Author's Note: Merry Christmas, everyone! Welcome to the first Christmas special that I have written for the Tea Leaves series. That's right. Up until this year, I've never done a Christmas special for my Hetalia fics. Well, that changes today. Here, we see the ugly truth about Qi, her dolls, and her mother. I have been sitting on this idea for quite some time now. And here we are. I worked hard on this and I hope you will enjoy it. I don't know what I am doing for next week. For now, Happy Holidays and enjoy this Christmas Special.

Match Twenty-Eight: Siming:

-Qi-

My mother was a monster. I see that now. No, I've seen that for quite some time now. I grew up isolated as I said before. It was all part of her plan. You see, I was going to be nothing more than a vessel for her to live another life. Or rather an ancient spirit that's part in my family for decades, maybe even longer. She didn't want to die. Actually, he started out as a man. The story is going to be more complicated than it sounds. You are going to have to stay with me.

There were once two brothers. Both were part of the strongest clan in East China. However, they knew that the age of clans was going to die out. Their father didn't want that to happen. He tasked his sons to prevent that from happening. One wanted to move towards the future. The other, my ancestor, turned to darker magic.

You already know about the vessel bidding spell. It's a horrible practice. The child is sacrificed so that the adults can keep living. That would've been me. But my dolls saved me.

My mother raised me to be her little vessel. I was never physically abused. Still, she was rather…

How do I put this? I think the others and I will tell you everything. I will go first. My mother barely paid much attention to me. For the most part, I was never allowed out of that big house in the mountains. When I was younger, I didn't know that was a prison that held dark secrets within. My mother kept me distracted with fancy dolls and books during the day. I never knew where she went during the day. I was mostly alone. Sure, there were other people in the house, but I never saw them.

Through her coldness, my mother did teach me some things. She was my tutor after all. I learned how to read and write because of her. I learned how to do business and make connections with really important people because of my mother. There were other things that I learned because of her. She taught me to walk on knives. My mother would tie sharp knives to my feet and make me walk towards her across the room. Not just the flat, straight blades of butcher knives. My mother would make me walk on the blades on them, on my tiptoes. Think of all this like foot binding in ancient China. She would wake me up in the early hours of the morning and drag me down to the kitchen. At first, she was the one to strap the knives to my feet. As I got older, I had to do it myself. For this to work, the blades would have to be tightly secured to my feet. If it weren't done right, I would have to do it all over again. I would have to try and walk many times. Sometimes, it would be for hours. My little ankles and legs ached when the lessons were over. This went on for years. She was it was to make me strong.

"A woman has to be strong in a man's world," my mother told me. "No daughter of mine will submit to any man!" That may sound noble, but she had her own agenda the whole time.

I wouldn't learn the full extent until I saw their memories.

-Isaac-

I don't remember who my parents were. I never got to meet them. Instead, I was taken to this house when I was a baby. I think was I sold to her. They never told me. Never had the chance to ask. My time at the house wasn't as bad as the others.

I was kept on the opposite end of the house. You already heard about my story about my short time with Qi. I was just raised to be her living doll. Because I was young, I didn't understand the gravity of the situation.

That lady scared me. She always looked so mean. I don't know what I did wrong. Not once did I ever see her smile. For the first four years of my life, I was locked in my room. There was nothing inside. All I had was a bed and a window. My food came through the doorway. Someone always bathed me and took me to the toilet. I never got to see their face. There wasn't much for me to do in that room. I had my books, but that was it. I didn't even know what time was.

Then one day, the door opened. That mean lady stood with a stone look on her face. She didn't say anything to me as she held out her hand. I stood up and took it. I didn't know where she was taking me. They dressed me up in a suit and tie. Then they walked me down this long hall. That mean lady opened the door and walked me inside.

There was Qi sitting on her bed. She was actually nice. She was the only friend that I would ever have. The only thing I was allowed to do was be her friend and stay by her side. I was okay with that. Just as long as I kept the mean lady happy.

Qi and I did everything together. We played together. We ate together in the big dining room. We took baths together. We even slept in the same bed together. It was all how that mean lady wanted. We could never leave the house. All I had to do was be a good little dol to Qi. Still, something went wrong.

