The DollMaker Returns

Chapter 15: Who Is The DollMaker's Son

  "Aubrey texted me." Caleb announced as they got off the plane to Utah. "What'd she say?" Mason asked. "She said that their doll, Ezra, might know who our two new dolls are and why they're bonding with Jack and Gavin." Caleb explained. "She also said that Tyler said something about the DollMaker's son."

  "We will tell you who the DollMaker's son is once reunited with Ezra and Arthur." Gavin's doll told the group. "Whoever Arthur is." Phil commented. "I'm pretty sure Jay said something about someone or something named Arthur a couple days ago." Jackson explained.

***

  "Okay Aubrey, tell them what we found out literally just now." Jordyn told her sister. "So our doll Ezra just told us that if we don't figure out who the DollMaker's son is and find some sort of potion ingredients, Mason will be a doll forever." Aubrey explained. "Wait, what?" Amelia asked. "So, you're saying that, basically my life is on the line right now." Mason simplified. "Yeah, pretty much." Aubrey replied.

  "Ezra also told us that even if we do manage to save you from turning into a doll, the DollMaker's going after Phil next year." "I don't wanna turn into a doll!" Phil complained. "None of us do." Aunt Kate agreed. "But if we don't focus on finding the DollMaker's son and those ingredients, we could lose Mason as well as everyone else." "We have got to stop the DollMaker!" Jay urged. "Yeah, but how?" Tyler asked. "I don't know Tyler." Uncle Dave answered.

  "Okay, but can we get back to what you guys know about these new dolls that we got earlier this week?" Lisa asked. "Yeah." Jackson agreed. "James and Abigail aren't telling us anything and I don't trust Kendrick at all." "Who's Kendrick?" Jay asked. "Kendrick is the doll that's trying to control my cousin." Jackson explained.

  "Ezra says that the creepy doll with the gray eyes is named Gloria and was turned into a doll in 1925 at the age of ten years old." Aubrey said. "Ezra also says that she's up to no good and only wants to turn Jack into a doll or quicken James's pace in doing just that." "Why do I always get stuck with the troublemakers?" Jackson wondered. "That's a good question Jack." Tyler responded.

  "Ezra says that the porcelain doll is named Rosemary and was turned into a doll in 1858 at the age of fifteen." Aubrey continued. "He says that Rosemary is one of the friendliest dolls in the shop and never wishes for anyone to turn into a doll like her." "Sounds like I got the friendly doll." Gavin commented. 

  "Ezra, did you just say that James and Rosemary used to date before they were turned into dolls in 1857 and 1858 respectively?" Aubrey asked. "Ah. Well that's awkward." Jackson commented. "On our end." Gavin agreed. Especially because of our current situation with our relationship.

  "I just have one question." Caleb said. "Why Mason?" "What do you mean?" Gavin asked. "Why is the DollMaker choosing Mason as his target?" "Because the DollMaker thinks we can't defeat him without Mason." Jackson explained. "He did play a major roll in getting rid of him last year." Gavin agreed.

  "Now I guess we have one question left to answer." Jackson replied. "Where do we go now?" "Find the clues." Jay's doll explained. "Solve the puzzle." Abigail continued. "Before it's too late." Ezra finished. "He is always watching." Gloria added. "Always sniffing out ways to turn poor innocent people into dolls for his collection." Rosemary agreed. "You need to stop him." James deadpinned. "Before it's too late." Jackson whispered. 

  "Now what do we do?" Caleb asked. Jordyn looked around the room, her gaze stopping at Caleb, making him shift, uncomfortably, at the unwanted attention despite himself. "I think that's what we have to find out."