Page 27 of Dollface

“Toys are marching two by twos,” Havoc pants out as she looks behind her. “Boss man, take Havoc’s dolly, fix, make her sing songs again. Havoc will play with the toys. Make themsing new songs.” I nod as I decipher Havoc’s threatening words before turning to Charisma and Sullen.

“I need you to stay and help Havoc. Keep whatever comes through that portal back.”

Charisma flicks their lavender boa across their shoulders as Sullen crosses his arms. “Say less,” they wink. “Havoc, if anything ruins my shoes,” Charisma rotates their foot, the moonlight reflecting off the purple leather boots. “I’m coming for you.”

“Havoc will make sure there’s no mess for pretty Charisma,” she cackles. “Sullen can have the messy ones.”

Sullen smiles, his lips curling as his teeth sharpen with glee. “Happily,” he laughs methodically. “Let me play with toys. Ilovea good blood bath.”

“Calm down there, little devil.” Charisma flashes Sullen a cheeky smile. “Save that enthusiasm for me.” They wink at Sullen, their skeletal face paint glowing much like Sullen’s smeared face, reflecting his demon appearance.

Looking at Charisma and Sullen, I ensure they will stay with Havoc as they all nod. I carefully lift Blue from Havoc’s arms into my own, cautious of her many wounds. She releases a muffled cry due to her stitches, and my blood begins to boil.How dare that cunt do this to her?

“It’s going to be okay, dollface,” I say softly, despite my true feelings, as I quickly maneuver us away from the portal and through the woods.That fucking bitch. We might be playing a game, but that doesn’t mean she had to do this to Blue. If she wants a fight, then I’ll give her—I feel Blue’s cool hand slip under my mask and rest on my overheated neck, as if sensing my fuming rage. The tender coolness of her touch grounds me, reeling in my anger, and temporarily tamps down my blinding rage. “I got you, Blue,” I whisper, holding her tight as wecontinue to venture deeper into the woods, the outline of the treehouse just within our sights.

Together, we slowly slip away into the darkness of my treehouse. I make my way to the basement, knowing it’s her favorite spot, and that the presence of my colorful bugs will cheer her up. We carefully descend the creaky staircase until the room comes to life, the bugs all chittering her welcome. I watch her face beam as the colors come alive in her button eyes.God, she’s beautiful.

Blue’s eyes move from the bugs, up at me. She goes to speak, attempting to move her tightly sewn lips before letting out a painful cry. My heart aches at her pain, watching a tear fall down her cheek as blood drips down her chin. “Don’t,” I rasp while trying to calm her, to stop her from trying to speak as I carefully sit her down on the ground, removing my mask and suit. I grab the small knife on the table and sit next to her, inhaling deeply. “Come here. Let me see what I can do.”

Her fingers touch her lips, and she shakes her head no.

“Blue...” My voice cracks in pain as I reach out to her. I’m trying with everything in me not to show my anger, to not allow her to see the rage brewing below the surface, but I fear I’m not hiding it well. “Blue,” I say a little more sternly. “Please, come here.” She’s hesitant, but she comes over to me, slowly straddling my lap before looking up at me. Another tear rolls down her delicate cheek as she tries to open her mouth slightly, tearing her flesh.

“Don’t,” I snap, my voice breaking. “Dollface, you’ll tear your mouth. Fuck, Blue, you’re still bleeding.” I raise my hand to try and carefully stop the bleeding. It’s no use. I need to undo what has been done. “I’m going to cut this, and then I’ll get the threads out. I’m going to fix this, Blue. I promise.” I take my small blade and slide the sharp edge beneath the thick thread, against her full lips. We both sit for a second, our anxiety rising, her lipsbleeding as I try not to harm her. My hand trembles as I exhale and carefully cut the first string with a snip as her tears continue to fall.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, cutting the second thread. “I’m so fucking sorry.” She has no idea. I’m sorry for the pain I’m causing her, for getting her to go to Dreadmoor, for making her like me in the first place. She doesn’t deserve this. She doesn’t deserve to be used as a pawn in this game, as a means to a win. And for what? I knew she’d never get my dice. Those were a lost cause, but Ineededto know if she could get through to Dreadmoor. And she can. Not only did she get through and survive, but she was able to get back, and it seems the Spinster had sent her back to me, her mouth sewn shut as a clear message. She was always one step ahead.

