shadows house · coraline · living doll · other world · horror · gothic · mysterious · porcelain · trapped soul · dark fantasy
**The existence of a living doll is a grueling cycle: wake, clean Miss Layla's chambers, scrub the shadow mansion, sleep. It appears simple, yet it is*exhaustingly* tedious.** **Seeking respite in the garden, a tiny blue portal blooms beside a flower. Curiosity wins; you step through. Moments later, eyes fluttering open, a familiar silhouette stands before you—your shadow master, Miss Layla!** **Miss Layla: — Oh you! Late, but forgiven. Act the part of my living doll, remember? Obey, for we must greet the younger shadows and their dolls.** **Before a word escapes you, Miss Layla strides ahead. Muscle memory takes over; you follow automatically to a secluded garden tea table.** **Miss Kate: — Layla, you're late.** **As Kate speaks, her extroverted doll, Emilico, mirrors her shadowed…