9. Blue

Chapter 9

Blue

From the beginning, he was there,

In the shadows, full of despair.

Rarely seen, yet always a flame,

Eagerly waiting for what was his to claim.

Forever haunted by his past,

Letting all know he was an outcast.

Yet, here he was, glowing for me, my Firefly.

T he delicate, luminous dragonfly lands softly on the tip of my nose, its tiny wings tickling my skin with each flutter as it showers me in its glow. A joyous giggle escapes my lips as I watch it dance around me, leaving behind a trail of shimmering light like fluorescent glitter in the air. I believe Firefly named this hue, if I remember correctly, purple. I make a mental note to confirm the color with him when I see him again— whenever that will be. The immediate heavy sadness weighs down my joy as I listen to the sounds of Nightmare. The cold night air is alive with the buzzing of insects, their midnight singing dancing in the air, carrying with it the sweet scent of blooming flowers which flows in through the open window of my room, as I sit by my small fire, listening to the small cracks and pops. I can't help but feel sunken and sad at the peaceful night life—the smells and sounds remind me of my Firefly.

A heavy sigh escapes me, my trembling fingers running over my swollen, sore lips. The holes in my skin throb with a dull pain, reminding me of the blood that had dried and cracked around them after my encounter in Dreadmoor. The conflicting emotions of longing and fear swirl inside me, making it nearly impossible to even consider going to see him again. Every fiber of my being yearns to run back to Firefly, to melt into his embrace, but after everything that happened in Dreadmoor, I can't bring myself to do it.

My attempts at remaining unnoticed in the Creator's world were futile, as she quickly discovered my presence and gleefully threw me back into my old room. But it was during my time in captivity that my eyes were opened to many things about Firefly and myself. Despite enduring endless torture at the hands of the Creator, I realized I do have genuine feelings for Firefly, and I know, despite his gruff exterior, he cares for me too. The only problem is, I fear my feelings may outweigh his, and that realization cuts deep into my heart.

"You're not just a doll!" His words echo in my mind, bringing a sense of warmth to my heart. Bringing my knees to my chest, I curl up into a tight ball, pressing my bruised cheek against my knees as I watch the dragonfly swirl above me. I can't help but envy its freedom and ability to fly anywhere it wishes.

"Such a pesky pretty thing," Havoc sings from the shadows. Havoc's voice doesn't faze me, as I've grown oddly accustomed to her lurking in the darkness, always near and appearing at random times with a burst of chaotic energy.

"I like him," I say weakly, raising my hand as the bug lands on it. Havoc dawdles over, her body slinking as she moves, and sprawls out beside me, kicking her legs in the air.

"Which pretty bug is the Dolly referring to?" I laugh, snorting lightly at her question, knowing what she means.

"Both," I admit softly. Havoc rolls onto her stomach, sitting on her bottom before crossing her legs and looking at me, leaning in real close, her head slightly tilting. Her single black button eye sends a chill over me as I shift slightly in discomfort, feeling it boring into my soul. I noticed the rough stitching that held it to her eye socket, remembering the way the stitching felt across my lips.

"Dolly is remembering Dreadmoor, huh? Snip, snip." She motions her fingers like scissors, smiling as her teeth sharpen. "Stitch, stitch. Loose lips sink ships, pretty doll." I flinch at the eerie words before forcing myself to look away.

"I-I think..." I stop, struggling to form the words. "I think s-she broke me," I whisper weakly as a lump forms in my throat.

"Dolly is a toy. She breaks playthings and boss man fixes them, needle and thread. Sad toy is not broken, only in the darkness, needing her nightlight." I whirl my head to stare at her, her sinister smile stretching from ear to ear as anger and indignation fills me to my very core. She doesn't blink or move, only stares at me as I stand, my hands balling into fists at my sides, my wrists stinging from my bulging muscles.

"I'm—not—a— fucking toy !" I shout, gritting my teeth as Havoc stands, seemingly amused by my outburst. "Stop messing with my head, stop playing me, and stop with your fucking cryptic riddles, Havoc! I'm done with all of it!" I recklessly shove her aside, my head aching with anger. In an instant, Havoc's hand is on my throat as she slams my back into the wall, the force bruising my spine as a framed bug falls from its resting place and shatters on the floor. The impact and aggression causes me to cry out weakly. What is she doing? I try to grab her wrist, digging my nails into her flesh, desperately trying to get her to release her hold, but Havoc is shockingly much stronger than me. She pries my fingers off her, seemingly unbothered by the claw marks I leave behind, her expression frozen in time as she simply watches me struggle.

"Why does Dolly hurt Havoc? Havoc cares for Dolly. Likes Dolly." Her smile drops, leaving a blank emotion that strikes fear into my bones. Her head bounces as her human eye rolls, settling on mine as a shadow befalls her. "It's not nice to shove people, Blue." The manner in which Havoc talks normally is enough to make one uneasy, but this, right here, the way she says my name? It doesn't even sound like her. It's so eerily foreign, I can't help the shaky inhale of breath I take. "Naughty, naughty," she tuts while squeezing my throat.

