*
CHAPTER THREE
EMILIA HAD TEXTED Amy that same night and by the following morning she had replied, suggesting that they meet up again soon and try a new escape room together that had opened recently in the town centre. The room was one of several in the venue and the one that Amy had suggested was a horror one, with a creepy story and a series of clues followed by some role play, but that was all they knew.
Emilia had been reluctant, it wasn't her sort of thing and was far outside of her comfort zone but her excitement about seeing Amy and Mark again had overridden any fear she might have had. Now she and Cassian were in the car, on the way there and there was very little room for backing out.
‘I’m so nervous,’ she said, as they pulled up into a space two streets away from the venue.
‘Don’t be, they’re another couple, just like us. We’re simply making new friends.’
‘Yes, but I like them,’ said Emilia. ‘Mark seems really nice, and he’s not threatening. He doesn’t scare me, and Amy is just stunning, I just want to run my fingers through her hair. I want them to like us, that’s why I’m anxious. I want them to like us, like I like them, and I’m scared they won’t.’
Cassian took her hand and held it tight.
‘Don’t walk in there tonight expecting that what we want to happen, will happen with them, it probably won’t. They have no idea what we want, and they probably just want to make friends with us. We should just take it from there and see where it leads us.’
‘I know, it’s just they’re so nice.’
Cassian squeezed her hand again and leaned across to kiss her on the cheek.
‘Come on, cheer up and enjoy the evening. Maybe Mark will greet us with an armful of pampas grass.’
‘Stop it,’ said Emilia, smiling. She opened her door and stepped out into the street.
The night time air was cold as Cassian walked around from the drivers side and took her hand in his, setting off together towards the venue.
Emilia looked up at her husband as they walked.
‘Shouldn’t we say something? Like, drop a hint? Isn’t there some code? Like rubbing a knuckle when you shake hands?’
‘I’m pretty sure that’s the Masons,’ said Cassian. ‘But I’m willing to try.’
‘Oh shit, this is ridiculous,’ said Emilia, stopping in her tracks and turning back towards the car.
‘Where are you going?’ said Cassian, calling after her.
‘I can’t do this, it’s too much.’
‘Come on, we’re just having a night out with some new friends, take the pressure off.’
Emilia stopped and as she did, Amy stepped out of the car parked next to her.
‘Are you two okay?’ she said. ‘We can rearrange if there’s something wrong?’
Mark stepped out of the drivers side and walked around to the pavement, a concerned look on his face.
Emilia looked at Cassian and smiled.
‘No, nothing’s wrong. Nothing’s wrong at all. It’s great to see you guys again.’
She stepped forward and embraced Amy, kissing her on the cheek and then she did the same again to Mark, who kissed her back and then shook hands with Cassian.
‘I’ve told her she’s not allowed to drink this evening, by the way,’ laughed Mark.
‘And I’ve told him he’s not in charge of what I choose to allow past my lips,’ said Amy as she took Emilia’s hand and started walking off up the street.
‘I love your shoes,’ she said as they stomped away.
The escape room was called The Doll’s House and on arrival Emilia immediately regretted agreeing to take part. It was situated down a dark alley in the oldest part of the city, which in itself was giving her the creeps. Upon entering the venue, they were greeted by a theatrical man, dressed up as what appeared to be an old curator or antiques shop owner. He approached them, doddering forward and offering his outstretched and very limp hand. All around them, adorning the walls and shelves bore down the glass eyes of hundreds and hundreds of Porcelain Dolls.
Emilia shivered and gripped Cassian’s arm.
‘Why hello my dears, what beautiful girls you are and such handsome gentlemen accompanying you. Why you must be Mr and Mrs Black, and Mr and Mrs Hamilton. You're so kind to turn up on time, I haven’t much left you see, so every minute counts. Now I understand you’re searching for a very specific doll for your niece, Mrs Hamilton,’ he said to Amy. ‘I have just the one for you, a German Bisque in fact, please follow me, come on through, don't be shy. You my boy,’ he said to Mark, handing him a box of matches. ‘Take these, you may need them if the lanterns blow out. There's a strong wind tonight.’
The couples looked at one another apprehensively, only Mark seemed unperturbed and he stepped forward, slipping the matches into his pocket and following the curious old man further into the shop.
They stepped through a door into a large candlelit and strangely shaped storeroom. The floor was sloped and the ceiling arched with old beams, and again the eyes of hundreds of dolls stared down at them from every available space.
