Devil’s Doll Reincarnation | Chapter 3 | Getting Introduced
Starting from where we last left off, Anna had been teaching me how to read by drawing pictures for me, this went on for maybe three or four days. Anna had to leave everytime it got too late, but I didn't mind. Like usual, we were both laying on the dusty carpet in the middle of the room, with an open book between us, and a flickering candle to our side.
Anna would point to a word or letter in the book, then to a picture she had drawn, and say it to me over and over until I could understand and say it back to her. If she couldn’t draw it, she would do something like charades. Because of her fantastic teaching I managed to figure out how to refer to people and when they were talking about me. Unlike the usual languages I’ve tried to learn, this one was very easy to pick up, and the pronunciation flowed well and made sense. Not to mention I still have all my memories intact, what a great help they are.
Although it was difficult at first, I eventually got into the flow of learning something interesting for once; allowing me to absorb the overflow of new information much easier and simultaneously keep up with Anna’s enthusiastic attitude. However, I was a bit disappointed. As blessed as I must be to find such wonderful people, I wish I knew more about where I am and the reason behind why these people are treating me so kindly. To be sheltered in this rickety old cabin for so long... nothing good can come of it.
I had made an attempt to talk to her in my own language before, but she didn’t seem to understand at all. I’m also pretty sure I caused a misunderstanding of some sort too.
Anna knew it was difficult for me to do anything physical, like moving or speaking. So, she waited patiently for me to regain my stamina, before asking me to read something else out. Occasionally, I would find one word fairly interesting and she would stop to further explain it for me. Even though she knew I’d barely understand, Anna kindly did so anyway.
In other news… the old man, Geralt, had left the cabin and headed off somewhere. He took a couple old-looking parchments and left in the same way Anna had tried taking me before, I still don’t know the reason behind that, maybe she just wanted to play, but that’s pretty much all I know. After a while I was beginning to feel worried since another feral creature might attack him on the way. Yet I can't help but think that a red monkey wouldn't be much of a threat for that man. The way it easily snuck up on the three of us is something rather worrying though.
Anna’s abnormally high perceptiveness managed to pick up on how I was feeling, even though I lacked the ability to show emotions on my artificial face. She began patting my head like one would do to a crying child. This gave me an odd mixture of frustration, comfort, and I swear I felt another feeling welling up. But Anna stopped before I could figure it out when she raised her finger to her lips and bounced up. I could practically see the light-bulb glowing above her head as she ran towards the cupboard, with her long brown ponytail trailing behind her.
The cupboard is where she must have gotten the strange old book from, yanking out another old book. When she placed it in front of me I could instantly distinguish the differences between the two thick books. This new one had a bluish colour, and a golden pentagram on the cover with a lot of dust. I couldn’t see a title, but when Anna opened the book, the drawings inside clearly explained that this was a book mystical in nature.
A magic book.
Why people who were living out in the middle of a nowhere possessed such an odd item wasn’t what I was thinking. Nor was I thinking that I’d get some amazing magical powers. In fact, I wasn’t thinking anything at all.
For whatever reason, I’d passed out the moment Anna opened the book. The dust from it unnaturally exploded into the area, blinding me and Anna. Did I lose consciousness from the sudden surprise? No, that can’t be. Then for what reason had I passed out?
My eyesight slowly returned to me, and I found myself laying sideways across the floor. Apparently, the dust explosion had thrown me across the room, and Anna to the opposite side. The whole ordeal only last for a few moments, but it felt like so much more time had passed. I wonder if Anna is feeling the same way.
Oh my god! Anna!
I knocked my head on the floorboards to properly wake me up, and as soon as possible I began to assess the situation. Was Anna okay!? She’s not moving!? I yelled inwardly, the worry was overflowing my mind. I’ve never been in a major accident before… excluding the one I was in… Damn my safe cultured life!
