The Sound of The Lake (A GHOST STORY)

TRIGGER WARNING: INCLUDES MENTION OF BLOOD, EXPLICIT HOMICIDE, GRAPHIC, AND ATTEMPT OF MURDER

Author

CNC News aired with breaking news that night, at 7 pm the station revealed shocking news of a dead body found hanging in the woods near Mount Merapi. The female corpse wore a long white night gown, covered in splatters of blood. Her beautiful face ruined, as her eyes popped out and mouth seemed to be forced ripped open. This horrifying sight of course was censored by the TV Station, but the people present at the crime scene couldn’t escape the gruesome corpse. Including Marina, the reporter presenting that breaking news. 

Marina

“…. Several witnesses testified that they saw an unknown man with a face covered by a mask, running towards a jeep, leaving the crime scene when the local people started a crowd after calling the police because they noticed the corpse. That was the last confirmed fact from tonight’s news, I am Putri Marina Anne from CNC News reporting live from the woods near the crime scene, Goodnight.” Finally, I finished my last lines and ended it perfectly.

“CUT! Okay, well done everyone! thank you for the hard work” Elzar, the person in charge congratulated the crew after their successful news segment. “You did well Marina, thank you!” he said personally to me. “Thank you, mas Elzar for your help today.” I replied. He nodded and yelled to everyone, “Now let’s all go home and rest after such a long day peeps!”. “I think I’ll stay here a bit, I’m very curious with the forensic results” I told mas Elzar about my plan. He looked around before answering “Well, make sure you hide your reporter tag and mention you were sent from somewhere else than CNC, or else you’ll get us and the station in trouble for meddling with this case.” He answered me cautiously with a quiet voice, but emphasizing each point. I took a breath and said “Of course, boss! See you tomorrow at the news station” “Yea, sure, just remember what I said and be careful!” Then he walked to his jeep.

“EMERGENCY MEETING” one of the investigators called to others. I hurriedly joined and stood in the middle to be among the called people. “It appears that the body shows signs as we were afraid of, but nothing is confirmed by forensics so far except the fact that she was conscious when she was attacked yet there were no signs of resistance.” The next person held out a doll and said, “This ragged doll was found near her body but it doesn’t have any blood, fingerprints, or substances that could be used for further research. Holding it as evidence has no use either so we will keep it separately from the evidence bag.” The first man than spoke again, “For now, we must silence the media and say that the case is still in investigation and the body will be sent to a morgue for an autopsy, if there are any other questions from the media just remain silent and restate clearly the sentence above. Now, are there any questions? No? Okay, dismissed.” Curiosity left every other person’s eye that moment, since asking wasn’t actually an option due to the circumstances and the deadly stare of the spokesperson.

Except me of course, I had my eyes set for that mysterious doll. Suddenly I heard two ladies behind me chattering quietly after the meeting “Did you hear the spokesperson? He mentioned the signs earlier were correct, do you think the ghost is back?” “SHHHHH! Don’t say that, let’s believe it’s just a similarity from the previous case” I was curious so I just asked, “The ghost? Who is that?”. One of the ladies snubbed at me and said, “A newbie huh? Are you an intern or something? Or are you just too lazy to study the cases before working?” I was a bit shock, but I replied calmly, “I must haven’t studied enough, sorry can you explain about this ghost?” The other lady answered me with a smile, “Don’t mind her, she’s sensitive since it’s her period. ‘The ghost’ is a nickname my department made up for a serial killer on loose, he kills with no motive and leaves his victims in white clothes covered in their own blood, eyes popping out, and a widened mouth after being ripped. That is what exactly happened this time, but a doll? Why leave behind a doll? This is the first time we found this type of his killing—” “—if it was the ghost, which means it isn’t! like, why leave a doll with nothing to be investigated on it!” the first lady interrupted the second lady’s explanation. “Calm down Cissy! Just go get something to ease your stomach and stop annoying people, will you?” “Yea whatever Tris”. 

Cissy then left the tent and went outside. Hmmmm, so the lady that snubbed me was Cissy, and this kind lady is Tris. Then I asked Tris, “Okay, so basically ‘The ghost’ is a serial killer with a specific way of killing.” “Yes, but I haven’t told you the main reason why we call him ghost, it’s because after all these cases until now we don’t have a single information about him, except the signs he leaves behind on his corpses. He’s just gone, with no evidence left behind, like a ghost.” She ended her explanation. “What an interesting story, well I must be going now” Suddenly she touched me slowly and said, “Wait I haven’t got your name, and which department your working on”. My phone rang, “Oh yes sir! I’ll be there immediately….” “…. I’m sorry my boss is looking for me, maybe next time when we meet again.” She nodded, then I left. I exhaled in relief than said to myself, “Thank god my alarm rang in time, now…. where to find that doll.” I walked to a different tent and saw the doll left unguarded on a table. I took a piece of cloth from my bag and wrapped the doll then stuffed it into a plastic bag I found under the table. Now it’s time to go home.

“Mother! Help me! It’s not me! I’m sorry Mother! Stop please, it hurts! AAAAAAA—” 

I woke up from a horrifying dream. This little girl was being punished by her mother for a mistake she didn’t do. Her twin, the real culprit was laughing behind her mother seeing her sister punished. Finally brought back to reality, I then noticed the doll peeking from my half-unzipped bag. Funny, I didn’t remember putting it there before. I clearly thought I left it inside the plastic bag. I walked to the closet and saw the plastic. When I opened it, I was shock that the cloth wrapping the doll is still there. I wore sanitary gloves first, then I opened the cloth and saw the doll. Shock again I stood up and grabbed my bag, completely unzipping it and poured out everything inside. Among my stuff, something odd stared back at me. The doll, another doll. I rubbed my eyes and checked the doll I took from the tent and the doll I found in my bag. THEY. ARE. EXACTLY. THE. SAME. The only difference was the first doll (the evidence doll) was a bit dirty since it was found on a tree branch near the hanging corpse.

