1 Peril 1

GESIELLE's POV

I was just busy reviewing some cases of the newly arrived kids in the hospital that is a bit far from the apartment of me and my Grandma. I was just skimming most of the folders since its too many of them.

I felt chilly since it was a stormy night. "Goodness seems that some crops will not be harvest by tomorrow then"- Grandma acquired as she was knitting in front of the fireplace. "Do you want some tea to warm you up Grandma?"

"Yes dear, it's on the stove"- she smiled, and then some lightning crushes can be heard from outside. I was setting the teacups on the tray and grab some bread when I heard some unusual knocks on the door. "I GET IT!"- Grandma yelled. I carried the tray and into the living room. I saw a box and Grandma was reading the note on top of it just by the door. "What is it, Grandma? Is it a crop for the berries?"- I asked.

"No dear..... it's just....."

*BLAG!!*

The door loudly closes and I immediately run to let her in but the moment I open the door, she was gone.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?

I took the umbrella and a flashlight to search for her outside but no signs or even footprints of her. "GRANDMA!!!"- I yelled a couple of times and I already felt some chilly in me and forgot to wear the raincoat. But why is it that the box was remained untouched?!

Hhhmmmm....

"GRANDMA!!!"- I yelled twice but still no reply. Where is she?! I went back up the porch and take the heavy box inside the house. This has something to do with why she was suddenly gone missing.

How to open this box?!

Aha!

I get the screwdriver and removed all of the nails in this box. I'll read that note later. I finished the removal of the nails.......

*poofs!*

"W-wha...??"- my eyes widen and I see a doll that has the size of the ruler just jumped out of the box.

"You're Grandma was in terrible danger! And your land as well!!"

"Wait, who are you and how do you know that my Grandma was not here?! And what?! Our land?!"- it's weird that I'm talking to a non-living thing, maybe it's a new invention from the 1994 batch of scientists.

"My name is Mina Ashigawa and here I am a talking doll. Yes, your Grandmother is missing the moment she reads the note!"

"What's in the note about? And where do you come from?"

"I came from a very far away land, I forgot the name. The last thing I remembered is I was inside a room, I don't remember what the rooms like. A man in glasses fixed me and placed me inside that box and the moment I blinked my eyes, I started in saying some words just like you, humans. And what's your name?"

"My name is Gesielle Stoneheart-Lee. Does anything you also remember??"

"I'm not sure. But when I peeked in the tiny holes of the box, some dark image snapped its fingers and she disappeared within a second before you open the door."

This is absurd!

Monsters never existed!!!

"But do you know anything about why she was taken?"

"No idea yet, but read first that note. I think it might help you"- I grab that note and reads it.

For the gift of the best Psychologist in this town over the years.

"My Grandma is not a Psychologist, in fact, she was the best farmer in town for 3 decades."

"It's not? A farmer? Why don't you check your old photo albums? Maybe there is something in there that could guide us"

I scanned the shelves here while Mina was just sitting at the mini table. Then I found Grandma's photo album and a diary next to it. Why I haven't noticed it before?

"Got it!"

"Can you scan it here so that I can see it?"- she asked then I placed everything on the mini table.

Stray Souls Orphanage 1884

"Stray Souls Orphanage? 1884? But it's over a hundred years!!"- why is this photo even exists?!? And why my Grandma has this?! "Keep on scanning Gesielle, there might be more in some pages."

Stray Souls Academy for Boys & Girls in 1886

"Wait, are these two establishments has the same owner?"

"I don't know. I barely know somethings. But I think we better move now to rescue your Grandma. Bring that album and her diary. Thus bring your own empty notebook to note things so that we can solve them along the way"- Mina said. I nod and put those in my backpack. "Oh and bring some things to our journey. Don't worry I will be on your side. Maybe I could remember things along the way"- she smiled.

I nod and grabbed: Flashlight with extra batteries, water tumbler, snacks, ballpen and pencil, eraser, map in this country and the areas of this city, and a bullcap. Then I wore this hoodie of mine that made by Grandma and a raincoat. "Done!"

"Alright, let's go!"- she said. I glanced at the whole apartment first and turned off all the switches to avoid emergencies. "I'll bring back Grandma soon."

"Oh look a car!"- she said. Good thing that I know how to drive and this car was a present from my Mom and Dad. I let Mina seated at the front, gosh it's still a stormy night. "It says here on the map that we should take the left road into the next town"- she said. I fasten the speed and the rain becomes stronger and zero visibility.

I think I drive the car for almost 2 hours. I stopped when I saw a cracked wooden gate with broken houses. "I think we are in the first town"- she said. I was about to get out of the car when a strong force immediately closed the car and locked us inside. "Oh no! This must be the work of the Devil!"- Mina panicked.

What?! Devil?! The moment I viewed the front area and adjust the fog lights, I saw a dark shadow and waved its hands in our direction.

I suddenly felt dizzy and wasn't able to get what's going on and lost my consciousness.

All I ever think about right now is my Grandma and how am I going to rescue her?

And, does my hunches right about that. We, humans are not alone living in this world??