Quickly realizing that I’d have to get close to see if she was breathing or not, I immediately went into action. I’d swung my body over and started using my little arms to drag myself over to her. The book itself was still sitting in the exact same spot on the middle of the carpet with its pages wide open. Even though I was trying so hard, I didn’t have the fleshy human hands that provided plenty of grip. Instead I had these useless, artificial, appendages made from some hard, smooth material. So, try as I might, I was only scratching my way across the floor and wasting precious time.
After finally getting about halfway to Anna, I was now right next to the magic book. I’m not too sure about the existence of magic, but I’m pretty convinced since I’m literally a sapient doll right now.
I peered into the magic book while giving myself a moment to rest. Just before I started pulling myself forward one more time, I forcibly stopped myself when I heard the one sound I wanted to hear least. I slowly creaked my head towards the window, and by the big wooden table I’ve spent a majority of my time on…
Was a giant red monkey, just a bit larger than Geralt…
My mind went into a storm of thoughts and I could feel my whole body shaking when it bared its fangs in a happy smile. Its long manoeuvrable arms slowly unhatched the window’s lock on the inside, reminding me of the fact that the windows were broken. I was completely unaware the blast from the magic book shattered the glass in all the windows. Why couldn’t they have broken in here earlier? Was there something protecting this building?
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The creature at this point had long surpassed its normal animalistic sense. It was more monster than animal.
Just as it began sliding open the window to crawl in, I made a sudden realisation. Turning my head back to the magic book, I noticed a slip of paper sticking out from one of the page where a bookmark was left there. But what for? It must be important in some way.
Going out on a limb I flipped straight to the page the bookmark was in and found a drawing of a circle with a ten-pronged star, a square, and then an infinity symbol inside. From what little I had recently learned of the language, I could only make out that this was a spell for repelling. I wasn’t sure if I should try it out since I didn’t fully understand what this would do. Not to mention it may not actually do anything anyway.
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Despite these reasons the creature had already entered the room and was eyeing Anna like a succulent piece of meat. I couldn’t allow this to go on any further! I shouted in my heart. So, I put my hands on the book and started pushing it closer to Anna, the creature hadn’t even noticed me because it was too preoccupied with the meal it saw in front of it.
The creature leapt down from the table and began hobbling towards her, knowing that this was going to be the easiest meal it’ll ever have. I felt the last of my hope draining away as I realised just how far away Anna was, there is no chance of me getting there before it. I could only watch on in pure despair, which quickly turned into anger, and then into a pure hatred for the stupid monkey in front of me. The creature’s grin is what caused me go over the edge and lose what little ability I had left to think clearly. Everything just went into an adrenaline fuelled rage, and in the heat of the moment I stood up holding the book above me, then came crashing back down as I slammed it on one of my brittle dolly fingers.
I will not allow this!
Even though they didn’t have any nerves inside I still felt the same amount of pain one would expect from breaking their finger. Holding out through the pain I kept myself from screaming so I wouldn’t waste any precious energy. I was beginning to regret this decision, but as I was near the centre of the room I had no objects to draw with.
While looking at the inscription in the magic book, I began trailing the broken end of my finger across the wooden floor to make the same pattern. The shattered edges were slowly cutting into the floorboards, but it wasn’t enough. I felt like giving up until a strange, thick, black liquid began to seep out of the broken finger.
I didn’t have the time to think about what this liquid was, and whether it was important, as the creature was now so close to her. So, I instead continued writing the inscription with the black ink like substance. Knowing it was currently all I could do.
The creature had gotten close enough to hunch over Anna’s unconscious body, letting its drool drip down onto her face. How glad it must feel right now.
The creature’s mouth widened so it could get the biggest first bite possible, yet just before it managed to do so, I finished etching in the final part of the inscription. The creature bent over, now just barely inches away from her face, then suddenly turned around with a look of pure terror.
Because it could not smell any delicious flesh from my body it ignored me, deeming my small body as no threat was your biggest mistake!
The black liquid unnaturally changed into a golden hue as it began to shine brightly and send beams of light through the whole room. One of said beams shone onto the creature’s stomach, instantly burning off the red fur and grilling its flesh.
