[Beta Round] Discovery, Doors, and Dolls

[beldam_buttons]

It would seem, to the outside observer, that it is a day without anything to lend it particular significance - but, curiously, in basements and attics, in kitchens and closets, something a little bit peculiar is going on

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[flychaser]

The torch was exactly where she'd left it. Before stepping into the part of the tunnel with free-flowing air, she pulled her mask over her head and settled it into place. The breathing filters were in good order, she'd checked. It was the work of a moment to light the torch and step out into the passage.

Her mother's tomb was lit from outside, mostly, though it was easily enough light to read by. She'd done it hundreds of times. Of course, she never went out there (but hadn't she? dad said she wasn't outside, but she knew she could smell the corpses, and there was that weird guy among the graves) to get better lighting. It was quieter inside.

Regardless of light or the lack of it, she knew the inside of the mausoleum like the back of her hand. Thus, when she saw the tiny door, she paused mid-step and stared at it. That hadn't been there yesterday.

It was very small, like it led to a crawlspace or something (they had one like that upstairs, it creaked when it was opened), but it had a keyhole and a small knob in its upper corner. When she tried turning it, it proved to be locked.

That wouldn't do. Maybe she could force it or pick it somehow (she'd read about lockpicking once in a novel her dad had bought for her) - she definitely wasn't about to leave it alone. It didn't belong here. She dumped out the contents of her bag to see if there was anything useful - and out fell the doll with the key tied neatly around its neck.

Well, that was something.

Curious, she scooped the doll with its key up and tried the latter in the lock. It turned with a definite click, and the door swung open to reveal a faintly glowing blue (like zydrate flies!) passage beyond.

Curiosity prevailed once more, so she collected her things, slung her bag over her shoulder, bent down, and crawled through the tunnel. It might lead back to the house, it was almost long enough...

At the other end, she pushed open another, cracked door, and found...yes, her house. It was somehow different, though. Brighter. Cheerier. The ghostly portraits in the hall weren't there.

"Huh?"

[beldam_buttons]

The house that Shilo emerged into was bright, spotlessly clean, and smelled faintly of flowers (courtesy of the enormous bouquets on the tables in the front hall). Another scent wove between the fragrances of roses and forget-me-nots; one of something baking floating on a draft from the kitchen.

Someone was in there, singing in a clear, strong female voice.

[flychaser]

With a feeling of deep confusion reflected on her face, Shilo crept to the kitchen entrance and peered in.

"Oh my god," she breathed. "Mom?"

[beldam_buttons]

The woman who looked like Marni Wallace turned from the pan of brownies she'd just pulled from the oven and smiled brightly at Shilo. "Hello, love. I'm so glad you've arrived."

[flychaser]

"Mom? Is it really...how are you here?" Shilo stepped further into the kitchen. "And why do you..."

In place of her mother's eyes - which Shilo knew well from the many portraits around the Wallace home - there was a pair of shiny black buttons.

"...have buttons for eyes?"

[beldam_buttons]

"Oh, these? Do you like them?" The buttoned-Marni beamed. "I've been waiting for you, my love. I've made you some sweets."

She gestured at the brownies, and at a tray covered with a thin towel. Just under the edge, cookies could be seen. "Now that you're here, we can catch up on all the things we've been missing."

[flychaser]

"But I...you..." Shilo opened and closed her mouth, then sat down heavily in one of the kitchen chairs. "You're not...how can this be real?"

[beldam_buttons]

"I'm your Other Mother, Shilo," Other Marni said. She wiped her hands on the cheerful dragonfly-printed towel slung over the handle of the oven. "And I've made this house up especially for you. I really think you'll like staying here with me."

[flychaser]

"...Other Mother?" Shilo blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about? That doesn't make any sense. I'm sure Dad would have mentioned it if I had another mother."

[beldam_buttons]

"Oh, everyone has an Other Mother." Other Marni waved her hand. "Even you. Even Nathan. Sometimes it just takes a long time before they can discover one another."

She stepped gracefully across the kitchen and took a seat in one of the other chairs. "And now we're together. We needn't be apart."

[flychaser]

"Everyone?" Something the Other Mother had said caught Shilo's attention. "...Dad. He must be worried. I should get back, he'll wonder where I've gone and he'll be upset..."

[beldam_buttons]

"Why should he worry if you're with me?" Other Marni took Shilo's hand and squeezed it gently. "Besides, he'll be here soon. We can all look after each other. Stay a while, won't you? We can at least spend a little time together."

[flychaser]

"Well, I guess it would be okay for a little while..."

She still had serious misgivings about this, but...it was Mom, even if it wasn't quite, and it was still her house even if it was a different version of it.

[beldam_buttons]

"Marvelous." Other Marni looked genuinely pleased. "You can explore the house if you want, perhaps have some cookies. You can even go outside."

[flychaser]

"I can?" At the promise of outside, Shilo perked up in her chair. "Really? I brought my mask, you'll let me go?"

[beldam_buttons]

"You don't even have to have your mask," Other Marni laughed. "My world won't hurt you."