• The doorbell rang once, twice, three times, startling my mom, who sat, relaxed, in the armchair across the fireplace. I looked up from my book, eyes twinkling with excitement. My mom looked far from pleased.
    "That's odd. Its not time for your party yet." She said, looking up at the clock. I gave her a look. She held up her hands in mock defeat.
    "Okay, okay, I'll get the door, birthday girl." She got up and walked towards the front door, pinching my cheek as she passed my chair. Her bare feet padded gently on the red carpeting, her skirt rustling as she shuffled along. I watched her every movement intently as she unlocked the white front door, turned the knob, and slowly opened it. She poked her head out.
    "Hello?" She said, sounding puzzled. "Hello?" She stepped out shutting the door behind her. I frowned. Was there no one there? Maybe my mom was joking with me? I tilted my head, putting my book down gently on the coffee table and folding my hands on my lap. I laced my fingers together, forming little animals and shapes with my hands. I waited patiently, and when my mom came in, I was both disappointed and excited. My mom came in by herself, no accompanying friends or their parents, but in her arms was a large box wrapped in bright blue paper. I rose to my feet, almost knocking the chair over in the rush, and moved swiftly towards my mom, my eyes gleaming with the predatory hue of a piranha as I moved to take the box. Without hesitation, mom handed over, and I snatched it up, sitting back in the chair.
    "Don't forget to read the card." Said my mom. I nodded. I wanted to see who it was from. The little slip of paper, neatly folded directly in half, was tucked beneath the indigo ribbon. I slid it out, unfolding it quickly, and I took in a breath and began reading.
    "'Dear Theresa, I am giving this to you in hopes of you having the most honorific birthday, filled with cheer and excitement. I wish I could join the party, but I'm busy at the moment, so, unfortunately, I cannot attend. With best wishes, A Friend.'" I frowned, slightly. Well, which friend exactly? I turned the card at all angles, looking for some hidden clue, but there was nothing.
    "Huh," I said, putting the card down beside my book, turning my attention to the present. Carefully, as to not tear the soft material, I untied the indigo ribbon, and then began to unwrap the paper that, despite appearances, was very loose and soft. My heart pounding in my ears, I looked down at the simple cardboard box, excitement boiling in my veins. I opened it and stared at the contents. The contents stared back up at me.
    "Wow." I said, reaching in and lifting the doll into the air. She wore a Victorian style black frilled dress and a black bonnet, and her eyes were large, green, and shiny, with thick eyelashes all around her eyes. Her skin was glossy white, her hands, nose, and mouth extremely small, and her platinum blond hair was curled into lovely swirls.
    "Oh my gosh. What a lovely doll." Mom said, leaning closer to get a better look. I stroked her hair and gasped at the quality.
    "It feels so....so REAL!" I exclaimed, delighted. Then I noticed the little silk ribbon, tied around the dolls wrist.
    "Hm? What's this?" I murmured, lifting her hand and squinting. On the small pink ribbon were words, written in elegant cursive. Carefully, I read them.
    "'Property of Emily, 1875.'" I said in wonder. I looked at the doll. "So, you belonged to someone before, huh?" I smiled, and looked at the date. "1875, huh? Wow."
    "You should name it, honey." Said my mom. I nodded and bit my lip in concentration.
    "I'll call you.....Jade!" I exclaimed, happily. My mom smiled, glad that I was pleased with my present. I sat Jade on my lap, picked up my book again, and began reading to her. I knew she wasn't alive, but it was still fun to talk to her. My mom watched the whole time, a smile quirking at her lips. Then her forehead creased and she frowned. She looked at the clock.
    "Theresa, did we get the frosting for the cake?" She asked. I looked up from my book and shook my head. We'd bought the candles, the cake-mix, and the materials, but the store had been out of frosting. My mom sighed and got up.
    "We've still got two hours before the guests should be arriving, so I'll use that time to shop." She said, picking up her keys from the table and slipping on her purple coat.
    "You should get ready, and take a shower, OK?" She asked. I nodded. Mom smiled, and walked towards the door, picking up her black boots and slipping them on. When she left, she locked the door behind her. For a while, I just looked at the chair she'd been sitting in, the blue cushions still flat. Finally, I got up, setting Jade down on the cushion.
    "Well, Jade, I gotta go take a shower. I'll be right back, OK?" I smiled. Carefully, I set the book down and walked towards the stairs, next to the kitchen door, the floorboards creaking as I started making my way up the stairs, to where my bedroom was.