Suddenly, I heard my phone ring. “Hello?” “How was your sleep? Seems like you had a bad dream” A computerized voice answered. I stood up and looked around me, I immediately felt being watched by something. “Why did you interfere? You don’t even work as a forensic, or a detective. You’re either a reporter or something like that, the point is you’re a media involved person. Aren’t you?” I had so many questions but I couldn’t say anything. “What happened dear? Lost your tongue? I won’t kill you, well not yet—” “WHAT DO YOU WANT?” I managed to yell. “—Aaa, so she speaks after all. Nothing, I just want that doll and for you to shut up, not tell anything to the media, stay away from this case, and forget this ever happened. Simple isn’t it?” This person replied demandingly. With all my heart I bravely said, “So, you’re the ghost? What a coward! Why don’t you call me using your original voice? You just indirectly confessed that you murdered someone to me, why would I stay quiet? And even if I say I agreed with you and did everything what you told me to, how do you know if I wouldn’t do something else. Like report this phone call to the police for example?” 

“You won’t do that dear, you’re not brave enough. Look at you now! You’re as scared as a kid at a Halloween festival—” Oh god, I forgot that I think this ghost person is watching me. So, I said, “See! A coward! You’re calling me with a computerized voice, and you’re even watching me through I don’t know what, but still a serial killer that’s actually a cow—” “—Do not provoke me, or I might just kill you right now! By the way, did I say I was the ghost? And where did I confirmed I killed someone? I said I want that doll, that doll… not my doll. Anyway, it’s still midnight and you should sleep. I’ll inform you later where you should drop the doll.” The call ended just like that. I was sleepy but very curious so I disposed the gloves, washed my hands and wore a new pair of sanitary gloves and carefully checked the doll. I didn’t see anything weird and there were no signs of the doll to have cameras hidden inside. So, I wrapped both of them separately and placed them in a cupboard inside the bathroom. Then I disposed the gloves again, washed my hands and face. After that I tidied my bag and placed it back in its place, and went back to sleep. Hoping what just happened was just another bad dream. 

I woke up from a phone ring, and was shock when I heard the computerized voice again….so it wasn’t a bad dream after all…. “Hello? Do you hear me? Why are you just sitting doing nothing?” the voice brought me back from my thoughts. “Yes, I hear you. It’s Sunday, can’t we do this on Monday?” I replied annoyingly. “No, I need the doll now, drop it at XXXX store near the crime scene.” The phone call was ended by one side, again. Frustrated, I prepared and went outside anyway. On the way I searched for a doll store, who knows whether if this doll is still sold at a store. I entered every doll store yet none of them seem to sell the same doll, one of the owners said that it’s an antique type of doll. Produced long time ago which means it’s an old type, so old that even an antique store might not have it. I was so stressed and decided to go home. 

Author

Marina had no intentions to give back the doll without getting information from the computerized voice, probably the ghost. But before reaching home, she remembered the ghost might be watching her. She thought maybe the ghost hacked her CCTV or something like that, so she decided to go to a hotel instead. Marina was so tired of being stressed and feeling useless, that after checking in the hotel she straight away washed up, and fell asleep.

Marina

“Let’s play a game Cecilia! Whoever catches a bird by throwing a stone, can play with the dollhouse by themselves for a week!” “Pricilla! But I didn’t—” “Okay start!” not long after that a bird fell down by Pricilla’s barbaric action throwing stones. Cecilia ran towards the bird with hands filled with thin flat rocks she was intentionally going to throw to the lake near them, to play stone skipping. Mother heard the noisy flapping bird that was near its death, and came out to check on her daughters. She was in extreme shock when she saw her sweet angel Cecilia, near the bird with stones in her hands. Seeing her furious and shocked mother, Pricilla threw all the stones near her feet and yelled, “IT WAS CECILIA MOTHER! I DIDN’T WANT TO THROW STONES AT THE LITTLE BIRDIES BUT SHE FORCED ME TO PLAY WITH HER! BUT BEFORE I THREW A STONE, SHE ALREADY HIT A BIRD!” Mother looked at Cecilia and grabbed her arm. “NO MOTHER IT WASN’T ME PRICILL—!” Cecilia’s plead for help was shushed by mother, then mother angrily said “Come with me and be quiet!” Mother dragged poor Cecilia into the basement and took a belt from father’s old stuff piled there. “We might have lost Father, and go poor, but we do not hurt other creatures even if they are only weak animals dear Cecilia, my sweet angel. What devil has come and possess you?” “Mother I’m sorry, it wasn’t me. I swear, Pricill— AAAAA!” The belt hit Cecilia’s little legs hard. “Mother! Please! It’s not me! I’m sorry Mother! Stop please, it hurts! AAAAAAA—” 

I woke up again, the same dream, but much more detailed. Then there I saw her, the little girl inside my dream. In front of me, with bleeding legs and stones in her hands. I almost screamed until she said, “Please help me and I will help you, I know who murdered the lady in the woods. I will come to you later in your dreams. Don’t go home or go to work. Change your number, stay aware, and don’t trust anyone. For now, I can’t speak much. Be safe” then she disappeared. Being half awake I tried to gain consciousness and started to panic. So many questions flooded my head, and all I could do was talk to myself “What just happened?” “Why me?” “What did I do?” “Is it the doll? I barely did harm to it.” “Why am I being haunted in my dreams by this little girl and being watched by a serial killer in real life?”

