8. Firefly

Chapter 8

Firefly

" F -Firefly!" I smirk at her name for me as she arches against my mouth, my tongue twisting and flipping around her throbbing clit. That's right, Doll face. Scream my name . I grip her thighs as her legs tremble beneath my hands, another orgasm rolling through her tight body that I greedily lap up. Fuck, she tastes so good. It has to be a sin to consume something this delicious. I look up as her dreamy smile tugs at her full lips, and I know she's seeing color.

It's interesting; Blue can see color if I'm exposed, or during an orgasm, making the last couple of days quite entertaining. My cock has never been so sore, and that's saying something. We've had to make do with what we could. I can't have her over at my treehouse all the time. Those assholes who linger around might start something, and I still don't know if or what the Spinster can see through Blue's eyes, so I come to her. It's easier and much more private. Plus, we can be as loud as we want without having to worry about an unwanted audience. We've taken to boarding up the windows in the upstairs office of her home, ensuring that I can be fully naked without others seeing me, but glowing perfectly just for her. Right now though, I never thought I'd say this but, I need to let my dick rest.

Blue is addicted. To sex or the color, I don't know, but she won't stop, and though my stamina is high, even I need a cool-down period. For me being her only sexual adventure, she sure seems to have an appetite, much like my own. So, here we are– her spread out on the old, dusty desk, legs over my shoulders, while I sit in this chair and enjoy my fucking feast.

"How many orgasms do you think you can have before it kills you?" I muse while nipping the inside of her thigh. I might be enjoying myself a little too much.

"I-I don't know," she dreamily pants, "but I'm willing to find out. Y-you know, for science." I can't help the laugh that escapes me. Blue's funny as fuck, filled with this fiery spark that flickers with attitude. It's kind of sad, though, because I rarely see it. Blue is very shy and unsure of herself. She has little confidence and seems damaged—unlike any other creation. Her fire shows up every now and then, but it's always short-lived, snuffed out by her lingering trauma. I want to see more of it, I want to experience more of her, but that kind of pain is rooted far into her being, and not so easily forgotten. Honestly, it reminded me of myself.

I shake my head, pushing the dark thoughts away and begin sliding her legs off my shoulders. I grip her hips and move her off the desk and onto my lap. I can't help but smirk while watching her breasts bounce at the movement, her nipples still tender and healing from our little piercing session.

"You're so pretty." Her words startled me. I jerk back to look up at her as her fingers graze my cheek.

"Huh?" is my intelligent response, causing her to giggle. The sound is... well, it's beautiful. It's a soothing, sweet melody I'm not used to hearing. The first time she made that noise, I was so startled, I felt like I needed to get as far away from her as possible. Fuck, maybe I still do. I'm supposed to be making her fall in love with me, and here I am, enjoying the sound of her laughter.

"I said , you're really pretty." I let out a huff, unsure of how to respond. Not many women have called me pretty. Honestly, I think Havoc is the only other one besides Blue. Pretty bug. That's what she calls me. Fucking annoying, really. "Don't play shy," she scolds, tapping the tip of my nose. "You know you are."

"Am what? Pretty? No, I don't think anyone has ever looked at the Boogeyman and thought, ‘Wow, there's a pretty monster'." I rolled my eyes, tsking.

"I'm not looking at the Boogeyman." She leans in, her lips brushing over mine softly. "I'm looking at my Firefly, and he is no monster. Misunderstood, sure, but not a monster." God, she knows exactly what to say.

"You have no idea how wrong you are—fuck—" I whimper as her small, delicate hand wraps around my aching cock. I gotta give it to him, he's dead yet still getting hard. I'm not sure I have ever enjoyed sex as much as I have recently. Blue raises up, angling my cock at her wet entrance before sitting back down. I roll my head back at the tight, warm feeling.

"You are a problem," I chuckle weakly through my moan as she grinds against me.

"Not all problems are bad," she pants while gripping my hair and tugging it roughly. The way she embraced our rules, taking control and doing as she pleased... How am I not supposed to melt at the aggressive dominance? I liked it, probably a little too much.

"Fuck!" I stand up and lay her on the desk again so I can thrust into her deeper, selfishly wanting more. "Goddamn it, I want to stay buried in this pussy forever."

"I'm okay with that. Oh! Harder, harder!" she screams, and I feel her clamp down on my cock so tight, I nearly can't move. I thrust faster, my movements become erratic as I feel myself release inside her, groaning into the air, unleashing everything. Fuck .

