Author's Note: Hello again, readers. JMD Nelson here, with another fanfic I call A Night With Annabelle, dealing with the legendary Annabelle doll from the Conjuring and Annabelle movies, and she's come to Arcadia Bay to raise some serious HELL for our favorite Life is Strange characters! (Pun lovingly intended!) It is written in the vain of old school horror movies, and was actually not only inspired by Annabelle herself, but also from Edgar Wright's fake Grindhouse Trailer 'DON'T', which has demons, monsters and weapon wielding psychos running amok in a haunted mansion. (Sorry, it is kind of a slow burn at first, but it'll pick up, promise!)
So, what kind of tricks and treats is she planning for our favorite cast? Accept my complimentary ticket to the show and find out!
Y'all are still here? Great! In that case, let's dim the lights, take your seats and let's get this Halloween party started!
- JMD Nelson
A Night With Annabelle
Written By: JMD Nelson
"Temptation is the Devil looking in through the keyhole. Yielding is opening the door and inviting him in."
- Billy Sunday
Introduction:
The Annabelle Doll
The Annabelle doll is a cursed child's doll in which a demonic entity inhabits. Her original owners had said that while they had the doll in their possession, strange and often frightening unexplained events happened, which grew even worse and more dangerous to said owners as time went on. These events lead to the investigation by legendary paranormal researchers Ed and Lorraine Warren, who specialized in the occult. They had deemed the doll possessed by a hateful demonic entity and the doll was released into their ownership, to which they keep in a glass case, which a priest still blesses it twice a month, to keep the spirit trapped in their dwelling.
This is where our tale begins… With her Rebirth…
Chapter 1:
Evil Cometh
Goodnight Moon Hobby, Halloween & Occult Store
Arcadia Bay, Oregon
October
Cue: The Lords of Salem soundtrack's "A Special Child" by John 5 & Griffin Boice
Although her store had been closed for almost half an hour, a lone female cashier stood at the front entrance to her hobby shop, staring out of the glass door. She looked ghostly white in the moonlight as she stared out of the glass door, her expression unreadable. She then checked her golden pocket watch and watched as another minute passed by. Irritably, she sighed and pocketed the gold piece, deciding to give her late arrival a few more minutes before she gave up and went home. Her name was Bella Holmes, and she owned the Goodnight Moon Occult Store.
While intimidating to most because of the way she looked and carried herself, Bella was a woman of other-worldly beauty in a dark sense. She had long parted, straight black hair, dark brown eyes, olive skin, and always wore slightly smeared black eye shadow, blood red lipstick, and wore a black, feathery chest piece over her long, frilly black dress, black lace gloves, golden earrings and golden, full finger claw rings on both hands.
All in all, she looked like a medieval witch, which many of the Arcadia Bay residents assumed that she was. Parents would often tell their kids to avoid her and her unholy store at all costs, for fear of curses or hexes, or that she'd kidnap and sacrifice their children.
Bella then saw headlights appear at the far end of the street, cutting through the darkness as a car approached. It was a yellow 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T with black stripes. She squeezed her lips together and unlocked the door, going back behind the counter as the hooded driver crawled out of their car and shut the door behind them. The driver then came up to the door and knocked lightly on the glass.
Bella: "It's open."
The person came in and quickly looked around at the various Halloween masks, costumes, and decorations as well as the shelves of spell & witchcraft books, odd trinkets and props. The stranger then removed their hood, so Bella could a better look at them. It was girl punk looking girl, about 18 years old. She had ghostly pale white skin, long black parted, layered hair, dark gray eyes and wore a black hoodie, black denim shorts over black leggings and black boots. She also wore wrist warmers and black nail polish on both hands. She was called Alena Christensen, and was a stranger from out of town.
Alena then came up to the counter, looking at all of the rare occult collectables and antiques in the front glass display as well as the ones behind the counter and up on the shelves behind Bella. Bella frowned upon laying eyes upon the girl.
Bella: "You're not quite what I was expecting, dear. I was actually expecting someone else entirely."
Alena: "They couldn't make it, so they sent me instead. I hope it's okay with you."
Bella: (Shrugs) "It's fine, dear. It's just unexpected, especially with how they went on and on about that item of theirs. Do you have the receipt for their order?"
Alena: (Digs it out, checks it, and hands it over) "Sure thing."
Bella: "Good." (Takes it and reads it) "I'll be right back." (Disappears into the back)
Alena listened and waited as her footsteps went into the back of the store. They then leaned over the counter, quietly opened the register and then pocketed all the cash within. She smiled, closed up the register and then looked around at all of the various occult merchandise that Bella was peddling. 'Christ, no wonder people think this woman's a friggin' witch,' Alena thought as her eyes stopped on a wooden tribal mask. 'Holy shit, look at that guy!' she continued, 'He looks like the kind of guy who chucked spears and burned people who looked like Bella at the stake!' She then looked down at a golden puzzle-box looking thing, which sat on a red silk handkerchief. 'Damn, I wonder what happens if you solved and managed to open that thing,' Alena thought, 'You'd probably get stabbed by something, get cursed or summon a demon...'
This whole joint was creepy and Alena had to agree with the majority of Arcadia Bay's residents; this place felt simply and purely evil. Maybe it was the reputation that had been built up by town gossip, but the stories and speculation never seemed more valid than they did right now. The sound of approaching footsteps then gently pulled her back into creeped-out reality.