Author

Poor Marina was filled up with unanswered questions. Emotionally and physically drained out, all she could do was cry. Crying for hours and trying her best to keep her mind sane. Afraid she might just end up bonkers and all her hard work to enjoy her life in the future will go down to the point it’s meaningless. After treating herself her favorite foods and doing her me time activities, she realizes maybe this all happened for a reason. 

Marina

“There must be a reason” I believe it. I don’t know for now, but I will understand it maybe not today but someday. I decided to shut out all the bad thoughts and finish whatever happened. “I will find out the truth and reveal whoever the ghost is!” I never felt so determined to prove something. Tomorrow I will start fresh and search information about this doll in antique stores. 

Little 7-year-old Cecilia stands near the lake throwing flat stones, counting how many times was she able to skip them before it sunk to the bottom. A man with a contrast fashion sense to the girl continued counting “4…5...! Wow your getting better at this angel, you should try again!” He was wearing a faded white t-shirt, with black-brownish trousers. His clothes were tucked in as he highlights his favorite belt that was placed perfectly around his waist. Pricilla wore her shining new pretty dress that mother just sewed her. The calm sound of the lake is their favorite sound. “Father will you always accompany me improving my skills in this game of ours?” sweet Cecilia asked dearly to the man in front of her. The man, who turns out to be her father chuckled “This is just for fun dear, whether or not you become better it doesn’t matter. But of course, dear, I promise I will always stand beside you.” They both fade away. Then another dream appeared, sweet Cecilia stood in the same lake but this time with her twin Pricilla. “Ugh I always hated this stupid lake! It’s so boring. We can barely do anything in this place!” Pricilla, whining and complaining as always. “We could play stone skipping!” Cecilia tried to make Pricilla willing to play. “Can’t we do anything else less boring?” Pricilla looked like she was thinking, then said “I know! Let’s play a game Cecilia! Whoever catches a bird by throwing a stone, can play with the dollhouse by themselves for a week!” “Pricilla! But I didn’t—” “Okay start!” 

Another dream… but this seems more like a memory than a bad dream, it felt so sad and pure…what happened to this little girl? I was actually looking for Cecilia’s ghost, but she didn’t show up, so I decided to freshen up and begin my investigation. I went to all antique stores in town and ended up with nothing, yet I didn’t want to give up, so I went near the crime scene again. From inside my car, I looked around for XXXX store the ghost mentioned before, and I didn’t see any store near there. “Did the ghost make up this store? This feels suspicious….” I drove away from there. Far away from the crime scene, near the woods I saw a weird store and stopped the car to check it. An old man with old-fashioned clothes was dusting some antique knick-knacks on the shelf. “Excuse me sir, where is XXXX store?” I asked the man politely. “Definitely not this store, what are you doing in this old store young lady? I rarely have costumers, and when someone stops by, they only seem to ask for directions.” I know he was joking, but I sensed how lonely he must’ve been. “Oh, don’t pity me! I love my job and all this weird old stuff, it’s just that I don’t really understand why I decided to build a store in the middle of nowhere. Silly old me, I haven’t answered your question but I’ve been babbling nonsense. Sorry young lady” Did this man just read my mind? “It’s okay sir, I do fancy antiques and was curious about a doll, but first does XXXX store really exist? I searched online for it and nothing came up” The old man stopped dusting and laid down his feathered duster.

“Young lady, some stores do not register their location online for some reasons. Either they don’t care about online recognition, or they like to keep their store private to locals, like my store for example. See I do not know XXXX store, but maybe if you ask the locals they might know.” “Hmmm, thank you sir I will try out your advice.” I was planning to buy a plastic flower that seemed elegant, until he said, “About this doll, did you bring it?” I forgot that I mentioned the doll, and decided to show the picture of it from my phone. I swear I saw a bit of shock in his eyes when he first saw it. “This doll, I don’t remember precisely but back then I sold this to a pair of twins.” I looked at him suspiciously. “Twins? Are you sure sir? Do they live nearby? You said this store is only known to locals.” He nervously said, “Yes, but word might’ve spread about my wonderful products. Now, if you may leave, I have other business to do.” Halfhearted I left anyway and drove back to the crime scene. I stopped a few meters away from the first place I parked before and wore a masker, just in case the ghost is watching. I saw a local pass by me and I asked “Excuse me miss, is XXXX store near this location?” she then lightly replied, “Yes, it is, and I was just on my way to buy some things, come I’ll take you there.”

We arrived in a common store. No wonder I didn’t see it, it was still closed when I arrived earlier. Not to mention it’s actually a garage made into a store. Surprisingly the lady at the counter was someone I recognized. The lady back then, Cissy. I pulled my masker higher so she couldn’t recognize me. “Hello miss, I would like to buy a doll, do you sell dolls here?” I questioned her immediately. “A doll? Why don’t you go find out yourself whether or not if it’s sold here? I work here as a receptionist, not a server.” I thought she was like this due to her period cramps back then, so in person this is actually how she is? Interesting. “By the way, why would this type of store sell dolls anyways? Don’t you think you came to the wrong place? And only locals come here, but it seems like you’re not from around here.” I went straight to the point and showed a picture of the doll. “Do you know where I can buy this type of doll?” She was completely confused and surprised. She grabbed my hand and took me outside. “Who are you and what do you want from me? I told your people and the company I know nothing about this doll and how it disappeared from the crime scene. Aren’t you people happy that I got demoted and ended up working here as punishment?” So much juicy information, but wait…did she say your people? “Who do you mean by your people?” “Don’t act like you have amnesia now and leave! I signed a contract to shut up about the ghost and Cecilia to the company so please just let me finish my punishment and I can go back to work at the company normally.” I left XXXX Store in confusion, Cissy was completely different when she saw the picture. Did she know something that I don’t know about Cecilia and the ghost? Or is she an accomplice to the ghost? This is getting weirder and weirder.

