Chapter 3 - The Unwanted Patient

Aya wore her beautiful red dress and wait in the lobby. Sometimes, Maria used some kind of code to let Aya know that she made a request and already planned everything. This time, it was her red dress. Aya sat down on her armchair and looked out through the window.

The forest breeze seems warm and calming. No one know the bloody incidents happened in this simple wooden house deep in the woods. No one will know. Maria will make sure of it.

Aya sighed. For the first time, she didn't want to turn somebody so beautiful into a doll. A male doll is just out of the question. It reminds her of him, and all sort of guilt rush through her body. And that's why, she was sure she won't like him that much.

"Maria," Aya called out after a few minutes of thinking.

"Yes, Mistress?"

"Say, who do you mean when you said 'him'? Is it a patient of mine? Or someone you just met when you're in the market buying groceries?"

Maria smiled at the question. "He is one of your patient, mistress."

Aya frowned. She knew who Maria meant. She never liked that patient. She was on the verge of kicking him out of the clinic when she first saw him.

But no, it was not his attitude. He was such a lovely dear. He was calm and assorted when Aya checked up on him. Never once he had done anything that could make Aya hated him so much. Even Aya didn't know why she hated him so.

"What was his name, again?" Aya asked.

"That, I didn't know. You never asked his name, Mistress."

Aya recalled what happened a few days back. "Ah, you're right. I suppose that doesn't matter much now, is it?"

Maria nodded. "He is supposed to come back here later evening. I'm sure you'll like him better then."

I wish, Aya sighed quietly. "I'll be sure to be good to him now."

"Yes, I don't want the last incident with him happened again."

"Yes, the last incident. I'm terribly sorry about that. I promise I'll never get my feelings go over myself again."

"No worries, Mistress. I guarantee that he still likes you nevertheless. Your patients love you."

"They better be," Aya chuckled and glanced at the clock. "It's almost 5 already…"

Maria nodded as she head to the kitchen. "I'll make some dinner and snacks enough for 3."

"Please do." Aya stood up from her chair and walked towards the other room, where Jean was contained in the glass container. She slightly opened the cloth, and peeked inside. Jean was there, looking as calm as ever.

"It doesn't hurt anymore, right?" Aya smiled. "I kept my promise… right?"

Jean, of course, can never give Aya a response.

"I'm sorry Jean, but you have to leave the container tonight," Aya dragged a wooden chair toward her, and sit in front of Jean. "We will have another friend coming. Please befriend him. And tonight, I will introduce you to the others, too."

Maria smiled, hearing Aya's conversation with Jean. Before Jean, Aya also talked to all her dolls. Maria thought that, even after all those years of making dolls out of humans, Aya is still innocent as 10 years ago. The young lady that was trapped in a mansion, the mansion cursed by her own mom…

Or maybe she was lonely? That thought crossed Maria's mind. That's why Maria insisted on making him into a doll. Maybe Aya won't be as lonely. Maybe he will carry a slight happiness into Aya's life.

It was 5:30 when Maria finished cooking and served them on the table in the living room. Aya, as usual, sat on her armchair not far from the dining table. She was patting Snowball, and giggled.

"I think Snowball need a friend," Aya muttered to herself. "Isn't that right, Snowball?"

Snowball didn't respond. Aya keep on patting Snowball's fluffy head. "You're so cute, Snowball. I'm glad father gave you to me."

Usually, Snowball will cuddle Aya every time Aya talked to her. But it's been long since Aya forget that.

Yes, Snowball was Aya's first specimen into making dolls.

Aya insisted on not making Snowball into a doll, but Snowball was sick.

Maria said it was the only way.

If Aya didn't make Snowball into a doll that day, a few years ago, maybe Aya won't be a scientist now.

Suddenly, Aya heard a knock on the door. Maria immediately opened the door, and smiled cheerfully at the sight of a young man. "Oh please, come in."

He has the same hazel eyes as he do, and also the hair, and pretty much everything else. But he have 2 eyes, and his hair was black instead of blond - that sometimes Aya thought that he probably dyed it black. He seems to be in his early 20, just as Aya. Unlike him, he seems to carry brightness and smiles to everybody. Aya, though, doesn't seem to liked that.

