Old Wounds
Old Wounds
Dear Mr. Miyamoto,
It is with great fear I am reaching out to you. I don't know what to do. You're my last hope here with this. My name is Charlotte and I'm 18 years old, but I still live at home. I go to Geistville Community College.
I have this doll, it was given to me by a relative, whom I am not close with. I've enclosed a picture of the doll at the bottom. Ever since getting her, weird things have been happening. My name's been called when I'm the only one home, I've had nightmares where I can't breath and woke up with these weird bruises around my neck.
I brushed it off at first because my family thought I was nuts. It wasn't until the doll started moving off of its stand at night that I realized I'm NOT crazy and this is in fact happening.
First, it'd be on the floor. No big deal, I have a cat, Pearl, she knocks things off my shelves sometimes but this is a porcelain doll and Pearl sleeps in the living room in her cat cave. If Pearl knocked it over, it should've broken. Nope. Still intact.
Then, I swear I saw its eyes follow me when I was getting ready for school.
Last night, I had the nightmare about not being able to breathe and when I woke up, the doll was on top of me.
Please… Please help me. I'm scared it's going to kill me…
Eiji sighed heavily, reading over the letter for what felt like the hundredth time. It had been concerning when he received it initially.
Now, reading it over again, there was dread building up. He pulled up the photograph included.
The doll, to anyone else, looked normal. Snow white porcelain, dark, almost black brown eyes, she had a purple chiffon dress on, covered in ruffles and frills, her pale blonde hair in ringlets around her head.
If the doll wasn't involved in a haunting and didn't look so… otherworldly, Eiji would've called it "cute" and moved on.
He had to take it with a grain of salt, however… and he wasn't sure if this was something his team should handle.
The last time I dealt with a haunted doll case…
He looked at the picture he kept by the computer of when Ken was a newborn, the day they finally got to bring him home from the hospital.
I made one of the worst mistakes of my life.
Goddess, why did I bring that thing into the house?
Old guilt bubbled in his chest as he bit the nail of his index finger. Normally, he never hesitated… but this had an old wound attached.
"Eiji, I don't want that thing in my house."
"I know, I promise I'm burning it in the morning. It'll be destroyed and not be able to bug anyone again. I got the key. Just focus on resting. Don't want you or the baby getting stressed."
I'm gonna need to talk it over with Carmen. One thing is for sure, I am NEVER bringing that thing into the house.
Not where it could terrorize Ken or Hideki or Hikaru. Not…
He growled.
Not where it can touch Carmen.
Never again.
His heart went out to the girl. He knew what it was like to be terrorized by something you thought was innocent.
Something, that you thought would never get a chance to harm you.
Just hope her house doesn't have stairs.
I need to talk to Carmen… and maybe call Naomi. Because I don't know if I can take this case. I'd have to sell her on it and even then.
He gripped the arm of his chair tighter, eyes trailing from the doll's face to the photograph. Carmen, in the picture, looked exhausted but relieved, holding the tiny bundle that was their son. Safe and sound, home at last.
What am I gonna do? Eiji sighed heavily, getting up. He had to get out of the room for a bit.
He didn't want to have this conversation.
Deep down though, he knew in truth he wanted to help this girl. Free her of whatever was inside the doll.
I'm just scared that it'll bite me again. I usually forward this crap to Naomi.
He headed upstairs, going to Carmen's office. The pool room was nearby, the door was open a crack so she could listen if any of their kids were in the pool.
As it stood, no one was. The boys were in the family room, watching a movie of some sort. It was just them.
He peered inside, Carmen was sketching on her screen tablet, her eyes narrowed in focus.
Eiji swallowed hard, knocking on the doorway. Her eyes never left the tablet but her hand did pause in its movements.
"If this is a bad time, I can come back in an hour." He offered when she did look up.
Carmen narrowed her eyes, looking her husband over… In particular his eyes. He was nervous, shifting in place, hands tucked into his jean pockets.
"What's on your mind, Mi Amor?"
Eiji bit his lip. He really didn't want to have this discussion.
I could just make something up and run upstairs.
But that's lying.
I could say I turned it down and go upstairs and call Naomi.
But that's half lying.
I could…
Augh, I'm gonna have to do this, aren't I?
Eiji let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping. Normally, they could talk about everything and anything.
Just. Say it.
"Carmen, I got a letter today from a client about a new case." He frowned, unease blooming within. "I… This is something I really need to talk to you about."
"What's going on?" She frowned, concern washing over her. "Is it involving something like what happened to Hideki and Hikaru?"
"No, no! We're not taking in more kids." He held up his hands. "It's not like that… but it does involve something that we both hate. See, she has this doll and-" Eiji cut himself off, at the stricken look Carmen had. "C-Carmen?"
