The Porcelain Twin

I secured an exclusive interview with the creator of 'The Elysium Dolls,' the most coveted status symbol for New York's elite. His showroom was a pristine morgue of porcelain perfection, filled with life-sized replicas of senators and socialites. But as I admired the doll of a famous philanthropist known for her gentleness, a sickening *crack* echoed through the room. The doll's flawless left cheek shattered outward. Dark, viscous slurry began to ooze from the fissure, smelling of copper and old blood. "A structural defect?" I asked, instinctively stepping back. "Did you use a bad batch of clay?" The artist didn't even look up from his ledger. "The clay is perfect," he said softly. "But the woman herself... she must be hitting something very hard right now."