Martha
"I'm your problem now." Did I arrive on your doorstep? It's time to play.
Discovery Notes
1925, Harrow's Glen (Appalachia)
Warning Issued
If you decide to move her on, offer her an apple in a circle of cinnamon before 10 pm. If you don't, your groceries will go bad, even unexpired ones, for up to a week after she's gone. If you decide to keep her, remember Martha must never be brought to a meal or picnic—even pretend ones. If she is placed on a table, leave an empty chair and one uneaten item of food. Especially do not feed her after midnight. Do not mimic her smile in a mirror. If she is found with dirt or leaves near her, whisper: “The harvest is over, Martha. You may rest.”
Last Known Account
Martha was found in a wicker basket beneath the Harvest Table at the annual Fall Picnic in Harrow’s Glen. No one saw who placed her there—but she wore a perfect patchwork dress and bonnet, and her mouth was wide with a gleeful, toothy smile. The townsfolk thought her a prize for the children, until the laughter started to echo even after the picnic had ended. And the animals—rabbits, birds, even the crows—stopped coming to the fields near the doll.
After three years, the crops failed. The corn husks blackened. Those who hosted Martha overnight began waking with dirt in their beds. One family was found in their home—silent, unmoving—facing their own kitchen table where Martha sat with a plate full of withered fruit.
She is still drawn to gatherings, to tables full of food, and to people who smile too wide for too long.
This doll has already been summoned and is no longer available.