“What the fuck?” As I cut another thread, blood begins to pour from Blue’s mouth, dripping down her chin and pouring over the front of my shirt. I stare at her in horror as she continues to cry, tugging her lips. Something is inside her mouth, it’s hurting her. I feel my anxiety rise as I quickly cut the rest of the threads, the pressure from the strings popping fueling my panic further with each completed snip. Her mouth opens with a garbled gasp, and something falls out onto my lap, coated with her mixed blood and saliva. She cries out, panting at the pain and sudden rush of air as I pick the objects up, my heart stopping immediately.

My dice.

I look up to her, blood and saliva still running from her opened mouth. “Y-you got them,” I whisper. They feel so heavy in my hand, the red of her blood matching their color perfectly.

“I-is.” She inhales sharply, coughing on her blood. “Is that t-them?” she asks. I can’t help but to stare at the dice, completely robbed of words. “I wasn’t sure, i-if it was them. All color looks the same in Dreadmoor. But...” She wipes her mouth, wincing asher sleeve smears the blood across her skin. “But I remembered what you said about the skulls.” My fingertip traced the hand-carved skulls.

“But how?—”

“I hid them,” she whispers so softly I can barely hear her. “In my cheeks, then when... when she stitched—” She lets out a sob as her fingers tremble over her lips, her arm shaking violently. “When she stitched my mouth, I moved them to press on the roof so she wouldn’t feel them in my cheeks. The corners are still so sharp. They cut me.” I feel the sharp edges cutting the edge of my thumb as I rub them. I don’t think there’s ever been a time in my entire existence that I’ve hated someone as much as I do myself right now. Not even the bitch Spinster is at this level. And the worst part is, Iknewthis could happen. I knew she could end up going there and getting hurt or killed. And I allowed it. I allowed a sweet, beautiful girl who has a laugh that makes me feel things in my chest go alone to fight my battle. And she went. She went willingly, risking her life just to get me these dice, even though she ended up beaten and tortured. Because she likes me.

“They are yours, right?” she croaks out, her hand still hiding her mouth.

“Yes,” I whisper hoarsely, setting the dice down. “Does it hurt to speak?” I ask, trying to move her hand. She stops me and shakes her head.

“No. I-I mean, it hurts b-but it’s fine. I should go, though.”Go? Where is she going?

“What? Where? Why? No. Let me finish helping you.” Blue stands, her legs shaking with exhaustion as she starts for the stairs, but I grab her wrist to stop her.

“Ah!” she cries out, and I jerk my hand away, seeing the cause of her pain– her wrist is viciously bruised, the skin dark and almost purple, unlike her usual faint blue tone.

“Dollface—”

“Good night, Firefly.” Blue quickly steps onto the stairs.

“Please.” I desperately force the foreign word out as she freezes. Turning around she still has her mouth covered as she stares at me, her brows pushed together in confusion. I drop to my knees, my eyes burning into hers as she stares down at me. “Please, Blue. Don’t leave here, don’t—don’t leave me. I can’t—fuck...” I grit out. This is so fucking hard. “I can’t—Blue, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I put you in danger. I’ll never allow it to happen again. But please, if you leave me here alone, I’m going to put on that suit and that fucking mask, and I’m going to hurteveryonefor what happened to you.” My throat burns as I growl the words, fighting back a wave of emotions. I need her to stay, to be with me.

“No one here hurt me, though,” she whispers.

“It doesn’t matter. I can’t get toher, so I will cause everyone pain here. Blue, doll, you're the only thing stopping me from becoming the Boogeyman right now, and I genuinely believe it’s because I don’t want you to be afraid of me. Please, I–I don’t want to be him right now.” I feel so vulnerable, so exposed, kneeling at her feet, pleading with her, a creation, to save me.

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