Epilogue

Small cities were so different from big cities - not that Charlotte was a big city, but it was one of the biggest in the area. Much bigger than this place. She hadn't ever planned on coming back down this way, but she hadn't heard from Sabrina in so long.

It was probably nothing at all, but she decided it wouldn't hurt to check.

The building loomed before her. The old, run down Victorian house, one shingle literally swinging in the light breeze, the gutters stuffed full of dead leaves, moss growing on them.

A single car sat in the driveway, an old beater like so many others in a city like this.

The Dollhouse on Sortwell Road.

It was a myth online, but it was the last hope for some. Like Sabrina. But she knew now that it was real, that the women were real. They had helped Bree, she had been doing well and was supposedly dating one of them and then she just... vanished.

Months ago.

Walking up to the old door, she saw the flashing lights coming from the cracked window, a cranky old Tuxedo cat glaring at her.

Someone was home, at least.

Knocking, she stepped back, letting the barely-there screen door swing shut again, such as it was.

When no one answered, she knocked again, waiting. The video game seemed quite loud, they may have just not heard her. Julie was about to knock for a third time when the door opened, a cheerful girl with bright red hair and a tank top greeting her.

"Hey, what can I do for you?"

Jules felt like an idiot, but she had to ask. "This is dumb, but is this the Dollhouse on Sortwell Road?"

With a raised eyebrow, the girl looked her up and down. "You don't look like the usual type, sugar. No offense. You look like you're doin' just fine. We'd rather you didn't tell people about us though. We don't mind helping those in need, but if you're not in need... we'd rather be left alone. Sorry."

"No, you're right, I'm sorry. I just.." As Jules shifted her weight, she inadvertently caught a glimpse inside, between the door and the girl's side. And she could have sworn she saw Sabrina inside, but it couldn't have been her. But it looked just like her. In the face, anyway. The Sabrina she knew wouldn't be caught dead in blonde pigtails. "I'm looking for my friend Sabrina."

"Well, I'm not sure what-"

"Jules!" Sabrina's voice sounded lighter and happier than she'd ever heard. "Faith that's my friend Jules!" The woman, Faith, stepped aside just a bit, letting Sabrina stand in the doorway. "Hi Jules!"

It was Sabrina... and it wasn't. Her friend had been a mess, true, but this was like a mirror universe version of Sabrina. She was dressed in a pair of pink overalls that had little bunnies all over them, her hair pulled back in pigtails, and honestly - she'd never once seen Sabrina smile that big.

"Sabrina?"

She shook her head, pigtails bobbing. "Nuh uh." Even that was strange, the way she said that instead of a simple no. "I wanna be called Bree now. Hi Jules. It was real sweet of you to come lookin' for me, but I'm good. I can't talk though, I'm suuuuper busy."

It seemed wrong, but she did legitimately seem happy. "Are you... are you sure? I haven't heard from you in ages, I was getting really worried."

"Yep! I'm fine. I'm so happy here, Jules. You telling me about the Dollhouse was the best thing that ever happened to me! I was so unhappy when I got here. I had no money, I was hungry and dirty... and Faith and Lila and Kinsley took me in and helped me so much. And it's thanks to you!"

"Are you sure you're okay? You seem..."

"Happy?" Sabrina - no, Bree - laughed. A carefree, joyous sound, lighter and happier than Julie had ever heard. "I'm really happy, but I really am super busy. So I'm sorry but I gotta go! Thank you for looking for me, you found me!"

And just like that, Sabrina was gone, ducking back into the house and leaving Julie talking to Faith. "You're a good friend. Thanks for sending her here. We're letting her stay a while longer, she still has some healing to do - her parents did a number on her, you know?"

She did at that. Her parents were both real pieces of work. Julie nodded. "You're right there... okay. Well, thanks, I guess? It would have been nice if she had texted me, saved me the trip down here."

Faith smiled apologetically at that, holding out a twenty dollar bill. "Well here, sugar. Gas money."

Julie blinked, wondering whether or not she should accept it, but ultimately decided to go with it and appreciate the hospitality. "Thanks. Well... um... thanks for helping Sabrina."

"Bree," Faith corrected without a hint of malice or judgment, just a matter-of-fact correction. "And it's been a hard road, but I think she's doing a lot better and will get even better from here. She didn't really have a chance to grow up the first time... or rather, she didn't have much of a childhood to enjoy. She's really taking that to heart. It's sweet."

"Yeah..." It made a weird sort of sense, but Jules nodded. There was something off though, she couldn't quite put her finger on it. "Well, thanks again." She held up the twenty and smiled, nodding her head and turning away.

It wasn't until she got to her car that she realized what was odd.

Sabrina had smelled of baby powder, and it was crazy, but she almost smelled like...