Doll Village

In the meek darkness of the past, a small village sat at the edge of a lush forest. During these times, hope was just a word some spoke to lighten children’s hearts. The elder villagers knew the cost that poverty brought. Age brings tolerance, but once hungry bellies begin to scream into the night, the elders become just as useless as the weak.

The spirit, Jinru Siwang, of the nearby swamp had begun to yearn for company so she became interested in the nearby village. The haunted spirit was merely made of dead fish and toads and was wrapped in moss, with leaves dripping off of her illuminating feminine frame. The slithering spine of a snake held all of this grime together. The stench of death followed her as she would slowly venture closer and closer to the village.

The tale of Jinru Siwang had faded until the odor of death began to creep with the wind. The death that she brought with her as she would slither her body through the villagers’ fields, sucking the nutrients from the crops and tainting the local farm animals. Her ghostly arms would stretch out as far as the crops would go. The bones of the dead would graze over the crops burning them. This evil task would bring memories back to many of the elders. They knew that Jinru Siwang was getting restless.

The village toy maker had a small garden that he would use to feed his mother, pregnant wife, and himself. One late night, his wife couldn’t sleep so she left their hut to get some fresh air. As she stood in the moonlight, a thick cloud drifted across her garden. Vomit spit from her mouth as the scent of death smothered her. The woman was stunned by the action and raised her head, meeting eyes with Jinru.

Jinru’s body slithered closer to the frozen woman, and the spirit raised her body high towards the moon. Jinru drug her heavy ura threw the woman’s vomit and raised it to her lips.

“The little one inside of you doesn’t like me.” Jinru says as she licks the tip of her tail.

“My response was out of surprise, not dishonor. Please spare me this night", said the shivering woman with her head held low.

Jinru’s strands of hair seemed to move with their own expressions. She explored the woman's plump face, as the woman held her breath as the odor seeped into her nose. “It seems that you are the one disgusted by my likeness.”

Tears started building in the woman’s eyes. She began to feel faint but the fear of disrespecting the spirit kept her composed. The ghastly spirit is draining the life out of the mother and her unborn child. She throws herself on moist ground, head smashed in the dirt to cover her eyes.

“There is nothing but traps and ill will in this conversation. So with that I will leave with respect for you.” the woman explained with a shaky voice.

“Tell me my name!”, Jinru snaps with her tail slithering around the mother.

With a start the mother says, “I do not know what you want from me.”

“Tell me my name and you can leave as two instead of one,” Jinru said and bows her arched shoulders leaning over the mother.

The mother’s face is now buried in the ground, which was watered by her tears. She sobbed, “Jinru Siwang, the gate for death.”

The mother had heard stories about saying the spirit’s name. It’s name would be imprinted into you then the person would be haunted by her. Jinru whipped her tail, striking the mother’s shoulder. It snapped like a quick wind that you could barely see, drawing blood.

Jinru stated, “ You may go now", as the being sunk into the ground as the mist swept her into the trees.

The mother sat up, filthy faced, watching the mist fade. The sky cleared and the moon beamed on her once again.