Children of The Night

Playmates

And once more (because I can't make decisions), to loversofthelost_

***

"I thought you didn't like that doll, sweetheart?"

"Hm? I didn't, but it's just a doll, mom, I just have to get used to it, I'm a big girl," The girl smiled, jumping down from the stool, tilting her head back, to stare up at the doll on the shelf, "does it look straight?"

"It is, but honey, you can barely reach that high, just keep it on your desk."

"No, I think she'll like that, she can see everything," the girl shrugged, clearing her throat. "Besides, if it does decide to do something, at least I'll hear it."

"Always so morbid Farrah, come down for breakfast," her mother walked ahead, beckoning her daughter to follow after her.

***

Words have such an effect on people, lying being the greatest tool of all.

Adjacent to Farrah's shelf, her dresser could be seen, a mirror reflected the sight of the sad doll, hunched over on the shelf.

Unblinking eyes stared at themselves, as dark as the pits of the ocean, big doll eyes, a porcelain face, bright messy hair framing its face. A stranger's face.

It didn't move, it didn't stir, it behaved. Farrah was wrong.

Time ticked on; it never looked up, just staring at the mirror.

As people entered and exited the room, they'd look up for a moment, marvelling at the craftsmanship on the doll, and how well it was made. Pretty soon, they'd stop paying attention to it, the girl knew that. Loneliness would soon consume the doll's heart. No one would ever try to pull it down, to wrap their arms around its fragile form.

Her mother did.

Feeling a pull towards it, the desire to fix it. She'd noticed it refused to stand straight.

Bringing over the stool, she stood up, gentle hands picked up the doll, trying to find ways to make it sit straight - sitting it back against the wall, sitting it on a book, placing something in front of it - to no avail. A weight always pushed it down, as if it were ashamed.

Sighing deeply, she pulled the doll closer after another failed attempt, weighing it in one hand, it's not that light, so why - her thoughts cut off as the doll made a noise, as if something tapped against glass.

She noticed the chain around its neck.

A dainty little necklace, too long to be worn around the doll, ending at her waist, a small blue stone wrapped at the end, heavy enough to tug it down.

"Mom?" a sharp voice cut in, "what are you doing?"

She jumped, startled, holding onto the doll that fell on her arms, tighter, turning back around, seeing her daughter looking up at her, with darkened eyes - confused.

"I told you to leave my doll be," she took it from her, more forcefully than intended.

"I was, darling," she said, coming down, unsure as to why her daughter was so possessive about the doll. She was confident that her eyes darkened further, almost glaring at the doll.

"Farrah," she began, "did you forget to wear the gift your father gave?"

"My gift?" Having finally lifted her head up, her eyes no longer held their hateful glare, instead were clouded in confusion.

"Your necklace."

"My, oh-" she laughed, placing her hand on the empty space on her neck, fingers pressing down on her collarbone, "that," her gaze slowly flickered down, "I didn't want to lose it, it's too precious, so" she held up the doll, playing with the necklace around its neck, tugging it off, "for safekeeping, I almost forgot, thanks, mom."

***

The most powerful spell of all was cast that night, its effect made permanent, as the necklace rested on the body of its new owner.

Those unblinking eyes now shined like glass, reflecting the tears locked inside.

"Come now, don't make that face," the girl looked down at the doll sitting on the dresser, kneeling down to look directly at its unmoving face, "did you think you were close? That they'd figure it out?" her fingers ran through the doll's hair, tugging on the knots, smiling in amusement, "a shame you can't feel this."

"Can you feel anything, I know I felt jealous - are you jealous of me now? Anger at where you are," she rose once more, looking down at it, "and where I stand."

"You tried so hard to keep me away, to lock me up - Where was it? In here?" She opened up her closet, pushing aside clothes, unlocking a drawer on the bottom, "to leave me, all alone? Now that's just hurtful."

She didn't want this, the doll screamed, no words escaped, but the girl could sense it, merely laughing as she lifted her off the dresser.

"Quiet now, we wouldn't want to wake up mom"

Porcelain skin now shone with light, a few tears streaming down her face, she wished that the girl - the thing, would just drop her from its claws - she never feared the dark, but seeing the empty space of the drawer, fear gripped her vacant heart.

Please, stop, please!

She didn't want to be held by her stolen body. She begged, her words deafening.

"There, a perfect fit." Having placed the doll down, the daughter smiled one last time at the doll's sad face, mockingly placing a kiss atop her head, before closing the drawer, locking it shut. A loud thud sounded, as the doll fell on impact.

***

Me realising maybe I should've written something more wholesome