Chapter 7!

As Marlene obeyed her mother's instruction, she disappeared into thin air with Mila in her arms. They ran and ran without stopping because she knew that Paulina could catch up to them, but she had faith that her mother would stall her. 

However, Marlene's mother faces a woman who is Agatha's apprentice, although Paulina's magic isn't half as hostile as Agatha's. She was still the worst, turning young girls into dolls and keeping their youthful and joyous souls in a jar for herself. 

For centuries, Paulina had managed to escape death, but Agatha wasn't so lucky; she was later burned in her house in Perth. Agatha and Paulina stopped being close because she noticed that Paulina was trying to outdo her, no matter how many spells Agatha cast on her. Paulina always escaped death, but now, she is standing face to face with Marlene's mom, a Crideo. 

"Ingrid, long time no see! How's life been treating you?" Paulina asked mockingly. 

"Humph! You and that bloody Agatha ruined my life and my daughter's life, and here you're mocking me," Ingrid said. 

"Enough of the grudge, Ingrid! Now, Where is my little doll?" Paulina said, looking around. 

"Somewhere you'll never find them! And I shall not let you take her away," Ingrid said. 

"Haha, this is hysterical! You're saving the descendant of Agatha Durham?" She said with a questioning yet sarcastic tone. 

Ingrid kept quiet because, even though she didn't know why, she did know that Mila was different from her grandmother. Paulina looked at her with a profound smirk plastered on her lips: "You know, Ingrid, I have had enough of you stalling me. Tell me where Marlene and my precious little doll are?" Paulina said. 

"I shan't betray my daughter because if I do, I'm willing to die right here and now," Ingrid uttered, tears welling up in her eyes. 

However, she dares not to show weakness in front of Paulina because that delights her, seeing her as the hideous and pathetic monster Crideo. As Paulina mumbled the same spell she placed on Mila: "For I, Paulina Villanueva, place a spell on this old hag that her soul shall remain on a decrepit doll tossed beneath the waters of Norris Lake. Within a matter of seconds, Ingrid's last words echoed between the walls of the cave: Marlene! Mila! You shall work together, and only then you shall prevail!" Ingrid uttered. 

Marlene stopped and dropped to her knees upon hearing her mother's voice echoing throughout the woods, but she didn't stay long because she spotted a dim light in the distance. 

Upon entering the hidden cabin, Marlene set Mila down and looked for a space where Paulina wouldn't find them, but it was too late. 

"You ungrateful brat, I spare your life, and for now, you let my granddaughter be cursed into a doll," Agatha said.

"What the bloody hell? I have no such intention; your granddaughter suffered this fate because of you and your despicable misdeeds," Marlene said. 

Mila stood up and began talking; "Grandma, if you hadn't trapped all of those young girls and cursed them to become dolls, using their souls to remain eternally young," Mila said. 

"I wouldn't be like this! It's your fault, grandma! It's YOUR FAULT!" Mila yelled. 

Then, a loud applause could be heard, but before Agatha could turn around, Paulina knocked her out cold. 

"My beautiful doll! Your grandmother must've taken good care of you because your aura and soul are the missing puzzle pieces in my collection," she said.

"Touch her! And I shall kill you!" Marlene threatened. 

"My precious Marlene! You think I can't kill you like your mother and imagine being in the same water as your pathetic mother," Paulina said. 

Without hesitation, Marlene slapped her; "Don't you dare speak ill about my mother!" Marlene asserted. 

Paulina yanked Mila out of her hand and held Marlene in a chokehold before walking out of the cabin with both of them—---soon, Marlene and Mila found themselves in a dark room. 

"Where are we? Mila said, returning to her human form. 

But she was different, like it wasn't the ten-year-old Mila Marlene met weeks ago, and instead, a teenager sat in front of her. 

"Who are you?" Marlene asked.