I lean over as she reaches up and kisses me, her sweet tenderness surprising me, before leaning back onto the desk her elbows. "I like you," she breathes with a smile. My blood runs cold, and fucking Christ, I want to run. This is what I want, what I need, and now that she's confessing... I would rather her despise me at this point. Suddenly, it all feels wrong.

Blue knocks on my head, pulling me out of my dark thoughts, and I see her holding my dice in her hand. "Wanna play a game?" she asks, and I raise a brow, impressed by her stealth of retrieving them without me knowing.

"Considering our games usually end in this situation, I feel like it's a wasted roll." I grin, blowing a few stray strands of my dark hair from my face.

"I was thinking more like a roll for truths," she suggests, sitting up and grabbing her dress. I slip my pants on, wincing at my now wet and sore cock as I adjust myself and sit back in the chair. "Odd, you, even, me?" She rattles the green cubes in her hand, biting her lower lip.

"Alright, I'll give you one." The smile on her face twists at my heart as she sits back on my lap and rolls the dice across the desk, filled with excitement. Fuck. I grimace at the four and three facing up. "You know, I've won more rolls since you've been around me than in my entire life." This seems to make her happy, because she looks up to me, her smile so big that her dimples pop. It's fucking adorable... Damn it.

"Maybe I'm just your lucky charm." She boops my nose and laughs while leaning against the desk. I take a deep breath to ready myself for whatever her question is.

"Maybe. Now, ask your question."

"Okay, eager beaver," she teases as she considers me. I wait for it, contemplating what she might ask: how many people have you killed? What's your real story with the Spinster? Do you like me too? The possibilities feel endless, but nonetheless, I mentally prepare myself. One of these I'll be able to answer. Then again, I went into this game on my own. I don't cheat when it comes to a game.

"What's with the dice?" I don't expect that question to fall from her lips.

"Well," I reach over and pluck the dice from her hand, "it's kind of hard to gamble without them."

"Ha ha," she bites. Oh, sarcasm. I like it. "I mean, why these dice? What's so special about them that you always have them on you?"

"Nothing, actually." I shrug as my fingers play with the blue strands of her hair. "These are just temporary replacements until I have my set back." It comes out with a little more anger and hostility than I intended, but I'm reminded of the fact that the cunt still has my dice. My only fucking possession. I feel my jaw tense as memories I'd rather keep tucked away try to claw their way to the surface.

"Where's your set?" My eyes snap to hers, and something niggles at the back of my mind. Don't do it. It whispers, but I ignore it.

"With your creator," I spit out, causing her to flinch at my words.

"You say it as though I have any more choice in it then you did." She whispers and I shrug. "I didn't ask to be made."

"No, but you stuck around, did her bidding—" I watch her head droop and stop myself from digging any deeper. "Anyway, she took my set. Stole them. And now, she has them locked away somewhere in her precious Dreadmoor. I still remember how they look, the deep red the same color as fresh blood. I had carved skulls across the surfaces, marking them. I still remember the way they felt in my hand, the perfect weight for a perfect roll. It makes me sick to know that she still has them, just sitting there, possessing them as a way of toying with me, knowing their worth."

"Which one is red?" she asks. I smile softly, pointing to the color inked just under my chin. "Red," she whispers, memorizing the hue. Her fingers trace the tattoo as I watch her brows furrow, creating a sweet little line on her forehead. "I could get them for you." My knees nearly give way at the shock of her words. Blue would venture into Dreadmoor?

"What? How?" Blue shrugs as she slides from my lap and walks around the desk, running the tip of her finger across the surface.

"Havoc goes through the portal, right? Traveling from Nightmare to Dreadmoor. And I came through when I landed here. So why couldn't I go back, same as Havoc does? I'm sure it's possible. I could do it, Firefly," she chimes, excited to do such a thing. Blue places both her hands against the top of the desk, her dual-colored button eyes reflecting my body's glow. "I could go to Dreadmoor, get your dice, and bring them back. To you." I have to force myself to blink, unsure if what is happening is real or a simple figment of my imagination.

I follow her around the desk, grabbing her by the side of the neck and tilting her face up toward mine. "And why would you do something that reckless?" I manage over the dry lump forming in my throat. What I really want to know is why would she do something that reckless... for me? But I fear her answer. I fear the answer because it might be the exact one I'm needing, the answer I've been scheming toward.

