Page 3 of Dollface

“I’m what?” My head tilts, perplexed by her words.

“Blue,” she whispers, popping up closer into my personal space.

“Ah!” I scream while stumbling back over my platform shoes, causing this Havoc woman to giggle.

“Why are you screaming? You can’t be scared of Havoc.” Cocking her head to one side, she points her finger at herself. “Who will be the match if you flee?”

“I can barely see you and you just... appeared!” I snap while trying to get my bearings. “Wait, match? What match?”

“Aren't toys supposed to have good eyesight?” She taps her button eye, grinning. The insulting term hits me, and I feel the heat rising up my neck.

“Don’t call me that!” I snap while trying to keep my anger down. I hate being referred to as a toy. I know I’m not human, but I’m not atoyeither. Those vile creatures are the ones the Creator sets loose into the human’s world to lure the precious children to Dreadmoor, and I refuse to be classified as one of them. No, I am not a toy, but not fully a creation either. I’m the monstrosity in between; cut me and I bleed, I breathe air, and I have a beating heart. I have my own thoughts, wants, needs, but... my Creator is still able to control me. It’s a terrible life, wanting to be free, wanting to think for myself, act of my own accord but having that little niggling in the back of my head, my Creator and her whispers reminding me who I belong to and who I serve.

I ball my fist at my sides as I square my stance, “The Creator equips all her creations with exceptional eyesight. as you should know with your doll eye,” I state, gesturing to her singular button eye. Havoc cocks her head to the side before letting out a terrifying cackle, causing me to jump.

“Not a doll, silly! Havoc stole it.” She slithers her tongue. The nail of her finger begins to tap against the button, humming lightly before skipping away behind a tree. I watch, wondering what she’s doing. She returns, grunting while dragging a...

“What is that?” I cry out in horror as she drops the body between us.

“It’s a man,” she states boredly. “One of yours, yes.” I notice the wretched state of the man, shaking my head as I begin to back away.

“Is... Is he dead?” Havoc giggles as her sharpened smile brightens.

“Of course! The Boogeyman doesn’t half-ass anything.” I feel my heart pound at his name.

“T-the... Boogeyman? You know him?”

“He lives here, little dolly.” Havoc grabs a handful of the dead man’s organs, tossing them into the air like confetti as she twirls beneath the bloody mess. “We all do. Nightmare is our home, watched by eyes of black and always night.” She stops, giggling as she turns and begins to walk away. “He’s Havoc’s boss man. One of an unknown pair.”

I stumble over the messy scene she left behind, catching the missing button eyes of the creation while trying to keep up with her oddly graceful long strides. “You work for him? The Boogeyman? Is it true what they say?”

Havoc halts her movements, and her lips twist to the side as she cocks her head.

“What they say?” she repeats curiously. “What do they say?”

“Uhm...” My throat feels tight and dry, prickles dancing over the skin of my neck as Havoc slides closer to me, her scent invading my senses. She smells like a ghostly meringue, frightening and sweet. “They say he’s the shadow on the night’s moon, that when he locks eyes with you, your fate is sealed.”

Havoc snaps her fingers as I jolt, gasping at the sudden movement. “Just like that?” she asks, her face twisting into an amused grin as I nod.

“He fills your dreams with a fright so dark that your soul leaves your body and wanders into night.” Havoc blinks once,twice before throwing her head back and releasing a cackle I feel in my bones.

“Oh yeah,” she giggles. “Boss man issoscary. Havoc shakes in her boots at the mere thought of him.” She snorts, lifting her foot as she wobbles her leg. “Boss is losing,” she sings while turning around, walking away. Her words make no sense. I run to keep up to her as she heads to the tree line of a thick, dark forest.

“Are you going back to him?” I ask, almost frantically as I hear the screech of feral creations in the distance.

“Of course, Havoc’s not staying here to encounter the Nightmares.” She huffs, gesturing to the night air, followed immediately by a distant snarl.

“Take me with you,” I beg. “Please, don’t leave me here in—” I glance around, spying the beaming moon above. I’m not in Dreadmoor anymore. I truly have been sent to Nightmare, a second world created solely for the purpose of torturing misbehaved creations, housing the bloodthirsty Nightmares, and tormenting the souls of the damned. My Creator warned me of this outcome, but I didn’t listen... couldn’t. And now, I’m lost in the never-ending night of this world.

“No can do–” Havoc scowls as she stares at nothing next to her, mumbling something. “No! Havoc won't disobey orders tonight! Because! Boss man said no more bodies in the tree house. Especially not toys. Havoc takes her, she dies.”

“Wait, what?” Another screech fills the cool air, and I know whatever it is, is nearing us and fast. “If I join you, he’ll kill me?”

“Havoc tried before, to bring... friends over to Boss’ place. It gets lonely with just Sullen and Charisma. They don’t enjoy Havoc’s... tastes. And Boss gets grumpy being alone, silly bug, he sees nothing.” She trails off before shaking her head. “No, Blue must find her own place here in Nightmare. Be a good dolly,” she coos, patting me on top of my head. “Stay away from the woods;they lead to your fate. Also, don’t touch the body Havoc left. He’ll turn to mush. Havoc hates mush... messy things.” Havoc smiles, her sharp white teeth almost glowing as she fades into the darkness of the haunting woods. “Until the next game.”

“Havoc, wait!” I call, but the sound of the approaching screeches grows, frightening me. I need to hide, to find my place, as Havoc said.What did she mean about the woods? That they would lead to my fate? And what game?

I waste no time as I begin to race away from the woods in search of a place to hide. A place to call home, as I’m doomed to remain here forever—discarded and forgotten, my punishment for defying my creator.Way to go, Blue.

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