The DollMaker Returns

Chapter 27: Is The DollMaker Gone?

"Tomorrow is Halloween and we still need to find a way to make these dolls drink the potion without them figuring anything out." Amelia announced. "But from the cracks I see on the twins faces, it looks like they were controlled while we were gone." "We have enough potion for all of them." Rachel assured her. "However, I do think Jack will be the hardest one to crack. He's been controlled before, so he's the least likely to trust what we say. We might have to bait him somehow."

"Use the potion on Phil first." James instructed. "He's the most trusting of the dolls." "For once, that actually makes sense." Rachel commented. "He was the one who wanted to play earlier in the season Rachel." Caleb reminded her. "I know that, I'm just saying that this is the first thing to actually make sense this year." Rachel replied.

"But that leaves one question." Lisa said, not needing to specify what she meant. She knew everybody else understood what she meant. "Your efforts are useless against the DollMaker." Jackson spat. "Jack, this isn't you." James protested. "Let us help you." "Don't listen to him Jack." Gavin told him. "Gloria's the reasonable one. James is not to be trusted." "He's more trustworthy than Rosemary." Jackson argued, tightening his hands into fists.

Gavin slammed his hands down on the table. "Rosemary is the most trustworthy out of all the master's helpers!" He exclaimed. "You just keep believing that Gavin." Jackson responded. "Thy are confused on where thy loyalties lie." Mason commented. "Who put you in charge?" Gavin asked. "Let's stop arguing on where loyalties lie, alright?" Caleb suggested. "You are not the master's son!" Max argued. "You are not in charge!" "He's the oldest person alive in the building." James pointed out. "He is, technically, in charge."

"It's not like you have a choice." Hannah said. "Tell us where Phil is and nobody gets hurt." Lisa requesed as Caleb and Gavin prepared their fists. "You better not hurt Abigail!" Mason protested. "Abigail and the dolls are fine as long as you tell us where Phil is." Rachel replied. "He's in the library." Alexander explained. "I just saw him a few minutes ago." "Thy is easily tricked!" Mason scolded.

"If he didn't tell us Phil's location, you would've turned into a doll without me." Amelia pointed out. "Do you want to turn into a doll and lose me or would you rather stay alive with me and lose the doll until we can find a way to get her back in a safe, non-lethal way?" "I-I guess I'd have to stay with you." Mason answered, slowly. Deep down, he just couldn't lose Amelia.

"Well, in order to do that, we'd have to turn Phil back to normal first and than follow James's instructions until all of you are alive again." Amelia explained. "I guess so." Mason responded. "Just make it fast. You are testing my paitence." The group headed to the library and found Phil playing with Abigail.

"Phil, we have a surprise for you." Alexander announced, trying to do something to help his friends get Max out of the DollMaker's control, being the younger twin. "Ooh! I like surprises!" Phil replied, excitedly grabbing Abigail and running over with her in his hands. "What is it?"

Hannah handed him a cup filled with the potion. "Here." She said. "Drink this." Phil drank the liquid from the cup and groaned, dropping Abigail, who Mason caught and held tight before she hit the ground. "Idiot." He mumbled.

"What happened?" Phil asked, groggily. "Find Alexander." James instructed from Jackson's tight grip. "He's only slightly harder because he's a twin."

"If you expect me to tell you where Alexander is, you were mistaken." Mason said, giving the group a glare. "Remember our deal?" Amelia asked. "I'm starting to wish I hadn't made that deal." Mason commented. "Fine he's in the kitchen." "Thank you."

The group headed to the kitchen and found Alexander playing with the cooking stuff with Max. Phil also noticed that Alexander had cracks forming on his face, signalling the start of his transformation.

