Dio. Was that really him? It couldn't be. Maria had killed him after she'd thrown all those knives into his body. He had to be dead. Yet here he was.

Moonlight from a nearby window seeped in, making his blonde hair seem to shine. His eye also shone withing the light, making him look very courageous. He looked almost like a prince. Not even the bloody bandages ruined his perfect complexion.

He quickly scanned the room, stopping as soon as he saw me. His sweet expression turned sour as he saw me. His eye looked despairingly over at me.

Dio slowly approached me and took my hands, rubbing them as father had done. Somehow, his touch felt nicer and warmer.

He looked into my desolate, blank eyes and smiled weakly, his one eye beginning to tear up. He looked broken.

"He really turned you into a doll..."

Dio clenched my hands tightly. He examined me closer, taking in every detail. The more he looked, the sadder he got.

"I promised Monika not to let this happen."

Monika. My mother?

'Dio,' regardless of how useless it was, I tried to speak to him.

He then let go of my hands, jumping up to his feet and looking around the room.

"Who's there," he called out.

Someone else was in the room? That's odd. After I died, my senses were greatly enhanced. I would've known if anyone else had came in here.

When no one answered him, he began searching around the doll room. He threw open curtains and pushed aside dolls while looking for an intruder.

'No one's in here but me,' Aya commented, knowing that he couldn't hear.

Dio turned over to her though, eye widening with shock. He stepped over to me slowly, and placed his hands on my shoulders. His touch was so gentle. It made me feel so fragile.

"Aya?" He looked like he could rejoice.

I was a bit bewildered. 'Can you really hear me?'

He nodded. "But how are you still alive?"

If I were alive, my expression would have gone sour. 'Alive? I can't move, but I'm still here somehow.'

Dio looked thoughtful. He stroked his chin and stood for a while. Finally, an answer came to him.

"The curse hasn't left the house yet. Maybe that's what's keeping you here."

But hadn't the curse left once she'd saved father from mothers wrath?

'Didn't it lift after mother moved on?'

Dio shook his head. "New anger may have risen in her after you died. She might still be keeping you alive. I could save you."

My eyes would've lit up if I could move. 'Really? How?'

Dio paused for a moment more. "I'm not entirely sure. It might help if we went back to your place of death."

I flinched inside. It hurt to remember my death. If it weren't for one of fathers dolls, I might be alive right now.

Dio looked worried. "Aya? Are you still there?"

I growled a bit. 'Of course I'm still here. Where can I go?'

Dio stared down at his feet, looking very depressed. "I'm sorry, Aya. If I could've gotten up in time and saved you..."

He didn't finish his sentence. 'It's fine. You promised my mother you'd save me right? I'll show you where I died?'

Dio nodded. "Ok. But how can you show me if you're immobile?"

I thought for a moment. 'I can still see. If you carry me, I could give you directions.'

Dio agreed to it immediately, scooping me up quickly and carrying me bridal style. Bridal. Would I ever be able to get married?

He looked slightly embarrassed. "You ready?"

'Yup,' I replied back to him. I would've blushed.

Just as he was carrying me out though, I heard a sound. A chainsaw. Father was doing his research. That reminded me...

'Dio. Don't let father see you. You need to revive me before morning. He visits me every day and will notice it if I'm gone.'

"Alright."

And that was all it took before we started off.