The DollMaker Returns

Chapter 16: How Time Time Is Left?

  "Things are getting crazy." Amelia commented. "More and more people are being controlled by the DollMaker." Phil agreed. "Yeah." Gavin turned to face his friend. "I heard yesterday that the West Family found a doll on their doorstep and their secondborn Ashton is being controlled by her." "That's not good." Rachel replied.

  "How are we gonna keep the DollMaker from turning Mason into a doll?" Stacy asked. "That is a very good question that I can't answer." Jackson responded. "I think I can." Rosemary said, startling Jackson.

  "How do we stop the DollMaker from turning Mason into a doll than?" Rachel asked. "Yeah." Amelia agreed. "Seriously!?" Jackson asked. "You guys trust Rosemary, but not James?" "There's a difference between forced trust and willing trust." Rachel replied. "Besides, how are we supposed to prove that James is on our side after what he did to you last year?" Alexander asked. "I don't believe you people." Jackson commented. "I understand you're upset about this, but some people, dolls included, are easier to trust than others." Rosemary explained.

  "Is there something you wanted to tell us?" Rachel asked. "Yes, actually." Rosemary replied. "Just get it over with." Jackson said. "I don't wanna hear it." "It's not just Mason you need to keep from the DollMaker's control." Rosemary started. "Who else?" Rachel asked. "The others who you need to keep an eye on during Halloween Night are; Gavin, Phil, and Jack."

  "Wait, so, are you admitting what I think you're admitting?" Mason asked. "She's on the DollMaker's side!" Jackson guessed. "I knew it!" "Now hold on Jack!" Phil argued. "She's not admitting to being on the DollMaker's side because she's on our side." "She's more trustworthy than James." Mason agreed. "Besides, my intuition for detecting evil is never wrong." 

  "What if I told you there was a twist to trust?" Rosemary asked. "What do you mean 'a twist to trust?'" Max asked. "Some things are better left untrusted, are they not?" Rosemary asked. "I knew it!" Jackson yelled. "Rosemary's not evil Jack." Amelia protested. "Sometimes the trustworthy are the untrustworthy and the untrustworthy are the trustworthy." Rosemary argued. "I told you!" Jackson announced. "She's working with the DollMaker! I called it from the beginning! I knew there was something up with her." 

  "Are you okay Jack?" Gavin asked. "Yeah." Jackson answered. "Why?" "You don't usually point fingers at anyone, including dolls." Gavin explained. "Oh, so dolls are people now." Jackson replied, sarcastically. "The boy is correct." Rosemary agreed. "Told you." Gavin said, crossing his arms. "She's not evil Jack." "Not you Gavin." Rosemary responded. "Your friend." 

  "But that doesn't even make sense!" Gavin protested. "Ezra said that you were the trustworthy one! How are you working with the DollMaker?" "Now you know how I feel when you guys say James is untrustworthy." Jackson told him.

  "The difference is that you can't see that neither of them can be trusted Jack." Rachel replied. "Yeah." Stacy agreed. "James can't be trusted Jack." Lisa explained. "Why can't you see that?" "Oh, and you only have until midnight on Halloween to save them from us." Rosemary added. "We have until when now?!" Gavin asked. "Gavin, don't you remember last year at all?" Amelia asked. "Jack found a letter in his locker telling us to beware of midnight on Halloween."

  "But why Halloween?" Jackson asked. He heard a giggle from Rosemary. "I guess you'll never know." Her tone made Jackson feel uneasy, but when he glanced over at Gavin, the older teen had an entranced expression on his face, visible by the creepy smile he had crossing over the plump lips that Jackson wanted to kiss so desperately. Gavin, why do you make me want you so badly at the most inappropriate times?