2: In the Eyes of the Doll – Part I

"My niece has been begging for this ever since she saw it with my sister." Corporal Kielholz set a large, cream-colored box down on Corporal Langenscheidt's bunk. "I think it will be a great birthday present for her."

"What is it?" Langenscheidt asked.

"A porcelain doll, from a shop right in Hammelburg. The shop is owned by a man named von Hielscher." Kielholz took the lid off of the box, revealing a doll of a little girl in a pale-blue dress, holding a bouquet of flowers that resembled violets and wearing a white bonnet. "She is quite adorable."

Langenscheidt looked the doll in the eyes. They were a lovely emerald-green color, but there was something sad in them. He didn't think that was possible in an inanimate object. "She looks very sad, Erich."

Kielholz raised an eyebrow. "You know—" he lifted the doll from the box, "you are right. She does look sad."

"It could just be how she was made," Langenscheidt said.

"Possibly. Maybe she wants a friend, and that friend will be my niece."

"I just hope the doll's expression does not make your niece afraid of her."

"I doubt it." Kielholz put the doll back in the box. "I think she will love it."

"I hope so." Langenscheidt watched Kielholz slide the box under the bunk bed, then followed him outside the guard barracks to resume their duties. "This will be my first time meeting your sister and your niece. I hope I can make a good first impression."

"You will. I have already told my sister everything about you. She is quite nice and hospitable. She was a bit more outgoing before Mama died, but now she is a little more like you. Louisa is my niece. She will be turning five, and she is a little shy, but once she gets to know you, I think she will like you a lot."

"Who will like Langenscheidt?" The ghost of Sergeant Westworth appeared behind the two guards.

Kielholz let out an irritable sigh. "Go away, Westworth. You are not invited."

"We are talking about Erich's niece's birthday coming up," Langenscheidt explained.

"Why am I not invited?" Westworth folded his arms over his chest, giving the two guards a look.

"I… do not want you scaring Louisa."

"Just because I'm a ghost doesn't mean that I'm scary." Westworth paused, then added, "At least, I'm not scary all the time."

"Well, this is also going to be the first time in a little while that Erich and I have had some time together, so, if you do not mind, we would like to spend the week alone."

Westworth looked disappointed. "Do you really trust me here in camp by myself?"

Langenscheidt glanced at Kielholz. "He has a point."

Kielholz rolled his eyes, sighing heavily. "Fine, but he cannot be visible in front of my family. Can we agree on that?"

"Deal," Westworth said.

Kielholz turned to Langenscheidt, then looked at Westworth. "Can we talk alone for a minute? As in, completely alone?"

Westworth grinned at him before disappearing.

Kielholz rubbed his face. "I know leaving Westworth here alone is a very bad idea. The last time we did, he levitated Klink's desk—with the commandant sitting at it."

"That is far from the worst thing he has done while unsupervised."

"I know. He locked Hochstetter in Klink's bathroom and made him have to crawl out through the window, among other things, but… I do not want him tagging along with us everywhere. He is more than capable of behaving himself if we want time to ourselves, and… we have not done that in a while. I miss that."

"I miss it, too." Guilt speared Langenscheidt's chest. "I just worry Westworth is going to get himself in trouble. He is tied to me, so everything he does can come back on me. I never should have told Klink about this."

"Well, it was Westworth who left you with no choice but to tell the truth, because Klink was going to throw one of the prisoners in the cooler for what happened." Kielholz bit his lip, looking unsure as to what to say next. "I know you are not doing any of this deliberately, but I want to go back to the way things were, where it was just the two of us. I… do not want to be worrying about a ghost getting us in trouble because he wants attention."

"Would you like me to talk to Westworth?"

"Only if you want to. I know you two are friends, but I thought I was your brother."

"You are, and you will always be my closest friend. I should apologize if it seems like I have been ignoring you in favor of Westworth. It has been a lot to get used to since I defeated his monster and he became my guardian."

