Chapter 41: The Mystery of the Monster, Mary Shaw's Nursery Rhymes, and Childhood Shadows
Emma also discovered with surprise.
The doll on screen looked almost identical to the one in her hand.
"Danny, why does the doll on here look so much like mine?"
Danny's expression was somewhat serious.
"Because their owner is the same person."
"No, I'm the owner. I bought it." Emma was a little angry.
Danny took out the ghost card and performed the final test.
[Name: Ventriloquist Puppet Doll]
[Owner: Mary Shaw]
[Status: Dormant · Uncontainable]
The doll's power came from Mary Shaw, so even if Danny could contain it, it wouldn't be of much use.
Dead Silence is a well-known entity in American horror, and as the greatest evil within it, Mary Shaw was naturally no ordinary person.
After all, a person who's been dead for decades can still crawl out of her grave to take revenge on the townspeople—who else could do that?
"This doll can talk because it's not an ordinary doll. It's made from... people."
Emma liked it even more after hearing that: "I want it."
Danny had no choice but to continue explaining.
"Its life was given by Mary Shaw, and it will obey its master's command to kill you. Haven't you heard that nursery rhyme?"
"Beware the stare of Mary Shaw, she had no children, only dolls."
"And if you see her in your dreams, be sure you never, ever scream."
This nursery rhyme is very famous and is considered a nightmare for children in America, but most people don't know its origin. Nearly a century has passed, and people have forgotten the true owner of this nursery rhyme.
Emma had heard this nursery rhyme from her father. She was naturally bad but not stupid.
Knowing it would lead to death and still doing it would mean there was something wrong with her brain.
Looking at the doll in her arms, Emma decided to discard it, but as she was about to, she wanted to tear it apart.
"Danny, can I burn it?"
It turns out Emma is a bit possessive—if she can't have it, she'll destroy it.
Danny shook his head.
"It's best not to burn it. I can keep it for you."
Emma handed the doll to Danny and asked, "Will I get a reward?"
Danny took the puppet: "I'll reward you with a can of Coke?"
Emma turned away in anger, her twin pigtails swinging as she left Danny with her back, truly annoyed.
Danny looked at the puppet in his hand, examining it. The texture was like touching human skin. He just wondered which was more powerful, this doll or Annabelle.
The puppet doll he referred to here was a single one, not a puppet possessed by Mary Shaw.
Besides, Annabelle is also infamous for dolls.
They all appear in the form of dolls.
There should be no connection between these entities.
Danny planned to hand this doll over to the Warren couple to handle. If he couldn't contain it, keeping it was useless.
Having this puppet at home would make sleeping uneasy.
Looking at the website, Danny had a "dark" idea: to sell this puppet to forum users as a mystery box. This thought passed quickly.
Well, he wasn't that bad yet.
Danny placed the puppet in the most visible spot, then turned back to reassure Emma. It must be said that although Emma was sociopathic, at least she wasn't a brat.
She was very cunning, easily appeased, and wouldn't annoy adults—very well-behaved on the surface.
Emma sat on Danny's lap, curiously looking at the content on the horror website. Every post on it made her curious and excited.
She pointed to one of them.
Danny followed her finger. It was a blurry photo of something on all fours, somewhat like a dog, but with no hair on its body. Its bald head had a pair of fangs, looking like a vampire, but much uglier than a vampire.
What the hell is this thing?
For a moment, even the well-informed Danny had no immediate recognition of this creature.
How many terrifying creatures are still hiding in the darkness here that have never been documented?
The person who sent the photo was named Dennis, and he briefly recorded the reason for taking this photo.
Due to economic hardship, Dennis lost his job, so he and his wife had to rent a new place, choosing a low-priced rental. His nine-year-old son often sleepwalked.
Because he was afraid his son would encounter dangerous things while sleepwalking,
Dennis installed a camera at home for safety, but the camera captured some terrifying creatures.
"Danny, what kind of creature is this?"
"It should be some kind of parasitic entity?" Danny wasn't entirely sure, but after reading this account, he probably had a slight impression.
This could be considered his childhood fear.
Danny had watched many American horror films, and apart from found-footage horror, he was rarely scared. His childhood fear was naturally unusual.
That was The Discovery Channel's Monster Quest.
Also known as A Haunting or similar documentary-style horror shows.
People from the nineties to the two-thousands should remember these programs.
They recorded all kinds of frightening and terrifying creatures.
The kind that makes you feel scared the moment you see them.
And they were broadcast in documentary form.
No joke, Danny didn't even dare to go to the bathroom alone at the time, preferring to hold it until the next morning.
"What an ugly thing." Emma looked at the photo with a disgusted expression. She was antisocial, but she valued aesthetics.
"Ding." Danny's phone vibrated. Seeing that the caller was Ed, he let Emma continue looking while he put her down and walked aside to answer the phone.
Ed's meaning on the phone was:
Their current case had not yet been resolved, but in three days, they would be able to spare some time to assess Danny's psychology, family, and various aspects.
Once all issues were resolved, he could apply to the Church to become a demonologist.
"Okay, Mr. Ed. By the way, I also found a ventriloquist puppet here."
"Puppet?" Ed was clearly stunned for a moment.
Danny confirmed: "Yes, it seems to be Mary Shaw's puppet."
Ed asked: "The one from that nursery rhyme?"
Danny: "Mr. Ed, you've heard it too?"
Ed's tone was a bit nostalgic: "Of course, my grandmother used to scare me with it to get me to sleep."
Danny: "Then this puppet?"
Ed: "If possible, I hope you can keep it for now. I'm very busy right now, but as soon as I'm done, I'll come over with Lorraine immediately."
Danny: "Okay."
Hanging up the phone, Danny glanced at Emma. The little girl was completely absorbed in this website.
The content was simply heaven for her.
Danny knew that if he let Emma continue like this, she might truly become a dangerous individual. He began his intervention.
"Actually, killing people is just... basic, Emma. Do you know what's truly fascinating?"
Emma: "What is it?"
Danny leaned down and whispered a few words in Emma's ear, and her eyes visibly lit up with excitement.
"Really?"
"Of course, it's true." What Danny said was all true. Violence does bring a thrill, but many things are more interesting than that.
For example, the occult, longevity research, genetic mutation, transformation into other forms, exploring forbidden places, and studying the nature of supernatural creatures.
It was perfectly normal for Emma to be interested, but Danny didn't know:
In Emma's eyes, the strange and powerful Danny was far more attractive than other things. She hid this very well, deep in her heart, so well that even Danny was fooled by her.
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