It was the day we went to the festival. That would be the first and last time I would leave that house. That mean lady had us dressed up and drove us into town. Qi and I were excited. We had never been out of that house before. That mean lady drove us into town for the festival. It was supposed to be a fun day. It started out that way. But I messed up in that mean lady's eyes. It was the man at the goldfish booth. You already know the story. Even Qi didn't know how the end really went.

That mean lady killed me. She led me out into the rose garden behind the house. I was already afraid of her at that time. Even though she never talked to me, her cold looks told me I was in trouble. I was woken up in the middle of the night. She was standing over me. She grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me out of bed. That mean lady wouldn't let me ask any questions. Even then, I knew something bad was going to happen.

It was in the early hours of the morning. It was still dark outside. I couldn't see where we were. I tried to look around in the dark.

"Where are we?" I asked. That would be the last thing I would ever say alive. She never said a word. The last thing I remember was something hard hitting me in the back of the head. I fell to the ground as it grew darker.

When I opened my eyes, I was floating in the sky. I looked down to see that mean lady burying me in the ground. She dug a deep hole and threw my body in it. She covered it up, packing the dirt. Then she went back into that house.

I never got to grow up. I am going to be six years old forever. I didn't go to Heaven or Hell either. Instead, I am part of Qi's soul, living her body. I have to stay with her. Something inside of me won't let me do it. I don't know if it was because of my duty in life, but I have to stay.

I am not the only one here.

Oh, there's one more thing about me. I loved to play the piano. I was really good at it too. Sometimes when we were alone, Qi and I would be in the parlor and play piano together. She could never keep up with me. No one taught me how to play either. I just started playing one day. Now, Qi plays the piano beautifully because of me. When this is all over, I want to play the piano one more time before I have to go.

-Lottie-

I never cried. I had to be tough. Isaac was luckier than us. The rest of us were trapped under the house. There had to be about a hundred at a time. She kept us all in cages. I suspect that she got us from the black market. I wouldn't put it past her. That bitch made our lives hell.

You don't know what it's like. Isaac didn't understand how she truly was. But I saw it. I saw it for three full years. The cages were just the start of it. Most of us were just crammed in there. We barely ate. They only gave us meals once a day. What they gave us wouldn't be fit for animals. Sometimes, we fought for scraps. I had the scars on my body as proof.

I got to live a little bit longer than Isaac did. I stayed with Qi for three years. I'm surprised that I even lasted that long. Isaac was sweeter and more submissive. I could never be that. I was never really girly either. I hated the dress that bitch put me in.

She took me out of the cage to by Qi's little doll. To be fair, Qi is cool. We got along rather well. In fact, she was the only good thing in my miserable life. I remember when we first met. That bitch came down to the basement and picked me out of the cage. I thought I was going to be forced to fight this time. Instead, I was taken upstairs and washed off in a bathroom. A hand even went in my mouth and brushed my teeth. They dressed me up in this ugly pink and white dress. They put my hair up into two braids. I looked like a baby doll at age eight.

They walked me down another hall. Nobody said a word the whole time. Of course, I wondered where we were going. Wouldn't you if you were trapped in a cage for most of your life? Anyway, they walked me up to a door at the end of the hall and knocked on it. When I turned around, they had left me. I stood in front of that door alone.

"Who is it?" a small voice asked. I didn't respond before I opened the door.

Qi sat on her bed. She was wearing a black dress that was similar to mine. My first thought was that she looked so lonely. It was then I realized that she was like me in a way.

"Who are you?" she asked me. I froze. Who was I? They never gave us names. We were just stuffed into cages and left in the dark. You would only get a name once you were chosen.

"Lottie," I said. "My name is Lottie." It didn't feel right coming out of my mouth. That bitch was the one who picked that name for me. Qi bowed her head.

"Nice to meet you," she said. "My name is Qi." Something told me that this girl my age wasn't like that bitch at all. I walked over and sat down on her bed. I was supposed to be her doll. That's all that we were raised for. That bitch didn't really care about us at all.