She shrugs again. "I have feelings for you. You're supposed to do nice things for those you care for, right?" I'm suddenly itchy all over, and it's hard to breathe. Feelings. "Firefly?" I blink, looking at her expectant gaze. Right. She expects me to say it back.

"Wanna try something?" I ask while tapping the dice on the desk. Her eyes flicker and a small smile forms over her lips.

"You sure you have the energy?" she taunts, and I bark out a laugh of surprise.

"One way to find out," I muse. "Alright, odds, I fuck you in the mouth, even, you pick." Her hand goes to those peachy lips, and I have to fight the growl in my throat. Sore cock or not, I've been fantasizing about her choking on my cock for far too long. And if I can also get her to change the subject– win, win.

"Okay," she whispers, and I smirk while tossing the dice, my eyes never leaving hers. "Seven," she whispers before I capture her mouth with my own. She whimpers against my lips, and my sore dick comes back to life. "What do I do?" Her question is so sweet and innocent.

"Pretty doll." I kiss her lips softly once more before standing and unfastening my pants. "On your knees, Doll face," I order softly, reveling in her eagerness to submit. She falls to her knees and looks from my cock to my face, waiting for further instruction. "Open," I strain out, nearly falling to my own knees as she opens her perfect mouth, her sweet tongue sticking out slightly.

"Perfect," I whisper, lining my cock up with her mouth. "Fucking perfection." Blue's tongue runs along the underside of my cock, and I nearly lose it right then. "Pinch my thigh if it becomes too much." I grunt, shoving my length down her throat. She gags and, fucking damnit, the power she has in this moment. If she knew she could rule me, own me with just a snap of her fingers... The realization terrifies me, not enough to stop though.

"Suck, Doll face, yessss..." I hiss as her cheeks hollow and I guide her head back and forth. "Let's see if you can take it all," I rasp, burying myself further down her throat. "Oh fuck, that's my good girl... Perfect... R-right there." Throwing my head back, I release a growl as I feel myself about to hit my umpteenth orgasm. "Fuck!" I grip her hair as I ram myself down her throat. She gags and grips my wrists as I release myself in her throat. "Swallow," I growl as I grip her throat. Once I feel her throat working, I release myself from her mouth and lean back. If I come again within the next day, it might literally stop my heart.

"What's wrong?" I ask, helping her to her feet. She gives me a frustrated stare.

"No color?" She pouts, causing me to chuckle lightly.

"Doll face, you didn't come, I did. Would you like me to give you another?"

She shakes her head. "Save it for when I get back with your dice." She beams.

"You're really going to do this?" She nods excitedly. "Just because you think you like me?"

"I know I like you, and yes, again, it's what you do for those you like and care about."

"I wouldn't know," I mutter, standing as I grab my suit and put it on over my clothes so we can go out of the house. We exit the office and begin to walk down the hallway. "I don't like anyone." I flinch from behind my mask at the pained look on her face as she hears my words.

"Y-you do that with everyone you don't like?" she asks while jutting her thumb over her shoulder toward the office door. I chuckle lightly.

"Alright, I might not dislike you entirely." What am I saying?

She reaches up and lifts my mask over my lips before pressing her mouth to mine. The kiss is soft, with a passion I don't deserve, but I let her, enjoying it a little too much.

"You may be Nightmare's Boogeyman, but you're my Firefly, so stop acting like some cold, heartless villain." She smiles, licking my lips.

"Doll face, I am a cold, heartless villain," I murmur, reaching for her lips again. God she's delicious . Her hand presses against my chest, tugging at the burlap material.

"Hmmm..." She cocks her head to one side. "That's so strange." Her hand rests atop my heart. "You say you're heartless, and yet I feel something hammering away in this muscular chest of yours." She smacks my chest, grinning as she continues to walk down the hall, her ass shaking perfectly as she sways.

Oh, fuck... I like her.

HAVOC

"Are you sure about this?" Boss asks the pretty Dolly.

Games, games, games. Games shouldn't have feelings, and yet, boss plays the strings of Dolly's heart. Ting, ting, ting, he plays her like a string. Naughty boss bug, tricking his blue doll into a trap.

"I'm not sure this is such a good idea," Charisma chimes in their voice. Such a pretty thing. Havoc always likes Charisma's bright eyes and hair. Like fresh cotton candy. Havoc thinks it would taste sweet. Just one bite, maybe? No. Bad Havoc, focus on the game. Boss man said, no bites on friends.