Aya put on a fake smile as he came in. She stood up and bowed. "Welcome back to the Dravis Clinic."

"Ah, no need for the proper welcome, Doctor." He laughed.

"Please, just call me Aya," Aya smiled. "Please have a seat. We already prepared dinner for you."

"That's not necessary, really," the boy politely refused.

"I insist, please. Maria, let's all just eat dinner together for the night," Aya sat down, facing the dining table. "Have a seat."

"Well, if you say so." He sat down in front of Aya, and Maria came back from the kitchen with 3 orange juices. She finally sat down beside Aya.

"Well then," Aya started. She talked calmly, but still not making eye contact with the guy in front of her. "What's your name? I didn't catch your name the last time you're here."

"Ah, just call me Darnell."

"Ah, Darnell." Aya sipped her orange juice. "I'm terribly, terribly sorry about what happened last time."

Darnell shook his head. "Please. I'm sure you've gone through a lot of things to act like that."

"She really did," Maria agreed.

Aya laughed. "Please don't start that."

The incident 3 days ago. The first time Aya met Darnell was not a pleasant memory.

It was about 9 in the morning. A few patients came by, but none of them was turned into dolls. By noon, another patient came.

It was Darnell.

Aya stared at him, shocked. He felt like seeing him again.

"Wh-What are you doing here?! You're supposed to be dead!"

"Whoa, Miss, please don't go on killing me off just yet," Darnell tried to calm Aya down. He smiled gently at her.

And that's when Aya realized he was a whole different person. Aya never realized Darnell's different hair colour at that. But his smile…

"A-Ah, I'm sorry…" Aya looked down. "Please talk to my assistant there. She will help you with your problems."

"Thank you, Miss."

"Well, if you'll excuse me…"

Aya didn't talk about it, or take any patients for the rest of the day.

The dinner continued in silence. After about 15 minutes, All the plates were empty.

"How may I help you this time, Darnell?" Maria asked politely. "It is such a rare sight for you to be here."

"It is?" Aya blinked. "Why?"

"Well you see, Mistress," Maria started. "I saw him from time to time when I bought groceries. After hearing from some people, I found out that he was the son of a very wealthy family in the countryside not far from here. In fact, he lived in a mansion. Is that correct, Darnell?"

"Ah please, I'm not that rich," Darnell laughed. "Although yes, that is true."

"Then why do you get checkups here?" Aya tried to remain calm. "You know I do checkups and gave medicines for free. It was meant for poor people. If you're wealthy, then why did you decided to get checkups here?"

"Oh, I'm just doing some… research, if you may." Darnell answered with a smile. "Here, I brought money to pay you."

Darnell took out a huge bag of coins. Aya looked at it, and turned back to Darnell. "It seems to be more than what you owe me."

"That's okay. It must be hard for you, to do free checkups like that. My family must thank you. The amount of sick, poor people in the village is decreasing thanks to your doings."

"Is your family has ties to the government? It seems like so."

"Well, my father is the mayor."

"Just as I thought."

Maria flinched. Darnell is the son of the mayor… This is bad.. This is REALLY bad… If Mistress is find out…

I can't let that happen.

"Ah, and also, Aya…" Darnell stood up. "I also need to talk to you about… several private things, If allowed?"

Aya stared at him from head-to-toe. "Maria, please took the money to the basement, please."

Maria, knowing Aya's code, nodded without further questions. "Right away, Mistress." She then took the bag of coins to the basement, like as she told.

"Aya Dravis." Darnell said. "I always wondered why you acted like you did."

"I'm sorry."

Darnell approached Aya that still sat down on her chair. His eyes fixed on hers. "Have you heard about the news about missing people lately?"

"No, why do you ask?"

"Nothing, it was just a conversation starter." Darnell smiled. "What I want to talk to you about was your past."

Aya frozen. "What about it that interest you?"

"Mostly everything, but hear me out, Aya." Darnell gave pressure to the name of the girl that sat in front of his eyes. His, and also Aya's face hardens at the moment he said his next sentence.

"I know everything about your past."