Kielholz still looked upset, but he nodded in acknowledgment. "I do not want my niece's birthday ruined by your ghost. That is all I ask."

Langenscheidt didn't respond. When Kielholz walked away, he turned around, saying, "I know you were listening. No need to hide it."

Westworth appeared, looking embarrassed for once. "If you don't want me to come, I will stay here."

Langenscheidt sighed. "Erich has a point, but can I trust you to not—"

"Yes, you can trust me."

"Thank you." Part of Langenscheidt felt guilty for having to leave Westworth out, but he also knew he did want to spend time with just Kielholz. The last thing he wanted to do was let his friendship stagnate and wither away.

A gust of wind rattling the windows yanked Langenscheidt from sleep. He watched the trees outside the fence dance for a bit as the wind continued to push through the camp, then tried to get back to sleep.

The sound of something being dragged across the floor broke the relative silence of the barracks. Abruptly, it stopped, then started again. Langenscheidt sat up. "Westworth, now is not the time," he hissed.

Nothing. No response.

Langenscheidt sighed before settling back down. He figured Westworth was probably bored and frustrated that he couldn't accompany him and Kielholz on their leave. However, it was unusual that Westworth wasn't talking. He cannot be that upset, can he? I doubt he would be. Sitting back up, Langenscheidt whispered, "Westworth? Is everything alright? There is no need to be so silent."

More nothing, and more dragging.

"This is not funny, Westworth." Langenscheidt looked around, trying to find signs of the ghost. When he turned to his right, he spotted the box containing the porcelain doll had been moved into the space between Langenscheidt's bunk and Corporal Steinhauser's. Is that what was dragging? That is what you are playing with, Westworth? Langenscheidt rolled his eyes. "Very funny, Westworth. That is enough for the night."

The box continued to move. Langenscheidt lay on his stomach, watching the box with his arms folded on his pillow. It stopped by the door, and was completely still for a while. Langenscheidt figured that was the end of it, and returned to a comfortable position to sleep.

His ears pricked when he heard a rustling sound, and sat up again. The lid of the box was on the floor, and the doll herself was getting up out of the box. Langenscheidt quickly buried himself under his blanket when the doll's head turned in his direction. His breathing quickened, and something deep inside was telling him that Westworth had nothing to do with this. That doll has come to life! How is that possible?! Westworth, if there was ever a time I needed you, please!

"That doll isn't 'alive,'" a familiar British voice said.

Langenscheidt sat up, seeing Westworth watching the doll with wide eyes while holding the posts holding up the bunk bed. "What do you mean?"

"There is a ghost of a little girl trapped inside."

Langenscheidt's blood ran cold. "A little girl? How little?"

"The same age as Kielholz's niece."

"What do we do? Can we free her? Talk to her?"

Westworth shook his head. "I cannot touch that doll. It's cursed to hold spirits."

"Is there a way to break the curse?"

"All curses can be broken, but I don't know how to break this one."

Langenscheidt watched the ghost-doll telekinetically unlock the door, and proceed to walk outside. "Now what?"

Westworth shrugged.

"Is there anything you can do?"

"I don't know. You are going to have to talk to someone who knows more about this than me."

Langenscheidt looked up at Kielholz's bunk. "Erich might know, or perhaps Tobias." He looked back at the open door. "How do we get the doll back?"

"That's your job now, Langenscheidt. I can't touch it."

"Not even with your telekinesis?"

Westworth shook his head.

Langenscheidt sighed, then pulled his boots out from under the bunk. "Fine."

"Actually, wait—" Westworth took Langenscheidt's shoulder. "Let's wait until it stops."

"How are we going to know when it stops?"

"We don't, but it should be easier to catch when it does."

"Westworth, are you saying I am incapable of catching something that runs like a small child?"

"No, but we don't know what she's capable of."

"If you are anything to go by—"

"Every ghost has something unique about them. Very few will have the exact same set of powers."