The last three years of my life had its ups and downs. I didn't know how bad Qi had it with that bitch. I didn't find this out until one night when we were ten years old. I couldn't sleep that night. When I turned over, she wasn't in bed. Curious, I got up and wandered out of our room. (It felt weird to call it "our" room back then. It still is now.) Somehow, I knew to go to the kitchen. I found Qi lying on the floor, cuddled up into a ball.

"Qi?" I asked. She didn't move. I ran over to her as fast as I could. Qi lifted her head when I got closer.

"Oh my god, what happened to you?" I asked. I pulled her up to sitting on the floor.

"Hurt," she whimpered.

"What?" I asked.

"My leg," Qi whispered. "I think I overdid it." I looked down to see what she was talking about. Her left leg lay limp below her. I couldn't see how bad it was in the dim kitchen light.

"Can you move at all?" I asked.

"No," she said.

"Here," I said. I managed to scoop up Qi in my arms and carry her to bed. I was pretty strong for my age back then. She hopped on her good leg as we made it back to our room. I helped her onto the bed.

"What happened?" I asked. Qi broke down the "training" that bitch made her do every day and night. I felt like I was going to be sick when I got a better look at her leg. She had a deep gash from her knee to her ankle from where she felt and the blade cut into it. That achilleas' heel had some cuts to it too.

"I fell again," Qi said in a whisper. I pulled her into my arms for a hug. I vowed to protect her with my life from then on.

I did my best to protect her from that bitch. It cost me my life, but I didn't care. She was just as much as prisoner to her as we were. That bitch didn't like having anyone challenging her rule. I was a "bad doll" in her eyes. Because of that, I had to go.

I remember the final straw.

We were twelve years old at the time. That bitch had Qi doing more knife training in the kitchen. Qi was at her breaking point. So many cuts all over her legs. Her heels and ankles were getting sore. If this kept up, Qi was going to cause permanent damage to her legs. Still, that bitch wanted her to keep going.

"Get up!" she commanded. Qi was trying not to cry, but tears were running down her cheeks. I wanted to pull her out of that kitchen, but she insisted that I don't interfere.

"I don't want you to disappear," she said. I didn't understand what she said at the time. That bitch frowned at her.

"I don't have all night," she growled. "Get up and try it again!" Qi looked like she had been shot as she tried to stand up. She tried not to show it, but I could tell that she was in pain. Qi just wanted to lay down and go to bed. I couldn't speak up. I started to. I was even standing up from the kitchen floor. Qi shook her head at me. The sudden movement about made her stumble.

"Don't get distracted," that bitch hissed. "Walk!" Qi drew in a pain-filled breath and started to step forward again. She looked she was about to fall. Pain started to show through the crack of her brave face. If she fell again, I would have to step and help her.

"Come on. Start again," that bitch growled. "Don't make me wait." I hated that cold look in her eyes. She was going to make Qi do this all night. I wanted to tell her that she didn't have to do this. Qi would've told me that it was fine. But no, it wasn't. I could see it in her eyes.

Qi started to take the next step again. She wobbled through the pain. Usually, she was more stable on these knives. But over the past couple of days, her legs hadn't healed properly. I was worried that if she fell again, she's twist her ankle or worse. Still, that bitch wouldn't let her rest. She started to clap her hands together.

"Come on!" she shouted. "I haven't got all night. You're done this before. Pick up the pace!" Qi shut her eyes and started to try and walk faster.

"She's had enough!" I shouted. Qi turned her head with fear in her eyes. That bitch held out her hand.

"Shut it!" she snapped at me. She turned back to Qi.

"Don't get distracted!" that bitch said. "Walk towards me!" Qi tried to toughen up and walk again. She only made it about halfway before she started to wobble over. That bitch clenched her teeth.

"You better not fall over," she hissed. Qi's legs started to shake. I jumped up to my feet. I already knew how this was going to end. It was my job to protect her after all. I was her doll.

Sure enough, Qi started to fall over. On instinct, I ran over and grabbed her before she fell to the floor again. She whipped her head around to me.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yes…" Qi said in a small voice. I couldn't ignore the fear in her eyes.

