Return of the Doll

I woke up groggily, the sunlight bleeding through my curtains and hitting me square in the face. Rubbing my eyes, I sat up, glancing at the clock on my nightstand. 10:30 a.m. I frowned. Mom must’ve let me sleep in, which probably meant the meeting she attended yesterday ended with the school shutting down.

Sliding off the bed, I stretched and yawned, feeling a little more awake. But then, like a dam breaking, the events of last night flooded back into my mind. The book. The dolls. The fire. We’d burned everything, reduced it all to ash. For a moment, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe it had worked.

I turned toward my desk, ready to grab my phone and check in with Belle and Luca. But as I reached out, I froze. My breath caught in my throat as my gaze locked onto something that shouldn’t have been there.

There it was.

Sitting at the edge of my desk, legs dangling as if mocking me, was the Santa doll. Its features were even more grotesquely lifelike than before. The beard looked soft and silky, the wrinkles on its face unnervingly real. The worst part was the eyes—they weren’t just detailed. They were glowing. Pulsing, almost alive.

“What the hell…” I stumbled backward, bumping into my chair as dread twisted my insides. My chest tightened, my hands clutching my hair.

“SHIT!” I shouted, pacing in tight circles. Why didn’t it work? Why didn’t it fucking work?

We burned it. We did everything we could. But now this thing was back, grinning wider than ever. That could only mean one thing.

Someone had died.

My phone buzzed on the desk, snapping me out of my spiral. For a moment, I hesitated, my eyes darting between the doll and the screen. Then, with trembling hands, I answered.

“Wise!” Belle’s panicked voice hit me before I could say anything. “You need to come to my house. Now!”

“What happened?” I asked, my stomach knotting tighter.

“Just—just get here! Please!” she shouted, her words barely coherent.

Before I could press her further, Luca’s voice roared in the background. “GET YOUR FUCKING ASS OVER HERE, WISE. NOW!”

The dread in my chest deepened. “I’ll be right there,” I managed to say before hanging up.

I threw on some clothes and bolted out the door, grabbing my bike on the way. The cold air stung my face as I pedaled hard, my thoughts racing faster than my wheels. What could’ve happened? Was it another murder? Were we wrong about being immune?

By the time I reached Belle’s house, my heart was pounding like a drum. I spotted her and Luca outside, pacing. Belle’s face was pale, and Luca—he looked ready to explode.

I hopped off my bike, walking it toward them. “What happened?” I asked, panting slightly.

Luca didn’t answer. He stormed over, grabbing me by the collar with both hands. His face was twisted with anger, tears streaking his cheeks.

“Take it easy!” I said, raising my hands in surrender. “Just tell me what—”

“Shut up!” he yelled, shaking me. “You told me it would work, Wise! You said it would work!”

“I never said it was a sure thing!” I shouted back, trying to free myself. “I said it was worth a shot!”

“Bullshit!” he snapped, his voice cracking. “If you didn’t know for sure, you shouldn’t have done anything! If you’d just left it alone, none of this would’ve happened!”

I froze, confusion tightening my chest. “What are you talking about?”

His grip tightened as his voice dropped, low and venomous. “It wasn’t just anyone who died last night. It was my mom.”

The world seemed to tilt sideways as his words sank in. My breath caught in my throat. “Luca... I—I didn’t know—”

“She’s dead, Wise!” he screamed, shaking me again. His voice cracked with pain as tears streamed down his face. “Her chest was ripped open! Her throat was shredded! Her arms and legs were plucked off and stuffed into—” He stopped, choking on his words, his body trembling.

Belle stepped forward, her face pale and stricken. “Luca, stop,” she said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

But he wasn’t done. “It’s your fault!” he shouted, his voice raw. “If you hadn’t fucked with something you didn’t understand, my mom would still be alive!”

I tried to speak, but my throat felt dry. “Luca, I—”

“Don’t!” he snarled, his voice filled with a pain so deep it cut through me like a knife. “Don’t apologize. An apology won’t bring her back. It won’t fix this. It won’t stop the curse!”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. I couldn’t blame him for being angry. Hell, I’d be angry too. But his words cut deeper than I expected.

“Luca,” I said carefully, my voice barely a whisper. “I thought we were immune. I thought it couldn’t touch us—”

“And you thought wrong!” he roared, his grip tightening. “Did it ever cross your mind that even if we’re immune, the curse might go after the people closest to us? Our friends? Our families?”

