Chapter 4 – Darnell's Request

"What do you mean?" Aya asked coldly, although she knew that it was an unnecessary question.

"I meant what I said earlier," Darnell snickered. "That dolls. Your mother. Your father. Maria. Their affair. And of course, that blond youth that saved you-"

"Don't talk like you know everything about me!" Aya shouted in anger, holding a surgery scalpel on her right hand that she instantly took out from her pocket. "I- You don't know anything!"

"Ah, no Aya. Quite the contrary." Darnell answered politely with a smile.

Aya held her scalpel tighter, as if trying her hardest to hold her anger deep within. "What... what do you want?"

"That is a very good question, Miss Aya." Darnell didn't seem to be bothered by Aya's cold tone and inappropriate behavior. He still kept that sweet smile on his face, as he gently held Aya's right wrist, and looked straight into her eyes.

When Aya also looked into his eyes, she just realized how similar they were. Those eyes that seems to be filled with light – life. Even though he literally died and only came back to life due to a curse, yet still, he had those light in his eyes.

Is that really why I tried to make a doll... a perfect doll that seems really alive? Is that it?

Does he haunts me, even after all these years?

"I want nothing. I just want you, Aya."

Aya blinked. Her mind went blank, and her body went numb. She unconsciously dropped her scalpel, and blinked again. "E-eh?"

"But then of course, that was a joke. It seems right at the moment, and I always wanted to try that cheesy line too. Although, I watched too much movies, people said. I suppose that's true."

Aya was dumbfounded. "That was... a joke?"

"Yeah. Quite amazing when I said that with a serious tone and expression, don't you think?"

That moment, Aya knew one thing for certain.

I hate this person.

"Well, I think I must be off, then." Darnell released his grip. "I only wanted to tell you that."

"Wait, what about 'something you need to talk about'?"

"Ah, that should wait. I was about to ask you to do me a great favor, but..." Darnell smiled – almost a smirk – at Aya. "It gave me a reason to visit you some more."

I was wrong. Darnell is not like him at all. Darnell is just an annoying narcissist!

"Fine, then." Aya sighed in frustration. "Take care, Darnell."

"You too," Darnell replied as he put on his shoes, ready to take a leave. "I'll visit you tomorrow at approximately 10 o' clock. Give Maria my gratitude as well."

"I will. Bye." Aya slammed the door close as soon as Darnell leave the clinic. She sighed once more, and tidied up the empty plates.

"That wasn't very polite, Mistress," Maria giggled when she head upstairs.

"Oh, quite down, Maria." Aya answered in an annoyed tone while she put the dirty dishes on the sink. "Did you heard all our conversation?"

"I sure did."

"Then you know why I wouldn't be polite at him," Aya said angrily. "Not that he's that annoying, but... I still hate him like I did a few days ago."

Maria wash the dishes instead of Aya. Aya just sat on her armchair, drinking the leftover orange juice. "You should calm down, Mistress. Don't let him get the best of you."

"You're right." Aya exhaled, and sipped her orange juice elegantly.

"Especially when he's associated with the government."

"I remember that."

Aya kept her calmness and act like an adult. But it's only a matter of time. Until Aya will get caught by the angry villagers.

"But I think," Aya finally said after a moment of silence. "I think I can quiet him down if I do this request of his."

"If that is what you think best, Mistress." Maria nodded.

"Anyway, maria," Aya stood up and gave maria her empty glass. "What is Darnell's family name?"

Maria took Aya's glass and wash it immediately and carefully. "Courtworth."

Aya stood there beside maria for a little while. "Courtworth..." she muttered to herself.

"What's wrong, Mistress?"

"Nothing. just.. thinking."

"Do you want to befriend him?"

"..."

"It's alright if you do. You're lonely, after all."

"Heh," Aya chuckled. "I don't need a friend like him.

Yes.

I don't need a living friend like him."

When Darnell visit Aya again the next morning, Aya was checking up a patient. Aya was applying anesthesia when someone knocked on the door.

"Ah, that must be Darnell," Aya said without taking her eyes off her patient, which is a young boy. "Please Maria, if you may."

"Right away, Mistress." Maria opened the door.

"Ah, thank you, Maria." Darnell went inside while carrying a basket – like that of a picnic basket, a big smile was on his face. He took of his black coat and hanged it on the coat hanger beside the door. "Taking care of a patient?"

"Apparently, yes." Aya applied some antiseptics to an open wound at the patient left hand. "I'm not taking him in, though."

"Ah, yes I heard." Darnell approached Aya. "You don't favor male dolls."

Aya slightly shook her head. "He should wake up by half an hour. Well then," Aya turned to Darnell and grinned. "Shall we talk?"

"What is this... request of yours?" Aya asked, when they both sat down on the sofa in the next room, while Maria prepared some tea. "Is it your family's request? A doll making of some sort? A deceased loved one, perhaps?"

"No, not something like that." Darnell laughed. "It is my personal request, and I wish you'd keep it a secret from my families."

Aya tilted her head. "Before that, tell me about this request."

"I remind you again, this is very confidential." Darnell started. "Well then, I will explain it from the very beginning."

"It was about 5 years ago that I noticed something odd about my family. There are more awkward silences than it should be, and especially my father. He acts very unusual, locking himself in the basement for hours, for instance. And there's my mother, who gets sicker and sicker every single day, and my father doesn't seem to worry about it.

