Haunted 

We stood right outside of the store, The Doll Corner. In the shop window was a display of

dolls of different sizes and colors. My six-year-old daughter, Zoe, grabbed my hand as she

excitedly ran inside the store. When we entered, we were met with rows of wide selections of

toys. There were several columns each filled up with a variety of dolls. I followed my child as

she excitedly wandered around the store, looking at every single doll. All of a sudden she

stopped walking. I looked at her and saw a smile plastered on her face, and her eyes brightened.

Zoe pointed to a doll, “Mommy, can I get this one? It’s really pretty!”

My eyes followed where she pointed to. The doll sat on the top of a wooden shelf. It had

pale, smooth skin, wide blue eyes, and long, golden hair made of wool threads in soft curls. It

was wearing a white cotton dress with tiny floral designs.

Zoe noticed a button on the doll’s right hand, with the words “Press me”. She pushed the

button, and all of a sudden, the doll was singing in a high-pitched tone. Zoe’s mouth was wide

open, and then she smiled and danced along to the music. I laughed.

“Alright, let’s get it,” I say to her.

The smile on Zoe’s face grew even more. She jumped up and down. Then, she grabbed

the doll from the shelf, and we walked to the cashier. She was wearing her blonde hair in a bun

and was dressed in a white tank top and a black skirt.

“Just this doll please,” I say to the cashier as I handed it to her.

She grabbed the doll out of my hands and gazed at it for a few seconds.

“Ah, this doll,” she said, “You know, this has been returned after every purchase. They

say it’s haunted or something. But don’t worry. I’m sure they’re just making up lies.”

My eyebrows furrowed, but I relaxed once she told me it was fine. Once I paid, the

cashier handed the doll to Zoe. We walked out of the store, the doll in Zoe’s hands. Zoe skipped

with joy the entire way to the car, as she continued pressing down the button, making the doll

sing.

Once we arrived home, Zoe headed to her room with the doll. I went to check up on her,

walking into her bedroom. When I opened the door, she was sitting on the floor, playing with the

doll, brushing its hair, and adjusting its clothes. I could not help but grin, my lips curving

upward, looking at the sight in front of me. I was overjoyed as I saw that Zoe had found

something that made her overjoyed. She also told me she named it Mabel.

Zoe has played with Mabel every day ever since I bought it for her. She would roleplay

with the doll, and would also take it outside when we went on walks together. She loved it.

One day, I was walking to Zoe’s bedroom to call her for dinner. I opened the door and

found that she was playing with the doll again. I called her name again once I was at her door.

She did not respond. I walked up to her, taking the doll away from her arms. Before I could tell

her to go eat, I noticed something strange. Four lines of red ran along her arms. Some turned into

scars, and the others still oozing blood. Looking at this, a crease appeared between my eyebrows.

“Hey, where did you get these from?” I ask Zoe while pointing to her arms.

“Um, I don’t know.” That was the reply I got from her.

Stop overthinking. It probably was a fall when she was playing at the playground.

As time went on, I kept checking Zoe’s arms. She had more cuts on her arms day after

day. I was concerned, but she told me it was fine and that she was just being clumsy. I believed

her, so I did not think about it as much.

I went to look at Zoe’s arms again after a few days to see if the cuts had faded. I entered

her room, and she was sitting on the floor, making Mabel dance. Mabel’s arms were moving

floppily as her golden locks bounced with every movement. I walked up to Zoe, taking the doll

out of her hands.

“Hey! What are you doing?” She whined, with a visible frown on her face.

“Just checking on you. Don’t worry.” I reply.

I lifted up both of her arms, seeing that the cuts were almost gone. As I turned her arms to

check the other side, I noticed something. There was fresh blood oozing out of a certain cut. I

smeared the blood, so I could see the cut. As the cut was revealed, my heart started beating faster

and my breathing became shallow.

Mabel.

That word was written on Zoe’s left arm. My eyes widened as a thought came into my

mind.

Mabel is doing it. She’s hurting my daughter. That’s where the cuts are coming from.

I was terrified at the thought, but I knew it was real. It had to be. There was no way those

cuts came from falls anyway. I decide to return the doll. I guess the lady at the front desk was

right. This doll was haunted. My body shivered.

I rushed to the store, the doll sat next to me. Once I arrived, I barged in, running directly

to the desk. It was the same lady I met when I bought the doll.

“Take it,” I cried to her, “I don’t want it. I never want to see it again.”

She sighed, taking it out of my hands. I left the store immediately after.

There. The doll is finally gone. My daughter is safe now.

I hurried home. Once I arrived, I walked up to Zoe’s bedroom. Before I could open the

door, I heard another voice talking to Zoe. I put my ear to the door.

“What’s your favorite food?” The mystery voice said.

“Chocolate.” My daughter replied with a laugh.

No one should be in there. Zoe should have been the only one in the house. I only left for

ten minutes.

My heart rate quickened. I barged into the room. Zoe was sitting on the floor again with

the doll sitting next to her.

“How old are you?” The voice asked again. My eyes followed where the voice came

from. It led me directly to the doll.

Didn’t I just return it? How did it come back? And I thought the doll could only sing.

How can it be talking all of a sudden?

My heart pounded in my chest. My throat became dry.

I immediately took the doll out of Zoe’s hands and walked out of the room. I could hear

her cries behind me. I have never been this scared before. Once I was out of Zoe’s sight, I

sprinted to the kitchen. My hands trembled as I opened the drawer and took a knife out. I point

the knife to Mabel.

Maybe this is how I get rid of you.

I stab the doll right in its chest.

There. It’s gone.

I head back to Zoe, leaving the doll on the table. I arrive in front of her closed door. I

brought my hands to the doorknob and twisted it to open the door. I push the door open. After

her bedroom came into sight, my body froze. I could not bring myself to move. My heartbeat

was racing, as beads of sweat ran down my forehead. I could not believe the sight in front of me.

No! This can’t be happening! This is not real.

Zoe laid on the ground, motionless. Blood trickled down her chest. A knife in her chest.

I hate you, Mabel.