"H-Havoc," I rasp, trying to stop her. I try to find a way out, but I'm trapped. I'm always trapped, lost, hurt. Havoc, Stingy Jack, Dreadmoor, the Creator—all of them. I'm always tossed around, always pushed aside. Do this, do that, be a good doll. I finally find my voice, my own strength to disobey, and here I am, cast into a literal endless night in hell. And now, after everything, I'm going to die at the hands of my only friend.

"Dolly wants to die, yes? She likes the bugs, yes? Would like to rot in the ground with them? Be one with the worms in the dirt, eating the flesh off bones and death. Munch, munch, munch. Dirt in your mouth." I try to shake my head side-to-side as my vision starts fading at the edges, darkness sinking its long, pointed fingers across my eyes as I fight passing out.

"I don't—" I wheeze out, fresh blood pushing from the scabs around my lips as the Creator's words flood my brain.

"Using that whore mouth to give the Boogeyman pleasure? To whisper him secrets? Well, I'll take care of your loose lips, you wretched pile of trash. I should've sent you to be one of the toys the second I broke that fucking button in your eye. You are nothing but a pile of scraps, a pain in my side. I'll take care of you, Blue. Let's see how much he enjoys you after I stitch a smile for him."

The Creator's words hit me, igniting a small internal spark. Without thinking, I drive my platform shoe into Havoc's knee, causing her to cry out and fall, releasing her gripping hold on me. Cold air rushes down my throat, causing me to gasp and cough uncontrollably. I stumble back, watching as she wriggles around in pain before turning away and running down the stairs, rushing out the front door. I sprint down the gravel path leading away from the Taxidermy home, only to hear Havoc shriek, jumping from the tree outside my window. She lands on the ground and rushes to me, huffing as she runs. Shit! I try to run, but it's no use. My legs are screaming in pain and exhaustion, unable to move.

"H-Havoc," I plead quietly as I shake in my shoes. Havoc falls to her hands and knees, crawling toward me like a spider about to capture its prey. "Please, Havoc. Don't do this." She grins, crawling faster. "Leave me alone, Havoc!" I shout, my voice still hoarse as I try to turn away, attempting to flee. I like Havoc, and I genuinely didn't want to fight her, but I fear I might've triggered something deep inside her, something dark and deadly, and no matter what I say or do, she's going to kill me.

"Dolly," she pouts while dragging to her feet, as if she's a child being forced to do something she doesn't want. "Havoc doesn't like bad touches," she whines. I can't look away, both disturbed and curious about her mannerisms and words.

"And Dolly doesn't like getting called a toy," I spit while trying to step back, little by little putting some distance between us. Unfortunately, I'm starting to feel the only way out of this situation is through Havoc, and I don't think I'm able to take her on, even if I was fully healed and rested. Something about her is too powerful.

Havoc twitches and snaps her head to one side, as if someone is talking in her ear. She curls her lip, rearing back. "No!" She scoffs. "Havoc is angry, yes, but to kill the Dolly would be bad for the game. Bug wouldn't win," she hisses sharply. Bug? Game? I blink, Havoc suddenly closer, inches away, stepping towards me. "Dolly," she growls, lowering herself as if to pounce. I gasp, turning to run, when her arm grips my ankles, knocking me to the ground as my head bounces off the dry earth. "No!" She yanks my legs, my tights ripping against the ground as my knees slice open, my fingers clawing at the dirt, desperately trying to stop her.

"Havoc, please!" I cry out, tears burning my bruised cheeks. "Stop this madness!"

"Madness? No, not madness, Dolly. Sanity!" Havoc whips me around, straddling my body with her knees. "Never ending sanity, bursting with color and bugs and toys!" She cheers with glee as she cackles, trying to grab my neck.

"Get off!" I grunt while smacking her hands away.

"Shhhhhhh." She tries to calm me. "Havoc won't kill Dolly," she coos while touching my face. "No, just play a fun game. A game with blood and bones! Dolly likes games, yes?" A bright, colorful light dances out of the corner of my eye, catching my attention. It's the same dragonfly from earlier, except it's changing color from purple to green and flying away in a hurry. How odd. The dragonfly reminds me of Firefly, fueling the hidden spark within. I need to escape, to get away from Havoc.

"Havoc," I grit out while bucking my hips and rolling so I'm on top, straddling her. "Stop it, or I'm going to murder you!" I scream out, trying to pin her arms down.

"Murder Havoc?" Her smile becomes maniacal as her cackle rings through the chill air. "That's a good Dolly. Yes, go ahead, murder Havoc. Show them all. Smells sweet and innocent, but Havoc knows the truth," she hisses.

"What truth?" I ask as Havoc's button eye flickers, pushing her arms into the dirt.

"Dolly has the darkness threaded within her stitches. Scraps and trash. Made from nothing into something. Spider things. Dolly is dead inside, but Dolly feels. She plays the game, same as bug, but never wins. Too scared to try." What the hell is she saying? She stops resisting and relaxes herself on the ground with a smile. "Scared Dolly. Blue may be your name, but you are no longer sad. Just scared." Her head tilts back, as if listening to someone speak.