"Ooh! Present?" Alexander wondered. "You're too gullible Alexander." Jackson commented. "They're trying to trick you into helping them keep the DollMaker from taking over." "Oh, you're being silly Jack." Lisa giggled. "It's perfectly fine Alexander. Here, drink this. It'll quicken the process and help the DollMaker win faster and you'll be a doll as soon as you swallow it." "Yay! Fun!" Alexander exclaimed as he took the cup from Lisa.

Jackson sighed in frustration. "These kids are too gullible these days." He complained. "Can I taste it?" Max asked. "It looks promising." "These people are too easy to trick." Jackson commented. "Of course you can Max!" Phil replied, handing him a cup. They twins gulped their portions of the potion down and groaned. 

"Uhh... what's going on?" Alexander asked as his cracks healed up while Mason's got wider. "There goes another one." Mason complained. "You two were starting to turn into dolls." Amelia explained. "That explains why I'm on the floor." Max responded, heaving himself to a sitting position, forcing Alexander to the floor as well. "Gavin." James said. "You must find Gavin."

"Alright you two, where's Gavin?" Amelia asked. "Jack, do you know where Gavin is?" Rachel asked. "This is ridiculous." Jackson complained. "Gavin's in the lounge hanging out with Rosemary." "Okay, that was easier than I expected." Rachel commented. The group headed to the lounge and found Gavin laughing at something Rosemary had told him, presumably a joke of some kind.

"Hey Gavin, wanna try this drink?" Max asked. "Alex and I tried it and it's really good." "What's in it?" Gavin asked. "Poison." Mason told him. "You're funny Mason." Caleb said. "Gavin, there's no poison in the drink, I promise." "That's because it turns you back to normal and brainwashes you into helping them stop master." Jackson explained. "You two hilarious." Phil commented. "Idiot." Mason spat.

"So, what do you say Gavin?" Amelia asked. "Do you wanna try it?" "I think I'm gonna risk it." Gavin replied after a second of thought and no answer from Rosemary. "I think that's a good idea Gavin." Rachel responded. "I do too." Max agreed, handing him a cup.

Gavin hesitantly drank the potion and groaned as his suit turned into normal clothes. "Guys.. what's going on?" He asked. "You were turning into a doll." Phil explained. "Now find Mason's hiding place and he will drink the antidote." James instructed from inside Jackson's arms.

After about five minutes, Hannah and Amelia found Mason hiding behind the couch, Abigail held tightly in his arms. "Clever hiding spot Mason." Amelia commented. "Drink up." Caleb instructed, handing him a cup. Mason grumbled and hesitantly took it, keeping true to his word, after gently setting Abigail down on the couch. He drank the antidote and almost threw up a couple times before groaning in pain and eventually because he didn't remember anything.

"What's going on?" Mason asked as he put his hat back on and his cracks finished healing. "What happened?" "You were poisoned." Jackson explained, making Mason's heartbeat pick up it's pace. "You weren't poisoned." Hannah assured him. "You were just turning into a doll."

"Okay Jack." Lisa said. "It's your turn. Drink up." "I am NOT drinking that poison that your friend made for you so you can poison us all!" Jackson protested. "Okay, so I guess you don't get private time with me and you don't get to flirt with and kiss me anymore now that you're a doll." Rachel started, turning towards the door. The no kissing Rachel was the deal breaker for him.

"Rachel wait!" Jackson called, extending his hand. Rachel turned to face him with an eyebrow raised. "Okay fine. I'll drink it." He snatched the rest of the antidote from Rachel and grumpily drank it, screaming in pain at his cracks healing up and passing out into Mason's arms due to the fact that he couldn't stand pain for very long. When he woke up, he found himself laying on the couch with Caleb staring down at him with a worried expression crossing his pale face.

"Ugh..." He groaned. "Oy very, what... happened?" "You were turning into a doll." Hannah explained. "Can you guys explain things in greater detail?" Alexander asked. "Okay, so here's what we know." Amelia said. "It all started when Phil's cousins doll Abigail appeared in a box on Mason's doorstep at three in the morning." Rachel started.