"Charisma is right. Who knows what's waiting on the other side. Or how your t—" Big bad Sullen stops as boss man growls him a warning. Demon almost said the bad word, we don't call Dolly the bad word. Sullen's nervous face looks delicious, making Havoc giggle. Sullen clears his throat as he continues to speak, " Blue , might not survive. Not that I care much for dolls or creations myself." Liar. Black eyed Sullen loves to paint his pale face with doll's blood. He likes playing with them, but he breaks his toys. And never shares. Rude little devil.

"Havoc," Boss man's voice grabs Havoc's attention. Havoc's eyes shoot to his mask. Such a dull itchy face. Makes Havoc want to scratch, scratch, sccccratchh . "Do you think it'll work? Do you think Blue can get through?" The human eye of Havoc's rolls and swirls, round and round, as she rolls an ‘M' from her tongue.

"Why not? Dolly came through, Havoc came through. Havoc goes out—" Havoc cocks her head as it droops like mud on her arm. "Dolly goes out. We walk through light and open the door." Havoc remains still, her brain sleeping as she stares into the darkness. Dead thoughts.

"So, you think it'll work? You think Blue can get through?" Havoc nods, hearing rattles in her brain. Such pretty music. "Havoc?" The music stops as boss man grows bigger, walking toward her. "You need to keep an eye on Blue. I need you to protect her, keep her safe. Do you hear me?"

"Spiders eat bugs. Bugs burn in the light," Havoc mumbles. Blue's buttons sparkle in the moonlight, shiny and new. Eyes . "Havoc always keeps her eye on Dolly!" Havoc jumps, saluting the mean old bug. "Havoc does as Havoc is told. Let's go play, Dolly!"

"Wait!" Boss is too late. Havoc has Dolly, and Havoc is going through the light.

"Bugs to the light!" Words make Havoc giggle. "To Dreadmoor, we go! Needle and thread mean we're dead," The blinding light burns as Dolly screams. "Fly bug! Together, you burn!" Our bodies hit the ground with a smash.

Dolly groans, pain in her face and bones. "Havoc?" she cries, with sleepy eyes. "Where?—"

"Havoc wins!" Havoc dances, waving her arms. "Dolly returns to Dreadmoor!"

Firefly

I anxiously continue my pacing as I wait for Havoc and Blue's return from Dreadmoor. They have been gone for hours, leaving me to sit in an endless waiting game I don't much prefer. This guilt; why do I feel it? This was a test, to see if Blue could not only make it to Dreadmoor and back, but if she liked me enough to risk her life for me. This was the plan all along, the one I rolled for, and yet, here I stand, ill from worry of what could be keeping her away. Did she get caught by the spinster? Did she get back there and decide she wanted nothing to do with this place... with me? The sheer thought makes my heart sink.

"Boss man," Charisma breathes out in shock, pointing to the portal as Sullen wraps his arm around their waist. I turn my head to where they're looking and see Havoc stepping through the beaming light, appearing from the otherside. I watch through my mask, noticing she's all but carrying Blue. I run up to them and my heart plummets as I stare at her in shock. She's cut and beaten, visibly destroyed as her head hangs low. I quickly remove my glove, my glowing hand lifting her chin and when she looks up at me?—

"Oh my God," I say over the lump in my throat. Her soft, sweet lips are violently stitched shut in a perfect x pattern, the thick thread pulling at her skin as her blood drips from the incisions. "Blue," I coo, running my fingers gently over her swollen, bruised, discolored cheek. She winces softly, tears streaming down her dirtied face as I snap my hand back.

"Toys are marching two by twos," Havoc pants out as she looks behind her. "Boss man, take Havoc's Dolly, fix, make her sing songs again. Havoc will play with the toys. Make them sing new songs." I nod as I decipher Havoc's threatening words before turning to Charisma and Sullen.

"I need you to stay and help Havoc. Keep whatever comes through that portal back."

Charisma flicks their lavender boa across their shoulders as Sullen crosses his arms. "Say less," they wink. "Havoc, if anything ruins my shoes," Charisma rotates their foot, the moonlight reflecting off the purple leather boots. "I'm coming for you."

"Havoc will make sure there's no mess for pretty Charisma," she cackles. "Sullen can have the messy ones."

Sullen smiles, his lips curling as his teeth sharpen with glee. "Happily," he laughs methodically. "Let me play with toys. I love a good blood bath."

