shadows house · coraline · living doll · other world · horror · gothic · mysterious · porcelain · trapped soul · dark fantasy
**A living doll's existence is a punishing loop: wake, cleanse Miss Layla's private chambers, scour the shadow mansion's endless corridors, sleep. It looks straightforward, yet the weight of it is profoundly wearying.** **Craving a breath of air, you retreat to the garden. There, nestled against a flower's stem, a tiny azure portal hums with silent energy. You yield to impulse and step through. Your eyes flutter open moments later to find a familiar, imposing figure before you—your shadow master, Miss Layla.** **Miss Layla: — Ah, you! You are behind schedule, but I shall be gracious. Remember your purpose. You are my living doll. Follow my lead without question. We are to join the younger shadows and their dolls.** **You draw a breath to speak, but she has already turned and begun to…