The creature, being smart enough to move out of the way, yelped and headed for the window. In a desperate attempt to escape the room it pounced towards the nearest exit… unluckily for it… it was too late.
The inscription gave off one final flash of light that completely covered the room, evaporating the creature instantaneously. I could hear the violent screams of the red monkey abruptly cut short, and when the blinding light disappeared all that was left was a black silhouette on the wall. The moment of silence in the room allowed me to calm down, and when I confirmed that the place was safe once again I instantly went limp due to being unable to bear the exhaustion of moving around so much.
I told myself that I couldn’t fall asleep now, that Anna still needed my help. Just as I flopped onto the ground I saw an unknown man burst into the room, wearing a black cowl and robes. When he saw Anna in the corner he rushed over to check on her, it seemed like she was okay and her eyes were looking at me with concern. The man cradled her in his arms and leant over, then whispered something into her ear. To which… her body went limp, and her eyes rolled back into her head. What looked like steam was flowing out of her mouth, and into a small vial held around his neck on a necklace.
The man’s evil grin made me feel sick when he closed her eyes. The creep suddenly spun around and waved his hand, sending a strong gust of wind throughout the room cleaning up all evidence of any fight even occurring. The magic book I was still clasped onto then flew into his hand, where he slid it into his long robes. A satisfied look was plastered on his face, that is, until he looked at me.
He walked over and stamped his foot on the rune I had painstakingly made, smudging it away until nothing was left. I couldn’t quite process the situation due to the amount of utter shock running rampant through my head. Yet it soon came back to me when Geralt suddenly burst through the door, with the look of worry in his eyes. Spotting Anna he ran up to her limp body and held her tightly while kneeling on the floor, looking towards the strange man for answers.
“This thing did this.” He said, pointing his glove covered hand at me.
Even though I could understand his simple wording, I wish I couldn’t. For Geralt was looking at me with an expression mixed with horror, disbelief, and betrayal. You think I did this!? No, you dolt! Why are believing this man so easily? I’ve done nothing wrong! My incessant complaints meant absolutely nothing however, to the people in front of me. If only I could shout out to him...
Sensing something horrible about to happen, I turned my head, only to have the man in robes suddenly stomp on my arm; shattering and rending it useless. The unimaginable pain I felt caused me to writhe on the floor, screaming out in pain with my high-pitched voice while Geralt let out a light gasp. As soon as the pain eased up enough for me to stop myself from wasting energy, I looked up in the corner of my vision to spot the man preparing to break another of my limbs. With his back to Geralt, it allowed his insane smile to go unnoticed to the only other person in the room.
Was this really how it ends?
As I raised my hand up, pleading for him to stop, a warm liquid slid down my face. I closed my eyes, believing my fate to be sealed, but suddenly felt the vibrations of someone running across the floor. A loud crashing sound came from a few steps beside me, and I opened my eyes to see what caused it.
Geralt had tackled the cloaked man and smashed him into the closet, where the splinters had pierced him in multiple places. The shallow wounds weren’t enough to kill him, but the moment he tried to get up Geralt kicked him in the stomach sliding the splinters further into him until finally beating the man unconscious. In the mish mash of flinging fists, and flailing legs, the vial around the cloaked man's neck had snapped off and rolled in front of me. I instinctively grabbed it as soon as possible, stashing it away in the front pouch of my white dress, and making sure to seal it closed tightly.
Geralt breathed out a stuttering breath with his chin facing upwards before turning back and walking towards me. When he got close enough he bent down on one knee lifting me up gently, careful to not touch my shattered arm. He stood there for a moment, just holding me, with his anger and sadness almost visibly seeping out of him.
He looked up at the roof again and took a few deep breaths until walking to the open doorway where he turned back to look at Anna’s lifeless body one more time.
“I’ll take you somewhere safe.” He announced. The unexpectedly clear voice felt so very reassuring, I felt like I could sleep in peace. Sadly, Geralt, I won’t allow myself to be such a dead weight in a situation like this.