My stomach dropped. He was right. I hadn’t considered that.

Belle stepped in again, her voice firm. “Stop it, both of you!” she said, placing herself between us.

But before I could respond, my eyes caught movement down the street. A sleek, black car was slowly drifting toward us.

My stomach twisted into a knot. Of all the times…

“What the hell does Dez want now?” I muttered under my breath, the knot tightening as the car came closer.

The black car eased to a stop across the sidewalk, its engine purring before it shut off. I felt my stomach twist as the door opened, and out stepped Dez. His eyes scanned over all of us, pausing briefly on Luca before dragging back to Belle.

And then he smiled.

Not just any smile—it was that shit-eating grin, the kind that made you want to wipe it off someone’s face with a brick. Belle visibly shivered under his gaze, her discomfort evident, but Dez didn’t care. He strutted toward us like he owned the block, arms swaying, each step exaggerated with way too much swagger.

My fists clenched so tightly I thought my knuckles might crack. Pain shot through my hands, but it didn’t stop Dez from sauntering up to Belle, stopping inches away from her like he had no concept of personal space.

“Hey there, beautiful,” he said, his voice dripping with fake charm. That grin—God, that shit-eating grin—was still plastered on his face.

Belle, ever the polite one, gave him a small, hesitant smile. “Uh, hi, Dez,” she said quietly, then turned back toward Luca, clearly hoping that would end the conversation.

But Dez wasn’t done.

“You know,” he continued, stepping closer, “I’ve been meaning to tell you—you’ve got this... glow about you. You’re way too good to be hanging around these losers.”

Belle stiffened, her polite smile fading. “Thanks, Dez, but I’m fine.”

Dez chuckled, leaning in. “Come on, don’t be shy. You date me? I’ll give you everything you want. Cars, clothes, trips—whatever you ask for, babe.”

“Dez, seriously,” Belle said, her voice firm now. “I’m not interested.”

But that grin of his widened, undeterred. “You don’t mean that. You’re just playing hard to get. Come on, ditch these guys. Let me show you what it’s like to be treated right.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. Seeing Belle squirm under his relentless attention made something snap inside me. I eased out of Luca’s loosened grip and stepped forward.

“That’s enough,” I said, moving between Belle and Dez. “She’s not interested. Leave her alone.”

Dez turned to me slowly, and sure enough, that shit-eating grin was still there. “Oh, look who it is,” he said mockingly. “The little thief.”

Before I could react, his hand shot out, two fingers aiming straight for my eye. I ducked instinctively, his fingers missing by a fraction of an inch.

Straightening up, I glared at him, my heart pounding. His hand hovered in the air where my head had been, but he didn’t drop it.

Dez smirked. “Don’t think I forgot about what you did, Wise,” he said, his tone low and venomous. “But you’re not worth my time. So why don’t you do me a favor, fuck off like the good little bitch you are, and go home? Let me take care of your girl here.”

My fists clenched again, the anger bubbling just under the surface. I was two seconds away from decking him when Luca walked over silently, his face a blank mask.

Without saying a word, Luca grabbed Dez’s arm, the one resting casually on Belle’s shoulder, and shoved it away.

Dez’s grin faltered briefly before snapping back into place. “Oh, what’s this?” he sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You picking a fight, Luca?”

Luca didn’t respond.

Dez’s smirk twitched, his irritation starting to show. “Fine. If you wanna throw hands, I’ll—”

The slam of a door cut him off.

We all turned toward Belle’s house, and my stomach sank.

Bella.

She stormed out, her heels clicking against the pavement as she marched toward us like a missile locked onto its target. Her expression was a mix of fury and disbelief, her jaw tight, and her steps quick.

For a second, Dez’s shit-eating grin faltered, a flicker of nervousness crossing his face. But by the time Bella reached us, he had recomposed himself.

“Hey, babe,” he said, his voice smoothing out. “This isn’t what it looks like—”

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, DEZ?” Bella screamed, cutting him off.

“Babe, come on, I—”

“Don’t ‘babe’ me!” she shrieked, pointing an accusatory finger at Belle. “I saw everything from the window! You were FLIRTING with HER!”

Dez raised his hands, taking a step back. “It wasn’t serious, okay? Chill out.”

