Chapter 18: The Possessed Doll
The Ocean's Legacy had seen countless horrors since Josue and Larisa first boarded, but nothing prepared them for the sinister aura that surrounded the small, lifeless doll they found in an abandoned cabin. The doll, with its cracked porcelain face and faded dress, exuded a malevolence that sent shivers down their spines.
Josue held the doll up to the light, its glassy eyes seeming to follow his every move. "There's something not right about this," he said, his voice low and wary.
Larisa, standing close by, nodded.
"I can feel it too. It's like it's watching us."
They had discovered the doll while searching for clues to the hauntings plaguing the ship. The cabin where they found it was filled with dust and cobwebs, untouched for years. Yet, the doll seemed out of place, as if someone had deliberately left it there for them to find.
Josue set the doll down on a table, its eyes still fixed on them.
"We need to figure out where this came from. It might be connected to the hauntings."
Larisa agreed.
"Let's start by checking the ship's records. Maybe we can find out who owned this cabin."
They made their way to the ship's archives, a small, cluttered room filled with old logs and passenger records. Josue rifled through the papers, searching for any mention of the cabin number.
"Here it is," he said, pulling out a yellowed document.
"This cabin belonged to a family that traveled on the ship about ten years ago. The family name was Salazar."
Larisa frowned.
"Salazar... I think I remember hearing about them. There was a scandal involving a Salazar family years ago. Something about a murder."
Josue's interest piqued. "Let's dig deeper. Maybe we can find out more about what happened."
They spent the next few hours poring over old records and newspapers, piecing together the tragic story of the Salazar family. The family had been wealthy and influential, but their lives were shattered by betrayal and murder. According to the records, the father, Eduardo Salazar, had been accused of murdering his wife, Elena, in a fit of jealousy. The couple's young daughter, Manuela, had witnessed the crime and was later found dead, her body clutching the very doll they had discovered.
"This doll must have belonged to Manuela," Larisa said, a chill running down her spine. "It's haunted by her spirit."
Josue nodded grimly. "We need to find out why Manuela's spirit is still here. Maybe if we can uncover the truth, we can put her to rest."
They decided to visit the cabin again, hoping to find more clues. As they entered the room, the air grew colder, and the doll's eyes seemed to glow with an eerie light.
"I don't like this," Larisa whispered, her voice trembling.
Josue placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Stay close to me. We'll get through this."
They searched the cabin, looking for anything that might help them understand Manuela's story. Josue noticed a loose floorboard and pried it up, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside, they found a diary, its pages yellowed with age.
"This must be Manuela's diary," Josue said, carefully opening the book.
The diary detailed Manuela's life, her fears, and her love for her parents. But as they read further, the entries grew darker. Manuela wrote about her father's increasing paranoia and her mother's desperate attempts to protect her. The final entry was a chilling account of the night of the murder.
"Father came into my room last night," Josue read aloud, his voice shaking. "He was angry, shouting about Mother and someone named Ricardo. He grabbed Mother and dragged her into the hallway. I followed them, hiding behind the banister. Father... he... he killed Mother. And then he saw me. I ran back to my room and grabbed my doll, Sabrina. I don't know what to do. I'm so scared."
Larisa's eyes filled with tears. "Poor Manuela. She must have been terrified."
Josue closed the diary, a determined look on his face. "We need to find out who Ricardo is. Maybe he can help us understand what happened."
They returned to the archives and continued their research. After hours of searching, they discovered that Ricardo was Elena Salazar's brother. He had been close to the family and had tried to protect Elena from Eduardo's wrath.
"We need to find Ricardo," Larisa said. "Maybe he can help us put Manuela's spirit to rest."
With renewed determination, they tracked down Ricardo Salazar, who was now living in a small town not far from the ship's home port. They contacted him and arranged a meeting, hoping he could shed some light on the tragic events.
Ricardo was an elderly man, his eyes filled with sorrow as he listened to Josue and Larisa's account of the hauntings. "I always knew Eduardo was a dangerous man," he said, his voice filled with regret. "But I never thought he would hurt Elena or Manuela."
Josue showed Ricardo the diary. "We found this in the cabin. Manuela wrote about the night her mother was murdered. She mentioned you."
Ricardo's hands trembled as he took the diary. "Elena confided in me. She was afraid of Eduardo, but she didn't want to leave him. She loved him, despite everything. I tried to help her, but it was too late."
Tears filled Larisa's eyes. "Manuela's spirit is still on the ship. We think she's haunting the doll, Sabrina."
Ricardo nodded, his expression solemn. "Manuela loved that doll. It was a gift from her mother. If her spirit is attached to it, we need to help her find peace."
They returned to the ship, determined to put Manuela's spirit to rest. Ricardo accompanied them, hoping his presence would help Manuela move on.
In the cabin, Ricardo knelt beside the doll, his eyes filled with tears. "Manuela, it's Uncle Ricardo. I'm here to help you."
The temperature in the room dropped, and Sabrina's eyes glowed brighter. Ricardo reached out and took the doll in his hands, speaking softly to the spirit of his niece.
"You don't have to be afraid anymore, Manuela. Your mother is waiting for you. It's time to go to her."
For a moment, the room was filled with a bright light, and a sense of peace washed over them. The doll's eyes dimmed, and the coldness lifted. Josue and Larisa knew that Manuela's spirit had finally found peace.
Ricardo placed the doll back in the hidden compartment, closing the floorboard. "Thank you," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "You've given Manuela the peace she deserved."
Josue and Larisa left the cabin, their hearts lighter. They had uncovered a tragic story of betrayal and murder, but they had also brought peace to a tormented spirit.
As they stood on the deck, watching the sun set over the ocean, Josue took Larisa's hand. "We did it," he said, a smile spreading across his face.
Larisa nodded, her eyes filled with love. "We did. Together."
They shared a tender kiss, the sunset casting their silhouettes in a beautiful and unforgettable image. The Ocean's Legacy still held many mysteries, but Josue and Larisa knew they could face anything as long as they were together.