Linda shifted on the sofa, one hand resting on the curve of her belly. The baby had been quiet all morning, and she half-expected the little flutter that usually came after breakfast. Instead, she felt only the gentle warmth of Ajax's hand covering hers, his thumb rubbing slow circles as if to coax a response.
"You're spoiling both of us," she teased, glancing at the tray he'd brought from the kitchen — tea, toast, and the cut fruit he insisted she eat even when she claimed she wasn't hungry.
Ajax grinned. "Doctor's orders. You need the vitamins. And besides—" he leaned in to kiss her temple— "it gives me an excuse to boss you around for once."
She laughed, a soft, breathy sound that filled the living room. The suburban house wasn't large, but it carried warmth in every corner — framed wedding photos, baby clothes already folded in a basket by the stairs, the faint vanilla scent of the candle Linda loved.
The warmth between them filled the room — a gentle glow of love and anticipation. Toys were already stacked neatly in one corner, gifts from neighbors and cousins. Half-finished baby clothes hung from a chair, knitting needles tucked into soft yarn.
Ajax's phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen, then sighed. "Dad again. He says to swing by. Something about 'surprises for the baby.'"
Linda raised a brow. "More gifts? You know how he gets."
Ajax groaned but couldn't hide his grin. "Yeah, I'll run over and keep him from burying us alive in teddy bears. You need anything while I'm out?"
"Just come back quick," she said softly, pressing his hand against her belly. "We miss you already."
Ajax kissed her forehead, then stood, keys jingling in his hand. "Back before dinner, I promise."
The front door clicked shut behind him, leaving Linda in the golden spill of afternoon light, humming quietly as she traced idle circles on her stomach.
------
At his parents' house across town, the atmosphere was far less peaceful. The living room floor was already carpeted with toys — stuffed animals, puzzle boxes, plastic cars — all pulled from two large bags his father had hauled down from the attic.
Mark sat cross-legged on the rug, sifting through the pile. "Dad, this is ridiculous. Where do you get this stuffs from ??? Your spoiling your grand daughter ( yes , daughter the gender reveal already done ) before even she enters the world"
His father shrugged, sorting through a stack of picture books."she's not just Ajax's unborn baby, also the light of family and the first daughter in three generation. And it's the old man's duty to spoil her"
Mark's eyes soften , his love for the baby increasing .. but not lasted when his eyes landed upon a doll in floor with bunch of around other 20 dolls ( 20 dolls ? , yeah grandpa spoils rotten )
Mark snorted, tugging free a porcelain doll jammed beneath a mound of plush bears. "Yeah, except this nightmare."
He held it up, and the room seemed to dim. The doll's blonde hair was a tangled mess, matted with dirt and speckled with brittle leaves. Its once-white dress was stained gray, stiff with age. But the worst part was the eyes — glassy blue, wide open, staring with an intensity that made the back of Mark's neck prickle.
"Where the hell did this come from?" he muttered.
His father frowned." I have no idea ... , I guess the shop keeper slipped a Halloween doll into the baby dolls"
Mark grimaced, holding the doll at arm's length," well it looks bit... creepy and old , no way we are gifting it to ajax's unborn"
Without waiting for an other second, he marched to the trash bin by the back door, lifted the lid, and dropped the doll inside. Its porcelain face landed upward with a hollow clink.
"Good riddance," Mark muttered, returning to the living room. He tied off the bag of toys, sealing twenty clean, cheerful dolls and animals inside.
Just as he knotted the plastic shut, the front door opened. Ajax stepped in, shaking the September air from his jacket.
"Ajax!" his father boomed, grinning. "Look at this haul. Your kid's going to have more toys than the whole block combined."
Ajax laughed, kneeling by the sealed bag. "You guys didn't have to go this far." He glanced around. "Where is Mark, again playing games in pc ?"
Father didn't want to tell abt the creepy doll and things so he bluffed," Mark.. umm-"
Mark entered before he finished the sentence and gave an smack on Ajax's back ( bro things )," hey there , soon to be father"
Ajax feigned the pain," owww you ruthless monster , it hurts .. is this a way you greet your lovely brother"
Mark Rolls his eyes, " shut up , I didn't hit hard , drama queen"
( the conversation continued between a cheerful family waiting in anticipation for a baby )
After what felt like eternity,
The three of them carried the bags ( bags of dolls and toys ) toward the hallway, voices rising in cheerful chatter. None of them looked back toward the trash bin by the side door, where the doll lay in stillness.
Its blue eyes reflected the pale light creeping in through the cracks of the lid. A passing breeze stirred the leaves tangled in its hair, but the doll's gaze didn't shift.
It only waited.
Please support ... or ... I'll haunt you
Creepy vibes from ,
The doll.