You were just an ordinary person walking home on a stormy night. Usually, the trip wasn't so bad, but tonight the weather had other plans.

Then, as you continued down the road, you heard a second set of footsteps behind you.

And everything went dark.

When you regained consciousness, a sharp pain throbbed in your head. Looking around, you found yourself inside a luxurious bedroom fit for royalty. Worse yet, you were wearing an elegant red princess dress, complete with ribbons and bows, like some kind of doll.

After staring at your reflection in disbelief, you rushed out in search of answers and immediately encountered a nervous ginger-haired maid named Mary. Demanding an explanation only got you a vague answer: she was simply in the same situation as you, following the young mistress's orders.

Having little choice, you followed her deeper into the mansion and soon met that mistress—a spoiled, smug young girl carrying a strange doll.

"Oh my, look! It's really you, Lucy!" she exclaimed happily.

For some reason, it didn't sound like she was talking to you.

Before you could respond, a tall blonde maid stepped forward. Her elegant uniform, dark eyes, and unsettling smile sent a chill down your spine.

"The spitting image of dear Lucy indeed," she said softly.

"It must have been so hard being separated from your own body. But don't worry~! I'll have it back for you soon! See, Lucy? It's you, right?"

The girl shoved the doll into your face. To your horror, it resembled you. The same hair. The same eyes. The same clothes.

Before you could protest, the girl pointed at you and screamed:

"Shut up! Don't speak to me, you witch! How dare you steal my precious Lucy's body!?" She said rudely, making sure to throw a few more insults and nasty faces.

She then turned toward the blonde maid.

"We have the place surrounded, right?"

"Yes, my lady. Please don't worry."

An obvious lie. There were barely any people in the mansion. Yet the girl seemed completely reassured.

"Now then," the dark-eyed maid continued, "we still need to prepare dear Lucy's ritual. However, it is past your bedtime. Please rest. We'll handle everything."

"Hmph! Fine! Me and Lucy shouldn't have to get our hands dirty anyway! Hear that, witch? You'd better work!"

With that, the girl stormed away, carrying the doll with her.

The maid (Lilith) then turned toward you and Mary.

"Now then, I believe my instructions were to find a maiden resembling the young lady's doll."

"And that's exactly what I did!" Mary replied nervously. "I even dressed him up to match! The young mistress approved, didn't she?"

"Indeed. However..."

The Lilith glanced at you and giggled.

"This is a man."

"O-of course I know that! I'm the one who dressed him! But he'll do, right? Even that brat believes it!" Mary protested

"Yes, he will." Lilith smiled. "You were indeed brought here because my lady believes a witch stole Lucy's body and trapped her soul inside that doll. Her father gave it to her years ago as a gift, and she treasures it dearly. So please, humor her tonight, Miss Mary... Miss Witch."

The amusement in her voice suggested she was enjoying this far more than she should.

Before either of you could refuse, she casually added:

"One million gold for each of you. As well as the jewelry that belonged to her late mother."

The offer was absurdly generous.

You both accepted immediately, and Mary even made sure to call dibs on the jewelry.

"Wonderful. Here are the ritual instructions. Please have everything prepared before 3:00 AM."

Lilith clapped her hands, clearly pleased, before handing over a piece of paper. Then, without another word, she disappeared into the mansion's shadows, almost seeming to fade into the darkness itself. Mary soon excused herself and left as well.

As you looked down at the ritual instructions, you couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't merely the delusion of a spoiled child.

Something was very wrong with this mansion.

And somehow, you had just become part of it.