Bella’s eyes narrowed, her voice dropping to a venomous hiss. “Her? Of all people, you had to flirt with the DEFECT? The mistake? The reject?”

“Bella,” Belle started softly, but Bella wasn’t listening.

“You think you’re better than me, huh?” Bella snapped, glaring at her sister. “You think you can just... steal my boyfriend like you’ve stolen everything else?”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Dez interrupted, his grin slipping as he tried to calm Bella down.

But she wasn’t having it.

“Shut up!” she yelled. “We’re DONE, Dez! Don’t you dare talk to me after this!”

Dez scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Fine. You’re too much work anyway. Belle’s prettier than you, anyway.”

For a second, everything froze. Bella’s mouth fell open, her face twisting into a mask of rage. I swore I saw a vein on her temple throb.

Dez turned on his heel, striding back to his car. He slammed the door shut, started the engine, and sped off, tires screeching.

Bella’s eyes snapped back to Belle, her fury intensifying.

“You’re dead,” she snarled, pointing a shaking finger at her sister. “You hear me? DEAD!”

And just like that, the chaos reached a whole new level.

Bella was throwing a massive fit. She screamed, spewing every insult she could think of—some I’d never even heard before, and I’d been around Dez long enough to know some choice language.

“You fucking bitch!” she shrieked, her voice grating like nails on a chalkboard. “You think you can take my man away from me? You’re a mistake! A waste of space!”

Spit flew from her mouth with each venomous word, her hands flailing as she inched closer and closer to Belle. The hatred in her voice was palpable, enough to make even Luca take a step back. If she’d had a knife, I was genuinely convinced she’d have slit Belle’s throat right then and there.

Belle just stood there, trembling, her body visibly shuddering after each verbal lash. Tears welled in her eyes, her lips quivering as she clutched her books to her chest like they were a shield.

I started to move toward her, but Luca beat me to it. He grabbed Bella by the arm, trying to pull her back.

“Bella, stop it!” he snapped. “You’ve said enough—”

Bella slapped his hand away with enough force to make an audible smack. Her face twisted into something almost demonic as she screamed, “Touch me one more time, and I’ll scream! I’ll call you a fucking rapist!”

I froze, my eyes widening in sheer disbelief. “What the actual fuck, Bella?” I muttered under my breath. She had lost her goddamn mind.

Luca stepped back like he’d been burned, his hands raised defensively. For the first time that day, I saw something on his face that wasn’t rage or grief—he actually looked scared.

Bella turned her focus back to Belle, her anger renewed. She closed the gap between them and leaned in, practically spitting in her face as she screamed insult after insult.

“You’re a nobody! A loser! You’ve always been a loser!” she hissed.

Belle’s body trembled violently, her tears flowing freely now. And then, suddenly, she snapped.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” she screamed, her voice ringing out so loud it echoed down the street.

Bella flinched, her mouth snapping shut for the briefest moment as Belle’s words cut through the chaos.

Tears streamed down Belle’s face as her voice cracked, but she didn’t stop. “What the fuck is your problem, Bella? WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU?” she screamed, her chest heaving. “You’ve hated me for YEARS! For fucking years! And I never knew why! What the FUCK did I do? Tell me!”

Her voice grew louder and more anguished with every word, her cries reaching a crescendo. “We used to be friends! We were inseparable! And then, out of nowhere, you turned on me like I was nothing! What did I do, Bella? WHAT THE FUCK DID I DO?”

For a moment, no one moved. No one spoke. The entire street fell into a deafening silence, the only sound Belle’s choked sobs as she stood there, shoulders slumped, staring at her sister.

But Bella wasn’t done.

“You fucking bitch,” she snarled, her voice low and cold. Without warning, she raised her hand high, fingers splayed as she prepared to slap Belle across the face.

Time seemed to slow.

I didn’t think. My body moved before my brain could catch up.

I lunged forward, grabbing Bella’s wrist before her hand could make it halfway down. Her arm jerked to a stop, my grip tightening instinctively.

“Not happening,” I said firmly, pulling her hand down. “You’re not hitting her. Not on my fucking watch.”

Bella glared at me, her eyes burning with fury. “Let go of me, you piece of shit!” she hissed, trying to wrench her arm free.

“No,” I said, my voice steady. “You can scream I’m a rapist if you want. Scream until you’re blue in the fucking face. I don’t give a shit. But you’re not laying a single finger on Belle. Not now, not ever.”

