Peril 5

"Not bad that you know how to drive"- Lance said. And this church boy has been teasing me since the time I started to leave the areas of the cathedral. Geez, will he stop? "She was a good driver you know"- Axel rolled his eyes.

"Shut up little doll"- Lance also rolled his eyes. Axel wants to punch him but Mina stops him before he could even do what he desired. "So tell me Lance, are you the only church boy left?"

"Yes"- he uttered. I just remained silent after that long conversation we had since we left the church. Geez, I'm hungry now.

"Why don't we stop at the mini restaurant over there?"- Mina suggested. "Eh, I don't have any money with me."

"I told you since earlier that this is the effect of what happened that started in 1884-1892, our land become dark and cursed since last night when the storm occurs"- Lance said. Yes, he told us that everything around our land has changed the moment that stormy night happens. He explained that this year might be the repeat of what happened in 1884. The same thing that happens to Bonnie's family and town by the Goblin Attack, and the Poltergeist Attack in the church.

"But Lance, do you know why this happens? And does it happened because of that orphanage and academy?"- Axel asked. "I don't know. But I think it does have the connections by those establishments. But I don't know the rest of the effects or its causes, that is why we need to keep going to know more"- Lance said and he went out of the car and we also followed.

I carried the dollhouse, Mina and Axel just walked this time. Lance opened the door of the restaurant, he signed us to stop. He grabs something in his coat and pulled out a tiny bag. He opens the bag and grab some dust and sprinkled it all around. My eyes widen and see many people eating. "Just as I thought, these persons in here are all ghosts"- he said and we walked to the counter. "Excuse us, Madam. Do you have any dolls around here?"- I asked.

"You are all alive. I'm surprised you used a speck of magic dust to see us all here. I'm glad I have this doll that is given to me by an old lady who gave it to me as a gift before the witches entered this restaurant of mine"- she narrated. "Where is the doll?"- Lance asked.

"And what's your name, Madam?"

"My name is Emelda Chandelle but my customers and workers call me Emelda, owner of this restaurant"- Then she handed us a doll with no arms. "I don't know where his hands. But you can enter the kitchen to find it. I look all over in the halls but none. I only have limited touches in all the things here, so please do take care of that little doll. It was like a son to me the moment I received it"- she smiled and disappeared along with the other ghosts.

We entered the kitchen and saw that this was full of dead meats and rotten fruits and vegetables. "Where the hell is the arms of that doll?"- Axel said. "We just need go find arms, hurry"- I said. I placed the dollhouse in the table area and we begin to search. I turned on the flashlight and used the crowbar to move some things.

"I found one!"- Axel said as he pulled an arm with him. Lastly, Lance has the other arm. "All we need is needle and thread"- I said. "I have"- Mina said. She pulled something in her back and it's a thread and a needle. "Why do you have this?"- I asked. "Well, I just discovered it earlier on the ride. Don't know why hehe"- she smiled.

I grab it. Lance placed the doll in front of us and I did some stitches to its arms. Then, the doll's eye opened and blinked. "Mommy Emelda?"- he spokes.

"No, I'm Gesielle"- I said. He sits up and observed his arms. "I thought I would never be alive"- he stands up and around the place. "So I was the only one left among all the dolls that are in the glass shelves?"- he sadly said. I open the dollhouse and he looked like he was so amused. "Wow, but why are other rooms don't have colors? And only the 3rd floor of the ballroom has colors?"- he wondered.

Then, a light appeared in the kitchen as this doll also lights up. "Oh my goodness, a beautiful kitchen! Just like what I have always wanted!"- he said. "What's your name? I believe you wanted to cook right?"- I asked. He touches the plates and cups of the table in the kitchen and smiled. "My name is Calix Klauffer. Mommy Emelda was like a mother to me even though way back that I cannot be able to speak like a human to her."

He smiled. I grab hold of him and look behind him:

15

"So you are doll no. 15?"- I asked. "What is that all about? I don't even know why you told me that number"- he said. "Well, we are on our journey to find all 18 missing dolls of this dollhouse. And I am looking for my Grandma."

"Really?! Well, this is very interesting. I'll go, it's nice to know the other 16 dolls. I wonder what we will be looked like when all the dolls are complete"- he smiled. I closed the dollhouse and about to leave. "I almost forgot. Grab that knife above the cabinets. I always saw Mommy Emelda holding it every time there is a danger going on in the restaurant. This might help you"- he said.

I was trying to get to that cabinet to where Calix pointed that knife of Madam Emelda. "I'll get it"- Lance said and he opens it and hands that knife to me. Oh, it still has its cover.

"By the way, who are these guys with you Gesielle?"

"Oh, this is Lance from the church. This is Mina, the talking doll. And this is Axel, he was a dancing doll."

"Pleasure to meet you all"- Calix then bows. "Well we better leave here"- he said. I carried the dollhouse and we exited the restaurant. Oh goodness, I forgot to eat. "What's the matter?"- Calix asked. "I'm hungry"

"Oh? Is that so?"- I look at him. He grabs some.......rosemary and the rotten meat on the old fridge. He was now wiggling his hands and it magically becomes food.

"How did you do that?!"- I asked. "Though I'm a stuffed doll, I know a lot of dishes. I think it's the effect of me being part of the dolls in this dollhouse"- he said. He hands us the plate and we will just eat outside. "Aren't you guys going to eat?"- I asked. "We are dolls Gesielle, we cannot eat or drink anything"- Axel chuckles and Mina agrees. I look at Lance. "How about you?"- I asked. He then grabs some and we eat. I never used to eat anything like it. It's delicious. "What dish is this?"

"It's Chicken ala Marie. Since I used rosemary to the spice."- he said. "I wish we are humans like Gesielle and Lance are. I really wonder how to live like a real human"- Mina said. "I wish there is someone who can do magic to at least let us feel to be humans, just for once"- Yuta smiled. Come to think of it, even though these three are dolls. I can feel they are real humans. It's a very long way to go. 16 dolls to go.