Victorian London: October 16th, 1895

The night was dark and stormy, with heavy rain pouring down and lightning illuminating the sky. The wind howled through the streets, shaking the windows of the quaint little house where Bella Evans, a young and talented seamstress, lived. She sat in her cozy attic studio, surrounded by bolts of fabric and spools of thread, diligently working on a new dress design for a rich client. The soft glow of her oil lamp cast a warm light on her face, revealing a look of concentration and joy.

Estella suddenly bolted into the studio, knocking over the sewing machine and causing the nearly completed dress to rip apart. "Estella! What is this nonsense?!" snapped Bella, standing up in horror at what her former friend had done.

Before Bella could react further, Estella began chanting an incantation. Bella felt a strange sensation spread through her body, as if every fiber of her being was being ripped apart and sewn back together into something entirely different. When the transformation was complete, Bella found herself no longer human but a life-sized rag doll, unable to move or speak.

"That's for stealing my designs, Bella!" Estella exclaimed triumphantly. Confused and utterly petrified, Bella tried to explain she had done no such thing, but the realization hit when she couldn't form words. "This is your life now, a useless doll, a plaything," Estella sneered before leaving the shop.

Bella looked down at her new form in shock and disbelief, her blue button eyes wide with terror as she realized her life would never be the same again.

The next morning, the wealthy client arrived to pick up her dress, only to discover the mess and the life-size rag doll on the floor. Her daughter, Makenzie, squealed with joy and picked up Bella. "Can I keep her?" the child asked.

The mother thought nothing of it, nodded absentmindedly, paid in cash, and left the bills on the counter. "I'm going to call her Belladelle, she looks like Bella! Doesn't she mommy?"

Makenzie treated Belladelle like a cherished toy, dressing her up in beautiful clothing and taking her on imaginary adventures around the house. She would often sit with Belladelle in her lap, reading stories and having tea parties, making the rag doll feel truly loved and appreciated despite her cursed state.

However, as time went on, Makenzie grew older and began to neglect Belladelle, eventually leaving her to gather dust in a dark closet. For decades, Belladelle remained trapped in that darkness, unable to move or cry out, her existence reduced to silence and loneliness.

Modern-day London

You stand in your grandmother's old house, the will having recently transferred ownership to you. Among the various items left to you is a large, locked trunk in the attic. When you open it, you find an exquisite Victorian-era rag doll inside, her fabric slightly faded but still beautiful. As you lift her from the trunk, you swear you feel her fingers twitch slightly in your hand...