Chapter 12: Marlene & Mila!

It's been two weeks since I woke up from "my coma." I couldn't believe everything that happened to me was a dream. My mom doesn't seem to believe me. I mean, no one believes. Why? And they all think it's my imagination. I know what I saw when we visited Perth and the doll who told me to save them and not to leave there. 

Days later, Marlene comes to me and vows revenge on me: 'I didn't understand why I was the only one who could see her.' I must convince my mom to take me back to Perth because I need to find some clues on how to go back to save Marlene from her stepmother, Paulina. 

I couldn't believe Paulina had caused Marlene's dad to go mad and hadn't done anything to save him from that pack of wild dogs. 'How could someone be so hostile?' But then again, Grandma Agatha did the same to so many young girls my age, stealing their souls and transforming them into Victorian vintage dolls. 

'I must fight because Marlene's story should at least involve her getting revenge and also of those girls Grandma Agatha killed.' I arrived at the old vintage store, but apparently, it isn't the same anymore, and it's a bookstore called Tell-Tale. I entered the store, and a younger woman greeted me. "Welcome to Tell-Tale," she said in a cheery voice. 

"Miss, I'm looking for someone. She is much older, and I came with my friend about weeks ago to look for some clue, and she gestured for me to go behind that door," I whispered loud enough for her to hear. 

"Kid, there isn't any older woman, and grandmother Elise Larkins ran this store," the younger woman said, pointing at the picture. 

"Yes, that's her. I met weeks ago. Where is she?" I replied. 

"Kid, you're mistaken. My grandmother passed away in 2000," she uttered. 

'2000? That lady was dead. How come I saw her weeks ago?' Before I fell into a "coma," I didn't want to believe this. 

"Thank you anyway," I said. 

"Kid, wait up. The answers you seek are written within the house's walls," the younger woman said. 

'Huh?' I gave her a slight nod even though my peanut brain could not decipher the riddle she told me. I headed home, and my mom and a red-haired woman wearing a beaded necklace and candles surrounded them. 

"Good afternoon, mom. What's going on here?" I said. 

"Mila, you're finally home. Come and take a seat. This is Jasmine Bergen. She's an exorcist, and she'll help us understand your paranoia and hallucinations," my mom said. 

"Mom, I'm fine. I promise I did see Grandma Agatha's ghost," I replied.

"See what I was talking about. Her imagination is running wild, making me worried," my mom asserted. 

"Don't worry, Amy. After this seance, your daughter and the ghost will be freed from each other," Jasmine said. 

'I didn't want to argue, ' she said, sitting beside my mother. Jasmine began the exorcism and said some random words; the only one I could make out was, ' Uhmm. 'Is she a real exorcist, and will she separate Marlene and me from each other?' She grabbed something like a dust brush and flicked water in my face. "Hey!" I yelled. 

My mom shushed me, and Jasmine continued her ritual; when I looked up, I saw Marlene standing behind Jasmine. She doesn't look pale. Instead, she is wearing a beautiful purple floral dress, and black is styled with big curls, "Come with me," Marlene said. I got up and followed behind Marlene, ignoring my mom and Jasmine calling me to come back. 

'I won't allow anyone to separate Marlene and I.' We'll go back and defeat that stupid woman Paulina and my grandmother Agatha. 'If Marlene still looks human, then we should be able to save her father, right?' 

My mother and Jasmine came to my room; "Mila, don't go with her," my mom said. 

"Mom, I'm sorry, but we must complete this mission. I hope you'll understand," I said. 

Marlene and I disappeared from their sight and found ourselves in a beautiful, decorated mansion. "Welcome to the Caldwell Manor, Mila Anderson!" an older woman said. 

"You?" I uttered.