Page 49 of Dollface

“Trust me, the pain I feel right now,” she sniffles as her words shadow my heart. “It’s the worst pain I’ve ever endured. So please, just stop.” My trembling hand falls from my chest, landing on my lap. Resting my head back against the wall, I close my eyes as I try to think of how I’m not only going to get us out of this, but I’m going to make Blue realize that my feelings for her are absolutely genuine. I need her to know, to forgive me. I can’t fucking live without her.

Chapter 12

Havoc

Dolly and boss are separated by bars and stone, chained away from the other, lost in the sneaky shadows.Lonely, naughty little pawns. Dolly sniffles so much while bug’s breathing gets heavier and heavier.Huff and puff.I raise my hand holding the large circus hammer as it smashes against the bars.

“Wakey, wakey, toys!” I cackle, happy by the vibrating sounds, smashing again and again. “Cock-a-doodle-doo!”

Dolly shrinks at the sight of me, moving away as I dance outside the bars. Dolly seems scared. Scared of Havoc? Silly dolly. It’s the game, dolly. Dolly likes games. Why be so scared? Does dolly taste like fear? Hmmm... maybe one lick?No! Spider lady said no licks or bites. Behave, Havoc.

“Leave her alone, Havoc,” bug barks like a wolf. Foolish to assume Havoc won’t squash him like the bug he is, as I have a giant hammer.

My head snaps toward the glowing bug, and I blink.Fascinating. “Boss is sad. Why such a sad bug?” I grab the corners of my mouth and pull them down into a sad face. “I thought boss liked games.”

“No more games,” Dolly wheezes out through a sob. “Please.”

“Oh?” I dance to the other side of the prison and leap onto the bar of the cell. “Dolly winds up and speaks! If Havoc pulls her string, what will she say next?”

“Havoc,” Bug growls. “Leave her the fuck alone!”

“Bug is boss no more,” I hiss like a snake. “Havoc has no leash. Speaks to whoever Havoc wants.”

“No leash?” He huffs out a laugh, his chains clinking as he moves.Clink-clank.“You think the Spinster doesn’t have you threaded to one of her needles, using you like everyone else?” His chuckle is low as his head shakes. “Foolish girl.”

Words make me angry as I feel fire in my face. “Bug and dolly are locked up, but Havoc is free like the wind. See?” I twirl. “Free.”

“Open your fucking eyes, Havoc! You’re not free. You’re just as much a prisoner as we are! Your prison may look different than ours, but you forget that Blue and I have both been in your position. We know precisely how far those chains go. We both got out of here, thinking we were free in Nightmare, yet look at us.” He shakes his arms, his chains singing to me. “Let’s see how far you can reach with yours.”

“No!” my bad voice growls, teeth biting his air.

Bug stands, dragging his chains as he speaks through the bars in such an angry voice. “Then why are you here? Why did you kidnap Blue? Why doherbidding if you’re so free? You’re not free. You’re a pawn like the rest of us, a player in this fucking endless game that no one wins.”

I slam the hammer into the bars as he stumbles back on jelly feet. “Havoc serves Havoc, not a player or pawn. Havoc does not play the game but watches very closely.”Eyes see all.

“If you’re just watching.” Dolly stands, sad tears leaking from her face. “Then why kidnap me? Why help the Creator?”

“Why not?” I shake my head, skipping to the other side of the wall. “Havoc helps whoever Havoc wants.”

“If Havoc helps anyone, then why pretend to be my friend, or his, if you were going to just betray us? Who’s side are you on?” Pretty dolly knows nothing.

“Havoc already said!” Stamping my foot, I huff. Stupid dolly, not listening to words! “Havoc watches.” I pull up my lid, pointing to my wet eyeball. “Sees all the players, all the mistakes. So many mistakes.”

“The only mistake any of us made was trusting you, you psychotic fucking clown.” Bug is angry. Should be red but green with it. Green from vile, mean words.

I sit down, facing the two puppets, my face sad. How to make them see what Havoc sees? “Do bug or dolly ever see a thing and want to touch it? To poke at its guts and see what happens?” I tilt my head, waiting as they say no words. Strange; Havoc feels she’s being very clear.

“Havoc likes to poke at the game—see what happens. Like shoving buzzing bees in a jar and shaking it up real fast!” I move my hands up and down, smiling. “Havoc likes to see what happens! Chaos!” I jump to my feet, twirling the hammer in my hands.

“That’s not chaos. That’s insanity.” Bug sits down, looking like an ugly, sad puppy.

“I trusted you, Havoc.” Dolly sniffles again. Must be allergic to the dirty room. “I thought you were my friend,” she sputters as she chokes on sad tears.

I slither to her, peeking through the bars as I smile big, showing my sharp teeth. “That was dolly's mistake.” I bite, chomping the air as she gasps, startled at my laughter. “Green and blue,” I sing, swirling away from her. “Soon, you’ll both be red and dead!”

“Havoc—Havoc, wait!” Dolly tries to distract me, but I know better. “Don’t leave us here!”

“Tick-tock!”

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