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“Charlotte,” I whispered.
She glanced up and smiled. “You came! I’ve been waiting!”
Lucas took hold of my hand again and whispered, “Do you see her too?”
Nodding, I led us both across the old wood plank floors. Stopping right in front of her, I bent down. The smell of smoke was overwhelming, but I couldn’t see any flames.
“Do you smell smoke?” I whispered.
Lucas squeezed my hand. “Yes, but I only see the fire in the hearth.”
“Is that our dolly?” I asked as I pointed to it.
Charlotte nodded her head. “Tis. My mama gave it to me. The bad woman hurt Papa, and she locked me in here. She told me I was going to go see my mama, but the smoke burns my eyes.”
Lucas jumped up and looked around. “Holy shit.”
I turned to see a woman starting a fire in the corner of the small house. A man was on the floor, clearly passed out.
“She’s starting the fire, Lucas,” I whispered.
Turning back at Charlotte, I said, “Give me your hand, darling girl, and we’ll get you and your papa out of here.”
With a look that said she was much wiser than her years, Charlotte shook her head. “I cannot. But I need you to take her.”
She held out the doll. “Save it for me, please.”
“What?” I asked. “No, Charlotte, you have to come with me and Lucas.”
Charlotte held out the doll. “Please take it. I’m running out of time.”
I went to reach for her hand, but mine own went right through her. Was I dreaming? Was Charlotte a ghost?
Trying for her hand once again, I started to sob.
“Lucas! Lucas, I can’t get hold of her! We have to get her out of her! Lucas!”
He put his hand on my shoulder and calmly said, “Hollie, take the doll.”
The steady way he spoke had me drawing in a breath and looking back at Charlotte.
Blue eyes met mine, and I froze. “Tis real, this one,” she said. “Tis the one you must take care of for me.”
With shaking hands, I reached for the doll. Charlotte put it in my arms and then smiled.
“I’ll see you soon, Mama and Papa. I’m going to sleep now.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I frantically shook my head. When I opened my eyes again, I was standing in the same spot as before, staring down at where the house once stood.
I turned to Lucas. “What was that? Was I dreaming just now?”
He slowly shook his head then looked down at my hand. When I followed his gaze, I gasped.
“The doll.”
Lucas screwed up his face in confusion. “How is this possible? That doll is in a locked containment box to preserve it.”
Clutching the doll to my chest, I looked into his eyes. “I’m not giving it to you.”