The man closed the door behind them and there was a small click as it locked.
‘Come, come we must hurry,’ he said ushering them forward into the centre.
‘Here she is, here she is,’ he said, his enthusiasm difficult to interpret as anything other than genuine. ‘Isn't she beautiful? Her name is Annie.’
The doll was grotesque, half its face was burnt and its clothes were charred and smoke damaged.
‘She has the most unusual story,’ he said. ‘She was sold to me through clearance from the estate of a little girl named Marie, who had been gifted it at a young age by her grandmother. This little girl used to take Annie everywhere with her, always talking to her, taking her to bed with her at night, bringing her to the park, sitting her on the swings. To everyone outside the family, Marie was a sweet little girl that seemed to see her dolly as a little sister. The parents however, were starting to become worried.’
As the man spoke the lights seemed to flicker, and there was creak from upstairs. Amy moved a little closer to Emilia, who gripped hold of her arm.
‘Marie would whisper to Annie, and Annie would talk back. At least it seemed that way, the imagination of a child running wild i’m sure, but Annie was telling Marie things that she couldn't possibly have known. Family secrets, events that happened before she was born, and then Marie began to do things, bad things. She would tell her parents that Annie had told her to do it. Things like hurting the family dog, setting fire to the rosemary bush out front, putting poison ivy in her fathers whisky. Finally, Annie it seems, told Marie to throw herself down the stairs, and the poor little girl broke her leg in the fall.’
Emilia was looking around nervously now, her eyes searching the dolls but not wanting to look too closely. Amy squeezed her hand and whispered, ‘It’s okay.’
‘At this point, the parents decided to rid themselves of the doll, but before they could, Marie started a fire. Sadly, she perished, burnt to death in her bedroom having never left her bed. And so the parents, childless and heartbroken, sold everything and abandoned the house. I never found out what happened to them, but I was all too happy to buy an immaculate German Bisque. And just look at what wonderful condition she’s in, like she was born yesterday.’
The old man beamed and held out the burnt, broken doll. The left eye rolled around in its socket and Emilia stepped back, nearly pushing Amy in front of her like a human shield.
‘You’re not selling it to me,’ said Amy, holding Emilia tightly.
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, m
ocking 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?’
Cassian slid the box open and emptied the contents into his palm.
‘A key!’
Emilia’s eyes widened and she smiled for the first time as Cassian rushed over with it, passing it to her to slide into the lock. She reached up, and clicked it into place, turning it clockwise. As she did so, the face of Annie appeared in the mirror and both girls screamed and fell back.
Mark stepped forward and past the petrified girls and opened the cabinet, inside was a set of rosary beads, but without the traditional cross.
Emilia reached forward, ‘Give me those.’ She gripped them tightly in her fingers and peered around the room, eyes wide with fear.
Mark looked around the room too, and Cassian followed his gaze.
‘I think we have to perform an exorcism to get out,’ he said.
‘How the hell do you that?’ said Amy.
‘There must be something we’re missing,’ said Cass, desperate to contribute, conscious that Mark was doing most of the work and wanting to be more involved.
‘We need a Bible, for an exorcism?’ he said, not entirely certain, but then the clock stopped and the lights went out once more.
There was that dragging noise again, and Amy screamed, but this time the noise was closer, it was in the room and the voice of a little girl spoke.
‘You can’t get rid of me,’ she whispered. ‘I’m already dead.’
This time, just one of the lights flickered back on. Amy and Emilia ran to it like moths to a flame and stood wild eyed and terrified looking out into the dim darkness, eyes looking back at them from everywhere. Even Mark seemed on edge now, and Amy had noticed.
‘Why the fuck are we doing this? I don’t like it. I don’t like it, Mark,’ she and Amy were clinging to each other now.
Cassian came closer and began to look around and then something caught his eye in the corner of the room.
‘Was there a cot over there when we came in?’
‘Oh fuck right off,’ said Emilia as she turned to look.
In the corner, where before there had been nothing, was an old and rotten rocking cot. It had no mattress, or decoration and it was rusted and peeling, and worst of all, it was moving as though an unseen hand was gently pushing it.
Inside, very neatly sat on the metal coils of the springs, was a music box, and as they all looked over, it started to play.
‘No, no, no. I don't like it,’ said Amy. ‘What do we do?’
Mark didn't move, he seemed to be frozen to the spot. So Cassian walked over to it nervously, as Amy and Emilia shuffled forward, peering.
