PERIL 6

We stopped the moment I see two roads ahead that said;

Broken Promises on the left and

Forgotten Dreams in the right

"Oh dear, how are we going to know the way to the next town?"

"On the map Gesielle, it's nothing to say to what's on the two roads. It's all faded!"- Mina said. "Look, there's a scarecrow in the middle of the signs. Maybe we can just ask it"- Calix suggested.

I went out of the car and they followed me right over. "Excuse me? Mr. Scare Crow?"

"Who dares to speak me old scarecrow??"

"Sorry to disturb you, Sir. We are going on a journey, so can you tell us what's ahead on the two roads?"

"Ah, let's see, where's your map?"

Then I hand him the map. "Well lásey, this map of yours was the old version. Since our land becomes the land before that is dark and cursed. Let me old scarecrow hand you a new one."

He wiggled his hands and I caught the map right on time. I opened it and there is one road that has a missing end. "But Mr. Scare Crow, why is it that the Broken Promises road has a missing part?"

"That lásey was the road you will be taken. The Forgotten Dreams road was just the road back to your home. The rest of the map will be found along the way."

"Thank you, Sir. But how do we know when we found the missing part of the map?"

"You will know when you get there. I can see something in you lásey, you got talent and a surprising future."

"What does that connect to our journey?"- Lance butted in. "You young man will know it too along the way. As much as possible I won't spoil more. I don't want the devil to hear us"- he said.

But then, I heard a rumbling sound from the ground. I really felt more shaking. "Oh no, run!"- the scarecrow said, we are about to run but it's too late. Something came out from the shaking grounds and a dark portal. And then, that creature proves after some bunch of smoke that came from the ground.

What is he doing here again?!

"I see a human girl is trying to solve the mysteries of the Land of Springs, solving all 18 missing dolls and trying to follow that crappy map! I have been curious about how long will you wait and how long will you survive until your Grandma will be found HAHAHAHAHAH!!"

I clenched my fists and about to run but Lance blocks my way and he was sprinkling something to that creature. It was starting to yell which is so loud and so annoying thus the ear-breaking tone that I ever heard, however, it disappeared right in an instant. "What was that?! Why does it know Gesielle and her mission?!"- Calix panicakly asked.

"That is what I told you the Devil. He knows everything and everyone in our land. It was said that he was the King of Hell and the Demons. Many humans years ago were taken by the Devil. And he was also the one who controls all monsters. But he, cannot control the half-humans"- the scarecrow said.

"How am I going to defeat him?"

"Idiot! You can't defeat the Devil. Or your life will be taken!"- Lance exclaimed. "The boy was right there lásey. No one defeated the Devil, not even the strongest monsters did."- the scarecrow said. "But Mr. Scare Crow, how are we going to continue our journey without the Devil? Is there any way to avoid him?"- Honestly, I am hoping there's a solution to avoid the devil; he might be taking advantage of what I am going to do.

"We can never escape the Devil, lásey. The only thing you can do is to be strong and have faith that everything will be over soon enough. I know that there are many who will protect you"- he pointed to Axel, Mina, Calix, and Lance. "Better off now lásey. Now on the way"- he pointed to the left road. I bowed and thanked him and we went off the road.

Broken Promises Road it is, I wonder what's the reason behind the name of this road. And to be honest, the names of these roads were definitely have a hidden meaning on why it become that way.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It's already night when we see a house in the empty town, among all of the houses; this one looks like someone is living in it.

"Should we enter that house? It's creepy man!"- Calix said. "Hey come on don't be a scary doll, this might look creepy cause the town is quiet and no people. But when you observed it, it looks like someone lives inside of it. Let's just go inside of it."- Axel thoughted.

"We have no choice, it's late at night and we don't know what's on the road ahead of us. Come on"- I parked the car just near the tree of the house. Both of Calix and Axel's thoughts made sense though, oh well we need to rest for the night. All of us entered the house, it was dark. I grab my flashlight, where the heck is the switch?!

"Hey Gesielle, that's the switch!"- Mina pointed. I turn the switch right next to me. "Oh, where is the owner of this house?"- Axel asked. "Is anyone here? Can we all stay just for tonight?"- Lance called but no one seems to answer him.

We heard footsteps coming towards us, I gulped the moment I saw a ghost come down from the stairs. "Why are you here? You will end up running away later."- the dolls hid behind me and Lance prepared the holy water and bible.

"Miss Ghost, we need to stay and rest just for tonight before we continue our journey."- I replied.

She shifted her gaze to Lance. "OMG! A very handsome and high sex-appeal man! What's his name? Oh gosh, I will let you all stay. What's his name?! Come on tell me!"- what just happened? At first, she was scary and now she turns out like some high school girl.

"Don't dare!"- he yelled. I laughed before I looked at Miss Ghost. "His name is Lance Akerman."

"MY HUSBAND LANCE!!!"- she suddenly hugs him. I came to realize that she was a ghost bride, well obviously she was wearing a very beautiful wedding gown. "Hey! Stay away from me or I will send you to hell!"- Lance threatened. "You're exaggerating about what I just said, and I really do admire you though. You're so perfect to be a husband"- she said along with a smile.

"Alright, let's get it all straight. Who are you ghost bride and why are you dead?"- Mina asked.

"My name is Freya Presilly. I died during the day when I was still on my way to the church."

"Did you find out who is the one behind that accident?"- Axel asked.