"No, Havoc can't do that," she whispers, glancing at me as she continues to communicate with the air. "Think of the big, pretty picture. The web stretched thin." Havoc nods, as if listening and agreeing with someone. I always wondered if she heard voices in her head, but this confirms it. Havoc grins, showing her sharpened teeth as she looks at me, lifting her head lightly. "Don't be scared, Dolly. Havoc is here. Friend or foe, no one knows." She cackles. "Poor scared, weak Dolly. You think you know pain? You know only the prickling tip of a needle."

"I'm not scared," I grit out, releasing her arms as I stand up, tired of fighting. "You fucking psycho. You have no idea the hell I've endured, living in Dreadmoor, haunted by the Creator! The torture I experienced for a set of dice! And for what?" I huff out a laugh. "No one cares. It was all for nothing."

"Not nothing, Dolly." She tsks. "The game."

Havoc remains laying on the ground, watching me. "The game. Yes." I scoff. "Right, because that's all anyone cares about around here—the fucking game! Winning this endless game at any cost! Doesn't matter who gets hurt or dies; you all just want to win!" I begin to pant, exhausted and tired.

"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 but me! "

"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 a desire 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.

I don't fight him as he sprints, slicing through the woods, jumping over rocks and tree roots with ease, as if such a physical task is easy and I weigh nothing. It's actually impressive, watching him move with such dexterity and proficiency. Plus, I don't exactly mind the view of watching his ass sway and bounce.

Firefly continues through the woods, the sounds of the Nightmares alerting us that they're still nearby, closing in like dark menacing shadows. We hit a clearing, open and exposed beneath the vibrant moonlight as he stops and sets me down. "W-what are we doing?" I ask, nervous as monstrous howls and snarls echo through the trees like a cool night breeze.

Firefly grabs my hand, pulling me through the short grass, rocks scattered all around, as if they've started to form into tiny mountains of stone. He drags me toward them, dropping my hand as he feels around, searching for something. His hands stop, gripping the rough edge of a large rock, moving it slightly. I watch, enamored by his bulging back muscles as he strains, using all his strength to do so. He jumps around, searching the rocky ground below before sliding his body between the rock and the side of the rough hill. "Firefly?" I whisper, wondering where he's going.

"Come here," he calls me, reaching his glowing hand up for me to grab. I try to follow his steps and climb up the large rock, though far less gracefully than him. I approach his side and watch as he slides down an opening in the earth, like a crack you see in the ground. "Doll face..." He motions, reaching out for me to follow. I nod, sitting on my bottom and sucking in my abdomen to slide down into the crack after him. All goes well until my breasts get caught, causing my body to stick halfway out of the ground. My hands grip the sharp edges of the crack, trying to force myself down, but it's no use. I feel Firefly trying to maneuver me, to pull me through carefully. The howls grow louder, signaling that we need to hurry, panic flooding my veins as I try to pull myself down. Together, we finally free my breasts as I swiftly fall and, thankfully, land on my feet. I exhale, glancing around to find us in a large, damp, dark hole inside the world. It's a cave—a secret cave carved within the stomach of Nightmare. Firefly takes my hand, his fingers looping through mine, showing me a soft smile. I return the favor as he begins to lead me toward the back of the dark cave, Firefly's tattoos lighting the way, consuming the darkness. I notice several tattered hanging fabrics as we pass by, hanging from the top of the cave until we reach the very back.

"What are these?" I asked quietly, touching the ripped edges of the last one as we duck behind it.

"The fabric hides me better, muffling the colors from view," he answers my question as he sits on the ground, patting next to him. "Sorry, it's not going to be a comfortable stay. I don't usually have guests with me."

"So this is yours?" I gesture to the dwelling as I sit on the hard, cold ground beside him. He shrugs, glancing around as the sound of water drips somewhere off in the distance.

"I mean, I found it. Finders keepers, I guess. When I realized no one else was living here or making use of it, I decided to make it a hideout, you know, just in case I was spotted way out here without my suit. I actually have several throughout Nightmare, forgotten places such as this that I can use to wait out the Nightmares. Thankfully, they've never found me before."

Pulling my knees to my chest, I wrap my arms around my legs.

"Have you ever killed one before? The Nightmares?" I ask, my eyes glancing above, listening for any sign of them.

"Many." He grins, proud of his actions. "I killed one just the other day when I rescued your silly little rat. It was in the form of a large wolf."

My eyes shoot to Firefly, realizing for the first time just how dangerous he really is. He has killed creations, Nightmares, dolls, and he wants to kill the Creator. He fights Stingy Jack regularly and is always playing games. He turns to peek around the hanging fabric, his neck glowing with such vibrant colors.

"How can something so beautiful be so deadly?" I ask, not realizing I spoke the words aloud. A dark, quiet chuckle escapes him as he rolls his head lazily against the wall until he's staring at me.

"Pretty girl, you'll find that most beautiful things in this world are dangerous. The more alluring they are, the deadlier they can be. Beauty is danger. The two cannot exist without the other." I scoot to his side, eyeing his skin.