"You!" we heard screaming at us. Qi and I looked up to see that bitch glaring at us. I pushed Qi behind me and held out my arms. We dared each other to move. I was ready to fight this bitch if it came down to it. I would've tackled her then and there if I had to. Instead, that bitch turned and stormed out of the kitchen. I should've known that was a set-up for her to kill me later. In that moment, I thought about Qi. I helped her to bed for what would be the last time.

In the early hours of the morning, I felt someone grab me by the shoulder. I didn't get a chance to fight them off as I was dragged out of the room. I kicked and flailed my arms to break away, but it was no use. That grip was so tight that I could feel fingernails digging into my skin.

I was dragged outside into that damn rose garden. I didn't even get a chance to turn around before I took an axe to the back of the head. I fell face down to the wet ground and everything went black.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself floating in the sky. I looked down and saw that bitch burying my body in the ground. It didn't take me long to figure out what she had done. I wanted to charge down and tackle her. But before I could try, I was snatched away through the sky. The next thing I knew, I was surrounded by pink nothing.

Where was I?

"Did she kill you too?" a little boy's voice asked. I turned around to see a little boy in a black suit. Something inside of me told me that he was once in the same position as me.

"Yeah…" I said. "Where are we?"

"Inside Qi," he said. I blinked.

"Huh?" I asked.

"Well, we're in her soul to be exact," the little boy said. I just stood staring at him. This kid held out his hand.

"My name is Isaac," he said.

"Lottie," I said. We shook hands. Since then, we have been Qi's soul. I don't know why we can't move on even now. I guess duty to stay by her side remains. Something like that. The other two seem to think that.

-Phillip-

I too have suffered like the others. I never was a fighter. I tried to stay quiet in my corner of the cage and hoped that I wouldn't be noticed. We barely ate. We were hot during the summer and cold during the winter. Most of them got used to the wails of hunger and pain. I didn't. I never could. If one of them got sick, everyone else got sick. They didn't really do anything to help us there either. Night after night, I wished that death or something would take me away.

When I was fifteen, I got my wish of the latter. The cage door was opened and I pulled out. I didn't know where I was going. I didn't know whether to feel dread or be happy. They dragged me into a bathroom and washed me off. The hot water nearly burned my skin. I still have the scars on my back. After my bath, they dressed me up in a suit and walked me down the hall. Where were they taking me?

I was led up to a door. One of the people with me knocked before they backed away with the other person. I didn't dare to move.

"Who is it?" a small voice asked. I froze. There was somebody in there. It was a girl. Now, I just had to see. And there was Qi. She sat on her bed in a long black dress. Her eyes looked tired. She's done this before.

"Uh… hi," I said.

"Who are you?" she asked. I cleared my throat.

"I'm Phillip," he said.

"Oh," she said. We stood silent for what felt like hours. It wasn't the best first impression that morning.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Qi," she said. I walked over and sat down next to her on her bed.

It didn't take much for us to get close. I mean, it's not hard to see why. She was lonely in that house. I did all that I could to keep to myself. There was someone I talked to in the dark, but I never saw their face. In the beginning, Qi seemed so uneasy.

"What's the matter?" I asked her at last. We were sitting alone in the garden together. Qi looked around for a moment. She lowered her head.

"I'm afraid," she admitted.

"Of her?" I asked. She shook her head. I tilted my head.

"Then… what is it?" I asked. She kept her eyes on her lap.

"I'm scared that you will disappear," she said.

"What do you mean?" I asked. Qi grabbed me by the hand.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Please don't leave me," she pleaded. Her voice trembled as she spoke. When she looked up she had tears in her eyes.

"Qi…" I said. My heart ached for her. I don't know how this happened. I just leaned in and kissed her on the lips. There were many things that could have led to that one moment. Loneliness, hormones, comfort, and maybe a shared fear of her. I don't know how long that kiss lasted. All I know was that we pulled away. Her face was so red. We had never done something like that before. We couldn't speak at first. We couldn't even look at each other. I cleared my throat.

"Uh… Well… Uh…" was all that I could say. We just stood there, feeling so awkward.

I had no idea in that moment that I had signed my own death warrant.

Qi and I got really close after that kiss. I mean, really close. We would steal glances at each other, hold hands, and steal a couple of kisses here and there. This had to be all in secret. She had her people watching us. Naturally, I was just supposed to be a doll. Dolls can't have romantic feelings for their owners. We kept our relationship a secret for about a year. I don't know how she found out about us. When she did, it was over for me.