"I don't know, the last thing I remember was someone sent me a doll. A groom doll with a bouquet. I thought it was given to me by my boyfriend. My Grandfather told me that the doll was like a curse, they hide it somewhere inside the living room. And by the morning, they were all frightened by what they saw. They saw the doll was already sitting comfortably on the sofa. I was the one during that time to hide it again under this little door to the basement and locked it inside the glass coffin before I went off the house just 2 days before my wedding day. And bad luck came, along the way to the church, I saw again the doll in the road, and behind it was a huge truck, and then I got into an accident."

"I'm really sorry about it Freya. But, by any chance when you are already a ghost. Did you see that doll again?"

"Hhhmmm....I think it is still in the basement. See it for yourself. But be careful, the last time I see it on the road has a burnt face"- she said, though she was a ghost she still looks afraid of that creepy doll. "I'll get it. Guys, stay with Freya"

"I'll come"- Lance stands up and opens the door to the basement and we went down. Good thing I bought the flashlight. I and Lance searched for that cursed doll. We stopped when we saw that it was in the center. "That's the doll with the ugly face"- Lance said. He grabs something to break the glass. He first used the holy water to sprinkle it on the doll. "For protection, I use holy water on this doll."

Lance then hand me the doll and we went up. "Found it!"- I uttered. "Why do you need that doll when it was cursed?!"- Freya asked, she's still scared that she even flew up to the second floor. "This may be one of the dolls in the dollhouse. Do you have anything to clear the burnt face of the doll? I believe that its face was still ok when we removed the burnt parts"

"It's the toolbox behind that vase"- she replied. The moment I got the toolbox, they are all observing to what I did to this male doll. I polished lastly the face, as soon as it was done.

It's eyes open and sits up. It looks around and stops its gaze to me. "Are you Freya?"

"No. I am Gesielle. Who are you and why did you keep on following Freya until her ride to the church of her wedding day?"- I asked, though I am afraid I want to know why and how did he do that to the poor girl who was never been a wife but a bride until she died.

"I am Fred Vermin. Following Freya? No, I didn't follow her. In fact, I was just a doll as an engagement gift and for the record, I'm not a cursed doll either if you asked me."

I suddenly felt suspicious about this doll. "Engagement gift? Where do you come from then?"

"I came from a gift shop. Some kid bought me and put me into the box. I didn't follow Freya but I know that she was one of the best customers in the gift shop called Ribbons and Blossoms. To be honest, I am also wondering why I become an engagement gift."

"Is that true Freya? You're one of the best customers there?"

"Yes. That's true, my family and my boyfriend really loved their work on the gifts. But why do you keep on following me?"

"How is that possible? I am you're not a possessed doll aren't you?"- Mina asked. "I don't know either. But I really blamed that kid who did some murmurs that is something about spells and sent me as a gift and the reason why I became alive. Freya, what happened to you is none of my business, honestly. And if I did anything wrong then I am sorry"- Fred said.

I carry him and open the dollhouse. I found a place where he was matched on the second floor near the mirror. "What is this? I've never seen anything like it, it's beautiful."

"It's a doll house of the 18 missing dolls. What number is he, Gesielle?"- Lance asked. I looked at his shoe and it stated...

9

"You are number 9"- I smiled. "Really?! I was part of the 18 missing dolls. How does that happen?"- he asked.

Along with the dinner, I happened to tell the story to Fred as what I have learned in the journey. Freya has some stack of food in the basement. Calix was there to do magic and creates food. I forgot that only Me and Lance can eat. "Fred, why do you always bring that bouquet with you? By the way, I'm Axel, this Mina and that is Calix beside Freya."

"Oh this, I love flowers and I love watching my owners fixing gifts and flowers every day to the customers. I made this bouquet for my future owner. I never expect that I was controlled."- he sadly said. "You are now with us Fred. Try putting that bouquet on the vase you see in the doll house"- Calix said.

He follows what Calix said and the second floor of the vases area lit up and it has colors in it. "Wow! I love it! Thanks for welcoming me, I really do appreciate being out of that coffin in years. I wanted to explore and unlock mysteries with you guys"- he excitedly said. "Alright, you can come with us"- I smiled and closed the doll house.

After eating, Freya told us to sleep here since it was very comfy and so it does. She also told us that she was more 50 years dead and decided to just stay in the house for as long as she wanted. She was not the typical scary ghost bride, she was actually warm and nice.

"I hope you will be happy when you are going to leave Earth"- I heard Lance say to Freya while I was already tucked here on the sofa. Fred, Axel, Calix, and Mina are already sleeping in the chair next to me.

"Thank you, you just remind me of my boyfriend before. You're so kind"- she replied.

"I'm not kind Freya, I was just being nice since I am a church boy. You cannot change that, I do respect the dead and the living"- Lance's voice.

"Though I felt something within you. I still like you Lance"- Freya uttered.

"Just don't come back as a ghost. Anytime the Grim Reaper will bring you since we solved your bothers in years because of Fred. You are now free to leave this place and rest in peace"- Lance added.

"Right, thanks again. I'll wait for everyone to wake up tomorrow before I leave my final goodbyes"- Freya said and I immediately went to sleep before they stopped talking. From what I've heard, I bet Freya was still lacking a lot of things in her life such as marriage, love, and happiness. And now I think she was ready to go.

I hope she can find her true happiness.

"I don't know. The moment I was inside the box, I heard murmurs from the kid like she was talking in some kind of unrecognizable language and I suddenly felt something that is controlling over me. When Freya was already in the accident, I came to realized that I as a stuffed doll became alive and can do things unknowingly why, and how. At her funeral, her boyfriend again kept me in the basement and he was furiously angry at me."