Doll Care Jungle

They can’t say long. Anna Jane needed to find the others and fast. But the question was how. They had no gear and were separated from everyone. Where would they go next? Anna Jane wandered down to the front desk. The doll receptionist eyed her.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“Uh, yes,” Anna Jane said. “How do we get out of here?” The doll looked up from her book.

“Excuse me?” she asked.

“How do we leave the village?” the girl asked.

“You want to leave?”

“Yes.”

There came a pause. The doll tilted her head.

“Why?” she asked.

“We can’t stay here,” Anna Jane said. “We have to go.”

“Why?”

“Our friends are still missing. We need to find them.”

“Friends?”

“Yes.” There came another pause. The doll’s eyes rolled in her head. Anna Jane looked nervous.

“Are you okay?” she asked. “Hello? Hello?” The eyes started rolling faster. Anna Jane started to back away. She turned around and ran. The doll’s head turned rapidly.

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Teddy and White Bear look down at the village. They too know they can’t stay here. But where can they go? White Bear turned to Teddy. He pointed forward. She looked out at the tree. What was he saying? White Bear tilted her head. Teddy turned and walked down the trail. She ran after him. She tried to get his attention. Teddy stopped but didn’t turn around. The White Bear understood what he said. She nodded once. They walked up the trail.

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Anna Jane ran into the greenhouse. She slammed the door behind her. What was that? Anna Jane looked around. A sinking feeling formed in her stomach.

I hope Teddy and White Bear are okay. Hm?

Anna Jane turned her head. She saw nothing but many trees. A low hissing noise came from the branches. The little girl tilted her head. Curious, she took slower steps towards the trees. The hissing grew louder. Anna Jane went slower.

“Hello?” she asked. The hissing abruptly stopped. The branches leaned towards her.

“Are you real?” Anna Jane asked. The leaves hissed and shook. She blinked at first.

“Who are you?” the girl asked. The hissing went softer. Anna Jane turned her head and looked at the door. Two doll nurses stood outside talking. Were they looking for her? Anna Jane turned back to the bushy-looking trees.

“Do you know the way out of the village?” she whispered. The trees began to rattle as their hissing grew louder. The branches twisted and pointed out to the right.

Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop.

Anna Jane looked around. Little white flowers popped open. A sweet syrupy smell filled the greenhouse. The little cowboy’s body started to become light and floating away. She didn’t get time to react. Her feet came off the ground. Anna Jane gave off a loud gasp. And then she was gone.

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Teddy and White Bear were walking back to the village when they looked up. Already, the bears knew. They turned and walked down the path. Bells rang behind them. The dolls were probably panicking now. Oh well. It couldn’t be helped. They had to go. They still needed to find Chronus. The baby would be fine in the village.