I was asleep in my room on the night was murdered. A hand yanked me out of my bed. I didn't get a chance to ask questions. As they walked me down the hall, I had a sinking feeling that I wouldn't be able to keep my promise to Qi.

They marched me out to the rose garden. The last thing I saw was the bushes before I took an axe to the back of the head. I took two more blows before I fell to the ground. And just like that, I was dead.

I too saw my body being buried in the rose garden when I opened my eyes. So this was what happened to the others. I wanted to warn Qi, but I wouldn't get the chance just yet. I got snatched away from that space that I was floating in. The next thing I knew was that I was in Qi's soul. Already, there was a boy and a girl waiting for me.

"That bitch killed you too?" the girl asked. I looked around at the pink walls surrounding us.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"Inside Qi's soul," the little boy said in a calm tone.

"I'm Lottie," the girl said. "This is Isaac."

"Hello," the little boy said.

"I'm Phillip," I said.

"We know," Lottie said. She and Isaac held out their hands to me. Somehow, I felt comfortable with taking them. I wouldn't be the last one that she would kill.

I really did love Qi. I think Isaac loves her too.

-Ray-

I am the last doll that Qi's mother would kill. I was eighteen when I died. I never got to be an adult. I don't exactly remember why I was killed by her mother. It just happened, really. I probably should back up with my story though.

Just like the others, I was in the cage. We all stayed in the basement and never saw daylight. We didn't even know what day or year it was. Unlike the others, I didn't know what I was. I didn't feel like a boy or a girl. I had to fight to survive. I think being small played to my advantage. Qi's mother made us fight to the death. Yes, that was right. Once a month we would fight a death match to prove ourselves worthy to be Qi's doll. The dead ones would end up buried in the rose garden behind the house. We didn't want to do this. But what choice did we have? We all came from poor countries and had no families. Some of us were sold to her from the black market. My family sold me to Qi's mother for a better life. If they had only known…

I think it was my seventeenth birthday when I was pulled from the cage. They pulled me along down the hall without saying a word. They cleaned me up and put me in a cotton black and white dress. I had to admit that it felt weird to wear a dress. I never could get used to dressing up in dresses and skirts. Still, that was what they made me first on my first day out of the cage. They cut my hair and braided it up. When I was all cleaned up and dressed, they walked me down the hall again. I heard the rumors. Go down the hall and meet the daughter. If you are a "bad" doll, it's off to the rose garden with you. I was determined to be a good doll for her daughter.

They knocked on the door and left me standing there alone. I took in a breath and waited.

"Who is it?" a girl's voice asked. My heart jumped in my chest as I reached for the door. I was determined to make a good first impression. I opened the door and went inside. The first thing I noticed was the sad look on her face. Those eyes. Those were the eyes of someone who had seen so much disappointment in her life. I bet she expected me to leave her too. I bowed my head.

"My name is Ray," I said. "It's nice to meet you."

"I'm Qi," she said in a low voice. She bowed her head as she spoke. My heart ached for her. She was a prisoner just like the rest of us. Her prison may have looked different, but she was still in a prison, nevertheless.

"How many others have there been before me?" I asked.

"Three," she said. I don't know why, but I just walked over and hugged her. We didn't need to say anything. I just held her. I could feel her trembling. I didn't need to ask her what was wrong.

Now that I think of it, I have an idea why her mother killed me. I didn't confront to her idea of a perfect doll for her daughter. First of all, I didn't see myself as a girl or a boy. I had the body of a girl, but I never thought that I fit the part. I felt awkward in dresses. Qi dressed me up in pants. I remember the first time I put on a suit. I don't know how she pulled it off, but she did.

"Are you sure this is okay?" I asked.

"Yes," Qi said. "I know how much you don't like dresses. So, I figured that you could try this on." I didn't know what to think at first. Qi held out the suit to me.

"Go on," she said. "Try it on." I hesitantly took the suit and disappeared across the room. Moments later, I came out dressed up in dark grey pants and a white shirt.

"How do I look?" I asked. Qi stood there, thinking for a moment. I frowned.

