Page 13 of Dollface

“Are you telling me what to do, dollface?” I press my lips together, squeezing my fingers tight as I stare into those dark eye holes of his mask, struggling to calm my heart. “You like ordering me around now, do you?”

“I-it’s not your turn. You said?—”

“Fuck what I said. Choose a different question.” He pulls back, annoyed.

“That’s not how you play.”

“Oh? And you suddenly know how to play so well?” I glare at him, my hands now balled into fists atop my bent knees as I wait for him to answer me. “Fine,” he groans. “Give me a dare.”

“What is a dare?” My hands relax as I sound out the foreign word.

“Just tell me to do something—anything.” He’s obviously annoyed by me and our game, which in return frustrates me as well. This is his game; he has to play by the rules. I watch him as he picks at the thick burlap mask, and an idea forms in my mind.

“And you have to do it?” I asked, slightly excited.

“Mhm.” He nods.

“Take off your mask.”

He turns, looking at me. “What?”

“You heard me. If you refuse to answer my question, then I demand you take off your mask.” I grin, pleased with myself, knowing I have him trapped. I may not know this game, but like other creations, I’m good at all of them. A quick learner.

“You demand now, do you? And what if I refuse?”

“Then you have to answer my question: why do you hate our Creator?”

“Yourcreator,” he growls. “You know,” he stands, “I could just end this little game by walking out that door. Or better yet... ” He grips his knife I have been keeping next to my bed, tucked slightly under the mattress. “I could end it for you in a much more fun way.” He sets the tip of his knife under my chin, raising my head as he watches me.

“Where’s the fun in that?” I ask, raising a brow.

He scoffs, watching me as he ponders his decision. “Fine.” He drops my chin, removing the knife. “Fucking dolls,” he mumbles, gripping the edge of his mask. He takes his time, slowly removing it as something glows from underneath.

I can’t help but gasp, my hands covering my mouth in pure astonishment. He’s unlike anything I’ve seen before. Not only is he attractive, with dark hair and a strong jawline, but he’s completely covered in strange markings, all of which are glowing in the moonlight. “What is that?” I ask, standing to my feet. “Wha—” I reach my hand out to touch his face. “I?—”

He grips my wrist once more, stopping me as I stare, in awe at him. “A sick joke.Yourcreator decided to cover my entire body in this.” He motions to the markings etched across his face, glowing unlike anything I’ve encountered before. “Blacklight tattoos that glow all colors in the never-ending night, always signaling where I am so that she can find me even in the shadows.” I can’t process his words, consumed by this new spectrum before me.

“What’scolor?” I ask, sounding out the strange word as my eyes trail across his features, studying every single marking and detail.

“What? Your name is Blue, and you don’t know what color is?” I shake my head.

“Is it this?” I force my hand from his grip, touching his cheek with my fingers as his eyes widen. His skin is warm and smooth—inviting. My hand looks dull compared to this color as he calls it. It’s so intriguing. I can’t help but to be curious.

“Blue...” The way he says my name makes my heart skip a beat. My eyes meet his as he places a hand over mine, tilting my head as he speaks in a sweet tone to me. “Do you not see color?”

My eyes bounce from his to his marking. “I see this,” I whisper, tapping the vibrant, glowing colors. “I’ve never seen it before. Any of them. What are they?”

“Well, these are color tattoos, something I’m covered in.”

“Everywhere?” I asked sheepishly.

He raises a brow as his lips tug into a smirk. “Everywhere,” he repeats, his voice low.

“Why are they—the colors—different? The world I see isn’t like this. It’s dull, missing this.” I touch his nose gently. “It’s almost like the glow I see from a Firefly, but brighter. Oh!” I chime, startling him. “I got it.”

“Got what?” he asks.

“Your name.” I smile. “Firefly.”

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