The Doll Maker

Chapter 3 - Mary (Part 4)

Mary lay awake in bed, mentally preparing herself for whatever that is to heppen later on with Esme around. Not like she could sleep soundly with all the things going on recently. Blake, he hasn’t told her about him being in the arts stream.

          But he’s now even making dolls already. … Do the dolls he make look like Esme? What if Blake’s the one that made the dolls? Perhaps not. Mary shook the idea away. That is definitely not possible.

          Mary still pondered though, about what to do with Esme. She’s certain that throwing Esme away would not work. Esme is bound to come back to her, till she found a new owner…

          Will Esme do anything today? What would it try to do to scare her?

          Thud.

          Mary blinked before covering herself up in the warmth of her blanket.

          “Mummy, are you going to give me away?” Mary did not reply. She wanted to ignore Esme, but the doll has gotten close to her bed and tugged at her blanket. “Mummy, don’t ignore me!” Esme tugged harder, so that the blanket was completely removed from Mary.

          Mary sat up and looked at Esme.

          “What do you want?”

          “Play with me, mummy!” The high pitched squeaky voice said.

          “I’m not your mummy,” Mary said shortly. She thought for a moment before adding, “Look, I’ll be okay with having you here as long as you do not try to scare me or harm me!” Yeah, that’s the truth after all. Esme is pretty, and Mary does like Esme. But if only Esme won’t haunt her this way…

          Mary reached over and held Esme in her arms. No, she isn’t afraid of Esme anymore. Esme is just a doll, harmless. Esme just want to be cared for, to be loved.

          “Are you giving me away, mummy?”

          “No, I’m not,” Mary smiled. “I’ll never give you away,”

          The next day when Mary goes to school she greeted Josephine and Alicia heppily, Esme’s golden locks obvious in her helf-open schoolbag. Alicia looked at Mary questioningly. Something’s definitely wrong. She approached Mary.

          “Feeling happy today for something? Blake?” Alicia asked casually. Mary laughed and shook her head. “You brought Esme along, whatever is that for?” Mary laughed yet again.

          “Why not? It’s my doll here and the school didn’t set a rule about bringing dolls to school either, right?” Mary held the doll tight against her and smiled. “Esme’s pretty, isn’t she?”

          Alicia gasped. Mary… Her appearance has somehow… “Yes, Mary. Esme’s really beautiful,” Mary let out a happy giggle, turned around and skipped around. Blake then arrived, wrapping his arms around Mary.

          Did Blake not notice? Mary’s eyes have a blue hue in them. Her hair, under the sunlight seems golden. No, Mary isn’t like that. Mary’s hair was brown, under the sunlight or not.

          Alicia glanced at Josephine who still stood behind her. Josephine nodded, acknowledging the difference both of them saw in Mary.

          Esme is settling down on her current owner. Esme, it’s trying to change Mary. … “But why?” Alicia wondered.

          During the recess period that day, Alicia decided to find out the truth. She’s going to talk to Josephine. Josephine must have known about Esme.