"It looks bad, doesn't it?" I asked.

"No, you're just missing something," she said. "Hang on." Qi walked over to her bed and reached underneath. She pulled out small, flat black box. She walked up to me and removed the lid. Qi pulled out a black necktie.

"Here," she said. "This used to be Phillip's."

"Qi…" I said.

"No, it's fine. Here," Qi said. She walked up and put the tie on me. She wasn't going to let me argue with her. We looked in the mirror together when she was finished.

"There," she said. I saw tears welling up in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" I asked. Qi shook her head.

"No, I'm going to be fine," she said. "It's fine. He'd like you to wear." She forced herself to smile as she wiped away her tears. I looked at the tie against my shirt. Somehow, it didn't feel right to have it on. But Qi insisted that I wear, so I do.

Her mother got this idea in her head that I was seducing Qi or something. It wasn't like that. Sure, I might have had some feelings for Qi, but it was more platonic than anything. Nevertheless, that was reason enough in her mother's eyes to warrant my death.

You can already see where this is going to go. I was dragged out of bed in the middle of the night and marched down to the rose garden. Qi's mother stuck me in the back of the head with an ax and buried me right there in the garden along with the other bodies. I should've known. Why would I think that I would be any different? I did my best to be a good doll too. In the end, it wasn't enough.

I wasn't going to be alone for long.

When I opened my eyes, I saw bright pink walls around me. I looked around with a confused look on my face.

"Where am I?" I asked.

"We're inside Qi's soul," a voice said behind me. I turned to see two boys and girl standing behind me. Somehow, I knew who they were.

"Isaac, Phillip, and Lottie?" I said, pointing at each one of them. They looked at each other before they turned back to me.

"So you do know who are," the girl, Lottie, said. "Well, you're one of us now." They all linked hands together. I walked forward and took the boys' hands.

Thinking back, they did try to give me hints through Qi to save me. At the time, I chalked it up to her being strange at times. But now, I know. I know because I would do the same with Noelle. She was one of the lucky ones because she's still alive to this day.

-Stranger-

I know how this will all end. They don't even know that I exist. They are all killing her. Do they know if they are doing that? I don't think so. They got their revenge, but they haven't let go yet. I think it's all because of her.

I have been watching all of them for years. I don't have a name or a motive to intervene. I know who they are and I know what they have done. Why didn't I stop them? It's like I said before. I have no motive to intervene. I don't have to tell you who I am. However, Qi is starting to sense that I am here. She doesn't know who I am, but I know all of them.

If Qi can feel my presence, things have gotten worse than originally believed. Looks like I am going to have to reach out to her. It's not my job to do that. But the others wouldn't be able to tell her. Looks like I am going to have to do it.

I closed my eyes and parted my lips.

Can you hear me, Qi? Speak to me.

-Qi-

I killed my mother. It wasn't any of them. They didn't make me do anything. It was all me. They showed me everything. I never knew how bad they had it in that basement. Trapped in those cages. Practically starved and left down there in the darkness. Being forced to fight to the death. Her burying an axe in the back of their heads. Them being buried in that damned rose garden. I used to play around there when I was younger. I should've known the moment that Isaac looked afraid. I should've known when Lottie glared at my mother. I never thought about it.

I should've known. Because she tried to kill me too. She tried to kill me and take over my body. She would've been successful if it wasn't for my dolls. They shoved my soul back into my body after my mother stabbed me in the chest.

She called me out to the sun room in the early hours of the morning. Someone woke me up. They pulled me out of bed and walked me down the hall. I was half-asleep the whole time.

"Where are we going?" I mumbled out. I didn't get an answer. They just took me downstairs and slid open the door. They shoved me into the room and closed the door behind me.

"Welcome, my child," I heard my mother say in the darkness. I turned to see a circle of black candles lit on the floor. My mother walked forward in flowing white robes with a large knife in her hand. Her eyes looked so empty in the candlelight. When she spoke, her voice was deeper, almost growling like an old man's. It took me a while to grasp the gravity of the situation.

"Mama?" I asked.

"Come closer," she commanded. Despite my dolls yelling in my ears to not do it, I walked closer to her. She had no emotion on her face as I stepped into the circle.

