by MJ Howson
Dawn of Eve
MJ Howson
Engine Thirteen
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, organizations, events, places and incidents are either used fictitiously or products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Text Copyright © 2021 MJ Howson
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, recording, electronic, photocopying, or otherwise without express written permission of the publisher.
Published by Engine Thirteen
ISBN: 978-0-9996166-8-0
Library of Congress Control Number: 2021906456
Cover design by MJ Howson
Other books by MJ Howson
The Tallow Series:
Tallow – An Urban Legend (Book 1)
Tallow – Rosemary (Book 2)
Tallow – Time to Pay (Book 3)
Co-Authored by MJ Howson
FASTER (with Alex Schuler)
I dedicate this novel to every book, television show, and movie with a freaky, creepy doll that’s haunted my dreams.
Prologue
New York Journal – January 1st, 2002
FASHION CEO STEPHEN EASTON DEAD
Stephen Easton, the creator and head of Evelyn Easton Inc. died last night after falling from the terrace of his penthouse apartment in Central Park West. The forty-nine-year-old CEO’s body landed on a taxi, crushing the roof. Police have not yet released any details as to the cause of the fall.
The iconic double-E emblem representing his fashion empire has long been regarded as the pinnacle of style and sophistication. Evelyn Easton’s designs have spanned beyond the runway and now adorn the most sought-after high-end luxury goods in the world.
The CEO’s tactics to expand the company were often criticized for being overly aggressive. His wife Evelyn has been and always will be the fashion genius who creates trendsetting designs. The couple’s volatile public spats only highlighted the ongoing battle between art and commerce.
The fashion world now waits to see if Evelyn will take the company to even greater heights or if the empire will crumble without Stephen’s ruthless business savvy. Only time will tell.
Besides Evelyn, Stephen is survived by the couple’s only daughter, twenty-two-year-old Dawn.
One
Annabelle
February 12, 2019
Janet frowned, her ice-blue eyes dripping with sadness, as she gently twisted the tiny porcelain hands of the infant-sized doll resting in her lap. The doll, dressed in a flowing dark red satin gown, emanated an aura of yearning. Its bright blue eyes seemingly fixated on Janet’s face. Janet adjusted her thick bifocals and sighed.
“It’s been months,” Janet said. She ran her fingers through the doll’s long blonde hair, noting how lifelike it felt. “It seems like nobody wants you.”
The dusty concrete floor beneath Janet sent a throbbing winter chill up her spine. She regretted sitting on the ground, but she lacked the energy to stand after a day of moving inventory. Besides, where else would she sit? There wasn’t a single seat anywhere. The floor-to-ceiling shelves, covered in boxes and trinkets, crowded Janet, serving to remind her she should’ve gotten a bigger store.
Janet closed her eyes, resisting the pain caused by the gray metal shelving unit digging into her backside. She ran her fingers against the small of her back and groaned. At forty-four years old, she felt at least a decade older. Janet slowly opened her eyes and looked down at the doll staring back at her. She said, “Maybe the world’s not ready for you.”
∞∞∞
February 12, 2012
Anna sat in her lumpy bed and looked around at the other six kids in the room. Half were trying to fall asleep. Billy pretended not to watch Anna, while Tina only had eyes for Billy. And Eve, as always, was feverishly writing away in her leather-bound diary. Unable to rest, Anna ran her fingers through her long blonde hair. The two pieces of birthday cake she’d had earlier this evening had brought on a bit of a sugar rush. The sweet scent of the frosting struggled to mask the moldy odor in the air.
The seven children, a mix of ethnicities, were in a vast 1,000 square-foot room with a ceiling that soared twenty feet high. The stone walls lacked any artwork, contributing to the room’s drab prison-like esthetic. A single wood and iron chandelier hung ominously in the center of the room, acting as the only light source at night.
Seven beds, each with a rickety wooden nightstand beside them, lined the barren walls. Each bed was nothing more than a box-spring and mattress resting on a squeaky metal frame. The flannel blankets covering them were color-coordinated to the robes each child wore.