Carmen narrowed her eyes, shaking her head.
"No. You know the rule." She got up, grabbing a water bottle out of the small fridge she kept in her office. "I don't want any creepy haunted objects in my house!"
"I wasn't going to bring it home." He explained, a pleading look coming to his eyes. "I swear, what happened back then won't happen EVER again."
Carmen stared at him, frustration coming to her eyes.
"I don't… Eiji, if something attaches itself to anything and comes after the kids or me, you'll never forgive yourself. You're STILL upset about what happened." She went up to him, cupping his cheek. He pressed it into her hand, closing his eyes. His shoulders were shaking a little.
"It was my fault." He murmured, his voice cracking a little. "Carmen, I thought…. I thought…"
"Shh… I know." She stroked his arm. "Mi Corazon, I think I know better than anyone… I was scared too."
"He was so tiny… and you were in so much pain… Carmen, I… I'm torn." He ran a hand through his hair, a haunted look in his eyes. "I want to help. I want to help this girl really badly but I don't want to risk you guys either… Especially you." He frowned, bringing his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. "Please…"
Carmen brought her arms around him, stroking his back. She didn't want to say anything, except dig her heels in and say no. In a perfect world, if she said "no" once, he would've never spoken of it again… But the idea of her Eiji even doing that unsettled her.
It still hurt.
While Ken, it seemed had no health issues after his rather unceremonious arrival, they had been terrified.
C-section, having a hard time getting out of bed to go to the NICU, Eiji being there every single moment, trying his best.
We went through heck back then because of a stupid doll…
And now there's another stupid doll out there.
She tightened her arms around him, burrowing her face into his chest.
"I love you." She leaned up, giving him a serious look. "I'm not gonna lie, I don't want you to do this. Not even in the slightest. I want you to give it up."
Eiji nodded, lowering his head a little.
"But… I'm not going to ask you to do that because I don't want someone else getting pushed down the stairs or killed because of some stupid little doll." Carmen tilted his chin up. "But I don't want it in my house. Not even for a night. Okay?"
"It won't go anywhere but a fire pit in some campground off the highway. I promise." Eiji vowed. "I'll cleanse myself before coming in the house too."
Carmen played with his necklace, kissing his chin. He kissed her, holding it for a moment.
She pulled back after a moment, touching her forehead to his.
"I love you." He breathed, relief washing over him like a wave. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." She nuzzled him. "You big darn, hero."
"Just an investigator."
"Yeah, who if he brings that doll home, can kiss back rubs goodbye for six years."
"Sounds fair. More than fair." He kissed her forehead. "Thank you."
"Welcome." She wagged her finger at him. "Remember, I better not see it in my house."
"You won't." He grinned.
"Good."
oooooo
He didn't need to hold an entire meeting about this one. Just one message:
"It's a doll. After the investigation, we're burning it. No chance of it going after anyone. Got it?"
They all knew. They had investigated the first doll case and had been part of deflecting others until now.
"Eiji, are you sure about this?" Chase asked as he helped pack up the van, hefting another duffle bag into it. He also packed a gas can full of fuel for a fire. "We can reschedule."
"No."
"Eiji-"
"Chase. I promise, I'm gonna be fine." Eiji smiled a little, trying to hide the dread he was feeling. "I'm scared but I'm fine."
"You could stay home. We could drive down to Monstruo and grab Naomi-"
"Nope. She has kids too." Eiji walked past him. "Gonna go say goodnight to the kids."
Soon as he was gone, the team huddled together.
"Alright, we know this is gonna mess with him." Skyler spoke up, crossing her arms. "So, we have to put as much space between the doll and Eiji as possible."
"I'll be bait." Chase held up a hand.
"Of course you're bait." Lucian smirked, before it faded. "Eiji needs to handle nerve center. He'll be on monitor duty all night. No investigations outside of it."
"He's not gonna be okay with that."
"He will. Something tells me he will and if not." Lucian smirked. "That's what texting Carmen will do."
"... Lucian, you seriously scare me sometimes."
He shrugged.
"Either way. Eiji is not getting set off tonight. We're not letting him get near the darn thing unless it's attaching cameras to it."
"We got all of the spell tags in a box too. We'll stick 'em all around the nerve center."
The team nodded to one another.
No mistakes tonight.
Let's do this for our little ghost family.
oooooo
Charlotte's home was a modest three bedroom house. With white paint and a grey roof, it looked like your typical house.
"My parents are out of the house for the weekend and if I have to leave for the night I will too."
Eiji knocked on the door, leaning a bit to the side.