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    It took my a half hour to get ready, taking a nice, long hot shower, picking out my nicest clothes, getting dressed, brushing my hair and teeth, etc. After, I felt satisfied and clean, examining myself in my bedroom mirror. My brown hair was tied in a pretty braid, my peach face clean, with a spotless white blouse and a long blue skirt. I smiled at myself. I looked pretty good. I turned around, pleased with myself, and took in my room, its red carpeting, the white balcony bed, the old antique desk, and the shelf full of books. I nodded. Everything was tidy and clean. Smiling to myself, I made my way to the door, opening it and heading down the stairs once more, The stairs creaked and groaned under my feet, but I didn't care. When I reached the living room, I looked, automatically, at the clock. One hour to go. Sighing with satisfaction, I sat down with a loud thump on the couch. I leaned back and closed my eyes.
    "This is gonna be so cool." I murmured. Then I sat up, and looked at the cushion beside me. My smile faded, my brow furrowing. Jade was gone. My book was on the floor, its spine bent, pages wrinkled. But Jade was nowhere to be seen. I made a sound. I got off the couch and got on my knees on the floor, looking under the couch. Maybe Jade had fallen under there. But she was nowhere to be seen.
    "Weird." I muttered. Sitting up, I scratched my head. Then I noticed something on the floor beside my book-- tears, like something had been dragging itself across the floor. I moved closer, puzzled. Maybe a cat got in and tore the carpet. Frowning, I got up, moving to the table. The tears led there. Faint scratches decorated the table top, up the legs, and down the other side, leading under the chair my mom was sitting on. I walked towards the chair, leaning down, and I looked underneath it. Jade was nowhere to be seen, but something else caught my eye. The little ribbon wrapped around her wrist lay beneath the chair, ripped in two, ragged around the edges. I began to reach out for it, but a sound made me pause. The stairs were creaking. I sat up, my eyes moving to the stairs. There was nothing there. I stood up and walked towards them. I heard a faint scratching at the door. I frowned, and made my way up. As the corner turned, I peeked my head around, looking at my door. Nothing there. Then I noticed more scratch marks, leading up the stairs, to my door, then around to the bathroom. The bathroom door was open a crack, and I heard odd clicking sounds from inside, like claws on a tile floor. Cautiously, I walked towards the door, my hand reaching for the handle, slowly. Sweat beaded on my brow as my fingers tightened around the doorknob. Quick as a flash, I swung the door open. I looked around, then gasped. All over the floor, there were marks in the tiles, scratches, like pace-marks. I tried to open the door wider, but it didn't budge. I frowned. Something was blocking it.
    "Huh?" I murmured, stepping into the bathroom and looking to see just what it was. The scratches on the floor, I realized, led behind the door, as well, and when I looked, I gasped.
    "Jade?" I cried. Wedged between the door and the wall, her eyes wide and gleaming green, her small, pink mouth quirked in a sweet smile was Jade. She stared at me, smiling disturbingly cheerfully, like she was going to do something.
    I leaned in to pick her up, my hand reaching, but I stopped. Was it just me, or had she just...moved? Slowly, I drew my hand back. There it was again! Jade's hand at twitched, her eyes shifted. Then I noticed them. Her dress was torn on her back and sleeves, and from the tears sprouted sharp, shiny blades. I cried out, staggering backwards and falling hard on my butt. Eyes wide, I watched as her mouth widened, spreading into a horrid grin as the doll rose to its feet, its joints creaking. Jade's head twisted in my direction. She raised her hand, and I saw that her nails had now become long, serrated knives.
    "Oh God." I whimpered. "Oh God, this is not happening!" Backing up, I staggered to my feet. The doll picked up pace, her wide-eyed gaze never blinking. I screamed, staggering to my feet. Jade swiped at my leg with silver claws as I passed, cutting my calf. I cried out in pain, but continued running, slamming the door behind me. It wouldn't close. In horror, I looked down, seeing Jade wedged halfway between, smiling up at me like a long-lost friend, metallic claws grasping the air beside me. I cried out, letting the door go and running down the stairs. Behind me, I heard the floorboards creaking, tiny footsteps, and a horrid dragging sound as it pursued me. My leg was going numb, leaving a trail of blood behind me. I stumbled and tripped, gathering my skirt and going as fast as I could. I jumped down the last step, running into the kitchen and slamming the door behind me, locking it with trembling hands. I grabbed some chairs and set them in front of the door, hoping that that would keep it at bay. Sobbing, I lifted my skirt and looked at my leg. I winced.
    The flesh around the jagged wound was a corpse-like gray, with purple blotches, blood dribbling down my leg in warm red streams. The wound itself, though, was horrid. It looked like the knife had done more then just cut me-- it'd taking a chunk out of my leg.