Three small windows, mounted high, allowed very little of the outside world to enter the room. During the day, you could barely get a clear view of the Berkshire Mountains off in the distance. A large radiator sat beneath the windows, its serpentine metallic coils struggling to heat such a large room. Every time the radiator clanked to life, it would fill the space with the scent of burnt dust.
A towering cedar-lined armoire stood near the only door to the room. The hand-carved cabinet, composed of black walnut, had huge clawed feet. A serpent’s head sat above the twin doors, flanked by intricately carved feathered wings. The purplish-black tone of the wood only added to the cabinet’s menacing appearance.
“Hey, Eve,” Anna said. “Why do you spend every night writing in that diary?”
“I want to remember everything about this stupid place.” Eve closed the tattered camel-colored book, wedging her pen inside. She brushed her curly copper-red hair from her sapphire eyes and added, “Worst. Camp. Ever.”
Anna flung the tattered garnet-colored blanket from her bed and crossed the floor, her camp-issued light-weight matching red gown dragging along the cold, dusty cobblestone. Her bare feet ached against the rough flooring. She sat beside Eve and curled her feet up against Eve’s ruby-red flannel blanket.
“Do you really hate it here?” Anna asked.
“It’s been six weeks.” Eve stared at the cover of her diary. “When will it end?”
“At least I had a birthday party today. I’m thirteen. A teenager!”
“But where were your parents?” Eve glared at the locked door across the room. “None of our parents were there.”
“I thought that was sort of weird.” Anna’s smile faded as she replayed the entire day in her mind. “I haven’t seen my parents all day.”
“I saw my mom this morning. I asked her what Caretaker had planned for your party. She just walked away.”
“Really?” Anna looked at the diary in Eve’s hands. “Did you put that in your diary?”
“I put everything in here.”
Anna attempted to take the diary, but Eve held it close to her chest.
“So secretive.” Anna folded her arms and grinned. “I still can’t believe you picked a diary to bring in here. I mean, we get one special thing to bring to camp, and you bring that?”
Eve pointed at a six-inch tall stuffed red chimpanzee on the nightstand beside Anna’s bed. She said, “Look who’s talking.”
“Hey! My boyfriend won Binky for me at the carnival.”
“Boyfriend?”
“Last summer. I dumped him.”
“Whatever.” Eve rolled her eyes and tugged on her robe. “They don’t even let us wear our own clothes in here. Why’d they bother letting us bring something special in?”
“Who knows. They have so many stupid rules.” Anna pointed at the diary and said, “Write all you want. I’m only interested in Billy.”
Anna and Eve looked across the room at tiny Billy glaring back at them, his haz
el eyes never blinking. Anna blew him a kiss, causing Billy to roll over and look away.
“I kissed him,” Anna said as she turned to Eve.
Tina, a beautiful Latina girl in the bed next to Eve’s, sat up and said, “What?”
“This morning after class.” Anna smiled. “Why do you both look so surprised? Billy’s cute. He’s not the first boy I’ve kissed.”
“Billy’s a jerk,” Tina said.
“You’re just jealous,” Anna replied. “Every time you try to talk to Billy, he walks away. Sorry, Tina, but he doesn’t like you.”
Tina glared at Anna and said, “Te odio!” She dove under her green flannel covers and turned the other way.
“I think everyone here’s jealous,” Anna said to Eve. “I’m the only teenager in the group. The rest of you are still twelve.”
“I think Tina’s the only one who’s mad,” Eve said. “She always wants what she can’t have.”
“I can hear you,” Tina said from beneath her blanket. “Silencio.”
The lock on the door to the room snapped open, causing the children to jump slightly. The heavy wooden door swung open, the hinges creaking loudly. Anna sighed and marched back to her bed. She knew the rules and knew what came next.