I was too tired to drive back to the hotel so I dropped by a café in town. There I accidentally met mas Elzar. I was flustered because I filed for sick leave, but it was too late to leave the café since he already saw me and was walking to me. “So, your sick? Just tell me what trouble you got into from the case you played detective on” Without hesitation he saw right through me and asked exactly what I was feared of. “Ummm, nothing related to the company, and I’m actually fine it’s just—” “Who cares about the company! I know you didn’t blow up your cover, but really though? Marina discovering something without getting into trouble? Not the Marina I knew for these years.” Really mas Elzar knows me that well huh? Maybe I should tell him what happened anyway “So I took the doll that was found near the corpse.” “Yes, and then?” He said calmly. “You’re not surprised? Or mad? Or not going to scold me for meddling with the case?” I was the one being confused. “Well, for you to get into trouble until you filed sick leave, I think I won’t be surprised even if you stole the corpse’s clothes” he then laughed loudly. “You’re annoying, you know that right?” “Yes, I do, now continue your story” I decided to tell him everything, from the two dolls, Cecilia’s ghost and dreaming about her, also about the phone calls. The only thing that I didn’t mention is that I already checked out XXXX store and met Cissy.

Mas Elzar listened thoroughly and finally said, “Well at least now you can see ghosts.” I was madly upset with his reaction but I only laughed “Shut up! If you weren’t my boss at work, probably I’d leave you to pay my café bills right now” then we laughed together. An unexpected call came, I was so nervous and thought it was my phone which means the ghost might be calling me again. Then I realized it was mas Elazar’s phone. “Oh, sure honey, Marina’s here so I’m fine, take your time.” Look’s like its his wife, so I asked “Mba Trisha?” “Yeah, and she’s late. We were supposed to have a date this evening, but she caught traffic on the way here from work.” I felt uncomfortable, “Oh I’m sorry, I must’ve taken your time, I should leave.” He stopped me, “No it’s fine, really. You made my wait here entertaining with your ghost story.” I sneered “Hahaha, very funny.” Suddenly another voice said “So, this must be Marina?” Mba Trisha arrived, and I looked at her weirdly before I carefully asked “Tris?” surprisingly she asked back, “Intern?” even mas Elzar was confused “You guys know each other?” “You cheeky young lady! You are from the media! Well, who cares anyways? The department doesn’t check thoroughly before they start a meeting.” She laughed and sat next to mas Elzar. “Sorry mas Elzar, my cover blew up?” “Silly Marina.” Then after two and three chats I asked to leave first before I bother their date further.

After paying the bills I left the café and drove back to the hotel. I panicked when I saw my room messy and I lost the two dolls. I called the police and my room was investigated. I felt so sad that my intentions to solve this mystery ended since I had to confess everything to the police. CNC company hadn’t found out since the department was willing to work with me and wanted this case’s details to remain unexposed by the media. Now I was staying in a board house provided by the department, since my house was also under investigation. The spokesperson met me with the other man who held the doll back at the emergency meeting. “You may rest here, and will be questioned detailly when you are willing to.” The other man said “This phone is connected to a private line within the department, so don’t use it for calling anyone outside. Your phone will remain with us and calls, texts, emails will be allowed for you but under supervision. I just nodded and when they left, I tidied up my belongings from the hotel. After a fresh bath I drifted to sleep….

“I promise I will always stand beside you...” “Father!” “FATHER!” “Shhh Cecilia my sweet angel, it’s okay dear.” Mother hugged Cecilia that was crying after waking up from a dream in bed at midnight. “But father promised to always stand beside me mother, where is he now?” Sweet Cecilia didn’t understand why Father left. Cecilia believed Father will still come home and just left for work as usual. She then finally managed to sleep with mother sitting beside her bed. In the morning Cecilia walked to the lake to find flat stones, she wore that shining pretty dress that still felt new to her. Pricilla came along, mother asked her—well forced her actually—to accompany Cecilia just in case she feels sad again. So there sweet Cecilia stood in the same lake but this time with her twin Pricilla. “We could play stone skipping!”

I woke up in tears, Cecilia was a sweet girl, why did she had to go through all of this? “I told you to stay aware, and don’t trust anyone. Why did you tell someone about me and the ghost?” Cecilia’s ghost was there, but this time she appeared as how she was in my dream, in a shining pretty dress. “I haven’t talked detailly to the police or department yet, they allowed me to be questioned when I’m ready.” “I’m not talking about them; they don’t care about you. They just don’t want this case to be spotlighted by the media. Anyways, I was meaning your friend at the café. Do you think he is really nice?” That’s when I realized Cecilia and I wasn’t really talking to each other. Our mouths didn’t voice out anything, but I can hear her inside my head and she can hear me. “Yes, he is nice, I worked with him for years. Trust me, he can keep my secret.” Cecilia looked at me sadly and disappeared. 

I was getting ready to head out when I heard a knock on the door. A man in a uniform similar to the spokesperson last night showed up “Are you willing to be questioned today?” “Maybe tomorrow, I need to go somewhere today.” He nodded but said “You will either need company or must be willing to be tracked or else I cannot allow you to leave.” With no doubt I answered “I’ll choose to have my phone installed with a tracker, thank you.” They also gave me a mysterious package that was labeled “Open in Emergencies only”. Then, after dealing with other complicated procedures I left the house at last. I really needed information so I drove to XXXX store to find Cissy. I wrote a note on my phone before wearing a mask and leaving the car. “I need information about the ghost and Cecilia. I’m watched by the ghost and tracked by the department, but I know a place they won’t find. Come with me” I showed her the note right after I arrived at the store and stood in front of her. Cissy’s pupils dilated when I swiped to the bottom of the note that showed a picture of me that I took with the two dolls before it went missing. She said quietly “Wait a minute.” Cissy went outside of the store and did something to the CCTV monitors. She said a couple of words to the store owner and they hugged for a while. Cissy then grabbed my arms, “Quick we must leave before other CCTV’s catch me leaving this place. We walked hurriedly to my car and I drove to an unknown place. Far away from the store and the crime scene, further from the city and near the woods to the weird antique store. “Sir please open up we need help!” I knocked the weird antique store. Cissy asked “Are you sure this man will help us?” “I’m sure, we met yesterday and he was very kind to me, and I was a stranger.” “Young lady, I may let you in but if you force to question me about the doll and the twins I might not cooperate.” The man said from behind the door. “No sir, I need your help on solving a murder case. The man swung the door open. “A murder case? How am I able to help? I’m just an old man that sells antiques.” I excitedly entered along with Cecilia and said, “Exactly!”

