Chapter 3 – New Look, New You
Since the ride to Los Angeles is so long, Adrian offers her food, drink, and entertainment on the plane.
He says, “This plane carries some of the best in food and drink. We even have TVs here that have draft footage of some of the new movies coming out.”
“That’s impressive,” Mindy says.
“Would you like something to eat or drink? Have you ever tried red wine?”
“My parents have different kinds that they use for cooking, but they’ve let me try a little every now and then.”
“Your parents are well cultured then. Do they have any Italian in them?”
“Fifty percent.”
“My Italian grandma would say even the littlest bit of Italian in them makes them one hundred percent Italian. Have any of your friends made you try any kinds of alcohol? I know you’re young, but the young don’t usually listen to their elders.”
“I don’t have any friends. I tutored people and helped them with their school work, but I never hung out with any of them.”
“Do you ask?”
“I did, but they weren’t interested for some reason.”
“Ah, I see. You intimidated them with your talents and intelligence. People like to be around people who are like them and that’s why you didn’t have any friends. There was no one like you at your school.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“So do you want that red wine I have? I’ll give you a little glass.”
“Sure. Am I really allowed?”
“Of course you are. A high-class woman like yourself deserves only the best.”
Adrian gets Mindy a small glass of red wine while getting himself a bigger glass.
“To fame and fortune,” Adrian says as he holds out his glass.
Mindy and Adrian toast then drink their wine. After that, Adrian shows Mindy unreleased footage of several new movies. As she watches a horror movie, the screen gets so dark to the point where she sees her reflection. In her reflection, she sees the new her then the new version of the suffocating mask. Its hair is now pink and long with the top part of the mask broken. The mask’s eyes are curved now, and it wears similar makeup to Mindy with dark pink eyeshadow and lipstick. It now grins which shows its many sharp teeth. When Mindy blinks her eyes, she awakens in the movie. The people in it cheer and praise her as if she’s some kind of superhero. She’s about to give a speech but the words she says aren’t hers. Another thing weird thing that happens is the fact that Mindy can breathe in this mask, but she has no control over her body.
After a rousing speech, Mindy begins to show off some of her athletic skills against her will. Her new body forces her to move in specific ways which hurt her internal body as Mindy tries to regain control. The pain is similar to having the blood flow in your body stop or certain parts of your body falling asleep. It is only when she goes along with it does the pain stop, but then Mindy’s body does something even more dangerous. She climbs up a large ladder to a diving board. It appears that Mindy will jump off the board and into the crowd. From this height, Mindy could die so she tries fighting for control of her body up until the point where her body jumps off the high board. She screams internally as she falls until she hits the ground, which makes her wake up.
It’s now nighttime outside and she’s been sleeping on Adrian’s shoulder. He has his arm over her as he sleeps as well. It appears that he drank a couple more glasses of wine with a bottle on the table in front of them. Even though Adrian is at most ten years older than Mindy, she feels comfortable laying like this and goes back to sleep. This time, she doesn’t dream when she sleeps. Eventually, they make it to Los Angeles.
When Mindy exits the plane, she stares in amazement at the new city and scenery of Los Angeles.
“Breathe in the fresh air, Mindy,” Adrian says as he takes a deep breath too, “Isn’t it refreshing compared to your home city?”
“It is, but isn’t the Los Angeles crime rate only slightly below Hillside’s?”
“Only if you live in the wrong area.”
“Oh, well I guess I shouldn’t worry about that. When do we get to work?”
“That’s the kind of energy I like to see, but first we have to meet your business partners or rather your friends.”
“Friends?”
“Yes. I know it might be a new term for you but these people are on your level of talent and intelligence and will welcome you will open arms, unlike those other kids.”
Mindy thinks about how she was treated back in Hillside City. She felt alone and displaced in her school and always wondered why people her age didn’t like her.
“Our ride should be here. Let’s go.”
A limousine is parked in the airport lot, picks up the two, then drives them off to a fancy diner where people are eating breakfast. Mindy and Adrian go to a table that has a man and two girls who wear similar clothing to Mindy. The man even looks a bit like Adrian.