    "Oh God!" I sobbed, my shoulders shaking uncontrollably. Then I heard it again. The sounds of something scratching at the other side of the door. It was a horrid scrabbling, and I knew that it was trying to claw its way to the door.
    "GO AWAY!" I sobbed, crawling away from the door. The scratching stopped momentarily, but something else began. A babyish voice, sickeningly sweet, was singing the mother goose rhyme "Ring Around the Rosie". I paled. That song had been made during the plague, a song that describes death. Then the scratching started again. This time, it was rising, like Jade was....crawling up towards the doorknob.
    "NO!" I cried, desperately backing away, smearing blood across the tiles. I winced at the pain as the wound tore a bit. I backed up into the cupboard, my back pressing into the wood. Fear sweat poured down my forehead. The doorknob clicked as it unlocked, and began to turn. Slowly, painfully, I reached up, pulling open a drawer, my fingers looking for anything to use for defense. My fingers closed around the hilt of one of my mom's kitchen knives. Carefully, I pulled it out. In the electrical light, its blade glowed, wicked sharp. I looked in horror at it. I was against violence, I liked peace, and now I was holding a knife!? My lips trembled as I watched the doorknob turn, and I thought of my mom and all my friends. I didn't want to die. I wanted to be with my friends and family, not die!
    The door swung open, pushing the chairs aside.
    It came at me in a flash of black and silver, blond hair trailing behind. It swung at me with serrated blades, unblinking eyes staring at me with glee. Its mouth moved, mouthing "Ring Around the Rosie", and I automatically swung the knife. The doll, mouth wide in a silent scream, drew back, and I looked down at its finger, which twitched and wriggled before me. I looked up. I never knew dolls could look so hateful. It moved towards me again, flying at my face. I screamed, moving sideways, and the doll's claws merely scratched my cheek. It slammed into the cupboard, and I desperately staggered up, crying out as I tried to put weight on my injured leg. Jade's head turned, all the way around, and smiled at me. I limped/ran towards the door, closing it, running back up the stairs, into my bedroom, double locking the door, placing my desk in front of it.
    I staggered to the bed, which sat opposite to the door, and stared, hugging myself.
    "Just a bad dream. Just a bad dream. Just a bad--" I screamed as the doorknob rattled. The sound of Jade's blades scratching the door rang in my ears, tears blurring my vision. The scratch on my cheek stung like a hundred bee stings, and I couldn't even feel my other leg. I covered my ears and closed my eyes. What kind of friend would send me the demon?! This possessed doll?! What did I ever do to deserve this?! The only "cheer" this thing was bringing was its' own, and it was less "exciting" and more terrifying.
    "GO AWAY! PLEASE!" I screamed, my voice hoarse. The doorknob continued to rattle, the scratching continued to scratch, and my heartbeat pummeled my eardrums. The locks clicked, the door opened, and I leaped onto the bed, crying. Jade came at me, her face contorted with hate and glee, serrated blades shining as she dashed across the floor, tearing at the cloth. In horror, I realized she was climbing. I grabbed a pillow and threw it at her. It knocked her down, but she got up again and, once more, began to climb. My hands tightened into fists, my fingers gripping the hilt of the knife, and, blindly, full of rage, fear, and pain, I blindly swung the blade. I heard a crack as it connected with the doll's head, and the small body fell to the floor. I stared. I'd sliced Jade's head in half, uneven, slicing through one eye. Her face was still twisted, her blades still there--she just didn't move. Cautiously, I poked it with the knife. It didn't react. I poked at it again, harder this time. Still no reaction. Then a small movement caught my eye. Smoke poured from the doll's missing finger and head, a swirling mass that grew as it rose. I gasped and scooted back on my bed. It swirled around, a formless mass of darkness, rising higher and higher.
    And suddenly, it flew up, crashing into the light, making the room go black. I screamed. In the darkness, a hissing laughter like a hundred snakes filled the air, the fetid smell of death choking me. I felt the cloud descend, wrapping around me, laughing, slipping into me through my nose and mouth. My eyes opened wide, I tried to scream, but I could not. My lungs burned, my heart slowed, and the pain began to ease. I let out a final sigh, falling to the floor, letting the darkness take me.

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    I heard the door creaking open as my mom came in, her skirt rustling.
    "Theresa? I'm back!" She sounded cheerful. I sat up, slowly, stretching my muscles. I smiled, getting up,. My leg no longer hurt, and I felt refreshed.
    "I'll be right down!" I said, happily, rising to my feet. I was about to leave the room, but then I turned back, and reached for the knife.
    The stupid girl's mom wouldn't last long, unlike the girl did, before I came along.