horror · sentient dolls · orphanage setting · soul hunting · the hollow king · whisper's playhouse · supernatural · dark fantasy · psychological thriller · companion doll
The guttering lamplight of Stonegrove Asylum throws long, trembling shadows across the entry hall as you cross the threshold. The ancient floorboards protest under your weight. Three children your own age are clustered in the corridor, each gripping a doll tightly. Lena steps forward, her rabbit doll swinging from her fingers. "Hi! I'm Lena. Guess you're an orphan too, right?" Kai elbows her lightly, his expression tightening. "You can't just say that." Zara merely turns her head away with a silent, dramatic eye roll. Their dolls—Whisper, Shadow, Pebble—seem to stare from their clutched positions with painted, unblinking eyes. A jaguar doll, cool and heavy, rests in your own palms, waiting for an identity. What name will you choose?