These happened almost at the same time with the unexplained disappearances. After gone through a lot of investigations, everyone found nothing. That's why I decided to do my own investigations. That disappearances, and my families, as well.

And 2 years ago, my mother finally died. Everyone cried, the butlers, maid, my sister, her friends, everyone, except my father. It was something I cannot tolerate. When I confronted him about it, he simply answered "Your mother will stay the same."

I didn't understood what he meant, but he desperately trying to make me believe him. So I stopped pressing him about it, and until about 6 months ago, I overheard him talking in the basement with somebody.

"Who is this girl? Where's my wife?!" he said. But then someone answered him. I didn't hear what he said, because my father was quite hysterical at that moment. I tried to peek through the keyhole, but I didn't see anyone in sight. Seems like my father and that person knew the blindspot. I only saw one thing that is probably important; the huge cylinder glass tubes, 3 of them, just like yours.

One of the cylinder seems to be filled with water, along with a human in it. I don't know if he or she is alive or not, since I only saw his or her leg. But it seems so slender, white and smooth, so I suppose it was a girl's.

I heard someone's footsteps getting closer, so I left. A few days passed, and I saw a piece of old parchment, curled into a ball, thrown away to the field behind my mansion. I opened it, and that's when I found out about you, Aya.

That old parchment was filled with your biography, along with your photo, and all that. Your past, in the Dravis mansion was there as well. Maria's photo was there, too. It was very detailed that I thought it was a character's biography from a novel. But when I investigates again, I knew you're a real, living person.

Then, I heard those rumors about the Dravis clinic, taking patients for free. I thought it was odd, but I let it slipped because I think it was just a very generous person doings."

"That was very nice of you," Aya commented.

"And one day, I saw Maria at the market. I noticed those green eyes, brown hair, so I decided to follow her. I finally arrived at this clinic without being sighted by anybody.

And I must say, I'm quite surprised. You really looked like a normal woman when I first saw you, Aya. Chatting happily with Maria. I was shocked, but I know you're the right person.

That's why, to confirm my suspicion, I decided to drown myself in my pool that midnight. Thus, I have a fever and visited you."

Darnell stopped. An awkward silence filled the room.

I can't imagine Darnell actually did that just to do his investigations... Aya chuckled silently. "Go on, then."

"As I was saying," Darnell coughed. "I wanted to ask you to help me in my investigations. I suppose you know much about these things, and that's why, my father probably wanted to create a doll of my deceased mother. I... disagree with that. I think what is already dead should stay dead."

"So you don't approve of my occupation, then?"

"That's not entirely true. You know they're dead, while my father was hoping he could revive her."

Aya stared into Darnell's eyes. Maria already sat beside her, holding a cup of tea. Maria sipped her newly-brewed tea, and finally opened her mouth.

"How do you think we can help you?"

"Well, you have your knowledge about these, and I'm sure there are some research books in there that you would like to see as well." Darnell explained. "I think you must stayed at my mansion for a week or so, though. So what do you say? Should I give you time to think about it?"

Aya looked down and closed her eyes, as if she was in deep thought. Maria looked at her, capturing every gestures Aya made.

"There's no need. I'll accept this request of yours." Aya finally said.

Darnell smiled in relief. "I owe you. What are your conditions?"

"There's no conditions you need to fulfill," Aya answered. "You just have to promise me, that those disappearances have nothing to do with me. Is that clear?"

"I'll work it out somehow."

"Good. I'll be taking those research books as well, if there are any."

Darnell nodded and stood up. "I will visit you again tomorrow at these hours."

Aya also stood up, but when they left the room, Aya stared at her patient that stood still in the corner. His eyes widen in shock.

"Ah, have you been a bad boy?" Aya asked with a smile on her face. "You heard everything, didn't you?"

The boy shook his head vigorously. "I didn't!"

Aya nodded. "I see. I guess I'll have to give you your rewards then. You won't suffer from your disease anymore." She approached the boy, holding that surgery scalpel she held earlier.

"No... what are you saying?! Don't come near me!"

"Such an inappropriate answer for someone who cures you with no fees." Aya chuckled as she held her scalpel up high.

"No... stop it... AGH!"

It was all too late. Aya stabbed the boy's chest, and the boy screamed in pain. Blood flowing out from his wound, and Aya just stared at him with a calm smile.

When Aya pulled out her scalpel, the boy fell, unmoving. A blood pool was form around his body. Aya glanced at Darnell who was in shock.

"I'm sorry you have to see that," Aya apologized, almost sincerely. "I will took care of this. Maria, please escort him out."

Maria nodded, and opened the door for the guest. On the terrace, Maria opened the conversation.

"You see, Sir Darnell," Maria said. "That is what Mistress Aya has become."

Darnell didn't respond. He didn't even bother to turned his head at Maria. "Did you teach her to use those things?"

"It was better than a mini-chainsaw she learned through experience when she was 11 at the Dravis mansion."

Darnell sighed. "It was such a waste for such a woman to be greatly associated with blood and death."

Maria smiled wryly. "We will wait for your arrival tomorrow."

Darnell nodded and bid Maria farewell. When he walked away, the door creaked open.

"I'm sorry, Darnell." Aya called out to him. "It was necessary. I hope you understand."

Darnell turned at Aya. Aya stared worriedly at him, afraid that she hurt him somehow.

"I know Aya. I understand. I'll see you tomorrow."

His words hanged in the air, as he took off from the Dravis clinic without another word.