CHAPTER 7.4 When the Doll Wakes

“MAMAAAAAA!”

Her mother rushed in, panic in her eyes. “Veronica! What happened, darling? What do you want to tell Mama?”

“She’s going to kill everyone, Mama!” Veronica cried, clutching her mother’s sleeve. “You’ll never leave me, right?”

“Of course, sweetie. I will never leave you. You’re my everything.”

“I… I had a dream. Elizabeth killed you and Papi.” She sobbed harder. “But… why? She loves me.”

“Who is Elizabeth?” her mother asked carefully.

Veronica pointed toward the side table. The doll sat there, her glassy stare fixed on them.

“Sweetie… she would never do that.”

“She can, Mama. She’s killed before. Many people.”

Her mother’s face went pale. “What…?”

The doll didn’t like that Veronica was telling her secrets. The air seemed to thicken, the shadows stretching toward the bed.

With a faint crack, the doll’s head tilted unnaturally.

Veronica froze. “Mama…”

Before her mother could answer—THASH!—something unseen struck her. She fell without a sound.

“Mama?!” Veronica’s eyes shot back to the doll… but it was gone.

“Papa!” she screamed  when she arrived downstairs her father was also killed by doll.

From the dark, Elizabeth’s voice came, soft and cold. “Bye-bye, sweetheart. You promised me…”

“No! You said you wouldn’t !”

Elizabeth appeared beside her, grabbing her by the neck. “Come here.”

“No… please, no—”

The bite was swift, the kiss afterward colder than ice. “Goodnight, my love.”

That night, the entire family died.

When Veronica woke, she was back in her bed. The doll sat on the table, and Elizabeth lay curled beside her.

Elizabeth smiled faintly, pulling her close. “Come on, let’s sleep.