Playmate

Cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 1: Dᴏʟʟ

THIS MATERIAL WILL CONTAIN UPSETTING AND GRAPHIC SITUATIONS. BE WARNED.

    Arriving in her mid-thirties, Lorelei, your mother, was scared to commit to marriage. She was barren and she felt the shame of being a dysfunctional woman until she met Doyle, and love blossomed between them gradually. There was never a plan, but you came along, a pleasant surprise.

So together, they decided to secure the family. Along with Doyle was his adopted nine-year-old daughter, Persephone. Lorelei was more than happy to raise a sister with you.

"I kept praying to be blessed with a child," Lorelei said, "and it happened. My prayers were answered."

"You were the best thing that ever happened in our lives," Doyle added with a warm smile.

You grinned shyly, flushing. They never failed to remind you how special you were to them. However, Persephone didn't seem to feel the same way. She was quiet, only answers when spoken to, and didn't talk to you that much. Even as young as six, you understood the difference between you and her; you were the true child, and she was adopted.

But she was your only sister, and she was the best. Her laughter was the sweetest sound that rarely echoed in the house. 

Your room was at the very end of the hallway, while Persephone's is located at the left, and your parents' at the right. At nights, you would hear her giggling loudly across the room. It was easy to eavesdrop on her conversations with her mysterious friend.

"No, that's not true! Stop teasing me!" Persephone defended in a pitchy voice. 

At her door, you sensed almost every movement she made; she was squirming on her bed. 

"Aeron!" She nearly screamed, then giggled.

Aeron was never introduced to the family. Somehow, he found a way to be with your sister during sleeping hours, and you were curious about him. 

Suddenly, both friends fell quiet. In a moment, Persephone was swinging the door open and staring down at you angrily. She was clad in a tight-fitting dress that matched the color of the makeup on her lips. "What're you doing there?" She demanded sharply.

You stole a quick look in her room but Persephone shoved you a step back.

"Go back to your room and stop eavesdropping on me!" She yelled, and in a matter of seconds, Lorelei and Doyle were streaming out of their bedroom with furrowed brows. Persephone paled, dipping her head low in embarrassment.

When asked what you two were on about, Lorelei barged into Persephone's room when you admitted to hearing something strange from it. Much to your dismay, they didn't catch your sister's mystery friend that night. He was nowhere to be found.

~

When the years passed by, you never learned who Persephone's friend is. Aeron never talked. You never heard his voice. You never saw him. But you heard your sister talking to him at night.

One day, Persephone was packing up, ready to leave for college. You were lingering in the doorway of her room. You didn't understand the talk that had transpired in the living room while you were playing last night. What you did know, was that Persephone was leaving.

"Persie, where are you going?" You asked, tapping your finger on the doorframe.

"To school," she answered simply, zipping her luggage and tossing her long hair back. Now that she was nineteen, she was ready to seek the world outside. There was a small pile of boxes in her room that housed almost everything she owned. Her brown eyes flickered up at you, and she smiled. "Come here. I want to give you something."

Curiously, you went closer and smelled the sweet scent of her perfume.

She slithered a hand under her pillow and pulled out a beautiful doll. It was a dark-haired little man in a formal suit. At the sight of it, you bounded to her in eagerness.

"Is that yours, Persie? Can I touch it?"

Persephone chuckled at your enthusiasm, kneeling to your height. Her light brown orbs made you admire her beauty all the more as her bushy eyebrows relaxed at her smile. "This is Aeron." She handed you the doll. "He's my one and only friend. He's the strange man I talk to in my room at night. 

You gasped, cradling it in your arms like a baby. Its dull dark eyes stared at nothing. "He's beautiful!" In pure delight, you hopped around like a rabbit, seemingly forgetting the crucial information she shared.

"I don't know when I'll come back so I'm leaving Aeron to you as a remembrance." Her smile lessened and she caressed your hair endearingly. "I'm sorry for being mean to you sometimes. I always love you, okay? Can you forgive me?"

"You're forgiven, Persie," you replied, and she hugged you tight.

"Take care of Aeron. He'll take care of you." She pulled apart from you and patted your head. "Can you promise me that?"

"Yes!" Giddily, you danced around with the doll in your hand. It weighed as light as a puppy. 

Persephone said a few more things before dragging her luggage and walking out the door. When you looked down at the doll in admiration, its dull, dark eyes stared back. The head tilted to the side, causing you to drop it in cold fright. You watched the doll, who was now looking up at the ceiling as if it hadn't had its eyes on you a while ago.

~

The next day, you had a nightmare. It was about the creature who hid under your bed. Luckily, you woke up to the whispers of your parents, with the living room alight, despite it being three in the morning. Ambling out of your room, you left Aeron on the bed.

"Mommy..." You began to sob, seeking solace in her presence. However, as you stumbled into the living room, you heard the crying of a man, your father.

Doyle was mumbling incoherently, his voice broken and vulnerable.

Fresh from sleep, you opened your eyes and peeled them to see. Your father was leaning so weakly to your mother's shoulder, his big arms around her small figure while she rubbed soothing circles on his back. The sight gave your skin an indescribable prickling sensation. 

Quietly, you stood at the mouth of the hallway. Lorelei's eyes found you a minute later, wide and wet eyes that were red from tears.

"Hey, why are you up so early?" Her voice was congested. 

Doyle immediately pulled away and hid his face, wiping his eyes in his shirt.

Your eyes darted between the adults as they acted intriguingly secretive: clearing their eyes and throat, smiling at you, and asking why you were awake. However, you wouldn't answer, for your eyes were on the phone ringing on the coffee table. It was an unknown number.

Doyle picked it up and Lorelei scooped you in her arms.

"What happened? Tell mommy what happened." No matter how much she talked, she couldn't get you distracted from Doyle speaking to the phone.

You didn't hear much, but you heard him being angry. He was shouting, but when he caught you watching, he was suddenly whispering to the phone. You looked at Lorelei, who was worriedly gazing at her husband. In the mind of a child, bad things were going on. What was happening?

Doyle finally screamed, red in the face as he thrust the phone to Lorelei and stormed out of the house.

"Doyle, where are you going?" Lorelei asked. She looked at the phone and the caller was still active. Regarding you a hesitant stare, she distanced herself a few feet answered the phone in a low voice.

"Mister Doyle?" The caller spoke. 

"This is his wife, Lorelei," your mother said, her back to you. There was more murmuring in the call. And as it progressed, Lorelei's shoulders were shaking. "...are you sure it's h-her? It could be a different Persephone..." She whispered at the end.

"I am so sorry, ma'am, but it is Persephone your daughter. Your husband's number was listed in her phone. I am sorry for what happened. Persephone was dead on arrival."

Though you didn't understand why Lorelei was crying and why Doyle was screaming profanities outside, you heard the words. You heard the call. You heard it all. In turn, you stood on your feet and began to cry too.

You dashed to your room, grabbed Aeron, and trudged in Persephone's bedroom, where you crawled under her sheets and buried your head in her pillow. You hugged the doll close, hoping that Aeron would comfort you like how he did with Persephone. Through teary eyes, you feebly wiped it away and looked at the doll, who was ogling you in return.