The Cursed Russian Doll

Confronted

The party finished with an anti-climatic bang. Arthur had decided to perform a magic show and it was working very well, he was a magician at heart, but the moment Alfred could not make up any silly excuses on how Arthur was performing the treats he immediately freaked out. He grabbed onto the nearest thing, being Gilbert, and proceeded to shake the life out of him. It was funny at first but then Gilbert pushed Alfred away which caused a chain reaction of toppling bodies, many swear words being spewed in different languages until Francis tripped up on someone's foot. The cake he had baked, decorated and showered with love flew majestically in the air and ended with a comical splat on the ground. 

That was when the argument started, Francis blaming Arthur for not looking after the children. Arthur then pointing out adamantly it was not his fault and turning the tables on Alfred. The accused stuttered out an excuse and turned to Francis about not looking where he was going. Matthew's birthday was down the drain. Even he could feel his friends pitying gaze on him. He did not want to be pitied.

"Father, it is my fault as it is my birthday, I apologise." Matthew's voice was firm and unwavering. He did not wait for his parents and brother to react and turned to his friends. "Thank you all for coming, though it seems there will be no cake." He showed everyone out the door. Alfred had tried to stop him but when Matthew gave him the cold piercing stare he knew nothing he would say would help or change Matthew's decision.

"We could have done something...."Arthur tried to calm Matthew. Placing a warm hand on his shoulder. "Maybe hand out sweets that we have to hide from your oaf of a brother." Matthew shook his head.

"No father, you have spent enough money already, no need to fix anything my birthday was the best." Matthew knew he was bending the truth at an angle harsher than ninety but if it meant his parents would not become guilt-ridden for the next month or so he would happily say the most bitter of lies.

"I'm sorry bro." Alfred pulled Matthew into a tight hug to emphasise his sadness. Matthew let his lips dip into a sad smile. "If there is anything I can do I will do it!" He stated boldly.

"Sleep in the attic." Matthew didn't even know what had come out of his mouth but the mixture between sour and horror Alfred's face formed into told him he had just sentenced his brother to hell.

"No, Mattie I love you, bro. Anything but the attic. Anything but the attic!" He kept on muttering to himself. "I'll sleep on the floor, outside the house in the park but not the attics."

"I think it is a wonderful idea!" Arthur came up behind Alfred, his moss green eyes twinkling with amusement. Matthew knew Arthur was a sadist at heart but he agreed to his idea a bit too quickly for any sane person.

With that Alfred was sent to the attic with a disapproving stare, sure he had tried to spend as much time downstairs with excuses like homework (it was the weekend), being hungry (he just had a two course meal) and wanting to play with Matthew (to which Matthew betrayed him by excusing himself from the living room). He looked back at Francis, as last hope but the French man shrugged his shoulders and muttered something about 'suffering bringing people closer'.

Matthew had to hand it to himself, Alfred had given him an opportunity to stay alone in the room for the night. He was lucky he had thought on his feet. Now he could explore the weird feeling he felt around the doll. The whole time he had tried to ignore it because Vacilica was in the same room as him but he could never shake the feeling the doll seemed to smile a secretive smile everytime he looked at it.

Seems like the princess is back, he looks even more determined than before. How heroic...

Matthew reached to unbutton his shirt when a shiver trailed like honey down his spine. He jerked around to see the doll watching, its smile ever more innocent than before. He grabbed his night clothes and fled to the bathroom. His legs failing him he slid to the floor, the feeling now was amplified to the fullest.

He seems to take the aura of ill intent well. If Natalya was here she would not hesitate to bring him to his knees and strike fear into his very soul and etch it into his memory with a hot iron...

Matthew had composed himself and changed into his night clothes, he came out the bathroom and pulled up a chair to the desk which held the casing for the doll.

I know that animal on his shirt! Katya told me about them being fluffy and white with really sharp teeth, I wonder if they can snap bones like I do! They are called Polar Bears...I wish Katya was here she would call me a clever boy and pat my head...I want a pat on the head...

Matthew studied the doll, its posture having not moved a hair breathe. But his eyes, those violet orbs seemed to have dulled all of a sudden. They were so full of life before, sparkling in youth-like naïveté. But now they were overcast with the same shade that adults possessed, maturity.

If I kill him how long do you think his parents will notice? I beat Natalya with a record of a week but I guess I was cheating then by killing the rest of the family. But my little sister did not have to know...

"I know there is something strange about you..." Matthew felt like an idiot but his gut was never wrong.

That is rude! Katya always tells me not to say weird things like that to people because it makes them feel bad but he is being mean now!

"It is my birthday today...I'm sixteen now." Matthew continued.

Happy birthday little one I guess I can forgive you for being rude but you will have to apologise properly!

"I am happy..." Matthew trailed off. He did not know where he was going with this, "Have you ever felt like you are missing something. Something so important that it kills you on the inside every day?"

Will I miss my sisters, but not my creator he deserved the death we gave him. I also miss Mother Russia, she is very cold but when you get to know here you will enjoy the cold as will, it is also easy to hide dead bodies in the snow that is my favourite part!

"I have tried to do everything find friends, get a girlfriend and be the understanding son every family wants." Matthew tightened his grip on his arms which his had folded moments ago,

Silly boy, you can't ask for happiness, Katya said it is an emotion that you can sell or buy it comes with the special someone. Katya said if I am a good boy that special someone will give me all the hugs and kisses to keep me warm in Mother Russia's winter. Natalya tried to be my special someone but you can't choose, someone in the sky does that for you...Maybe if you be good you will also find special someone but I have to be careful not to kill her, Katya said that is I kill her then no more hugs and kisses!

"I'm crazy to be talking to a wooden doll...but you feel different."

I'm not a doll! I'm a good boy!

"Will you be my friend, I have friends but I can't just tell them everything I'm telling you now." Matthew should be immediately registered into an asylum, this is the stupidest thing he had ever done.

Friend...wait I remember what Katya said about them! He wants to be my friend...but if he does something I don't like then I have to kill him don't I? As a friend, I have to look after him and love him...Katya said that friends are people who you trust everything to...If he does this then I can't go back to save Katya and Natalya...But I really want a friend to play with and talk to...Natalya has friends even if they are her knives and Katya has friends in the community...But I don't have friends...

"If we are friends I will help you and you help me...so will you come to life for me?" Matthew tried.

A friend! Okay, little one! I will do my best...But Katya and Natalya!....Friend or blood...Friend or blood....

Matthew knew it. It was hopeless. He was imagining things.

Okay, friend...