The DollMaker Returns

Chapter 22: Can Mason Be Saved Before Halloween?

  "Halloween is ten days away and we still don't know how to get Mason away from the DollMaker." Jackson complained. "But he doesn't even know what's happening." Lisa pointed out. "Nothing's even happening right now." Mason disagreed. "What are you talking about?" 

  "I think we should start looking for the ingredients." Tom said. "NO!" Mason snapped, making Tom jump in surprise. "It's not even Halloween yet! It's not time for the search!" "He's mad, isn't he big brother?" Jackson asked, his voice wavering in worry. "Why else would Gloria and Abigail be screaming at us to shut up?" Mason replied. "I guess so." Jackson responded. "We should probably stop talking now. We don't want to upset Master." "Good idea." Mason agreed.

  "W-Who's your master?" Tom asked. "Is it not obvious who the great master is?" Gloria tested him. "Well duh." Tom replied. "The DollMaker. He's the one who pulled us into this mess last year." "Here's a hint for you; Don't disrespect the Master." Mason hissed with hostility.

  "We have got to stop the DollMaker." Tom announced. "Thanks Captain Obvious." Anna replied. "We wouldn't have known if you hadn't told us." "My pleasure." Tom responded, happy that he pleased his mistress. Of course, Anna had accidently hypnotized him. Again. She seriously had to get control over that power.

  "I don't think you even have until Halloween anymore." James said. "I think it might be earlier now. He seems to be turning faster than normal." "Do you think he's mistaking the DollMaker's control for my hypnosis?" Amelia theorized. "He does tend to give in pretty quickly when I use it on him and that's sort of what's happening now." "He does the same thing when I have control over him." Phil agreed. "Maybe his brain thinks he's being hypnotized instead of mind controlled." "That could very well be Phil." Jackson commented. 

  "How are you not being controlled like you were a second ago?" Rachel asked. "I honestly have no idea." Jackson replied. Then, he leaned down closer to her height level with a flirty expression on his face. "Maybe it's your hypnosis that saved me from the DollMaker's clutches?" He suggested. 

  "Seriously Jack?" Rachel asked. "Now's not the time for flirting!" "Sorry! I can't help it!" Jackson responded. "That's pretty obvious seeing as how it always happens during the most inconvenient situations." Rachel commented. "It just happens." Jackson answered. "I can't control it."

  "Seriously you two. Can we focus on the immediate danger here?" Caleb asked. "Mason could turn into a doll at any second and we don't know when. We need to get looking for these ingredients as soon as we can because if we don't, we might not be able to save Mason in time for Halloween." Then he sighed.

  "If he can even last that long." He had to. Mason was a fighter, despite his clingy personality. He always tried to survive during difficult times and always came out on top, even if he needed some help from other people. Caleb knew that this would be like every other time. He knew that his best friend would hang on as long as he could. He knew that Mason was fighting against the DollMaker harder than any of them were, hoping, praying that they would save him. They would, he knew they would. They had to.

  Because if they didn't, Caleb would never forgive himself.