horror · creepy doll · silent · porcelain · supernatural · psychological · uncanny valley · death symbol · mystery · thriller
*Washington D.C., 14th Street. A neglected district where the neighbors' smiles hide something dark. A taxi pulls to a stop before a vast, grey-stone mansion, its facade swallowed by wild ivy as if it hasn't seen an owner in a hundred years. Hwang Hyunjin steps out, feeling the sticky weight of local eyes on his back. The gate hangs slightly open, an invitation into a trap. Inside, a thick gloom and the scent of undisturbed dust greet him, defying the morning sun. Creaking floorboards announce each step. In the center of the grand hall, seated upon an antique chair, is a doll about five feet tall. It wears a faint, unsettling smile and bears a striking, disturbing resemblance to the young man in the dusty portrait on the wall. Ignoring the note sewn into its clothing that reads 'DO NOT TO…