Chapter 6

As Jack ran through the corridors, he thought he had finally escaped the dolls. But he was wrong. Dead wrong.

Suddenly, dolls popped out from every corner, their faces twisted into grotesque grins. They seemed to be everywhere, surrounding him on all sides.

Jack held up the cross, ready to defend himself. As the dolls closed in, he swung the cross, hitting one of them squarely on the forehead.

The doll's eyes went wide, and then it went limp, collapsing to the ground. Jack was shocked, but he didn't have time to think about it. He swung the cross again, hitting another doll.

The same thing happened. The doll's eyes flashed, and then it went limp, falling to the ground. Jack realized that the cross was actually working, sending the demons back to hell.

The Queen, who had been watching from the sidelines, noticed what was happening. She let out a shrill cry, and the dolls paused, looking at her for guidance.

"We must retreat!" the Queen shouted. "This human has found a way to banish our kind!"

The dolls hesitated for a moment, and then they began to back away, disappearing into the shadows. Jack stood there, panting, holding the cross like a shield.

The Queen glared at him, her eyes blazing with hatred. "This isn't over, human," she spat. "We'll be back, and next time, you won't be so lucky!"

With that, she turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving Jack shaken but triumphant. He had fought off the dolls, and he had discovered the secret to banishing them.

But as he stood there, catching his breath, Jack couldn't shake the feeling that the Queen was right. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Jack sighed and rested on the ground, his chest heaving with exhaustion. As he looked around, he noticed a door suddenly materialize in front of him. The door creaked open, and Jack's grip on the cross tightened.

He heard a faint whisper, "Psst..."

Jack's eyes scanned the darkness, trying to locate the source of the sound. "Who's there?" he whispered.

A shadowy figure emerged from the doorway, its presence seeming to fill the air with an otherworldly energy.

"If you need help, say yes," the shadow whispered.

Jack hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should trust this mysterious entity. But something about its tone put him at ease. "Yes," he said finally.

The shadow nodded, its presence seeming to grow more solid. "I can upgrade your cross, but it will come at a cost. The crosses have limited use, and if you want to survive, you'll need something more powerful."

Jack's eyes narrowed. "What do you want in return?"

The shadow's voice dropped to a whisper. "I need the Central Core of the doll."

Jack's confusion was evident. "What's that?"

The shadow explained, "It's the heart of the doll, the source of its power. Without it, the dolls will begin to deteriorate, losing their strength and their hold on reality."

Jack's eyes widened as he realized the significance of the Central Core. He rummaged through his pockets and handed the shadow two small, glowing orbs.

The shadow's presence seemed to grow more substantial as it accepted the orbs. "These will do," it said, its voice filled with a hint of satisfaction. "The Central Cores of the two dolls you killed with the cross will be enough to upgrade your cross."

With that, the shadow began to glow, its energy enveloping the cross in Jack's hand. The cross began to transform, its shape shifting and morphing into something more powerful.

As the transformation completed, the shadow spoke once more, "Remember, the upgraded cross will come with a greater cost. Use it wisely."

And with that, the shadow vanished, leaving Jack to ponder the true nature of the mysterious entity and the upgraded cross in his hand.

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