"It is a little girl. What could she possibly be capable of?"

"That's what we don't know yet. I will watch from afar. Get some rest."

Langenscheidt wasn't sure it was possible to get any sleep for the rest of the night, but he still put his head back down on his pillow.

Kielholz was shocked when Langenscheidt told him about the previous night, and grabbed Langenscheidt's shoulders, shaking him and hissing, "Where is the doll now?!"

"I have no idea!" Langenscheidt said. "She walked out the door and I did not follow because Westworth said it would be a good idea to figure out what she is capable of first."

"And do we know what she is capable of yet?"

"Ask Westworth. He said he would keep an eye on her."

Kielholz sighed heavily.

"Do you believe me?"

"Yes, of course I do. I just hope this is not an elaborate prank to convince me to let Westworth accompany us."

"You know I would never allow that, and I doubt he is behind the doll's movement. He seemed very scared of it."

"You mentioned that Westworth cannot touch the doll because she is cursed, right?"

"Yes. The curse can be broken, but we need to find out what it is first."

"Well, perhaps we should start at the beginning. See if von Hielscher knows anything about this. He did seem like quite a quirky man, but I did not feel anything off about him."

"We have a work detail in Hammelburg today anyway. I will talk to Steinhauser about covering for us while we go investigate."

It was shortly after ten in the morning when the two guards accompanied the prisoners on a detail just outside the town, and after discussing the plan with Steinhauser, they promptly disappeared down the road. Kielholz led the way, and he was strangely quiet for the duration of the walk.

"Is everything alright, Erich?" Langenscheidt asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes. Why?" Kielholz looked over his shoulder at Langenscheidt.

"You have not said anything since we left the work detail."

Kielholz shrugged. "So? I have nothing to say."

"Alright. Does not sound like you, though. I would have thought you would happy it is just the two of us."

"The problem, Karl, is that it is not just the two of us. I can feel Westworth trailing behind us."

"We might need him on this. I was also hoping you might have an idea of what we are up against."

"I would have to talk to Tobias. He did start dating a witch last month. She might know more than him."

"The only problem is that the next time we see Tobias will be at the birthday party."

"Exactly. I do not want to show up without a gift for Louisa."

"We may have to find something else. Hopefully, von Hielscher can offer a replacement."

"I hope so, too, but my concern is this; he makes the dolls himself. Either someone cursed this doll behind his back, or he cursed them himself. Curses do not just happen out of thin air."

"And why this curse specifically?" Westworth appeared alongside Langenscheidt. "Why trap spirits inside dolls?"

"Only the person who did this would know."

The shop was situated on a street running almost parallel to the Franconian Saale. It was a very quiet street, with only the sound of the river lapping at its banks providing any kind of ambience. The windows of the shop were packed with dolls of all kinds. As the guards approached, Langenscheidt noticed Westworth hanging behind.

"Are you alright?" Langenscheidt asked.

Westworth stayed put. "They're… all… cursed."

"Wait… so, you are saying, all of these dolls are cursed to have a spirit trapped inside them?"

Westworth nodded. "I can't go in there."

Kielholz turned to Langenscheidt. "What do you think we should do?"

"I doubt it would hurt to ask questions," Langenscheidt said.

"What if von Hielscher is dangerous? What do you suggest?"

"Go back to camp and tell Klink."

"Are you sure?"

"It is the only thing I can think of."

Kielholz sighed. "Alright."

"Actually, just in case, I will go in alone. If I am not out in fifteen minutes, go back to the work detail, tell Schultz, and take it from there."

"But—"

"It is the best idea I have. Sorry."

Kielholz squeezed Langenscheidt's shoulders. "Be careful."

"I will. I promise." Langenscheidt gripped Kielholz's hand, then turned to head into the doll shop. He heard no further arguments from either Kielholz or Westworth, and couldn't decide if that mean he was good to go, or if they were so terrified of what could happen to him that they couldn't decide what to say next.