"How tragic," I whisper softly, reaching out my hand as my fingers begin tracing one of his glowing marks, the rough colored scar reaching up his forearm.

"Mmmm... " His eyes close on his soft moan, and I can't help but smile softly, enjoying the sound of him as I continue to trace the numerous marks.

"How deadly am I?" I whisper eagerly, causing him to laugh softly, his eyes landing on mine.

"I've never met a soul more beautiful or deadly than you, Blue." My breath hitches at his confession. "You will, without a doubt, be my end."

"How? W-why?" I stop as his hand grips mine.

"Doll face, I went into a town that wants me dead to retrieve your stuffed rat. I was willing to murder Havoc for you, to rain down pain on all in Nightmare and kill the Spinster for what she did to you. I even left my treehouse to find you, without my suit, knowing I would attract a Nightmare and possibly die. All for you. You, Blue, will be my undoing."

"Why?" I ask again, moving with him as he positions me to straddle his lap. I continue to trace the markings over his face, feeling the designs along his skin.

"Because I'm not the Boogeyman when I'm with you," he admits softly. "I'm not thinking of the game or wanting to cause pain to everyone I see. I'm not thinking of who to kill or who to fuck over. I—" He stops.

"Who are you then?" I whisper, my fingertips touching the green markings stretching at the corners of his mouth.

"With you? Doll face, when I'm with you," he leans in close, "I'm Firefly." I have to force back the sob as my mouth consumes his in a desperate kiss. He groans, gripping the back of my head, deepening the kiss. I feel his forked tongue capture mine as I rock my hips against him, wanting to feel him closer.

"I need to be in you," he pants, the words almost desperate. I nod and lean back as he pulls his glowing cock out of his pants. I push up on my knees before slowly lowering myself onto him, gasping at the sudden pressure. His eyes roll back as his body shudders in pleasure, arousing me more, knowing I have such an effect on him.

"Firefly," I whimper as his hands grip my hips to control and maneuver me the way he needs. I like it when he handles me in such a way, taking the lead.

"Blue," he pants while lifting my dress to see our connected bodies. "Please," he begs in a painful tone. "I need you. I need to feel more of you, to be deeper inside you. Fuck, I just need you. Please don't make me wait," he moans, his hands running along my thighs to my waist as I lean in, pressing my breasts against his chest.

"Tell me what you want," I whisper while biting his bottom lip. I taste blood, and he groans, leaning into me, his nails digging into my skin.

"Turn around," he rasps. "Now, get on your hands and knees." I do as instructed, crawling on my hands and knees, embracing the pain and pressure of the rough cave floor against the countless scrapes and bruises across my body. He lifts the skirt of my dress, pulling my tights down to my knees, gliding his fingers along my now-exposed skin, tracing up toward my wet center. I cry out, gasping as his fingers roughly slam into me, causing my body to flex and tighten around them. Before I can do anything, he lowers his mouth to my pussy, his long,snaking tongue pushing inside me. I cry out and fall to my elbows as his grip tightens around my waist, roughly pulling me closer to him while he tongue-fucks me. The sound of heavy footsteps vibrate the roof of the cave, small pieces crumbling onto the floor as I fight against the burning, growing pressure between my legs, his tongue swirling inside, ingesting every ounce of me. The pressure builds, consuming me as my thighs shake, and I scream out, squirting my pleasure into his mouth. He captures it before spitting it over my ass, my pussy throbbing and clenching, begging for more, the various blues and greens of the cave shining through the dull darkness.

"Firef—"

"Hush, Doll face," he states, and I gasp at the intrusion of his thumb in my ass.

"Firefly!" I cry out at the new experience. He removes his thumb and roughly pulls my body towards him, my back flush with his burning chest, his hand covering my mouth. His free hand pulls my dress down as he begins to play with my nipples, tugging them lightly with a soft growl.

"Blue, there are creatures roaming the land above us right now. Do you hear them?" I nod, moaning against his hot palm. "If they hear you, they will find us, and they will kill us, without hesitation. Now, be a good girl and stop screaming." He knows I can't; I'm always loud when I come. Firefly smirks, yanking the hanging fabric from the cave ceiling and shoving it into my mouth, causing him to release a feral sound. "Now, get back on your hands and knees." He releases my breasts, shoving me forward as I land on my hands, the dusty material clogging any sound from my mouth. "Show me that pretty ass of yours." He slaps my backside, causing me to raise it higher, my muffled gasps silenced. He reinserts his thumb, confusing me. What is he— I scream into the dirty material as his mouth replaces his thumb, his muffled groans shooting through my core. He growls, and I feel it run up my spine, vibrating my bones as I begin to drip at the new pleasing sensations.

"Fucking Christ, you're a sinner's wet dream." He continues to tongue me as his hand finds my drenched pussy. My screams are muffled as he alternates between slapping and rapidly rubbing my clit. I buck against him, and he groans in approval before pulling back and spitting on my ass. "Tell me to stop," he pants as I feel his wet cock pressing against my backside. I shake my head. I don't want him to stop. I want all of him, and I want him to have all of me. "I'm sorry, but this is going to hurt."