The woman who the children called Caretaker entered the room. She carried a wooden tray with a small glass bowl of pills and seven glasses of water. Everyone except Charles sat upright in their bed and waited for Caretaker to come to them.
Caretaker wore a dark gray gown, similar in style to the children’s. She always kept her blonde hair tucked beneath a gray bonnet. Thin and of average height, she smiled as she used her foot to close the door behind her.
“How’s everyone tonight?” Caretaker asked. A few of the kids gave a mumbled response. “I hope you enjoyed the cake. That was my first time making strawberry filling from scratch.”
“I liked it,” Tina said. “But how come our parents weren’t there?”
“I already told you, Tina, the party was just for you kids.”
Caretaker walked to the bed closest to the door to find Charles already deep asleep clutching a puffy blue pillow. She placed the tray on the edge of his nightstand and shook him a few times until his eyes opened. Charles propped himself up on his elbows, causing the rusty springs in his mattress to squeak in protest. He looked at the tray and frowned.
“Time for your vitamins,” Caretaker said. She gave Charles a glass of water and one of the small white pills from the bowl. Charles downed the tablet and then opened his mouth to show her he’d swallowed it. “Good boy.”
Caretaker went from bed to bed, giving each child a glass of water and a pill. Her last stop was to see Anna. She put the tray on one corner of the bed and sat on the other, handing Anna the last glass of water.
“Did you like your cake?” Caretaker asked.
“I had two pieces!” Anna giggled as she sipped from her glass. “It was the best.”
“I’m so glad I made you proud. Each of you is so special to me.”
Anna looked at the empty bowl and then at Caretaker.
“No more vitamins for you, Anna.” Caretaker moved closer to Anna. “You’re all grown up.”
“What?” Tina cried out. “That’s not fair!”
“I’m a teenager!” Anna couldn’t help but smile and giggle. She cast Billy a brief but devious smile. She turned back to Caretaker and asked, “Will . . . will I ever need to take them again?”
Caretaker looked around the room, then at Anna, and whispered, “No.”
Caretaker stood up, took Anna’s half-empty glass from her hand, and placed it on the tray. She made her way around the room, collecting everyone’s drinks. Once she got to the door, she turned off the overhead light, plunging the room into darkness. Caretaker said, “Good night.” The door closed with a thud, followed by the snap of the lock engaging.
Anna rolled over and snatched the stuffed animal from the nightstand. She pulled her flannel blanket closer to try and stay warm. The sugar rush from earlier began to crash, and she soon fell asleep.
Anna awoke a few hours later, surprised to find Caretaker sitting beside her. The open door allowed light from the hallway to spill into the dark room. The incandescent bulbs and faded amber shades bathed everything in an eerie orange glow.
“What . . . what time is it?” Anna asked. She yawned and rubbed her tired eyes.
“It’s time to leave.” Caretaker ran her fingers across Anna’s wavy blonde hair. “You need to pack.”
“Pack?” Anna’s eyes widened when she noticed her rolling purple-flowered carry-on bag sitting beside the bed. Her parents had bought her that bag last year, promising her they’d use it for a wonderful adventure. So far, the only place she’d taken it was to this dreary camp. “Why?”
“Shhh!” Caretaker looked around the room, but the rest of the children remained fast asleep. “Yes. Pack. It’s time for your big birthday gift.”
“A gift?”
Anna grabbed Binky and flung her blanket aside. She scurried to the armoire in the opposite corner of the room and opened the doors, the worn brass hinges squealing softly. There were seven shelves inside, one for each child. The bottom shelf was hers. Caretaker carried the bag to the armoire and placed it beside Anna. Together they proceeded to hastily fill it with the rest of her belongings.
Last Christmas, when Anna’s parents told her she’d be going to camp in January, she wasn’t sure what to expect. She had crammed two weeks’ worth of clothes into her bag. She now struggled to make it all fit.
“Should I change out of this stupid robe?” Anna asked.
“No.”
