Page 45 of Dollface

“Such fun toys!” she yells as cheers erupt from above, the sound of feet stomping against the wooden structure vibrating through my skull. “Who wants to see more of Havoc’s circus?” The lights flash between purple, green, and pink, enticing the crown. I find a hole just a few feet away and rush to it, looking through as I see Havoc aiming her hammer high above at a newly-appeared tightrope. “Havoc has a special surprise for all of you!” she cackles again, twirling as the lights go dark. The crowds gasp and holler as new music begins to play.

A single purple light pierces through the darkness, fog gathering around the ring as a large nightmare crawls through. Not just any nightmare, but the Widow—the most dangerous nightmare of all, Havoc riding it. The enormous spider-like nightmare is dragging something behind it—no, someone. They’re hard to see but obviously struggling. I need to get a better look.

“Havoc has a special surprise for all Havoc’s friends!” She squeals.

I glance around noticing a small doorway, fog seeping in from behind, just ahead with fabric hanging in front of it.There.I move from the wooden wall and make my way to the opening as Havoc rambles on.

“You see, Havoc loves her toys. But Havoc found something special.”

I pull the fabric aside, realizing that the doorway leads to a carved-out hallway, which seems to head right to the edge of the circus ring. I glance around before slithering to the wall, slowly creeping closer to the ring, the lights and sounds of the circus growing with each step. I peer up, noticing just how high the tent reaches and how large the circus really is.

“And today, I bring my circus. Drum roll!” She orders the band as they frantically begin playing a rapid beat on the drums while her spider hisses at them. As the drumroll ends, symbols crash together, and a beam of blue light turns on, revealing who’s being dragged behind the spider.

Blue.

“Ta-da!” Havoc shouts as the onlookers cheer with excitement.

Blue’s crying. Her face is battered, her legs tied together at the ankles, her shoes missing, her mouth bound and wrists tied together. Her dress and tights are ruined, her beautiful skin covered in bruises and wounds. My blood boils with rage, knowing all she’s endured, seeing her dragged across the sandy floor of the circus ring like that.

I’m going to fucking murder you, Havoc!

“Now,” Havoc plops down on the back of the spider, “who wants to see the dolly fly?”

Fly?

As the crowd hoots and cheers the clown on, the music continues and I look up, realizing exactly who the tightrope is for.Fuck.Without a second thought, I bolt from the hall and into the circus, jumping over the edge of the circus ring, aiming for Blue.

“No!” I scream, catching everyone’s attention.

Havoc and her spider whip around, spying on me as her sharp grin grows. “Boss!” she shrieks as if happy to see me. “Welcome to the show!”

I try to run to Blue, who rotates to look at me, screaming against her gag, crying hysterically. But Havoc’s spider cuts me off, hissing as I stop in my tracks.

“Let her go, Havoc!” I yell, panting as I stare back at Blue, my heart aching at her pain.

I’m so sorry, Blue. I’m going to get you out of here, I promise.

The crowd boos, throwing popcorn and trash at me as I try to bat it away.

“Dolly is Havoc’s plaything. And Havoc doesn’t share toys!” she growls, aiming her hammer at me.

“She’s not a toy!” I growl back.

“Oh, then what is dolly?” Havoc grins. “Maybe boss should ask spider lady and see what she has to say.”

Spider lady?

Havoc raises her hammer, screeching into the megaphone. “Time to make dolly fly!”

As soon her words leave her mouth, Blue’s body rises to the tiptoes of her feet as if something else is controlling her. I stand frozen, unable to pass the giant spider, watching helplessly as I realize why I feel the pain I’ve been feeling. Blue isn’t moving on her own—she’s being manipulated by strings. Her limbs and skin are sewn to thick, long threads pulling her around like a puppet.

“Blue!” I shout out, powerless to do anything.

Blue groans and cries into the gag as she begins to rise into the air, her skin bleeding from the sewn knots as she continues to be lifted higher and higher, until she reaches the tightrope, where another creation is waiting. They grab her waist, pulling her to a small platform, as if waiting for orders.

Havoc raises the megaphone to her mouth. “Spider lady!” I follow her gaze, my stomach dropping as my eyes land on her.The Spinster.“Boss thinks dolly here,” she points her hammer at Blue, “isn’t a toy!”

The Spinster grins, her buttons shimmering with excitement as she glares down at me, her needle-like fingers curling over the arms of her chair as she watches from the center of the audience in a grand, gothic theater box.

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