“It was along time ago when two identical twins entered my store and bravely walked to the back where my workshop was. Unlike other customers they didn’t ask for the pretty and finished dolls displayed in front, they just played and built their own doll in my workshop. They made their own versions of themselves. They were quite unique children, because one was very quiet and sweet, while the other was a grumpy whining version. But I liked being accompanied by them” The old man finally told what he remembered about the twins. Cissy then said, “The department! They must’ve put a tracker on your phone. You must leave it in the woods!” I then recalled that I did agree to that. “But they said it’s important to keep it on and take it with me wherever I go.” Cissy asked for the phone, “You don’t understand they might send—” The phone rang, mas Elzar was calling. “Marina are you there?” “Yes, what is it boss?” “The department just informed me and the company about what you did and is asking us and the media to air you as a fugitive. Where are you now?” “WHAT? BUT I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG, I—” “Yes, I know, that’s why I must know where you are, you need to be safe and far from the city.” I told him where I was and he said he will come tomorrow with Tris to drive me somewhere out from the city. I turned the phone off immediately right after the call. The old man stood up and said “You need to rest young ladies, we’ll continue this conversation first thing in the morning. Come to my house my wife might have prepared dinner.” The old man’s wife was a kind lady, she made us dinner and provided me and Cissy beds to sleep in. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

Father was good at building things, he built the twin’s dollhouse, their swing, their family’s backyard, and even their house with help from neighbors nearby. He has a weird taste in fashion but whatever he built was strong and beautiful, always beautiful. Father was not the perfect father but he is the best man Cecilia knew. One thing that seemed weird to Cecilia was his hobby of stone skipping, until she tried learning it herself. It was really fun. Different from Cecilia, Pricilla hates Father. She hates their swing, their backyard, and their house. The only thing she likes is the dollhouse. Pricilla didn’t like the lake and found stone skipping boring. That’s why she plays alone. Mother was never really around to play with her twins because she was always busy inside the house doing housework or knitting, sometimes sewing new clothes. The dream faded and I saw Cecilia, she said “I will help you solve this case but you must be careful with who you trust”. She then walked to the lake and disappeared. There I saw Father saying to Cecilia, “I promise I will always stand beside you...”

This dream was weird, Cecilia spoke to me in this dream, usually she just appears afterwards when I wake up. Cissy who was awake first asked, “Do you have dreams about Cecilia too? Because I do have dreams about her” “So you’ve seen her ghost?” I asked curiously. “No, I only see her in my dreams. She only spoke to me directly once my dream.” Strange, I thought Cissy could see Cecilia’s ghost too. Cissy asked again, “When did these dreams started?” I replied “Right after I took the doll home with me. What about you?” “The night after I was checking the scene and had to check the doll too. You see, I don’t dream about Cecilia every night, but every time I dream its horrifying.” Cissy explained with teary eyes as she seems to remember the bad dreams. “Do you get phone calls from the ghost too?” I asked again. “No, I don’t. What? Did you get calls?” That’s weird…. Really weird…. “Yes, I did. That night when I first dreamt about Cecilia, a bad dream, I woke up scared and realized the doll peeking from my bag—” then I explained what happened until I finally got a call from the ghost and felt being watched. “That’s strange, really strange. The ghost as how I knew from these past years did not leave anything behind. But this time? Leaving a doll behind, and calling someone? This really is getting weird.” Cissy extremely puzzled then stopped to look behind when the door creaked open. The old man said two peoples are in the guest room, waiting for me. 

“Intern!” Tris aka mba Trisha called me when I walked to the guest room. Beside her, mas Elzar was glad to see me. “Tris? Why are you here?” Cissy who was even confused then before questioned her friend, “Did the department set you up to come here? And the man next to you, is he one of them? The Guards? Marina, we must leave! they must be working with them! Now, we must leave now!” “Calm down Cissy, I’m here as your friend. This man is my husband, he’s Marina’s boss.” Tris introduced herself and mas Elzar, then we said goodbye to the old man’s wife. We continued a few chats at the antique store before finally deciding to leave. “Thank you for your kindness sir, I will visit you again when this is all over.” When everyone was already in the car, I said my goodbyes to the old man. “No need to come again, just tell everyone about my wonderful works! Now be careful and stay safe!” I laughed and nodded. The old man then lowered his voice and said, “One last thing, if you meet Cecilia’s ghost again tell her that I will keep my promise.” He then handed me a pocket knife and said, “Just in case” Confused with his words about Cecilia, I hid the knife deep in a hidden pocket and entered the car, we left the store for good. 