Bella: "Here it is, my dear."
Alena turned and looked down at the large, long brown box that now lay on the glass counter top. The word Mullins Toy Company was printed on the worn box cover. Bella gently beckoned her over with a wave of her hand and she cautiously approached the counter as Bella gently lifted off the lid. Alena felt her blood go cold as she then laid her eyes upon the item that lay within the box, smiling up at her.
Alena: "Is it the real deal?"
Bella: (Slightly irritated) "I don't sell anything but, dear."
Alena: "And it comes with a certificate of authenticity?"
Bella: "Yes, it's right there, from the manufacturer."
Alena: (Nodding) "That thing gives me the creeps. I can't see how anyone would want it."
Alena then took out a small white folded card, looked at it and then slid it into the red sash of the item. Bella smiled at Alena, who nodded to her, signaling that it was okay to cover the item back up. Bella snickered, amused by Alena's unease.
Bella: (Puts the lid back on the box) "We all desire things for different reasons. Sometimes we're just drawn to certain things more than others, and sometimes those items choose us." (Slides it over to them) "Give them my kind regards, will you?"
Alena: (Takes it, and heads for the door) "Thanks, will do."
Bella: (Waving and smiling) "May it bring you and the buyer all the happiness in the world."
Alena quickly left store and headed to her car. She then climbed in, placing the box into the back. Even though she was finally out of that Harry Potter spook-house, Alena was ashamed to admit that she had goosebumps all over their neck and arms. Shame aside, she still felt the need to make this place history, so she quickly started up her car and headed down the street, trying not to burn rubber and get a ticket in the process.
Inside, Bella glanced down and opened the register, seeing that it was fully emptied of its contents. She tsk tsk'd and shook her head at the utter nerve of Alena.
Bella: (Smiling in disbelief) "Ooh, that wicked, wicked girl…"
A short while later…
Alena sat in near complete darkness as they drove through the desolate feeling foggy night in Arcadia Bay. A few of the traffic lights were off, as they blinked yellow rhythmically. She then slowed down, checked left, right and over her shoulder, and then passed through the empty intersection, switching on the radio. The Smashing Pumpkins' "Disarm" began to play and Alena smiled, knowing the track was a personal favorite.
But at the first verse, 'Disarm you with a smile…' Alena found herself glancing in the rear-view mirror at the box. She then shuddered, remembering all that she was told about the item in question. Remembering those stories, she began to wonder about their validity.
A cold chill then set over her and the inside of her car, making her goosebumps reappear.
Alena: (Seeing her frosty breath) "What the hell? Did I leave a window open?" (Quickly glances at all of the windows in the rearview mirror) "Fucking cheap ass car. Then again, knowing that asshole Steve…"
Something then got her attention in the rearview mirror; and something dark was taking form in its reflection, blocking out the view from the car's rear window. Alena held her breath and trembled violently as her eyes then darted to the rearview mirror, and set upon the void of a massive black shadow that was in her back seat. An inhuman, animalistic growl shook her to her bones, and 2 blood red dots appeared where the thing's eyes would've been. A large cloud of hot breath then floated over her head and shoulders as the shape breathed.
Trembling violently and not taking her eyes off of the shape, Alena failed to see a local homeless woman crossing the street, carrying a large black garbage bag of bottles with her. Alena saw the lady who screamed upon the headlights falling over her and Alena swerved violently to the left, barely missing her. Alena screamed as her car sped off the road and down a hill and right into Overlook State Park.
Screaming and being jostled about in the receding car, Alena tried to hit the brakes which wouldn't work and then she slammed head-on into a large oak tree, which sent her rocketing out of the windshield and right into the tree, breaking her neck. The Mullins Toys Company box was tossed out as well, sailing into the darkness of the Arcadia Bay wilderness.
A little over an hour later…
The long, large box that had been hurled from Alena's wrecked car now lay in a small clearing, open and in pieces, illuminated by the dim moonlight. It had come open and the item inside it had fallen out, now laying deathly still on the wet grass, its large blue glass eyes staring heavenward. The item was a large, blonde doll with pigtails and wearing a frilly white dress, held to its small frame by a red flowered sash which was tied around its waist.
A scraping, shuffling sound came from the pitch-black surrounding wilderness as a shape slowly exited the forest. Making no noise other than the shuffling from its limping, it stepped into the moonlight, revealing that it was the torn, broken and bloodied corpse of Alena, her skin discolored and torn in places, her pupils lit up bright blood red like hellfire. Blood splatter blanketed the entire lower half of her mouth and her neckbone now partially protruded from the side of her neck that had broken.
She limped towards the small doll, and slowly leaned down and scooped it up, cradling it against her. She then looked to the right, seeing a park bench sitting under a dim streetlight. Alena's glowing red pupils vanished for a split second, before reappearing. She then limped towards the bench, clutching the doll in her partially skeletonized hands.
As she reached the bench, Alena leaned down and shakily placed the doll upright on the bench, with its ankles crossed. Alena's corpse then leaned back, closed her eyes and slowly crumbled into blackened ash, which scattered about the ground below.
The doll itself was left sitting on the park bench under the street light, smiling as it waited for its new owner to find it.