Page 25 of Be With Us: An Urban Foursome Love Story

There was a strange noise from above them, a sort of dragging, scraping sound. The old man looked up quizzically and the two couples followed his gaze, and then there was a sudden gust of wind and the lights went out.

It was pitch black.

Mark struck a match and it flared in the darkness and Emilia screamed as all the eyes of the dolls surrounding them reflected the flame and seemed to dance in the shadows, mocking them from the darkness.

The old man was gone, but in his place stood the grotesque doll. It was slowly moving its head to look up at them, and then it pointed and the light of the match flickered out.

Even Mark, the cynic of the group, thought to himself later, that the timing of it all was remarkable.

Both girls screamed and Cassian took several steps backward in fright. Only Mark stayed put, patiently lighting another match from the box.

The doll was gone. Instead on the floor in its place was a hand written note. Cassian stepped forward, emboldened by Mark’s apparent lack of fear.

He read it out loud in the light of the match, ‘The collectors time was up and now he’s joined Marie. Annie’s coming for you. You're next. Tick, tock.’

‘Fuck this,’ Emilia was almost crying. Amy was holding her shoulders. ‘I am so scared right now.’

‘Why the fuck are we doing this?’ said Amy.

The candles came back to life, illuminating the room again.

Mark looked around, ‘Start looking for clues. The note mentioned a clock? Is there a clock amongst the dolls?

‘Are you fucking kidding?’ said Emilia. ‘Start checking the creepy dolls?’

Cassian laughed. ‘This is awesome.’

There was another dragging noise from upstairs, and the laughter of a child filtered down from above. Then a clock started ticking from somewhere.

‘We need to find that clock. Emilia? Do you think you can do that?’

‘We’ll do it together,’ said Amy.

‘It would be faster if we all worked separately?’

‘I am not doing anything in here on my own,’ said Amy.

‘Fine,’ said Mark. He looked over at Cassian. ‘Let's see what else we can find.’

They spread out around the room, Amy and Emilia together, holding onto each other. Mark and Cassian spreading out and searching for anything out of place.

There was a mirror on the far wall and both Amy and Emilia approached it slowly. As they got closer they realised that the ticking sound was coming from inside. The mirror had a small lock and some weak looking hinges.

‘Guys, look for a key.’

‘Any suggestions as to where?’

‘There’s an inscription, in the edge of the frame,’ said Amy. ‘I have no feet to dance, I have no eyes to see, I have no life to live or die but yet I do all three. What am I?’

Emilia peered up to look, still holding Amy’s hand.

‘Look for dancing dolls without feet or eyes?’ said Cassian, shrugging at Mark, but the man was thinking.

‘Fire,’ said Mark, as he started to look around, frowning.

‘There’s another box of matches over here.’

‘What’s inside?’

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