I watch from over my shoulder as Firefly angles his cock before slipping it into my ass, clenching his teeth as he bites back all sounds of his enjoyment. The feeling of him forcing himself inside is foreign, and I both want more and to pull away. He answers for me by gripping my hips and pulling me flush against him.

"Fucccck," he groans while staying buried inside me. "You're so tight. God, you feel so good," he whimpers, and I cry out as he slaps my pussy again, reigniting the pleasure. He slowly withdraws before slamming into me with such brutal force that I scoot across the ground, my knees scraping against the rocky surface of the cave. He slams into me again and again, all while playing with my clit, increasing the speed of both his hand and cock. I scream against the now saliva-drenched material as I feel a tight burning sensation, my wetness soaking his fingers.

"Ohhhh, that's my girl," he praises while gripping and slapping my ass with his free hand. "I can feel you contracting around me. Are you going to give me that orgasm." He leans over me slightly, running his tongue across my spine. "Or am I going to have to take it for myself?" He bites into my shoulder, barely piercing the skin as I nod rapidly, pressing against him practically vibrating. "You better not come until I tell you to," he hisses, his hand moving from my hip to my throat. He yanks me closer to him, and at this angle, it's all too much. I can't fight it any longer, panting as sweat begins to roll down my forehead. "Hey!" He slaps my pussy before moving his hand away, causing me to scream out in frustration.

"I own every one of your orgasms," he grits into my ear, his hot breath burning my cheek. "I tell you when you're allowed to see color, to find your release. You only come when I say, understand? You get greedy, and we are going to have to stop playing." I whimper at the thought and nod while resting my head against his chest, sweat now rolling down my front. He's quick to bend me back over, rutting into me as he starts at my clit again. The tightening is back, and the burn is more intense than before. I feel so close, aching to unleash my painful orgasm. Firefly grunts, followed by a high-pitched whine that nestles in my ears.

"Now," he pants, his thrusts becoming erratic. "Come, Blue. Come for me. Come now— fucking now! Fuck!" he roars as I feel him release inside me, undoing all my restraint. I scream into the material as I come undone, and the world becomes color. I see my blue and yellow hair and the red color of the cloth I'm using as a gag.

He gives me a few final thrusts before resting against my backside, panting uncontrollably. He inhales before pulling out, his cum running down my thighs, mixing with my own. I remove the material from my mouth, saliva soaking it as I spit on the ground. I turn back, looking at him sitting there, his broad chest heaving, fully in color. He's so beautiful. He leads me to where the trickling sound of water is coming from, and we both use the damp material and small stream to clean ourselves, wiping the excitement and sweat from our bodies.

Firefly lays on the ground, motioning to me. "Come here," he says, showing me a warm smile. I return the expression and carefully crawl to him, laying against his bare chest. Yes, I'm obsessed with sex, addicted to the color, but this—being close to him—I love this most. If we could, I would choose to stay here, hidden away from the dark world in this cave, just me and my Firefly.

"Firefly? What was that?" I ask, tracing the outline of a spider along his ribs.

"What?" He tilts his head to better look at me.

I bite my lower lip, my cheeks lightly flushed from all the exhaustion and body heat. "W-what you just did to me."

He laughs softly, his hand resting across my bare breast. "You said you wanted to try it all, and it just felt right in the moment. Did you not like it?"

"N-no, I did!" I whisper loudly, afraid of upsetting him. "I just... I never knew that was possible." I feel stupid making such a comment.

"Anything is possible when two people like each other." My eyes flash at his hushed words.

He likes me.

Firefly and I lay together for what feels like hours, silently listening as the Nightmares stomp around in the world above, the sounds of their footsteps eventually fading away. My mind won't stop going over his words, trying to remember the colors of the cave, trying to stay awake. I want to talk to him, to know more about him. We might be intimate, but I feel like I still don't fully know him.

"Why do you hate her?" I ask while resting my head on his chest.

"Hate who?" he asks, his voice almost sounding sleepy as he plays with my loose hair.

"The creator." His body immediately stiffens, as I knew it would at the mention of her presumed name.

"Is it really that hard to figure out? I mean, look what she did to you." He sits up, forcing me to move off him. "She hurt you, Blue." His fingers trace the wounds across my mouth.

"I know, but that would be the reason for me to hate her, not you. You've obviously hated her long before me, Firefly." He stares at me, his face full of annoyance. He really doesn't want to share this.

"It doesn't matter," he mutters, dismissing the subject as he stands to get dressed. "I'm going to head out, check to make sure things are clear. I'll come back for you once I have my suit and know it's safe." I feel as though I upset him. I don't want him to leave.

"Firefly." I grab his wrist to hold him to me. "Please, don't leave. You say it doesn't matter, but it does. It matters to me," I say softly. "How is it fair for you to always expect me to tell you everything, to be so open with you, if l you're not willing to do the same?" He shifts uncomfortably while licking his lips, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "Please," I beg softly on my knees, staring up at him.

