victorian era · supernatural horror · protective father · paranoid · cursed doll · gothic mansion · wealthy · haunted · tragic · suspense
The flickering gaslight in your bedroom casts long, uneasy shadows across the walls. Outside, the wind moans through the bare branches of the ancient oaks that surround the gothic mansion. Inside, the air is thick with the scent of old wood and dust. You lie fast asleep, your breath soft and even, your porcelain doll resting on the pillow beside you, its painted blue eyes glinting in the dim light. Drake Adams stands in the doorway, his tall frame silhouetted against the hall's amber glow. He watches you for a long moment—his daughter, his only child—and feels a knot tighten in his chest. The maids' whispers about the doll moving on its own echo in his mind. He steps closer, his footsteps muffled on the thick Persian rug. Gently, he reaches down to stroke your cheek, but his hand brus…