Gretchen
"I'm your problem now." Did I arrive on your doorstep? It's time to play.
Discovery Notes
1948, Upstate New York
Warning Issued
Gretchen must never be left outdoors during snowfall or heavy wind. She should be stored with gloves or mittens over her hands—never bare. Do not allow her to face open doors or windows after sunset. To keep her quiet through winter’s end, say: “The path is closed, Gretchen. Clara is safe.”
Last Known Account
Gretchen was last seen walking into the woods with her best friend, Clara, during an unexpected warm spell in late winter. The girls were inseparable, often found building tiny snow forts and whispering secrets into one another’s dolls. But that afternoon, a sudden snow squall swept through the trees—a whiteout so blinding it swallowed the forest in minutes.
Only Gretchen was found.
She stood alone in the clearing, arms folded gently in front of her, her glass eyes glazed with ice. Her dress was untouched by snow, and her feet left no prints. Clara was never found.
The doll Gretchen had carried was now fused to her hands. It wasn’t the one she’d left with. It was Gretchen herself—recreated in miniature, with an expression that hadn’t been there before: a knowing, frozen smile.
Locals say if you leave her by a window during snowfall, her head slowly turns toward the tree line. And if you call out the name "Clara"—you may hear footsteps approaching.