Nightmares & Fairy Tales - Issue 7

Issue 7

Gwen asks Annabelle about how she was created. Annabelle decides to tell that story at a different time, but agrees to tell the story of her first owner in the modern world, a flapper named Paige. At the time, Annabelle was kept on display in a doll shop. There, Paige sees her and decides to buy her, despite the high cost. After paying some of the price, Paige finds herself broke and wonders how she'll find the rest. She stops at a coffee shop where a young man named August sits with her and orders coffee for them both. The two begin to talk and Paige explains her financial difficulties and desire to buy Annabelle. August reassures her and leaves. After he goes, Paige points out to the waiter that he only brought coffee for her and didn't bring what August ordered. The waiter is confused and insists that Paige sat alone. Much to her surprise, Paige finds when she returns home that Annabelle has been delivered. She calls the doll shop and learns that a young man had put the remaining money owed under the door with instructions to deliver the doll to Paige. The next day, she hurries to work but finds herself in trouble for being late. That coupled with her flapper attire causes her boss to decide to fire her. As she leaves, Paige once more meets August who takes her for a drink. As the two begin to talk, they are interrupted by the bartender, who seems to think that Paige is talking to herself. When she turns her attention back to August, he seems to have vanished. Paige is upset that he left so suddenly, but seems attracted to him. When she returns home, she finds that he had sent her a dress and an invitation to the dance hall as an apology for leaving so soon. Annabelle tries to warn Paige not to go, but Paige cannot hear her. At the dance hall, Paige meets August again and the two sit to talk. A young man tries to invite Paige to dance and she refuses. After he leaves, she tells August that it's impolite of him to ask her to dance when she's already with someone. August explains to her that the young man could not see him because August is a ghost. Paige does not believe this and simply thinks August is making excuses not to see her, but he insists that he loves her. A waiter interrupts and Paige sees that he can't see August. Frightened, she runs from the hall and across the street where she is hit by a car. August joins her and she realizes that people can't see her either - she is now a ghost as well. The two hold hands and then return to the hall to dance.