HORROR TALES

The Cursed Doll Of Linnabell

" Can you please show me a nice vintage doll to please my sister, " Alice shouted at the shopkeeper. " Ma’am , I have shown you almost all the dolls of this shop. It is not my fault that you like neither of them, " the shopkeeper said getting irritated.
     Alice was frustrated. It was her little sister’s birthday the following week and she had still not bought a gift for her. She would be angry at this. Just then her glance fell on a vintage doll lying in a glass box. It was in an extremely bad condition. The eye balls hung out of the sockets. But there was something in it that attracted Alice’s attention. Maybe it was the creepy smile on it’s face. It reminded her of her sister’s love for horror and ghostly antiques. Therefore she decided to buy it. 
   The weather was pleasant so she decided to walk down to her home. After a few minutes , she noticed that all the way whosoever came across her stared at her backpack. Looking at her bag, she saw that the doll’s face hung out of the bag.  She was looking creepier than before. The smile on her face had disappeared. She recalled that it had a creepy smile on it’s face in the shop. She shook it off her mind thinking that she was just making up things and stuffed it’s head back into the bag, continuing her way. 
       As she was about to open the door, a postman came to deliver a letter. He asked her," Do you know where Alice Peterson lives ?" Alice replied ," Yes it’s me ."The postman gave her the letter but instead of going away he stared at her bag. Alice followed his gaze and saw that the doll’s face was again out of that bag. This time it was again having that creepy smile on it’s face. Alice trembled with fear. She immediately went inside and called her husband, Tim. She asked him to come urgently leaving aside all other work. 
    Alice told him about all that happened with the doll. Tim just laughed at him, saying, " Are you playing a prank on me ?" Alice replied by a look that was pleading ," Why don’t you believe me ? I am telling the truth. I think the doll is haunted. " Tim tried to solve the issue. He said that if the doll was haunted it would not be in the same place where it was left by her because spirits have a habit of creating trouble. To Alice’s surprise it was sitting on the same the table in the same way as it was left by her. Tim said," I think you should rest a little. The busy day is giving you hallucinations. " Alice tried to convince him but all in vain. 
       She picked up the letter and read it. It was from her sister. She said the party was cancelled because she was terribly ill. It meant that she had to keep the doll with her for the time being. She glanced at the doll. It was still sitting in the same way. But there was something in it that made her feel afraid. 
       To divert her mind from the incidents of the day, she did the house chores. Tim rang her up to tell that he would not be able to come home that night because of an important business meeting. Night fell. Alice ate her dinner and went to bed early. She didn’t forget to lock the doll in her cupboard. 
       After some time she woke up to find herself in her sister’s house. She was holding a knife in her hand. She went to her sister's room and found her sleeping in the bed. Alice grabbed her wrist tightly. Her hand was very warm as if she was suffering from high fever. Just at that moment she woke up. Sweat rolled down her temples.  She was having a dream. Her eyes turned towards the end of the bed. The doll was sitting at the end of it. How could that ever happen. She had locked it in the cupboard. Alice was now sure that the doll was haunted. She took it and went to the garden. It was a full moon night so everything was clear. She brought a spade from the backyard, dug a hole and buried the doll inside it. She thought that she was now safe. 
      She went back to her bedroom. The sheets were all pulled up and it seemed that someone was lying under it. With trembling hands she drew the sheets. She almost cried with fright. The doll was lying under it. She backed against the door. 
     Tim came home the next day. He called ," Alice I had been messaging you from a long time but no reply came. I have brought you a present. " Hearing no reply, he went upstairs to her bedroom. His gaped at what he saw. Tears came to his eyes. Alice was lying unconscious on the floor. He immediately called an ambulance and she was taken to the hospital. 
        After a few hours, the result came that the doctors were unable to find out the cause of her fainting. But they assured Tim that she would be well soon. After a few days, Alice was discharged from the hospital. Tim asked her," Do you remember anything before you felt unconscious
? "
“ No, I only remember that I had a headache .”
“ How could that be possible that you don’t remember anything. "
Alice was now irritated. She replied," Why don’t you believe me ? Why are you looking at me suspiciously? " Tim was confused at her changed nature. He was worried for her. It seemed that she was hiding something from him.  He loved Alice and could never imagine her doing so. 
     The car stopped with a loud screech. As they stepped out of the car, Tim said pointing to a big hole in the garden, “ What is that? I never dug any hole there. “ 
Alice replied," I wanted to make a compost pit so I dug it."
     As they stepped inside the house, Alice said,"Where is that cute doll that I brought just a few days ago ? I love it! "
   
Tim was surprised that just a few days ago she was complaining that the doll was haunted and now she was loving it. How is that even possible. But he was unaware of the worse things that were yet to come.