Replaced

There was a gap in the door, he never closed it properly. Through it I could see part of the bed, and the package that sat there. A slender unmarked padded envelope, with a bulge in the middle. We'd seen them before.

"Looks like we've got incoming," said Black Bob.

"What do you think it is this time?" I asked, straining to see the label.

"Could be anything, you know what He's like. Fickle."

"A new friend?" said Angelica. She was always after someone new to talk to. She used to talk to Blondie, but Blondie never talked to anyone anymore. Just sat in the dark at the back with her memories, and the dust.

I wasn't too sure. It was a different kind of parcel from the others. It made me nervous. I'd seen one like it before, a long time ago, but I couldn't quite remember where.

Then He came in. He grabbed the parcel and carefully tore it open. He pulled out the contents and held it up to light.

I gasped.

"It... it looks just like me."

"Another Noriko?" Black Bob said, disinterestedly.

"No, exactly like me," I said. "Same colour, same style, same everything!"

"Ah, damn. It's that time."

"What time? What's going on?" I asked. "Time for what?"

"It's not a new member, it's a replacement," Black Bob said, his tone even more dry than usual. "A replacement for you."

"But... but I'm his favourite."

"So was Blondie once, and Angelica. Hell, even I was favourite once. Favourites change."

"But..."

"Look at yourself, " Black Bob spat. "Not quite as shiny as we used to be, are we? Those monofilaments ain't exactly frizz-free anymore. Aren't you supposed to be 'Paprika'? I'd say it's more like 'Cumin' these days. Did you think it would last forever?"

"But I'm the one... the one that suits him best. His... favourite."

"There's a price to pay for being popular, kid."

"You mean?"

But Black Bob didn't have time to answer. I felt myself being lifted from my stand, in the best spot by the door. A brief glimpse of another me being put in my place. A few seconds of hurried movement and...

Falling... landing... looking up at a circle of light far above me... and then...

darkness.