“You made it just in time, Adrian,” the man says.
“I always do. It’s a good business practice.”
“So who’s the rising star here?”
“My name is Mindy. It’s nice to meet you,” she says as she holds out her hand.
“Mine is Jude. It’s nice meeting you too, Mindy.” Jude shakes Mindy’s hand. “It looks like you found another winner here, Adrian.”
“I always find the best.”
Mindy turns to the other girls and says, “Hello, I’m Mindy.”
The other girls smile and quietly respond to Mindy. Their voices are almost inaudible.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear what you said. Could you repeat that?”
“These girls are shy. They’ll speak up when they get to know you better,” Jude says.
“Oh, okay.”
Everyone at the table orders their food, which comes out almost instantly.
“Adrian was messaging me about your talents and even sent me a video of you rescuing a person from a burglar. You even gave a little speech there to top it all off. Do you think you can do it again?”
“If that’s what you want me to do, but I’m not sure if I can make the best speeches on the spot.”
“You won’t have to. We’ll make the best ones for you. Adrian, did you tell her what company we work for?”
“I didn’t, sorry. I was so excited to make her into a star after her show of talent. The company we work for is called the Diamond Architects.”
“I’ve heard of you!”
“Who hasn’t with all of the clothing, beauty products, and stars we make?”
“I always see commercials, people and events sponsored by you.”
“I’m glad that you’re familiar with us. Now I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but the food isn’t the only reason why we’re here. There’s a stage over there by the water fountain that we’d like you to give a speech on. People will usually give speeches here to get their cause recognized and gain members. It’s basically free advertising even though you only have a short amount to stay on stage. Think of it as your first day of work. Here’s what you’re going to say. Memorize it then leave the paper here.”
“I won’t take me long to remember this. Is this actually for charity or did you just make this up?”
“It’s for an actual charity for the poor. I wouldn’t give you something serious if I didn’t think you couldn’t handle it.”
“Don’t worry about it. I got this.”
“Go get’em girl,” Adrian says as he gives Mindy a pat on the back.
Mindy goes on stage and gives her short speech. “Excuse me, everyone. Why do we let our fellow men and women die in our streets? Life is something to be treasured and protected and yet, we sit here enjoying ourselves while we others starve without food. Some charities say that they help the poor, but none help the poor like the Maple Shades. They actually get the poor off the streets and give them a place in society, but they need your help. There is only so much they can do with the money that comes out of their pockets, so please, help them and help protect the sanctity of life.”
Mindy bows then goes back to her table as people clap for her.
“That was great, Mindy,” Jude compliments.
“That’s my girl.”
The two girls quietly compliment Mindy though their words are still silent.
“My girls say they like you too. My ears are used to their quiet talking.”
“Thank you, everyone.”
“It looks like you’re the right woman for the job,” Jude says, “The higher-ups are going to be glad about this.”
“When’s my first day of actual work?”
“Well, that kind of was, so…here.”
Jude puts down two hundred dollars.
“Wow! Do I really deserve this?”
“Natural professionals like you deserve more but since this wasn’t an actual advertisement I could only give you the pocket change I have. If you keep this up, then this money will be pocket change to you too.”
Mindy smiles in amazement then looks at Adrian who is also smiling.
Adrian says, “I already have something special coming up in a couple days for you, but today, we’ll be doing more things like what you just did. Commercials basically.”
“When do we start?”
“Right after we pay the bill. Don’t get too excited, haha!”
After breakfast, Mindy and Adrian say goodbye to Jude and the two girls. Adrian brings Mindy to a studio where commercials are filmed where she stars in several commercials. Some are about good causes while others are about Diamond Architects’ products. Most of what she does are commercials where she acts out what she needs to do and does it easily. There are other advertisements she does that make her pose while wearing certain kinds of clothes. Some of the clothes and poses are suggestive, but Mindy doesn’t mind them because she thinks people will pay more attention to her and her causes. Because Adrian likes Mindy’s voice, she also does a few radio commercials. After a long day of work, Adrian drives Mindy to her luxurious hotel in his two-door purple sports car.
