Page 30 of Dollface

“Pawns are meant to fall.” Havoc shrugs. “They are happy to fall for their queen. Simple fact.”

“The Creator isn’t my queen,” I snap as she nods, rising to her feet. Her face turns dark as she steps toward me, speaking low.

“Havoc agrees, she is no queen.” She steps closer, my heart racing in preparation of her next blow. “Dolly is part of all the games, twisted in the web of truth and lies, drowning in the madness of color and sinful cravings. Queen, pawn, toy—dolly does not know who she is. Lost and wandering the shadows while bugs guide her path, leading her to pain. Roll the dice, play your fate, but Havoc knows the truth.” Her crazed eye pierces through me.

“What are you talking about, Havoc? Just tell me! Tell me the truth!” Havoc opens her mouth to speak, but a loud roar interrupts her.

“Havoc!” I stiffen at the feral bark from him, my Firefly. I turn and slap a hand over my tender mouth. He doesn’t have his suit on. Firefly is standing under the full light of the moon, glowing, transforming the yard into almost daylight with his colorful tattoos.

“Firefly,” I breathe out in shock. “Y-your suit.”

“Did you touch her?” he growls, ignoring my voice as he storms over to Havoc, who is now simply standing with an amused grin on her face.

“Boss man is running around naked!” She points and gasps, her inhale turning into snickering laughter. Havoc looks behind the large, glowing man at me, her usual personality snapping back. “Havoc’s besties are here! Look!” She waves her arms around, dancing with excitement. “Boss man wants to play the Nightmare game!”Nightmare game? What is that?I watch as the other minions walk over; Sullen and Charisma, if I remember correctly.

Sullen, a gangly, grumpy devil with solid black eyes and an evil grin, is holding the hand of Charisma. Charisma has the prettiest short, curled hair and sparkling eyes, glitter glistening from their tight curls and cheekbones. They are stunning, dressing in a tight leather bodysuit with a painted on skeleton form and knee-high leather boots, wearing the fluffiest thing made of feathers around their neck. Havoc says Charisma is neither male or female, but both, something I admire. The two minions remain hand-in-hand, confidently watching and waiting to see what madness will unfold. I find it beautiful, having the confidence to be themselves, knowing who they are. I envy them. I envy all of them... except maybe Firefly. He’s so much like me—unsure of himself, always hiding and scared to be free, unlike his trio of minions.

“Did you touch her?” he repeats louder, his voice gravelly from the force of his shout as he delicately examines my face and body.

“I-I’m fine,” I state, trying to reassure him. I touch his hand, and instantly, his eyes narrow in my neck, noticing the fresh bruising from Havoc’s fingers.

“N-no,” I stutter. “Those are from Dreadmoor—” I try to lie, but it’s too late. He snarls as I watch him pull out his knife, seething with rage, aiming for Havoc.

“Firefly, stop!” I cry out, rushing between him and Havoc, slamming my hands against his hard, bare chest. “Don’t hurt her!”

“Don’t hurt her?” He tries to push against me, to force his way through to Havoc as she stands there, cackling to herself. “No one touches you, Blue. No one butme!”

“I started it!” I confess and watch as Havoc whips her gaze to me, confused. “I shoved Havoc. She—she called me a toy, and I got upset, so I shoved her. I hurt her first. Please, put the knife away.” He doesn’t want to stop, I can see it in his face. He has adesire to create pain, to make everyone suffer for his own hurt. Something is damaged in him, and seeing me suffer is only the tipping point to his building rage. Firefly eyes me for a moment before he reluctantly puts his knife away, pulling me into his arms while glaring at Havoc. She studies us, her human eye narrowing as something flickers across her button eye.

“Never seen you hug someone before, boss,” Charisma chimes, crossing their arms as they play with the feather around their neck. “Especially not a doll.”

“Should be more careful, boss,” Sullen hisses. “Button eyes aren’t to be trusted.”

“Bug likes it,” Havoc whispers.

“You three,” Firefly snaps, nodding to the trio of minions. “Go back to the treehouse. Get the fuck out of here. Now,” he orders. Charisma and Sullen exchange an odd expressive look before walking off, holding hands. Havoc silently lowers herself to her hands and knees, crawling towards the woods like a demon. She stops at the tree line, glancing back as she flashes me a sinister smile.

“Tick-tock,” she sings, tapping her button eye before quickly disappearing into the darkness.

I shake my head and turn to look up at Firefly. His eyes are filled with worry and concern as he stares down at me, stroking my cheek with his hand. I open my sore mouth to speak when a loud howl just off in the nearby distance silences me. I recognize the sound from my time here, knowing it’s bad despite never having seen what created it. I only know that whatever it is, it’s dangerous and deadly, something even Firefly is fearful of.

“Fuck,” he growls, looking back at me. “It’s the Nightmares. Without my suit to hide my color, they’ll see me. I’m a beaming target. Go, get inside and hide until I come find you.”

“What? No, just come with me!” I pull his arm, tugging him toward the house, but he doesn’t budge. Another howl echoes through the night, this one closer than before.

“Damnit, Blue, stop! Don’t you see? I’m trying to protect you! These Nightmares, they don’t just hunt until they're full. No, they hunt to kill and keep killing, never stopping. My colors attract them, and without my suit, they see me. They will stop at nothing, Blue. They know I’m here, and they’re on their way to kill me, and then, they will also kill you. Now please, go inside and hide. I’ll take care of them.”

“I’m not going inside without you.” I tug at his arm, trying to force him to come inside with me. “Let’s go,” I groan as my shoes slide over the ground, his body remaining unfazed.

“Get your ass inside.Now,” he growls at me, as if his temper is going to force me away.

“No. You’re going to have to carry me inside because I’m not leaving you!” I state firmly, crossing my arms over my chest even though I’m trembling in fear.

“Blue!” he shouts at me, similarly to how he shouted at Havoc earlier. “Get inside!”

“No!” I shout back, matching his forcefulness, stomping my foot as I throw my hands down, balled into fists at my sides. I’m not leaving him out here, alone to fight whatever new threat is stalking near us.

Firefly groans, jerking his head back, frustrated and annoyed by my stubbornness. He goes to speak, but the sound of tree branches snapping and rustling in a nearby bush causes him to swiftly lift me over his shoulder and run. He doesn’t go to the house; instead, he starts running toward the tree line behind us, away from the home and the sound of Nightmares.

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