I’d just moved in with a roommate. I was in college and had been dealing with family issues back home. The location was a bit far from my university, but I didn’t mind too much. The town I moved to was where one of my closest friends lived. Her name was Jackie. Jackie and I had been close friends since childhood. She was also taking classes at a college. I didn’t remember where exactly.
When I told her I’d moved closer to her house, she was overjoyed. So, on Saturday, we agreed to meet at her place. I’d never been to her house before. When I arrived, I noticed it felt strange. I thought it was a bit weird, but I didn’t mind it. I chalked it up to not having seen her for years.
When she opened the door, I walked inside and looked around. The gold curtains, oriental rug, and various antiques made it seem like a mansion. Inside her bedroom, I noticed a variation of things. Stuffed animals, dolls, toy cars, toy planes, etc.
Silly as it seemed, I was jealous of her due to me only having a few stuffed animals. After a while, Jackie suddenly said it was time for me to leave.
I checked my watch. It was 11:45 pm. “Are you sure?” I asked. I wanted to spend a bit more time with her. She nodded slowly and got up from her bed.
She followed me downstairs. I asked her once more about it, but she just opened the door for me. “See you next week,” she said. I had barely said goodbye to her before she shut the door. On the drive home, I kept thinking about how weird it was that she had told me to leave like that.
When I couldn’t take my curiosity anymore, I drove back in the direction of her house. Something was telling me to go back. When I arrived again, I could sense something was wrong.
The house looked the same. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew something just wasn’t right. I couldn’t tell what it was. I couldn’t knock on her door again, so I went to her window. It was on the first floor. She’d flip if she knew I was back here, so I tried to be as quiet as possible as I went to her bedroom window.
The curtains were open, so I attempted to look in the window. There was only a lamp light inside the room, but I could barely make out something at the window. It was Jackie staring with a blank expression outside the window.
I didn’t think she could see me because it was dark outside. So, I cupped my hands on my window to get a better look. To my shock, it wasn’t Jackie. It was one of her dolls. I pressed my face closer to the glass, attempting to see more. But all I saw was the bed, toys, and a desk. No sign of Jackie. Then, I looked closer at the doll.
It looked eerily similar to her. Same facial features, hair, and eyebrows. I kept looking for Jackie inside her room, but she wasn’t there. I checked my phone. It was 12:25 AM. I finally decided to text her to ask if she was all right.
I texted her and waited by the window, playing a game on my phone. Five minutes later, I got a new message from Jackie. It read: Why are you at my house? I wrote back: I got worried about you and came to see if you were OK. How did you know I was here?
Because I know how you are, she replied. I looked out the window to see if she was there. Instead, the doll-like figure was giving me an angry look. I fell backward, horrified. Grabbing my phone, I ran to my car. I heard my messages ding, but I ignored them. Once I got home, I made sure all the windows and doors were locked.
When I flopped onto the couch with a sigh of relief, I checked my messages. It was another message from Jackie. It’s nice of you to check on me, but you forget. I’m not at my house right now. My bottom lip quivered in fear. I texted her back saying,
Then, who did I see at your window? There was a long pause, then I got another text. What do you mean? There was a doll-like person that looked like you at your window, I explained. There was another long pause before she answered. That’s not me. I’m in New York right now. I panicked. My fingers pounded the keys. New York?? Didn’t I meet you today?
No. I did say I was overjoyed to know you were in my town, but we didn’t arrange to meet up today, Jackie stated. I freaked out and started checking our past messages. But to my shock, there was no mention of us meeting that day. Are you okay? You’ve been taking your medication, right?. I didn’t reply. I immediately raced back to her house and looked through her window. My phone buzzed, and I knew Jackie was calling me, but I ignored her. The window’s lights were still on, and the figure was still there at the window. I waited a moment, then I noticed something else.
There was a shadow next to the lamp. I carefully made my way towards another window and tried to push it up. It was open. I shook my head. Damn it, Jackie. Lock your windows. Then my phone dinged, and I quickly scrambled to shut it off. When I looked up, the shadow at the window was gone. I closed the window and ran over to the window again. The doll had been thrown out the window, and her little arm was broken.
That was enough for me. I ran back to my house and called Jackie. After that, I called the police. When they arrived, it was discovered that several items were missing from Jackie’s room. A hairpin, hair, and as the police described, items to make something. I suggested that Jackie stay at my house, and she did. The perpetrator was never found.
But deep down I knew that something else had happened, and to this day the incident has never left my mind.
Helenmollybooks 