawn and stood up. "What time is it?" I asked.
"Almost six," he replied. Damn, had I really spent the entire day looking for a way to escape? "I've been thinking about you all afternoon, so I brought you a present."
"Something for me?" I asked, pretending to be interested. If it wasn't a knife, I probably wouldn't want it, I thought.
He held out his hand and set down a small item next to me. It was a liquid soap dispenser, about three-quarters my size. "I should have thought of this before," he told me. "You had trouble with the solid bar this morning, so this should be a lot easier for you."
"Thanks!" I replied with feigned enthusiasm. It occurred to me that he must have peeked out of the shower and watched me, because otherwise he'd have had no way of knowing that. I didn't say anything, though. "You didn't have to do that for me," I said appreciatively.
"Sure I did," he replied. "I'll get you anything you need, like I said. After all, I'm responsible for you now. What did you do all day?"
"Not much," I replied. "Watched TV, mostly. I read some, and played with the computer."
"Did you try the train?" he asked.
"Not yet. I didn't see the point, really."
"We'll check it out later. I assume you tried to find a way to escape, right? Yep, I can see the dust all over you. Are you satisfied now that there's no way out of here?"
Damn, I hadn't had time to clean myself off after the excursion in the ceiling! Well, it hardly mattered, since he must have known I'd try everything in my power to get away. "Yeah," I admitted, shrugging. "Like you said, you're pretty thorough."
He laughed at me in that irritating, condescending way of his. "Well, I'm going to go change out of these work clothes," he said. "Then we'll see what we can do together this evening. I'm sure we'll have a fun time."
Yeah, I'll bet, I thought as he headed back up the stairs. A night of being a grown man's toy. Exactly what I'd been looking forward to all day!
I wanted to work on getting the computer open, but I wouldn't have time to do anything even if I got inside. Besides, I forced myself not to get my hopes up too much. Even if I got the case off, it was still possible I wouldn't be able to get the Internet working. I needed to have a backup plan in case that didn't work, because it sure as hell looked like there wasn't any other way out of this place.
I decided my best bet for a long-term solution was to attempt to endear myself to Irwin. He wouldn't buy it if I suddenly started making nice to him all at once, either. I had to do it over time, like I was gradually warming to his presence, and slowly accepting my fate. It would take a while, but I wanted to gradually let him think he could trust me. Only then could I make my move.
Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that, but if I couldn't fix the computer, it would be my only chance.
Actually, I thought, I could take my first steps along the long-term path right now. Climbing down from the table, I moved back to my desk and put that stupid doll dress back on. I didn't bother to try taking off the boots, though, so I probably looked silly in a white and yellow outfit with black thigh-highs underneath. Still, it was important to make the effort here. Irwin needed to know I was willing to do what he told me, and would go out of my way to please him.
In due course, he returned, and when he saw me in the dress, he grinned with satisfaction. "You're so lovely in that outfit, Ashley," he told me as he picked me up. "You look more beautiful every time I see you."
I smiled back at him, blushing. "Thanks," I said demurely. Hmm, I thought. Better not overdo it, Kate, or he'll know something's up. "You're just saying that because I'm the only girl here," I added.
"No, I mean it," he replied. "I remember the first time I saw you in the casino, delivering drinks in the rookie area. I knew right then you were the one I wanted. I just had to wait for you to become a doll."
So, he knew about the rookie area, I thought. Was he a former employee, perhaps? Or just very well informed? "How long have you been planning this?" I asked curiously.
"Oh, quite a while," he replied. "Ever since I went to the casino for the first time. It's not just because you're small, you know. I've never been able to talk to normal-sized women."
"You could've fooled me," I told him. "You seem pretty articulate, and you sure know how to flatter a girl."
"Ha! Only because you're a doll," he told me honestly. "If I try to talk to a real woman, I get all tongue-tied, but you dolls aren't a problem. I'm only talking to a toy, after all."
"Wait a minute," I said. "You don't actually think I'm a REAL toy, do you? I mean, you know I'm a real woman, just shrunk down to doll size, right?"
He laughed. "You might have been a woman once, Ashley," he insisted. "Now you're just a doll. Don't you understand that yet? Ah, well, I'm sure you will eventually. Sooner or later, you'll realize the truth on your own."
I gulped, realizing for the first time that this wasn't just a lonely man who wanted a tiny friend. He was messed up in the head. Somehow, he'd convinced himself I wasn't a real person any more. For some reason he thought I'd been turned into a doll!
In other words, in my sick captor's mind, I really was a toy!