Natalie's doll

8

June,  2004,  Natalie Smith was now 15 years old.  Nothing too peculiar had taken place in the mansion.  Natalie was still quiet and inseparable from her doll,  Valerie,  but was happy to go to the shops with her mother.  She sometimes entered her aunt's room,  but wasn't as excited about her antique items..  one day,  she went out to the markets all by herself.  She saw a stall with no customers at all..  nobody even looked in it's direction..  it's like it wasn't even there..  Natalie held her doll tightly and walked over to the stall.  There was incense burning,  herbs in jars,  and many,  many antique bracelets,  necklaces,  and pendants.  "How can I help you,  young lady?"  A man asked the girl.  He had a long,  curly beard and a bald head.  He was wearing much jewellery,  most of which resembled the ones he was selling.  His appearance reminded Natalie of a pirate.  "Good day,  I was just having a look since nobody else was here.."  the girl said.  "Very brave of you.  Yea,  the people in this area are very superstitious,  so they tend to avoid anything to do with the occult."  Said the man.  "Occult?"  Natalie asked.  "Do you know what that is?"  The man asked.  Natalie looked behind the man to see the other benches,  they had flat,  square shaped pieces of wood with pentacles carved into them,  there were spell books,  and even taxidermy animals..  "yes,  I know what it is."  She responded. 

"Well,  are you interested in buying anything?  You don't seem to be scared and nobody else will buy any of this stuff.."  the man said.  Natalie sighed  "I don't have any money on me.."  she replied.  "Hmm..  well,  would you be interested in trading?"  The man asked.  Natalie nodded.  "Alright then,  the doll?  Would you like to part with the doll?"  The man asked.  Natalie quickly tightened her grip on the doll and shook her head  "no,  no.  I'm good.  I would like to keep this.."  she responded.  "Alright,  alright.  I'll let you have something for free,  but you can only get one thing,  and you'll have to return it within the week.  Got it?"  The man asked.  Natalie nodded.  She then pointed to one of the spell books.  "This one?  You sure?  This book is pretty unsafe.  There's even a warning on the back and the first page."  The man asked. "I would like that book."  Natalie said.  "Okay,  okay."  The man said as he handed her the book.  "Thank you,  sir."  Natalie said and she walked back home with her doll,  and her new book.