This time Cissy drove, we were following mas Elzar’s car that was driving in front. Then after a long drive we arrived at a villa far from the city. This villa was so beautiful that it looked unreal. It was surrounded by trees and had a lake near it. Cissy gasped as she said, “Is this place real? It’s so beautiful.” We entered the house after Tris and mas Elzar unlocked the doors. “Is this your villa?” I asked curiously. Tris replied as she was walking towards the living room “No, it’s my parent’s house.” She stopped walking then turned around and looked back at me and Cissy “You guys can go upstairs and choose your rooms, meanwhile I’ll prepare dinner.” We agreed and went upstairs. I chose the room near the stairs, and Cissy chose the room with big windows that showed the lake. I just finished freshening up and heard the thunder and big rain outside. Suddenly, I heard mas Elzar yell from below, “DINNER’S READY!” we chatted, laughed, and talked for a long time while eating. Just before I asked to go upstairs since I was very sleepy, Tris brought out dessert. “You guys like pudding, don’t you?” I felt full but a slice or two of pudding won’t hurt. Me and Cissy enjoyed the pudding, then after we had a few bites Tris asked, “So, about this Cecilia ghost. What do you two know about her?” When I was about to answer, I felt dizzy and looked at Cissy. She looked back at me, then my head felt heavier and heavier as if I was drowning slowly. Everything suddenly went pitch black.

When I started to gain consciousness, I heard voices. “Okay now what? We knocked them out, and are we just supposed to confess?” “—be patient. When they wake up, we’ll tell them to choose the last victim. The one that survive will—” “Tris....” I called out weakly as I was still trying to figure out what just happened. I tried to move my arms when I realized I was tied to a chair, my feet too. I looked around and saw Cissy on the other side, tied up like me as well. “Oh, you’re awake!” Tris, and mas Elzar stood in the middle of this dimmed room. We were at the basement, I guessed. “B-but I trusted both of you…” mas Elzar smirked, “Why did you think I allowed you to meddle with this case? To make you the victim of course! did you think the department really informed me and the company about what you did then published you as a fugitive? Also Did you really think the department cared about you? No! they just needed more time to find the culprit. The ghost. Who do you think it is? Think about it… who was at the scene, before everyone arrived. What car was found in the CCTV and was confirmed by the locals?” I didn’t understand what was happening and tried to digest his words. Then I remembered the news I reported…. “Several witnesses testified that they saw an unknown man with a face covered by a mask, running towards a jeep” Then I remembered my conversation with mas Elzar before he left “Of course, boss! See you tomorrow at the news station” “Yea, sure, just remember what I said and be careful!” Then he walked to his jeep. His car! It’s also a Jeep…. Trying to deny the truth I frustratedly asked “SO YOU’RE THE GHOST?” Tris said, “Maybe yes, maybe not. What do you think?” I yelled, “BOTH OF YOU?!” “Marina?” Cissy’s voice could barely be heard but I heard her. “MARINA! RUN” she yelled this time. Tris walked to Cissy and said. “Sweet Cissy, my dear friend. I’m sorry you got dragged into this.” “YOU PSYCHOPATH!” Cissy spitted in front of her. Tris grabbed Cissy’s face and said to mas Elzar, “Shall we just choose her as the last victim honey?” he replied, “Let’s wait a bit…” “I’ve waited enough for my revenge! Why should I wait longer!” Cecilia’s ghost then appeared beside me, she touched me and I saw her memories clearly….

Pricilla hates Father. She hates their swing, their backyard, and their house. The only thing she likes is the dollhouse. Pricilla didn’t like the lake and found stone skipping boring. That’s why she plays alone. Pricilla didn’t understand why nobody cared for her. Father is always with Cecilia when he’s home and Mother doesn’t care either. She enjoyed playing alone until one day she had enough. Pricilla was sick of being left out; she was tired of not getting attention. That’s when she started her plan, a master plan to make everyone love her and pay attention to her. Her first mission was to strike the weakest, their mother. She made trouble everyday and blamed it on someone or something else. Mother, a perfectionist with a bad temper easily got stressed out. Mother wreaked her emotions daily to Father until one day he just couldn’t bare it anymore. That’s when Father started working harder and harder day after day. Until he finally left. Two down, one left to go. Cecilia spoke to me “You see, my twin is born different. We both were, I just hid myself better. I could control my weird self and managed to be a sweet, normal child. Meanwhile Pricilla couldn’t. She easily gets mad for the simplest things, finds pleasure in torturing weak creatures, but I never knew she would do this to me.” Cecilia faded, and another memory showed. Cecilia ran towards the bird with hands filled with thin flat rocks she was intentionally going to throw to the lake near them, to play stone skipping. Mother heard the noisy flapping bird that was near death, and came out to check on her daughters. She was in extreme shock when she saw her sweet angel Cecilia, near the bird with stones in her hands. That same memory that I repeatedly saw in my dreams. Then it faded, a different memory showed. At night, Pricilla filled stones into Cecilia’s pockets and carried her to the lake. Pricilla threw Cecilia into the lake. Cecilia was drowning and asking for help, until she lost her breath. “Now, enjoy your favorite calm sound of the lake forever.” Pricilla then splattered water on her face and dipped her clothes a bit in the water before running back home and waking up mother. “MOTHER! HELP! CECILIA WAS SLEEP WALKING, AND THEN SHE DROWNED IN THE LAKE!” mother ran out and it was too late—of course—to save sweet Cecilia. She was already floating.