It wasn't long before a young woman opened it. She was pale, her blond hair hanging in ringlets around her face, the rest pulled into a short ponytail at the back of her head. She wore a bright red scarf around her neck as well.
"Hey there. Charlotte Monroe?"
"Y-Yes? And you're Eiji?"
He smiled reassuringly, offering her a hand as she shook it.
"I promise we're gonna get to the bottom of what's happening to you."
Charlotte relaxed a little, ushering them inside.
"I had my parents take the cat with them. Pearl won't be interfering with anything."
"That's good to know-" Eiji's words died on his lips as he saw what was sitting on the coffee table.
Unease washed over him like a tidal wave as his eyes met its soulless glass orbs.
"I… see we're getting right into it then? This is the doll?"
"Y-Yes." Charlotte shuddered. "I didn't want her in my room tonight. I'm sorry. Will that be a problem?"
"No, not at all."
Chase whistled as he looked it over.
"So, does her hair grow too or-"
"Chase!" Eiji hissed.
Charlotte blinked, confusion in her eyes.
"Hair growing? I… I don't think so. Is that a sign?"
"No, no." Eiji reassured, waving it off. "Just an old legend about another supposedly haunted doll." He gave Chase an annoyed look.
"Oh. Okay. Can I get you guys anything? Tea, soda, coffee?"
"Nah. We're fine, honestly. Shall we?"
She nodded, leading them to the dining room of the home.
"Sorry, I just… feel really uncomfortable talking in front of her."
Eiji gave her a reassuring look, taking out his notepad.
"No worries. Let's hear it."
Charlotte nodded, fumbling with her fingers.
"Okay, for one… I don't have a name for her. I just call her "that thing" since I've honestly always hated dolls. My favorite toys were stuffed animals. I hated it whenever anyone gave me a doll but for some reason I can't seem to get rid of it."
Eiji narrowed his eyes.
"How so?"
Charlotte closed her eyes tightly, exhaling sharply.
"I tried throwing it away when I messaged you. It came back."
"And you're parents wouldn't have brought it back in?"
"Never."
She glared down into the garbage can. She looked at the doll in her other hand, giving it a sneer.
"Meet your new resting place." She chucked it in hard enough that she heard a crack, the doll's neck broken in an awkward angle. She smiled, putting the lid on and heading back inside.
"Alright, time for some Leonideas-" She stopped short as she entered her room.
The doll was lying on her bed, perfectly repaired.
"I was out of the house for less than two minutes." She shivered.
Eiji finished jotting the information down. Internally, he was horrified at what he was hearing, but he was giving an outward appearance of calm. Just trying to do his best to be reassuring.
"I see… and do you still have bruises?" Eiji gave her a gentle look. "My colleague here, he's also a paramedic. It just helps to see for documentation."
Charlotte fidgeted before nodding, undoing the scarf.
As it fell away, the team gasped.
Her neck was covered in bruises, almost all in the same pattern, traveling entirely up her neck. Two on each side.
"Good gracious…" Lucian walked over to her. "Is it alright if I…?"
"You can." She murmured.
Lucian was gentle, tilting her head to the side as he examined the bruises. There was a distinct pattern. One he unfortunately was very familiar with.
"Yeah, these are finger prints." He concluded, stepping back. "They're miniature but these are distinctly human finger prints."
Charlotte replaced her scarf around her neck.
"So… she was choking me for sure?"
"It's possible. Which is why I think it would be in your best interest if you didn't stay the night while we're here." Eiji gave her a gentle look. "Is it possible for you to join your parents? We'll be gone by day break."
"I can go to my boyfriend's house. He lives down the street." She smiled a little. "Bill wouldn't let anyone hurt me."
"Then give him a call and pack up. We'll make sure the doll doesn't bug ya."
"Thank you."
It wasn't long before Charlotte left the house, hurrying down the street on her bike. Eiji closed the door behind her, sighing heavily.
"Alright, since the most activity happens when the doll is in her room, I'll go move it there and get the ghost box setup-"
"Nope." Lucian clamped a hand on his shoulder. "I'm doing that."
"Eh?" Eiji furrowed his brow. "Luce, I can handle this."
Lucian smiled, shoving him along.
"I know. But you've been active in our last two investigations while I had to babysit the cameras. You take a darn turn."
"Wait." Eiji turned around, giving him a suspicious look. "You're… volunteering. As ghost bait. You're actually volunteering!?"
"Yes. Problem?"
Eiji sighed heavily, a bit guilty for being relieved he didn't have to spend too much time in the same room as the doll.
"No."
Lucian grinned wickedly.
"Good. Now, get in the freakin nerve center."
Alright…
Let the night begin.