DOLL [vmin]

3: spirit

*ding...ding...ding...ding...ding...ding...ding...ding...ding...ding...ding...ding....*

The clock counted midnight, it alerted taehyung's ears and his eyes snapped back open, he sat up with a sigh. He couldn't fall asleep. He kept sensing this presence tugging at him. It did every night. So as before taehyung got out of bed and took his button up wearing it, jumping in some pants, slipping into his shoes and left the room. He grabbed a lantern not wanting to turn on all the light in the hallway and lit up the oil fabric, he quickly closed it again to not burn his fingers on the fire and started walking. The small fire lit up just enough to see where he was going, not that it was all too difficult. He had the moonlight shining through the windows as well. so it was alright.

His steps were soft but still heard in the light but untrustable silence of the house. the flame flickering when he passed a row of dolls that were next to the stairs. He just paid no attention to it, taehyung wasn't afraid. The only thing he was ever afraid of was his father. A man who treasured him a lot but also had the moments he would make the young Taehyung cry in fear.

"Come on" taehyung mumbled as he used his right hand to turn the lock on the basement door. but this door's lock got stuck a lot as it was barely used since his father died. Taehyung didn't need the basement, it was just a cold cellar with jail cell layout. The toymaker sighed and put down the lantern to use both hands. a loud clunk was head and he flapped his hand looking at the mark the key end made in his fingers. "Stupid door" he said as he walked inside feeling the cold air blow past his neck. Some would think its odd to go into a basement like this at night but Taehyung was just visiting whatever kept calling him here. He kept feeling this strong pull towards the basement. something was there that was different. it was stronger.

Taehyung walked to the left walking past all the cells, the iron bars looking dirty with dust and cobwebs. The maid did not have to clean here, so it was all dusty and old. Some old dried blood was seen on the walls and floor.

His father's job.

He stopped at the furthest one in the corner and walked inside, this one's lock had blood on it and handprints on the walls and iron bars. Taehyung never got to know what went on in the basement. But he was going to find out. His father never allowed him to go here and locked it behind him each time. But he knew his father kept a journal and Taehyung was going to find it. He was searching for it but his father has so many books it was taking an endless amount of time to look at all of them and find his little notes, his journal must be somewhere stuck between the books.

Taehyung placed the lantern on the ground and just stood there for a minute. He knew this was the spot. There it was....taehyung could feel a presence, it was strong...like he could touch it. A cold air went through him making him shiver. Taehyung felt a wave of sadness go through him and his eyes went a little concerned looking at the wall where chains were hanging down. Did they just move?

"Hello again" he said. There was no reply but he knew something was here. Taehyung knew ghosts existed, because his house was full of them. Yes he was aware of them, more than aware. but he just didn't pay much attention to it and ignored it most of the time. Even if it only annoyed the spirits even more when the maker refused to acknowledge their presence.

It angered them a lot.

"You are lonely, i feel you" Taehyung said he could actually feel the emotions this presence had. It made his own body go cold. but the spirit didn't feel threatening, it never did. It felt small but strong. Taehyung felt the spirit go through him many times. it made his body ace in pain. he frowned and stepped back. "Don't try to possess me" he said glaring into the air. The spirit moved away, giving the living human his warmth and feel back.

Taehyung stood there for a few minutes and sighed. He understood the presence. "You want something to possess.." he hummed and bent down picking up the lantern whose flame was going wild but refused to go out. "wait here" He said and walked out with fast steps. When the toy maker exited the basement his flame suddenly was blown out by a soft breeze on his hand. He frowned, annoyed and sighed, putting the lantern on a table near him. He walked to the other side and opened a drawer seeing a pack of matches, he lit up the lantern again.

He then made his way into the ballroom and turned on a part of the light. his eyes falling on the stage where his newest doll stood staring into the room with cold lifeless eyes. "hm" he walked towards it and climbed onto the stage carefully removing the thread on its limbs to free the doll. "let's get you down!" He said, lifting up the doll and carefully carrying him off the stage and out of the room. with his elbow he turned off the light when he passed the switch. He had to be careful and not trip, if he did the doll would break. porcelain was a fragile material when it would fall or take a hit. But, very pretty.

Taehyung successfully made his way down back to the basement and put the doll inside the cell. making sure it wouldn't fall over.

"here, take this doll" He said, stepping back. He waited, one minute, two minutes. after four he was getting impatient. "come on then" he said in a pushing way. But nothing happened. He groaned softly in annoyance and grabbed his lantern from the ground again. But when he looked up something had changed.

The doll looked the same but his eyes, he installed them, to look straight ahead but now....they were turned to the side looking directly at Taehyung. suddenly it blinked and that's when taehyung smiled,

it was alive.

---

we have a possesed doll, seems a new character is joining the story. 👀👀👀

Thank you for reading, see you in the next chapter!