“You know I’m tired of you!” Tris yelled at mas Elzar. I was back to reality. Cecilia was still there, next to me. Watching them, then Cecilia pointed at Tris and said, “She is Pricilla.” Then Cecilia disappeared. “Let’s just spin a bottle and decide now who we’ll kill!” Tris begged mas Elzar. Tris came closer to me and carved I (roman numerals) on my cheeks. I screamed and yelled in pain as she perfected her details. Just before she was about to approach Cissy I yelled “WAIT!” “What now?” Tris glared at me. “My phone is on, and I sent an SOS to them.” “Don’t try to trick us, we already searched you before tying you up” mas Elzar chuckled. “You know, everything was going well. You found the doll I left in a different tent. You also carried the bag home, which I already added a small camera. Until you left that bag and moved out from your house. Luckily you still brought that doll, you only checked the outsides of the doll, you didn’t open it up and checked the insides!  I installed a GPS tracker deep inside them. So even though I couldn’t watch you through the camera, I still knew your location when you traveled with the doll. Breaking through your hotel room wasn’t that hard, a little bit of money eases everything!” The images passed clearly through my head. I walked to a different tent and saw the doll left unguarded on a table…  So that’s why it was so easy to find the doll… Suddenly she touched me slowly and said, “Wait I haven’t got your name,” …. This was probably when she swiftly attached the small camera. Why the hell didn’t I check the doll carefully too, ah I feel like I failed Sherlock Holmes. What kind of detective am I? even the simplest important details I’ve missed out. Wait, the pocket knife! Am I able to reach my pocket and cut off these ropes? I’ll have to distract Tris and mas Elzar first.

“Okay, I’ve lost. I’ll follow your game. Even if I have to die at the end, I’ll try my best to finish this!” I was trying my best to provoke them so they payed attention to my words and not notice what I was actually trying to do. “Ha! Brave, Clumsy, and Silly Marina! You know, you’re a great reporter. Sadly, you’re just a pathetic person in real life. Why risk your life for Cissy if you can play and win to survive?” mas Elzar was underestimating me as always. Funny, when he did this before I took his mocking words as advice for me to be better at work. I didn’t care this time, I was focusing on getting out the pocket knife. “You know, every time Elzar told me about you I just had to see you in person and think about making you part of my master plan.” Tris said while sharpening a knife and other tools that were neatly prepared on a table near her. I was struggling and carefully slowly moving to get the pocket knife, finally it almost fell out I said, “Tell me why you are doing this to me and Cissy!” I half yelled as I successfully covered the sound of the pocket knife that fell out. “I already told you right? You were just so naive in person as how Elzar told me through words. No hard feelings dear, you were just the perfect victim for my plan.” Tris said despicably then walked to Cissy, now was the time to cut this rope! Tris looked at Cissy for quite some time before she finally said, “Cecilia, sweet Cecilia…. I’m sorry for treating you like this….” I asked in shock, “Cecilia? Is she Cecilia? The little girl I see in my dreams?!” Tris looked at me for a while then looked back at Cissy. “So, you have dreams about that brat too? Hmmm, no, she isn’t that Cecilia, but Cissy’s Full name is Cecilia Rose. She has the exact first name as my twin, but Cissy’s different from my twin, that’s what I like about her. Did you know that I have a twin that died when we were still young?” I quietly said no while I continued to reach out to cut the rope in tied arms. “Cissy wasn’t like Cecilia. A Sweet, kind, but pathetic little brat. I could see right through her fakeness, now that I recall how my twin was, she kinda resembles you Marina…” then Tris glared at me. “Cissy was more like me. Full of anger, ambitious, easily agitated by simple things. That’s why I liked her being near me. I finally found someone like me, and for the first time I didn’t feel like a freaky psychopath and I actually had a friend. I could act normally and didn’t have to hide how I really was—” mas Elzar continued her sentence “—until she had hard times hiding her thirst in torturing creatures. That’s when Trisha met me, who is secretly troubled inside too. I did the killing for her, sometimes I let her kill and I clean her mess, but we mostly do it together. Beautiful isn’t it? Our love story?” Cissy yelled, “BOTH OF YOU ARE CRAZY PSYCHOPATHS!!!” “Then the doll? Why leave it behind this time?” Cissy asked as she tried to calm down. “I was just getting tired of killing, and the police, the department, couldn’t do their jobs correctly and try to find me! AHAHAHAHAHA!” Tris laughed like a crazy person. “We left behind a doll, yet the police thought it wasn’t important and didn’t consider it as evidence? How stupid could they be? That’s when I decided to involve Marina! You love playing detective don’t you dear?” I was almost finished cutting the ropes when Tris turned to me, so I had to stop. “Marina played along very well, and I actually didn’t plan to involve you Cissy!” she turned back to Cissy, I hurriedly continue cutting the rope and thank god it finally came off. Now I have to cut some ropes that tied my feet so when I run, I can easily escape.

Author

Marina tried hard to cut the ropes on her feet without driving much attention. Trisha grabbed Cissy’s face and said, “If you didn’t start to change since you dated that stupid guy, maybe you wouldn’t suffer here! Why would you change for a guy that might just leave you when he’s bored of you? It’s not like you two are married and bound for life!” Trisha harshly took her hands off Cissy’s face and made Cissy cry. “Look how he made you so weak now! You cried just because I scolded you? Where is the Cissy that I knew these past years?” Just as Trisha was about to carve II on Cissy’s face, Marina broke free from the ropes and ran upstairs. “MARINA!” Trisha panicked and yelled at Elzar, “GO AFTER HER, STUPID!” Elzar ran upstairs and looked for Marina. 

