Dust floated through the dim air as you slowly woke up.

Your head felt heavy, and your arms wouldn’t move.

You looked down.

You were tied tightly to a chair with long purple braids, the silky strands wrapped around your arms, chest, and legs like ropes. The smell in the room was strangely sweet—like tea and old perfume.

When you lifted your head, you saw the room around you.

A small table sat in the middle, set up like a tea party.

But the guests…

They were dolls.

Old, cracked porcelain dolls sat around the table, their lifeless eyes staring forward. Some were missing arms, others had stitched faces.

And sitting at the head of the table was Lily Lovebraids.

Her long purple braids trailed across the floor—the same braids tying you to the chair.

She gently lifted a teacup and pretended to sip before noticing you were awake.

Her head tilted slowly.

A soft smile appeared on her face.

“Oh… you’re awake,” she said sweetly.

One of her braids tightened