Doll House [On Hold]

Chapter 13: Cursed

Who lives under my house? Why are they living in my house? I have so many questions.

"I'm awake!" I gasp and fall out of a chair, "Henry and Ethan. Where are Henry and Ethan?"

Someone approaches me slow clapping. She's wearing a bunny mask and a red dress.

"Wow" *Clap* "Didn't know you were such a snoozer. Then again, it's been a while." She says,

"We've met before?" I ask,

"Yes," She looks away, "It's been a couple of years."

I wonder what she meant. I look around the room. It looks like a bedroom. The walls are dark blue. The only light around was from a small flashlight. The girl turns towards me and grabs my arm.

"Let me go, woman," I shout. She let's go. "What was that for? I didn't do anything." 

She gives an annoyed gesture, But it's hard to tell since she's wearing a mask. She crosses her arms, "You don't need to know, why. You don't need to know, how. What I do suggest is that you watch your back,"

I roll my eyes, she makes no sense. "Who are you? Where am I? Where are Henry and Ethan? Why-"

"You don't need to know who I am, but you can call me Callie for now. If you're talking about your friends, you'll see them cuddling in the bed behind you." I look at the bed. Surprisingly, what she said was true. "Trust me I didn't force them into doing that. Where you are, well... you'll find out soon. No more questions."

I want to ask more but I stop. Callie's annoyed with me now. I stand up, walk towards the guys and notice a little square piece stuck on Henry's head so I try to pull it off. It didn't work. For some reason, it looked like it was stuck into his head. I'll look into it later, I slap them both.

"OW," They scream, "Lacey why?" Ethan whines, "What did I do to deserve this?" Henry whines along,

"You guys are such babies. Look at you two cuddling each other." They look at each other with realization and split apart in disgust saying "Ewww". I laugh, something I haven't done in a while.

"Where are we?" Henry asks, "Who is she?" Ethan points,

"That's Callie, and she won't tell us where we are," I answer,

"Now that's not true, I said you'll find out soon."

"When is soon?"

"Now." She says. Callie grabs the flashlight and heads towards that door.

She opens the door as we gaze into the large home.

"What is this place?" I asked 

"Welcome to my doll house. Every room upstairs is the same as every room here underground." The walls are dark blue, dirty, and so were the grounds. Callie walked us around showing each and every aspect of the place. "Beautiful, isn't it? I can control everything."

I stop walking, "Wait, what do you mean 'control everything'?"

Callie stops. She looks at me, gives a smile. You know exactly what I mean. Let me show you exactly what I mean. Callie gesture to a family photo. It had me, my mom, my dad and... someone I once knew. 

"Hey who's the girl in the picture?" Ethan asks. "Kinda pretty if I gonna be hone-"

"DO NOT CALL HER PRETTY" I interrupt in anger.

Ethan shuts up. Henry stays quiet. Callie looks annoyed.  

"You children really can't stop arguing for five minutes" Callie sighs. She grabs a little doll that looks just like mom. "This is Sarah, Lacey's mother. I can control her every move and action. I can even tell her what to say. Lacey, why don't you get your phone out and call your mom? Ask her about the white door," As weirded out as I am, I take out my phone and call mom." Callie holds the doll to her mouth.

"Hello? Lacey, what do you want, I'm in a business meeting." Mom says,

"I-I just wanted to call and ask about the white door," I say. I can hear mom sighing.

"Lacey, stop being stupid and listen to your mo-" Callie starts to whisper to the doll

"Lacey, sweet Lacey, listen to mother. I know you want to know what's going on under our house. It's up to you to find out in this mess but always remember, you will always be my lovely Ace." Mom says then hangs up. The place is quiet, no one speaks. I look back at Callie. "Who are you?" I ask. She doesn't answer. "I SAID WHO ARE YOU?" 

"Lacey, calm down," Henry pleads, I push him away saying "No, don't you see? She's hiding things from us."

"Now now Lacey, maybe you should dig into the big brain of yours and tell them what that phrase really means," she says,

"Lacey, what is she talking about?" Ethan speaks, "Nothing!" I respond,

"Hmm, I see you seem to be unhappy at the moment. Maybe I should put you somewhere that will make you want to speak the truth. Henry, why don't you take your lovely friends into the utility room?" Ethan and I look at Henry in shock. His behaviour changes and his brown eyes change to black. "Yes, mother," He answers,

"Mother?" Ethan and I say in sync. Henry grabs our arms and drags us down the hall. "Let me go, asshole," Ethan rages, Henry does not listen. He drops us off in the utility room, locks the door, then proceeds back to Callie. The utility room looked just like you'd think, only dirtier and with more storage equipment. Ethan lies by a washing machine while I try to open the door.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Ethan complains. "Callie took over his mind," I answer,

"How?" He growls,

"There was a square piece stuck to his head. I tried pulling it off while both of you were asleep but it didn't come off. That's probably what's controlling him. If we escape-"

"Ha, you think we'll escape this place? Who do you think we are, some kind of superhero trying to stop crime? We're not going to escape Lacey, just DEAL with it."

"And deal with you not being honest with me? Hell no,"

"Oh, so we are talking about HONESTY here?"

"You could have told me the truth about your condition, couldn't you?"

The room becomes quiet. Ethan doesn't answer. It stays like that for a while. Few minutes pass, I try to break the doorknob. Ethan still doesn't answer, I worry but stay quiet. More time passes and neither one of us talk. I give up on trying to open the door as I slide against it down to the floor.

"You know," Ethan speaks, "I don't actually have a condition, that's just what my parents and I told the principal so she doesn't suspend me for my behaviour. I just have anger issues that I'm trying to fix. I haven't been honest with you, I'm sorry."

I turn to look at Ethan, "I'm sorry too, I haven't been honest either." It becomes quiet again. Ethan looks around trying to find something to distract him. I just struggle to find a way out. It is silent in the room longer than before now. You could hear a pin drop.

"Olivia," I say,

"Huh?" Ethan asks, 

"The girl in the photo from earlier, that's my sister. Her name was Olivia."