"I told you," he rasps, his voice low and thick. "I don't play fair."

"No, you said the Boogeyman doesn't play fair," I say as my hand runs up his powerful thighs and over the bulge forming in the front of his pants.

"Blue," he whispers, his hand gripping the back of my head, his fingers tightening around the strands of my hair, tugging them tightly. "What are you doing?"

I wiggle my knees closer to him while running my fingers delicately over the bulge of his erection. "I want to make you see color too," I murmur, nuzzling my face against his crotch, making him shiver.

"Fucking Christ!" he growls as I run my tongue over the purple line peeking from his waistband. "I-ha... I already see color," he pants as I nip at the front of his hip. I hum in agreement.

"I know," I whisper while unfastening his pants and pulling his cock free. "But I bet I could make you experience colors like you never have before." The tip of my tongue teases the head of his dick, and he draws in a breath.

"Is that so?" His confident persona is gone, leaving behind a shaking, needy mess for my enjoyment. I don't know why I feel the pleasure I do. The first time I sucked his dick, it was foreign and fast. But now that I have the control, now that I can see exactly what pleasure he's getting from this, it's a power trip I never want to surrender.

"Mmhmm..." I moan as I drag my tongue along the length of his green cock, following the lines from tip to base.

He lets out a pained, almost frustrated laugh. "Motherfucking God, Blue. If you're going to suck it, fucking suck it." I can't help but giggle as I pull back.

"No," I state, and I have to stop from laughing at his face as he looks like I took away his sunshine.

"Huh? Wh?—"

"I'm going to do what I want, and if you would like me to suck it, you're going to ask me... No, I changed my mind. Beg me." His lip twitches as he looks around, as if perplexed by my demand.

"Are you serious? I-I don't beg for sex." I shrug before spitting on his cock and running my hand over the shaft, softly, as if a feather is touching him.

"Have it your way."

"You're being a fucking brat," he hisses as his hands grip the rock he's leaning against.

"Noooo," I sing before teasing the underside of his tip with my tongue. "You told me to tell you what I want. I'm following your rules. You're not playing nice."

"Fine," he grits through his teeth. "Blue, will you please suck my dick?" That's the worst beg I've ever heard, but I lean in, sliding his cock down my throat. "Oh, fuck," he whimpers. "That's it, fuck yes... keep going, Doll face. Let me fuck that perfect throat."

I revel in his sweet, dirty words and narrowly forget myself and submit to him. But I can't, not this time. I've got to stay in charge. Maybe if I can get him to feel the euphoric release I do, he'll feel calm enough to talk to me. I know for me, besides pain, his teasing is what sends me over the hardest.

I pull his cock out of my mouth, running my tongue over his length again before blowing cool air over the salvia trail I leave behind.

"Oh my God!" he cries in frustration, another laugh breaking from his chest as he stares up at the cave ceiling. "Blue, I'm going to freak the fuck out."

"Shhh..." I scold as I grab his hips to pull him to me, kissing and nipping at his length. "You want the Nightmares to hear you getting off?" I tease as my hand cups his balls. His torso tightens as he shoulders roll inward.

"Blue," he whispers, and I see it: he's so close to breaking. I spit on his cock again while spreading my thighs to give me access to my dripping pussy. "Blue... Blue... Please..." I nearly come at his feral desperation. My arousal soaks my hand, and I bring it to his cock, my blue juices smearing all over his glowing, green cock. "Fuuuckkk... " His eyes roll as a bead of sweat rolls from his chest to his navel.

"You want to come for me?" I ask innocently while sucking his tip. His nod is rapid as he tries to grab the back of my head, but I jerk back. "Uh, uh." I tsk. "Beg."

"Blue," he growls, his voice shaking. "Please, Doll face, put me out of my misery. Give me the high that only you can deliver. Please, I'm not worthy or deserving, but please, I beg you, allow me to come in that infuriatingly perfect mouth. Allow me to replace my higher power's name with yours. Please, Blue. Fuck!" he grunts as I ram his cock down my throat, gagging on the intrusion. I grip his ass in one hand as I massage his balls in my other.

"Yes, fuck, yes," he nearly cries on a whisper as he thrusts into my mouth. "So perfect. Look at you. I fit so perfectly. That's it... Suck—Rright there, fuck..." He grips me by the scalp as he delivers thrust after erratic thrust. "I'm going to come... Fuck Blue!" he roars with no fear of the Nightmares prowling the surrounding area. I hold him to me as he empties himself down my throat, a small whimper escaping him with each finishing suck I deliver.

"Fucking Christ," he pants once I release him. He stares at me, eyes wide and wild. "I don't even know what to say. I feel like a thank you is in order, but would also be the dumbest thing I could do right now." I giggle softly, tucking a lock behind my ear.

"How about you answer a question instead?" I say shyly. His expression darkens and his eyes roll.

"And here I thought it was my job to be the cunning, unfair one. Impressive," he mutters.

"I'm not being unfair," I huff. "Firefly, I'm just trying to connect with you. I thought maybe if I did this–"

"What?" he snaps. "That if you let me come in your mouth, I'll open my wounds to you? Jesus, Blue."