Anna frowned as she jammed each item into the bag. She’d brought so many favorites; her sweatshirt covered in red hearts, the matching sneakers, her pink socks. Anna’s heart filled with joy, knowing she’d finally be able to wear these again. She couldn’t wait to rip off the dreary robe covering her.
With Caretaker’s help, she crammed the last of her clothes inside. Anna zipped the bag closed and followed Caretaker into the hallway. Caretaker pulled a heavy brass keyring from her pocket and secured the bedroom door. She looked at Anna, smiled, and said, “Follow me.”
Anna could barely contain her excitement. She found herself practically skipping as she walked behind Caretaker. They passed the schoolroom and then the playroom. At the end of the hallway, they turned right. Anna stopped and said, “We aren’t allowed down here.”
“Kids aren’t allowed.” Caretaker smiled and patted Anna on the head. “But you’re all grown up now.”
The pair started down the long hallway. The wheels on Anna’s bag rattled against the cracked cobblestone floor. The overhead lights cast a dim orange glow throughout the musty passageway. After a few turns, they soon reached an iron-barred gate in the middle of the corridor. Caretaker selected another key from her keyring and unlocked the door.
“What’s my gift? Tell me!”
“So full of desire, aren’t you?” Caretaker motioned Anna through the gate. “You don’t want me to spoil it. Do you?”
“Will I like it?”
Caretaker remained silent and led Anna through a maze of intersecting hallways that quickly confused the young girl. At long last, they reached the end of the corridor and another locked door. The keychain rattled as Caretaker flicked through the cumbersome collection, finally extracting a jet-black skeleton key. She slid the key into the lock, looked at Anna, and said, “Happy birthday, Annabelle.”
The door slowly swung open. Anna took a few steps inside, smiled, and said, “Mom! Dad!” Her joy faded as she gazed past her parents. Anna looked back at Caretaker, somewhat confused, and asked, “What is this place?”
Two
The Checkup
Present Day (May 8, 2019)
Gwen gnawed on the tip of her plastic pen as she studied the patient chart resting in front of her. A quick review indicated this was the patient’s fifth time being pregnant. Her first pregnancy occurred roughly
eighteen years ago. Every pregnancy had ended with a miscarriage. Gwen groaned, dreading what awaited her in the exam room. Patients with complex histories always proved to be the most emotional.
The clock above the nearby restroom showed the time to be just past three o’clock in the afternoon. Gwen’s eyes burned, tired from the extra shifts she was pulling this weekend. This past week had seen an unexpected flu outbreak, and they were currently understaffed.
Despite her current state of exhaustion, Gwen reminded herself how fortunate she was to have secured an ultrasound technician position at New York Women’s Care. Many considered the five-year-old clinic to be the leading women’s reproductive health facility in Chelsea. The pay and benefits were fantastic, as the center mostly catered to New York City’s wealthiest inhabitants.
Gwen rubbed her blurry eyes and dragged the chart off the counter. She slowly made her way down the hallway to room number seven. She took a cleansing breath and put on a smile as she opened the door.
“Mrs. Easton?” Gwen asked.
“That’s Miss. Miss Easton.” Dawn smiled from the examination bed, nervously tugging on her fingers. “I’m . . . I’m not married. Yet.”
Gwen nodded in apology as she entered the room and closed the door behind her.
“I’m sorry, Miss Easton, it’s been a long day for me.”
The examination room looked more like a hotel suite instead of a medical room. The white aluminum cabinets gleamed with brushed nickel-satin finished pulls. Pale gray quartz countertops, speckled with glimmering flecks of white crystals, took the place of traditional laminate or metal counters. The walls were painted a soothing shade of sage green. A bowl of potpourri, filled with lavender and vanilla scented dried flowers, sat atop a large white metal stand. Paintings of rolling grassy fields, executed in soft muted tones, hung on the walls. A large supply cabinet covered one wall. The shelves contained frames of mothers, daughters, and families. A smart speaker nestled on the middle shelf played calming transcendental music.