The Witch's Doll ⚢

Chapter 39

A/N: This is the longest chapter I've written yet.

In the dead of the night, there were unnerving sounds of sirens and hovering helicopters outside the apartment. Isla's eyes had shut open to see Alessandra's face hovering over hers.

"We need to talk again," she murmured, moving away to give Isla space, "about our mothers."

"S-sure," Isla replied as she bolted upright to sit. The word she spoke sounded like fear. Isla had her burner phone under her pillow. One dial and she could bring back up to help her, but Alessandra told her something and she could never deny that, especially not when Isla was desperate, as Alessandra seemed now.

Wordlessly, Isla followed Alessandra back to the living room, where the dishes were still dirty, all piled on the sink. Nobody turned on the lights, it was as if both of them were content to chat in a darkened room.

Alessandra was holding a huge black tome, probably her book of spells. Weirdly, Isla couldn't stay angry, even considering all the loved ones Alessandra murdered. It took too much energy to fight against their calmness all around the city of Salisbury looking for their escaped alleged convict.

"How did you know I was going to be here?" Isla asked, breaking the silence first when it seemed clear that Alessandra wasn't going to.

"I have my ways, Cecil. Do you really think I have no connections?"

At the sound of that, it didn't take Isla too long to figure out. "Did Monica tell you?"

"She did it out of love for me. I love her loyalty."

"Perhaps," she said, drawling.

"My mother is dead." Alessandra hissed at her. "Evonnie was all I have."

"I did not take Evonnie out of your life, Alessandra. The doll did."

"Now, you're pointing fingers," Alessandra whispered as she revealed the cursed doll under her robes.

"Is it too late to ask why you do the things that you do?"

"I couldn't keep Evonnie back to where she was before—adrift, uncertain, at risk. I needed to have the power."

"You took quite a risk yourself," Isla said.

"I've always been willing to go to lengths to protect Evonnie." She derided. "Unlike you, Evonnie's the real angel. I want to rip off your fake wings and show the world your blood is just the same as everyone else."

As if on cue, the helicopters flashed a light towards the apartment's window. Bright lights peeked through the binds.

"They are still looking for you."

Isla tried jostling her mind into recalling that she was safe within the apartment walls; none of the coppers, neither the Flying Squad nor mundane people can see her here, and yet still her skin prickled with nerves.

"I am quite surprised that they all believe the trapped you have set me at all, but then again, my escape would destroy all doubts that I am indeed the Salisbury Killer."

"But look at our situation right now, isn't it curious?" Alessandra asked. "Fate and circumstances had returned us to this moment."

"I would say poorly thought-out collusion." Isla crossed her arms. "This is the same situation where our mothers fell in love, isn't it?"

Alessandra smirked. "If you can't tell, Isla, my voodoo doll is laughing right now. You know about Loa, don't you? I figured that all the neutral parties who chose your side had finally told you."