I squeezed her wrist a little harder than I meant to, and she winced, her expression faltering for a split second.

For a moment, our eyes locked, and something in her expression shifted. Her rage dimmed, replaced by something else. Something... softer.

Her lips parted slightly, her breathing slowed. My grip loosened instinctively, confusion flickering through me.

What was she—

Before I could finish the thought, Bella wrenched her arm free and moved.

Her hands shot up, cupping my face in one quick, fluid motion.

“Wha—”

My words were cut off as her lips crashed against mine.

It wasn’t just a kiss. It was deep, her hands pulling me closer as her fingers dug into my jaw. My body froze, my brain unable to process what was happening.

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think.

Her lips pressed harder against mine, her body leaning into me. The kiss deepened, her nails scraping lightly against my skin. It went on, seconds stretching into what felt like hours.

Bella’s lips finally parted from mine, my knees buckled, and I stumbled backward, collapsing onto the snow-covered ground. My breath came in short gasps as I stared up at her, my mind struggling to process what had just happened.

She stood over me, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, a wicked smile plastered on her face. But this time, there was something else in her eyes—something wild, almost unhinged.

Her lips curled into a smirk as she tilted her head to the side, studying me like a predator sizing up its prey. “You know,” she said softly, her tone dripping with mockery, “I only meant to kiss you to prove a point.”

I blinked, confusion swirling in my already scrambled thoughts.

“But now…” Her eyes darkened, the grin widening into something far more sinister. “Now that I’ve had a taste…” She licked her lips, almost as if savoring the moment. “I’ve changed my mind.”

Belle and Luca stood frozen behind her, their stunned silence amplifying the tension in the air.

Bella leaned down slightly, her voice lowering to a near whisper. “I want more.”

“What the fuck…” I managed to croak, my voice barely audible.

Her grin widened further, and her eyes gleamed with a crazed light. “Oh, don’t look so shocked, Wise,” she purred. “You’ve got so much to give. So much potential.” She straightened up, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “And I’ve decided—I want it all. I’ll take everything you have to offer.”

Her words sent a chill down my spine, and for a moment, all I could do was stare.

Bella gave me one last look, her gaze hungry and possessive. Then, with a sway in her hips, she strutted away, heading back toward her house.

Just as she reached her door, she turned around, her grin never faltering. She raised a hand to her lips, blowing me a slow, deliberate kiss.

“See you soon, Wise,” she said, her voice practically singing.

With that, she disappeared inside, the door slamming shut behind her.

I remained on the ground, my mind spinning, my body frozen. Belle and Luca didn’t move either, and both of them were too shocked to say a word.

The only sound was the faint rustle of the wind, and the distant echo of Bella’s laughter.

I sat there on the cold, snow-dusted ground, my breath visible in the frigid air. My body felt frozen, but not from the weather. My mind reeled from what just happened, the kiss still burning on my lips. Bella’s grin, that crazed, hungry look in her eyes—how the hell did it come to this?

Then, I turned to Belle.

Her face.

It hit me harder than anything else could have. Her cheeks were streaked with fresh tears, her lips trembling. But beneath the sadness, beneath the raw pain, I saw something else. Something darker. It wasn’t just hurt—it was hate. Hate, directed at me.

“Belle, wait—” I managed to choke out, but she didn’t hear me. Or maybe she didn’t care to. She turned sharply and bolted toward her house. The door slammed behind her before I could take another step.

I scrambled to my feet, desperation overtaking the numbness. “Belle, please—wait! Let me explain!” I called after her. My legs moved on their own, carrying me toward her porch. I was halfway there when the world exploded into pain.

A fist crashed into my jaw, sending me sprawling to the curb. My vision blurred; my mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood. Groaning, I cradled my face and tried to sit up. My tongue brushed against something loose—a tooth.

“What the fuck!” I spat, glaring at my attacker. “What the hell was that for?”

Luca stood over me, massaging his knuckles, murder burning in his eyes. He didn’t say a word at first, just stared at me like I was something he’d scrape off the bottom of his shoe.

I spat blood onto the snow, the crimson stain glaring against the white. “Seriously, Luca, what the fuck—”

“You son of a bitch,” he hissed, closing the distance between us. His voice was low, trembling with fury.