Along the way, she asks, “Why am I going to this hotel in particular?”
Adrian answers, “Because Diamond Architects own the hotel even though people can stay there…for a price of course. You’ll find the best in clothing, makeup, food, and service in the room. It’s called The Shinning Galaxy.”
“What about my stuff back at my house?”
“You’re a new person, Mindy, you don’t need it. You used to be a girl and now you’ve grown into a woman and a woman like you needs the best products in the world.”
“I get it.”
“Besides, you did well today and deserve something great as your reward. I won’t blame you if you stay up all night to play with your new toys, but you still have to get up pretty early tomorrow. You’re going to be interviewed on live TV. It’ll be your opportunity to distinguish yourself from the rest of our stars.”
“I’ll be sure to give them something they’ll never forget.”
“I know you will especially with the video of you from yesterday.”
Mindy finally makes it to the luxury hotel. There’s a large water fountain outside and various kinds of flowers decoration the building especially the outside of it. The building almost appears to be colored rose gold because of the bright lights that shine in and outside of it. This hotel is far from the city and is gated with security inside and outside of it to keep its residents safe.
Adrian parks his car outside the hotel and opens the car door for Mindy.
He tells her, “Just go up to the front desk and tell them who you are. I already told them you were coming so they should be ready for you.”
“Thank you for everything, Adrian. You are the best!”
Mindy hugs Adrian before she goes in.
“Is that all I get for being the best?”
Mindy kisses Adrian on his face cheek while not exactly knowing what he wants though the smile on his face says the kiss is what he wanted. She then smiles and winks at him before going inside the hotel. The staff leads her to her room and it is something amazing to behold. The room is decorated in pink colors similar to what Mindy is wearing. There’s a large widescreen TV in the large bedroom and the bathroom has dozens of soaps, perfumes, and makeup products in it. The closet has at least a dozen or so outfits that are all distinct in look and color as if there’s an outfit for every situation and season in it. Mindy takes in the beauty of the room before suddenly remembering the interview for tomorrow. She swiftly takes a bath, gets dressed for bed, then settles into her new bed, which is a dozen times more comfortable than her old one. The bed is so comfortable, in fact, that she falls asleep in seconds.
She dreams about being in a glass case. She’s wearing the new mask and a dark pink short dress, shoes, and light pink stockings. The place she’s in appears to be a life-sized doll collection where there are several other girls who are being admired by people. The ceiling of the gallery is covered with eyes who are also looking at the dolls. These dolls move on their own to different poses and Mindy is no different. When she doesn’t go along with the movements, the inside of her body feels as if it’s breaking the parts of her body in order for it to move. Mindy lets her body move into the poses it wants to for a while until the poses become ridiculous. Her body does several suggestive and humorous poses that make her feel used like a doll as if she wasn’t already.
Wanting to get out of this dream, Mindy forces herself to endure the pain as she breaks through her doll body. Eventually, she breaks through it and exits the doll body and casing. Looking back into it, it appears to be lined with eyes, bones, and artificial organs. The outside of the glass is now completely black and void. Mindy tries to step down from the case, but there doesn’t appear to be a floor no matter how far she stretches her legs. With nowhere to go, she looks around until she looks back at the doll and thinks about reentering it. Once she thinks that, the doll’s body consumes Mindy and crushes her body until the two become one again. Everything is restored back to the way it was with people walking around and dolls posing for them. The doll Mindy’s in stands up straight and starts moving her arms like a ticking clock. Despite letting the body move her, she still feels like her arms break when they move. Her arms especially feel pain when her right arm moves twists to the extreme right side. She internally screams in pain as it slowly keeps moving back to the twelve position. Her arm feels like it’s going to fall off when it gets closer to the nine position. As soon as her right arm is back at the twelve position, she shakes violently and wakes up early in the morning to her alarm.
She’s disturbed because she never dreamt anything like this, but she puts that aside as she gets ready for another big day.