"Good," she said. She raised her knife. I don't know why I didn't jump out of the way as she stabbed me in the chest. Phillip told me it was because I was under a spell, but I have to wonder. In that moment, I didn't realize what happened until after the knife went into my chest. She said nothing as she stabbed me four more times. Blood soaked my nightgown as I fell to the floor.

From above, I saw my mother backing away from my body. She was about to stab herself in the chest when she paused. Suddenly, my body got off the floor. At first, my mother looked stunned.

"Impossible!" she said. "How are you…?" It didn't take her long to figure it out.

"Oh! Which one are you?" my mother asked. I lifted my head on the ground.

"Lottie," my voice said. It was then I felt a strong pair of hands on my shoulders in the air. I turned and looked behind me. Phillip had a calm smile on his face.

"It's okay," he said. "Just let her do it." Something inside of me told me that he was right. I looked down on the ground with him. Lottie had always been a fighter. She and Noelle could go hand-to-hand in a fight. My mother smirked at her.

"Bad doll!" she shouted. "Bad dolls should never come back!" My mother charged at my body with the knife. Lottie dodged out of the way. She went straight for my mother in the stomach with a head butt. My mother fell backward in the circle. She sat up with rage in her eyes.

"You!" she shouted. Lottie stretched my neck from side to side.

"Anyone else want to take a crack at her?" she asked. "Come and get her!" I had no idea that all of the ghosts in the house wanted a piece of her. Something inside of me compelled me to make a bid for freedom.

"Let me do it!" I shouted. My body looked up at me.

"You sure?" Phillip asked behind me.

"Yes!" I said. "I want this." Lottie bowed my head.

"Well okay," she said. "I will let you take over." Phillip took my left arm and Ray took my right. I turned with a stunned look on my face.

"Ray!" I said. They bowed their head at me. Phillip and Ray helped me back down into my body. It felt strange to be back, to be honest with you. My mother smirked at me.

"Oh you want to kill me, huh?" she asked. My mother tossed the knife at me.

"Do it!" she shouted. I didn't hesitate to pick up the knife. She jumped to her feet and opened up her robe.

"Do it! Here's my chest! Do it!" she yelled. I let out a scream and ran towards her with the knife. I can't tell what was she thinking. Why didn't she fight back? Why didn't she try to kill me again? I don't know. I can't speak for her. All I know was that I stabbed her so many times in the chest that I lost count. She didn't make a sound the whole time. I still can't get her eyes out of my head. She just stared up at me with blank eyes. My stabbing grew faster. Noelle had to stop me. I whipped around to see her with her usual stoic face.

"Noelle?" I asked. "When did you get up?"

"You've done enough," she said. I looked at the body of my mother. No emotion in her eyes. There was nothing. She just laid there in a pool of her blood. I did it. I finally killed the monster. Strangely, I felt nothing from it. I just stood there as the knife dropped to the floor.

"I'm free," I said. I turned to Noelle. I struggled to say something, but nothing came out of my mouth. Noelle understood me.

We decided to burn down that awful house. I came up with that too. Noelle helped me with no question. I think she was just as happy as she was to do so.

"What about the others in the basement?" I asked.

"We can't help them," she said.

"But-" I said.

"We can't help them!" Noelle said again. I drew my mouth closed. She sighed.

"The police will take it from here," she said. "I don't like it either, but we don't have a choice in the matter. We have to go now!" I nodded once.

"Right," I said. We set fire to the house. Noelle and I left with a small amount of things packed in bags. We left that awful prison for the last time. We didn't even look back.

The firefighters were able to put the fire out. Soon, the police came to investigate my mother's murder. I'm sure they found all of the children and adults in cages in the basement. I don't know what became of them or that case. The house fire didn't even make the front page. It was mentioned for a few days and then faded away from the public's minds.

That's fine by me. I have other things to worry about right now. I feel that I don't have much time anymore. I'm sure that Noelle and the others have picked up on it. I have to make sure that Jing is going to be safe. After that, I don't know. I'll just let fate deal with what she will.

But yet not. I don't think my dolls will be happy if I tapped out before then. So, I'm going to hang on as long as I can.