“Wait, just calm down,” I said, raising a hand. “What are you even talking about?”

“You know damn well what I’m talking about!” he shouted, swinging a fist at me. I ducked just in time, the punch barely missing my temple.

“Luca, stop—” I tried to dodge again as he swung again, nearly losing my balance.

“You think you can just toy with her feelings?” he snarled, his voice raw. “After everything Belle’s done for you? Everything she’s given you? You took it all and spat it back in her face!”

“That’s not what happened!” I shouted back, my voice breaking. “I didn’t mean for—”

“Bullshit!” he roared. “If you didn’t mean it, why didn’t you pull away? Huh? Why didn’t you stop her? You just stood there like a fucking idiot and let it happen!”

I froze, his words slicing deeper than any punch. “I was… I was just shocked. I didn’t know—”

“Save it,” he cut me off, his voice trembling with barely restrained anger. He took a step closer, his chest heaving. “You’ve been using her, Wise. Dragging her along, playing with her feelings just to get attention. You don’t deserve her.”

The words hit me like a freight train. My lips parted to argue, but no words came out. My mind spun, replaying everything that had happened—every moment with Belle, every time she smiled at me, every kind gesture, every laugh.

Had I been taking her for granted? Was I really that much of a piece of shit?

Luca saw the hesitation in my eyes, and it only fueled his rage. “You’re nothing but a selfish bastard,” he growled. “And you know what? I’m done pretending to be happy for you.”

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. My chest tightened as the guilt twisted in my gut. But then another thought crept in—one that made my blood boil.

"Ah, so that’s it, huh?" I said, my voice cold, each word laced with venom. "Now that Belle’s furious with me, you think it’s your chance to swoop in, don’t you? Fine. Take her—the girl I supposedly never appreciated. That’s what you’re good at, right? Picking up whatever I leave behind. Enjoy the scraps, Luca." My chest tightened, the bitter words burning as I said them, but I forced myself to believe this was the right thing to do. It had to be. At least, that’s what I told myself.

Luca’s eyes widened in pure rage, and before I could react, he charged at me. I braced for impact as he tackled me to the ground, the air leaving my lungs in a painful rush.

Blow after blow rained down on me, his fists pummeling my ribs, my arms, my face. I didn’t fight back. I didn’t block. I just lay there, letting him vent his fury, telling myself I deserved it.

“That’s enough!” a voice screamed, cutting through the chaos.

I barely registered the sound before Luca was yanked off me. I blinked through the blood and snow in my eyes, my head throbbing as I tried to focus.

It was Belle.

Her hands gripped Luca’s arm as she dragged him away. “Stop it!” she shouted, her voice breaking. “Just stop!”

Luca resisted for a moment, but when he met her tear-filled eyes, his anger seemed to deflate. He let her pull him toward the house, his shoulders slumping.

I forced myself to stand, swaying slightly as I wiped blood from my mouth. Belle glanced back at me, her face a storm of emotions—anger, disappointment, hurt. Her eyes pierced through me, making my chest ache more than Luca’s punches ever could.

The door closed with a sharp click, leaving me alone on the street.

I exhaled shakily, watching the mist of my breath disappear into the cold air. Snowflakes began to drift lazily from the sky, settling on the crimson-streaked ground around me.

When I got home, I moved on autopilot, stripping out of my bloody clothes and changing into something comfortable. My reflection in the bathroom mirror made me wince—a busted lip, a swollen cheek, and a loose tooth.

As I cleaned myself up, my phone buzzed on the counter. It was a message from Belle.

“Maybe we shouldn’t be around each other for a while.”

I swallowed hard, staring at the words. I told myself this was for the best, that she deserved better. But no matter how hard I tried to convince myself, a tear slipped down my cheek.

Another buzz.

It was from Luca. His words were short, but the threat was crystal clear.

“Stay the fuck away from us. If I see you near Belle, I’ll do worse than just rough you up. So fuck off.”

I clenched my jaw, the pain from my loose tooth barely registering. I couldn’t blame him. Not really.

I set the phone down, trying to push the thoughts away. But just as I turned to leave, it buzzed again.

This time, the sender was a number I didn’t recognize. My heart sank as I opened the message.

“Hey, handsome ;) Save my number. We’ll be talking a lot more from now on. –Bella”

A chill ran down my spine as I stared at the text, her voice echoing in my mind.

“I want more.”