Marina

I broke free at last, I run as fast as I could and dropped everything I found near me to block them and slow them down from chasing me. I suddenly remembered the mysterious emergency package from the department. I ran outside to my car and found the spare key I hid. I opened my car and locked it, and safely managed to drive far away. In a rush, I ripped open the package. A phone! I dialed the number listed and called for help. The department responded immediately and said they will be on the way. Then I used the medical kit I found in the package to clean and sanitize the scar on my face. Just then, I didn’t notice the car that passed by and parked horizontally in front. I hit the brakes hardly and stopped in time. In the heavy rain and thunder sounds, mas Elzar went out of that car with a sharp knife on his left hand, and a hammer on his right. I tried to drive back, but another car just stopped behind me, and guess who? Tris got out of the car with a knife on Cissy’s neck, with her hands tied up. Oh god! I can’t stay in this car. I can’t drive back or forward since I’m blocked either ways.  So, I hid my knife and the phone I found then I wore a jacket and before they came closer, I ran outside of my car towards the woods. I ran as fast as I could, hoping I have enough time until the police come. I tried to run faster but I was getting tired, afterwards I heard sounds of a shooting gun. I looked back and a bullet pierced through my shoulder. I collapsed and tried to take out the knife I hid. I was trying to stay conscious when I heard Tris and mas Elzar coming closer. “Here where it all finally ends, the brave reporter who played detective was killed by the ghost when she tried to save a victim held as hostage.” Tris said cackling evilly. “What do you think? Marina? A fine news headline isn’t it? Only, this time you won’t be reporting the breaking news. YOU. ARE. THE. BREAKING. NEWS.” Mas Elzar said while he was mocking me as always. “You two won’t get away with this!” Cissy said while struggling to let go of Tris. Tris pointed the knife harder on Cissy’s face. “Shhhh, you will be the survivor to tell our tale, but on second thoughts—” Tris opened Cissy’s mouth and grabbed her tongue. Panicking, Cissy tried to break free, then she screamed as Tris slashed her tongue off. Cissy’s scream and cry in pain could still be heard even with the rain still pouring. “Now your turn! Any last words?” When I was so lost of hope and ready to give up, I saw Cecilia’s ghost once again, in her pretty shiny dress. I heard Cecilia’s scream and then I saw other ghosts appearing from different parts of the woods, surrounding us and walking towards Tris and mas Elzar slowly. A lady with a white dress and long hair with blood dripping from her mouth flied slowly, a corpse wrapped in white fabric with a horribly rotten face and worms in its eyes hopped forward,  a little bald baby with only diapers as clothing ran ghastly, a very tall thin slender man with no face walked with long steps, and a huge giant man in the back with red eyes stomped slowly, also other ghosts with their own scary features started to get really close. “WHAT ARE YOU SCARED OF? AREN’T YOU THE BRAVE MARINA?” Tris yelled, as she saw the fear all over my face. “Do you not see those ghosts?” I replied trembling in fear and holding myself together as I kept losing blood. Tris and mas Elzar turned around then they were shocked when they saw a little girl in a pretty dress. “Cecilia?” Tris asked carefully, that’s when Cecilia turned soaked wet with stones filling her dress and blood on her feet. Tris and mas Elzar then screamed when I think they finally saw what I could see. They froze in their place as the ghosts approached. I looked at Cissy as she was still in pain and was confused to what happened to Tris and mas Elzar. Meanwhile I couldn’t hold it anymore and I passed out.

The big house looked beautiful as always, it was also a bright sunny day. Cecilia appeared and gently said, “Thank you, Marina, for your help. Now, I can rest in peace.” She walked to the lake, but this time she didn’t drown. She was walking on water! Then the sun got brighter and brighter until I vaguely heard a voice….

“Marina! Are you okay? Marina….” I slowly opened my eyes as I saw the white color above me and the old man. “Sir? Where am I? am I dead?” the old man chuckled, “No, thankfully you’re alive. We almost lost you, but the medics and police got here in time and we were able to save you and Cissy.” Confused I asked, “But how did you know I was here? I called the department? And what about Tris and mas Elzar? They’re the murderers, they’re the—” “The ghost, yes. They were found with sharp objects near both of you. Oddly, they were on the ground trembling in fear when we got there. Look there they are!” I followed where the old man’s hands pointed and saw Tris and mas Elzar handcuffed and were being put into a police car. The old man gave me an envelope and told me to open it once I’m home and healthy again. Then I was taken to a hospital with Cissy and some paramedics by our side.

Author

The old man walked towards the police car and the cops inside rolled down the window “Well, look what have you become my dear” the old man said to Trisha. She yelled back “Shut up old man!” Calmly he said, “Is this how you treat me? After all this time?” Trisha smirked, “You were never a father to me!” then the window closed and the police car left.

Marina

I knew the old man told me to open this letter when I was healthy, but I was beyond curious. So, as I laid in the hospital bed, I ripped the envelope and pulled out a letter. I opened it and it was written:

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t honest to you, young lady. I did know those twins. I knew them well. They were special children, they came to my workshop when it was still near their house back then. They loved my dollhouse the most. Cecilia loved everything I made, but Pricilla only liked the dollhouse. I knew they were different, especially Pricilla. She resembles her mother so much. Always angry, ambitious, and just different. I’m sorry you saw her dark side, she wasn’t always like this. Cecilia was also a sweet child. They both changed when their father moved the workshop to a further place and worked harder until he decided to divorce the twin’s mother as he couldn’t bare her anger that was constantly growing. If you think this man, the twin’s father, as the start of this family’s chaos and made Pricilla a monster, then I agree with you. Instead of dealing with his work, being a supportive husband by calming the mother, and loving his children, the Father moved out and married another woman he met at his store. Then when he heard his angel Cecilia had drowned to death and the mother passed away too from depression, he finally realized his mistakes. Well, for the coward and selfish person he was, I apologize that you had to go through this. Hopefully after reading this, you would still see him. Get well soon! Until we meet again young lady. Sincerely, 

Viktor H.” 

I didn’t fully understand the old man’s letter, then I realized there was another thing inside the envelope. A picture. There, I saw the old man with a lady and two little girls—the twins! Cecilia and Pricilla! Standing in front of the beautiful big house. I flipped the old picture and there written beautifully in the corner:

“31st October 2000.

Viktor Henry, Alana Anne, Pricilla Therese, Cecilia Theresa. We finally moved to the house father built!”

—FIN—