Cassian looked back at Mark, frowning.
‘We all have our limits, mate,’ said Mark, staying put.
Cassian nodded and leant over the edge of the cot to pick up the music box. It was still playing but it was winding down slowly. In the bottom was a turn key to wind it back up, and Cassian realised it was the missing cross for the rosary beads. He pulled at it, and it came out in his hands, the clock work still whirring and the creepy song still playing.
‘Where are those beads?’ he said and Emilia produced them, wrapped around her knuckles which were white with fear.
‘Amy, can you hook this onto there?’
‘Let me see,’ she said, and she let go of Emilia’s hand.
The light went out.
Something brushed past Emilia’s leg, and something else touched Amy’s face and both girls began to scream. Then there were voices everywhere, as though all the dolls were talking at once.
‘You’re worthless,’ they whispered. ‘Useless. You can’t stop us. Why did you come here? You can’t do this. Just give up and die. Die, die, die…’ The chorus of voices sounded like it was coming from everywhere.
Mark sparked up another match in the darkness and Emilia ran over to him, followed by Amy, both holding onto the arms of the now edgy ex-soldier.
But Cassian was nowhere to be seen.
‘Oh what the fuck, where is Cass?’ said Emilia.
‘I’m here,’ he said. ‘When the voices started, I heard a door open. There’s another room back here, but the door is now closed and locked.’
Emilia had to admire his bravery, when even Mark was starting to feel unsettled, Cassian had found some reserve of fearlessness, but she found he often did this at home too. If she was upset, he would be calm and rational, if she was sad, he would cheer her up. If she was scared, he would be brave. He was the yin to her yang.
‘There’s a book on a table, and it’s open on a specific page,’ he called out.
‘What does it say?’ said Mark, approaching the locked door.
‘For it is the power of Christ that compels you, who brought you low by His cross. Tremble before that mighty arm that broke asunder the dark prison walls and led souls forth to light.’
There was a flash followed by a crash of thunder and a scream and the room plunged into darkness. Mark took a step back and almost stumbled.
He had seen Annie, right behind Cassian.
The lights didn’t come back on.
‘Cass, we have to get you out of there,’ said Mark.
‘The mighty arm that broke asunder the dark prison walls,’ said Cassian. ‘Can you break down the door?’
&n
bsp; ‘Asunder means to break in two,’ said Emilia. ‘Does the door fold?’
‘It’s a barn door,’ said Mark, feeling for the latch and releasing it. The bottom section swung open and Cassian crawled through. Mark slammed it shut behind him.
‘Did you bring the book?’
‘Yep, but how are we gonna read it without light?’
There was another flash of lightning and the girls screamed.
‘Give me the fucking rosary beads,’ said Amy. ‘And the book. Who has the cross?’
Amy was given all the items in quick succession by hands in the darkness. Her nerves were tattered, but she was running out of patience.
‘Emilia take the beads,’ she fumbled in the darkness for Emilia’s hand and squeezed it softly as she handed them to her. ‘Hold it out in front of you.’
There was another flash of thunder and Emilia screamed. ‘She’s over there,’ she shouted and pointed. ‘Annie.’
They all turned to look and another flash outlined the doll on the floor, standing and staring at them.
‘Cass, do you remember what the book said?’ Amy shouted.
‘I think so,’ he said.
’Now’s the time.’
‘For it is the power of Christ that compels you,’ there was crash of thunder and a scream and then all around them were flames. As if the whole room was alight and all the dolls were burning.
In the centre, the burnt figure of Annie the broken doll was moving slowly toward them.
‘For it is the power of Christ that compels you’, Cassian said again and Emilia moved forward with the rosary beads, spurred on by Cass’s bravery.
The doll stopped, and there was another scream as its mouth opened wide, flames reflected in it’s eyes.
‘For it is the power of Christ that compels you,’ said Mark, joining in.
The doll seemed to falter, and then there were flames coming from inside it’s mouth.
‘For it is the power of Christ that compels you,’ said Amy, holding the book up in front of the doll.
‘For it is the power of Christ that compels you,’ said Emilia and as soon as she had spoken, the flames in the room around them went out, leaving the screaming, flaming body of Annie the only source of light. Her eyes were melting, her mouth falling open, the clothes burning away from her body. The doll fell onto the floor and the flames went out.
Be With Us: An Urban Foursome Love Story (Erotic Swingers Book 1) Page 6