The Headmaster

Pyromania

Maria and Brian were in deep conversation as the team arrived in the hall ready to prepare for the night-time vigil. Maria noticed them and pulled Brian closer so their backs were to the group.

"Kev will do it when you create the second distraction, he's going to get everything prepared just before we start." She said in hushed tones.

"Anything you want me to say in particular?" He fiddled with his goatee absentmindedly, "Any history you wish me to convey?"

"Nothing really, I grabbed it from a charity shop this morning, I think the box is probably more haunted than she is."

Brian stared at the dishevelled looking doll stuffed inside an old wine box. His brain grasping any potential stories. It looked like it had been through hell, the skin was stained with a blue marker pen, permanent messy makeup covered her face. The dress it was wearing looked older, it had possibly belonged to a real baby, it was too well made to be just for a doll. He picked her up carefully, not sure on how well she would hold together and was surprised by her robustness. The eyes still worked. He lay her back down in her makeshift crib. "I've got some ideas."

"Good." Maria turned back to face the group. "I was just introducing Brian to our haunted doll. We were sent it about a month or two ago, it is part of the reason why Steven felt he could no longer be a part of our filming crew."

A murmur spread through the group, they may have brought it but Becca could smell the bullcrap as soon as she entered the room. It was all too suspicious. She chose to ignore Maria's spiel, instead, she set down her gear and walked over to take a closer look. To her, the doll was rather innocuous, an old and obviously well-loved toy that had seen better days. It was nothing like 'The old man's chair' she had encountered three months ago; no strange vibrations or negative energy.

"Do you think your friends will like it?" Maria grabbed Becca's arm before she could touch the doll. Her long talon-like nails threatened to pierce the soft skin on the underside of Becca's forearm.

"Don't all little girls like dolls?" Becca fought out of Maria's grasp. She stood there, eyes narrowed and fists clenched in preparation for an impending fight.

They stared at each other for a long time, each waiting for the other to make the first move. Neither wanted to concede defeat.

"Perhaps, you two ought to step away from that doll," Brian said soberly, "I think her energy has shifted and it is causing some tension."

Glad for an excuse to create some distance, Becca walked purposefully back to her equipment and announced she was going back to the hub. As soon as she was out of earshot she let loose a low grumble of insults and accusations. Everything from Maria's bad dye job, obvious cosmetic surgery to the overall fakeness that infected the whole operation. By the time she reached the two offices, she was back in control of her emotions. Her mind was back on the job; back in the moment. 'Was that door open when we left?'

Becca stood a foot away from the Headmaster's office door. The door was wide open, revealing the double air mattress and night vision set up that Kev and Maria used. She immediately felt sorry for whoever had the unenviable task of watching and listening to the several hours of footage from each night. "I hope they pay for therapy." She said quietly to herself.

Curiosity forced her to take a single step closer. Allowing her to peer into the room and admire the artwork that adorned the walls. A collection of watercolours, one she recognised as the local church, all by the same artist. She supposed they were local, and had either donated them to the restoration or had been gifted to a previous headmaster who had left them behind. The signature was too small to read, she lifted her foot to take another step.