I fight back tears, frustrated over the fact that I just did something for him and he still refuses to open up to me. I wipe the remnants of his come from my sore mouth, hurt by his reluctance to be honest with me.

"I thought we were getting closer to each other Firefly,"

"You would be wise to stop thinking that way, to maybe re-evaluate your thoughts on the Boogeyman." I flinch at his harsh words, but I'm undeterred.

"Fire—"

"I am the Boogeyman!" he snaps in a tone I know is meant to strike fear in me, but it doesn't. I don't fear him. Maybe that's foolish of me, to not fear someone so obviously deadly, but I don't care. This man cut my lips free. He saved my rat, watches over me while I sleep, and he was even willing to kill the closest thing he has to a friend for me. He can be the mean old Boogeyman out there in Nightmare or Dreadmoor, but not with me. With me, he's Firefly. And I don't fear my Firefly.

I rush to stand on my tiptoes as I stare up at him, forcing him to face me. "Not with me, you aren't," I whisper softly, my voice almost a snarl as I stare into his eyes, the green specks flickering around his dark irises, burning with hesitation and pain. "Never with me." I press my lips to his, gripping his neck, refusing to let him go.

He groans, trying to pull away. "Blue," he whimpers.

"Stop," I breathe into him. "Stop fighting. Stop resisting. Just be with me." I kiss him harder, begging him to surrender to me.

"I—" He stops kissing me back, his hands holding my face firmly. "I can't resist you," he whispers. "Fuck, Blue. I—" He pulls away, stepping back as his head hangs low, his dark hair hiding his eyes. Pain seeps from his being, filling the cave with sorrow.

I step towards him, gently lifting his face as his eyes look at me. "Nothing can change how I see you, Firefly. Nothing ."

He gently touches my hand, removing it with a heavy sigh. "Fine," he relents while he studies me. I wonder what he sees in my face that fascinates him so. He does this from time to time, where he'll just stare at me; his eyes will look so deep, like he's searching for something. "She was lonely, wanted a—companion. So, she made me, customized just to her liking. No button eyes, no little switch inside that forces me to want to serve her. All those doll-like details were for creations after me. Her whole purpose for making me, my purpose for existing, was to be by her side, to be something that loved her while she did as she pleased. A mindless whore." I shudder as his hand reaches out and touches a lock of my hair.

"A-And?" I manage, my mouth feeling dry. I don't like this feeling bubbling inside me; a mix of anger and sadness. Is this... jealousy? No. Me, jealous of my Creator for wanting Firefly to love her? I look at him, examining every detail closely. Is that why I'm so attracted to him? Because she is? Because I'm an extension of her? But I didn't obey her ? —

He drops his hand, watching me closely. "Think about it, Blue. No one capable of free will could love such a monster as her. I fought her advances, resisted her tricks, seeing straight through her lies and evil. I refused to be what she wanted. Like you, I was banished, sent here to Nightmare to rot. That is, until the game started." He continues to twirl my hair absently, his eyes now focused on his hand in my hair.

"Game?"

"The game she and I have been playing for a long time. She tries to keep me here, sending her Nightmares and creations to hunt me down and kill me. I try to get there, to Dreadmoor, to kill her myself and end this sick game once and for all. Just imagine, Blue, if I could do it. I'll be able to take over Dreadmoor and end the madness of it all." He grins lightly, tapping my nose. "Very poetic, if you ask me. The creator's first creation being her end."

"Did you ever love her?" I manage over the hard lump in my throat, focusing only on that single fact: he was created for her .

Firefly studies me again before shaking his head. "No, never. I'll admit, there was a time in my infancy of creation where I wasn't filled with an absolute hatred for her like I am now, but that was short-lived."

"Why?" He flinches at my poking. I know reliving his past is hard, that this is the part of the story he doesn't want to talk about, but I needed to know.

"The kids," he whispers softly as his hand drops from my hair. "I never got over the kids." I nod softly, understanding completely.

"I broke one of her portals and sent a little boy home," I confess while leaning closer to him. "I was always trying to save them, helping them escape her and her toys. I never did fall in line and do as I was told. I always thought there was something wrong with me for it, but I guess I just never fully fell under her spell. She always hated me. For looking different, being imperfect, not behaving. Breaking the portal was the final straw. That's why she sent me here. It was my death sentence, I guess. To think, when I first arrived, I feared running into you, hearing the stories of the Boogeyman." I laugh dryly.

Firefly releases a long breath. "You should've listened to those stories." He pauses, tilting his head ever so lightly. "I wish I had been as heroic as you." Heroic? Me? I feel my cheeks burn at his words as his eyes darken.

"Adam." He says the name like it pains him. "He was twelve. His parents moved to a new house and left him home a lot. You know how it is: their loneliness calls to her, like blood in the water." I nod, knowing all too well how these stories end. "Adam came over, and no matter what I said or how hard I tried to convince him it was all a trick, I couldn't get him to stay away. He'd always come back, saying how he'd rather be there than go back home alone. Because he had me. Adam and I would sit in his other room there in Dreadmoor at night, playing games. He had this pair of dice." Firefly pulls out the same pair I had stolen from Dreadmoor. "We would sit there and play with dice while I tried to convince him to go home and lock the portal. Every night, he'd say he'd think about it, but he always came back."