Taking a deep breath, Langenscheidt entered the shop. Hundreds of pairs of eyes were looking at him; dolls were stacked from floor to ceiling. Given what Westworth said, he was suddenly afraid of them all coming to life at once, but paused, wondering if they had been trapped against their wills, wondering if they were harmless and just looking for a way out. I am not here to hurt anyone, he thought, focusing hard on mentally projecting his words to the dolls. I could be a friend.

He got no response.

As he approached the counter, a middle-aged man with a sickly-thin build left the back of the building. He was wearing a felt cap, and clothes that appeared to be two sizes too big. "Greetings, Corporal. What can I do for you?" he asked.

"I came to ask some questions," Langenscheidt said. "A friend of mine came yesterday, looking for a doll for his niece. Last night, the doll came to life and left our barracks. I was wondering if this was something you were aware of."

"Come to life? That sounds a little ridiculous."

"I saw it, sir."

"Did you, now?"

Langenscheidt stood firm, not wanting to be tricked into forgetting. "I most certainly did."

"Well, come on back. I will show you the process that goes into making my dolls."

Erich will come if I am in trouble, Langenscheidt thought. Nothing to be worried about. He followed von Hielscher into the back of the shop. More eyes stared at him, but also dismembered pieces, waiting to be assembled. It was dark aside from a few lit candles.

"Wait here." Von Hielscher disappeared into another room.

Langenscheidt looked around the dimly lit space, concerned and confused. He found himself wishing Westworth was with him. How bad must this be if even a ghost cannot do anything?

He was alone with his thoughts for another minute or two before hearing von Hielscher return behind him. "I hope you understand I am not accusing you of cursing the doll."

The older man's expression didn't change as he raised a wand. Langenscheidt suddenly felt like he was being bound with invisible ropes. He couldn't even turn. The ropes snaked up to his neck, and he couldn't scream. Von Hielscher held up a beaker of a fuming purple potion to Langenscheidt's face. Langenscheidt tried to hold his breath, but panic was telling him to breathe more. A rush of calm flooded him, followed by his knees buckling. He was barely conscious when he fell to the ground, and wasn't sure if he was supposed to be completely unconscious, or if this horrific state of being awake but unable to do anything was on purpose.

Langenscheidt felt himself being lifted from the floor. His vision was so blurry that he couldn't make out anything except color. He couldn't move any of his extremities. There was no pain or discomfort, just nothingness. It reminded him a little too much of when he was alternating between worlds during his fight with Westworth's monster. He knew he was moving, but that was it.

He moved for quite a while, then he felt something heavy being tied to him. A minute later, he was enveloped in cold and wet, and the ropes abruptly left him. He was still only partly conscious, feebly waving his arms and trying to swim upward. The heavy thing had already sunk, and tugged on the rope around his stomach. He felt trapped in a nightmare, except this nightmare was real.

Drowning… I will drown if I cannot free myself! Langenscheidt continued to struggle, trying to get the rope off. It was tied pretty tightly, nearly crushing his insides. He managed to push it down to his hips, and pulled himself up a little further. He partly broke the surface of the water and tried to gasp for breath. Water lapped into his mouth and was promptly sucked his lungs. Somebody help me! His chest was rapidly tightening and protesting the newfound presence of water. He desperately needed to cough. He was so close to the water's surface, but couldn't escape.

Erich! Westworth! Someone, please! Langenscheidt's heart beat faster and harder, though he was quickly running out of oxygen to use. He wanted to cry, scream, do something, anything to stave off what was becoming imminent death. He grabbed the rope around his hips, trying hard to get it off, but it was either tied too tight or he was still too weak by the concoction von Hielscher had given him.

Weakness was overcoming him. His vision was starting to darken. Gradually, he stopped struggling, letting the water consume him. He hardly reacted when a fist wrapped around the back of his coat, pulling him up onto the bank of the river.