8
I heard the kids laughing as they left.
I said sorry to them.
Mom sat on the couch, hugging the doll.
“How did the light break? Did you open the
Г
window?”
¶ lowered my head and said, “I was worried
the bed would get mold, so I opened the
window.
“I just stepped away, and then…”
She scowled.
“Honey won’t get moldy. Don’t open the
window. Just leave a crack.”
“Did you ever think about what would happen.
if the light fell? You could have died!”
She meant the doll could have died.
“…Okay. I won’t open the window.”
く
I said and she wiped my tears.
“I’m just worried about you.”
I heard them talking in the office that night.
“Kids are always breaking things.
Dad said, “It was an accident. You checked it.
so there’s nothing to worry about.”
I took the doll and went back to my room.
It started to feel wrong in my arms.
It moved its eyes like it was sensing
something. Then, it looked sad.
It wasn’t going to suck my blood anymore.
I threw it onto the floor.
It stared at me with dead eyes.
I glared back.
Look all you want. You’ll never see again…
The next morning, I said I wanted to bathe the
doll.
Mom paused and said, “Okay.”
The doll saw me walk in and its light died.
“Now, don’t let the water go past its neck.
You have to use the special shampoo…”
She pointed at the charm.
L
“That’s a pretty charm.”
She shoved it back in.
“You like it? I’ll give you an even better one.”
“I was just wondering. Can you wear it when
you take a bath? Won’t it break?”
Mom smiled, and I knew she was laughing at
- me.
“The water keeps the charm safe. It won’t
break.”
She wouldn’t take it off.
I couldn’t sleep. I grabbed the doll and put it
in the aromatherapy pan for a few hours.
<
Then I dried it with the hairdryer.
The doll looked scared.
I shrugged.
How would I steal the charm?
Acid?
I shook my head.
I couldn’t get in their room. The cameras were
- on.
And they would know.
I sent a picture to the monk to make a fake
charm…
The charm was keeping the doll alive.
1 couldn’t hurt Lily.
It would just make her hurt, and the charm.
would heal it.
I groaned and rubbed my face. I had to wait.
9