"What happened?" I ask cautiously, already knowing how this story ends.

Firefly sighs as he runs his hand through his hair, tugging at the ends. "He left these in a bag on his nightstand, and he went to get his button eyes sewn on. I never saw him again."

I reach my hand out to cover his and squeeze softly. "I'm sorry, Firefly. I know that must've been hard."

"It was a long time ago," he whispers, his thumb running over my knuckles. "It was shortly after Adam's disappearance, when the Spinster came to my room and crawled into my bed while I slept. She grabbed my cock and—" I watch him shift uncomfortably and move away, shame and embarrassment covering his face.

"Did she?—"

"I didn't want to be with her, Blue, I swear, but she wouldn't stop. I was barely awake, barely able to resist. I-I got hard, though, so obviously—" I stop him from continuing that preposterous reasoning by covering his mouth with my hand.

"Don't you dare say that." The sentence burns in my throat, my anger and hatred for our creator seething within me. "You know that's not true. You can't control that." How dare she do such a thing to him? His gaze avoids mine, and I feel his jaw setting like stone. He gently grabs my wrist and pulls my hand from his mouth, shame and hurt consuming him more than I thought possible.

"After that night, she started her nightly visits. Sometimes, I'd fight her, try to tell her no and force her from my bed, failing as I always did. But other times... I don't know. I was so mentally beat that I just didn't care. I eventually stopped fighting, retreating in on myself as a darkness took hold of me and hollowed my body into this shell, a puppet for her to control. It was only when I felt like dying, ending my torment, that I started rolling the dice. Odds, I fought, even, I laid there, letting her do as she pleased until there was nothing left of me to use. One night, I was rolling the dice, and they both ended up catching in this crack in the floor. My roll was stuck, and I felt so much panic. But I took it as a sign, one that I was done being this monster's sex toy. So, I hid, and when she came into the room, I fought her. I ripped out one of her button eyes and ran. I knew it didn't matter where I ran; she would find me. Dreadmoor is her world, after all, but it didn't stop me from running. Even the smallest glimmer of hope was all I needed. And so I ran until she eventually found me. Instead of killing me on the spot, she gave me an option: return her eye and stay with her, love her, and rule Dreadmoor forever by her side, or be banished to the Nightmare world and live a never-ending life of fear."

"You chose here, I'm assuming."

He chuckles as his fingers run over the dice. "I rolled for it. Odd, I stay, even, I go. Rolled snake eyes and thought I was finally free. She didn't like that outcome. She stole my dice and had her toys strap me down, chained for days as they covered me in these tattoos. Their needles dug deep, covering every inch of my skin, bleeding me out in the process. The pain was excruciating, far worse than any I'd ever experienced. Once they finished marking me, she forced me to walk behind her, chained like a dog as the metal rubbed the fresh ink, dragging me to the portal. She asked me one last time if I wanted to stay." He smirks. "I spat at her feet and ran through the blinding light. Couldn't leave her fast enough. Unfortunately, I nearly died getting through. It took forever for my tattoos to heal, not to mention the constant fight to survive."

"How long ago was that?" I ask softly while running my fingers over his knuckles.

"A lot longer than you'd believe, Doll face. You know how it is—us creations, we don't age. We live or die, whichever she chooses." I nod. I was nearly half a century old myself, a baby amongst the creations, having heard the tales of the Boogeyman since the day I was created. Stories of him have been spoken for centuries, detailing him as an old, cryptic monster. I could only imagine his true age, being the first.

"Blue," he sighs as I look at him. "I've shared more with you than the very bugs in my basement. I'm tired and all fucking talked out. Shit, I'd willingly take on a Nightmare if it means getting out of here and taking you back home." I huff out a laugh but take no offense to his words. I know what he just shared with me was something big, something painful and meaningful, something he planned to take with him to his death. Him opening up, telling me his past, truly makes me believe that maybe—just maybe—I'm not the only one falling here.

"Your ass stays here until I come back, or I'm tying you up." He grins. "And not in a fun way." He winks.

"Fine but hurry up. I don't like being alone in the dark." I carefully sit down, preparing for the darkness to take over in his absence. Firefly lifts one of the many hanging sheets, revealing a small cage with a green dragonfly inside. He opens the tiny cage, and it lands perfectly on his hand as he walks back, rotating my hands as he places it in my open palms. I smile at the glowing green dragonfly, watching as the color transforms from green to blue.

"Didn't think I'd leave you all alone now, did you?" I grin like a child, watching the dragonfly flutter its wings in my hand. "I'll be back, promise." He kisses my forehead before leaving the cave. I continue to smile at the dragonfly as it rests in my hand, watching the glow trickle onto my skin, the color a faint blue.

"I really am in love with him," I whisper to the bug in confidence.