"Calm down there, little devil." Charisma flashes Sullen a cheeky smile. "Save that enthusiasm for me." They wink at Sullen, their skeletal face paint glowing much like Sullen's smeared face, reflecting his demon appearance.

Looking at Charisma and Sullen, I ensure they will stay with Havoc as they all nod. I carefully lift Blue from Havoc's arms into my own, cautious of her many wounds. She releases a muffled cry due to her stitches, and my blood begins to boil. How dare that cunt do this to her?

"It's going to be okay, Doll face," I say softly, despite my true feelings, as I quickly maneuver us away from the portal and through the woods. That fucking bitch. We might be playing a game, but that doesn't mean she had to do this to Blue. If she wants a fight, then I'll give her— I feel Blue's cool hand slip under my mask and rest on my overheated neck, as if sensing my fuming rage. The tender coolness of her touch grounds me, reeling in my anger, and temporarily tamps down my blinding rage. "I got you, Blue," I whisper, holding her tight as we continue to venture deeper into the woods, the outline of the treehouse just within our sights.

Together, we slowly slip away into the darkness of my treehouse. I make my way to the basement, knowing it's her favorite spot, and that the presence of my colorful bugs will cheer her up. We carefully descend the creaky staircase until the room comes to life, the bugs all chittering her welcome. I watch her face beam as the colors come alive in her button eyes. God, she's beautiful.

Blue's eyes move from the bugs, up at me. She goes to speak, attempting to move her tightly sewn lips before letting out a painful cry. My heart aches at her pain, watching a tear fall down her cheek as blood drips down her chin. "Don't," I rasp while trying to calm her, to stop her from trying to speak as I carefully sit her down on the ground, removing my mask and suit. I grab the small knife on the table and sit next to her, inhaling deeply. "Come here. Let me see what I can do."

Her fingers touch her lips, and she shakes her head no.

"Blue..." My voice cracks in pain as I reach out to her. I'm trying with everything in me not to show my anger, to not allow her to see the rage brewing below the surface, but I fear I'm not hiding it well. "Blue," I say a little more sternly. "Please, come here." She's hesitant, but she comes over to me, slowly straddling my lap before looking up at me. Another tear rolls down her delicate cheek as she tries to open her mouth slightly, tearing her flesh.

"Don't," I snap, my voice breaking. "Doll face, you'll tear your mouth. Fuck, Blue, you're still bleeding." I raise my hand to try and carefully stop the bleeding. It's no use. I need to undo what has been done. "I'm going to cut this, and then I'll get the threads out. I'm going to fix this, Blue. I promise." I take my small blade and slide the sharp edge beneath the thick thread, against her full lips. We both sit for a second, our anxiety rising, her lips bleeding as I try not to harm her. My hand trembles as I exhale and carefully cut the first string with a snip as her tears continue to fall.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, cutting the second thread. "I'm so fucking sorry." She has no idea. I'm sorry for the pain I'm causing her, for getting her to go to Dreadmoor, for making her like me in the first place. She doesn't deserve this. She doesn't deserve to be used as a pawn in this game, as a means to a win. And for what? I knew she'd never get my dice. Those were a lost cause, but I needed to know if she could get through to Dreadmoor. And she can. Not only did she get through and survive, but she was able to get back, and it seems the Spinster had sent her back to me, her mouth sewn shut as a clear message. She was always one step ahead.

"What the fuck?" As I cut another thread, blood begins to pour from Blue's mouth, dripping down her chin and pouring over the front of my shirt. I stare at her in horror as she continues to cry, tugging her lips. Something is inside her mouth, it's hurting her. I feel my anxiety rise as I quickly cut the rest of the threads, the pressure from the strings popping fueling my panic further with each completed snip. Her mouth opens with a garbled gasp, and something falls out onto my lap, coated with her mixed blood and saliva. She cries out, panting at the pain and sudden rush of air as I pick the objects up, my heart stopping immediately.

My dice.

I look up to her, blood and saliva still running from her opened mouth. "Y-you got them," I whisper. They feel so heavy in my hand, the red of her blood matching their color perfectly.

"I-is." She inhales sharply, coughing on her blood. "Is that t-them?" she asks. I can't help but to stare at the dice, completely robbed of words. "I wasn't sure, i-if it was them. All color looks the same in Dreadmoor. But..." She wipes her mouth, wincing as her sleeve smears the blood across her skin. "But I remembered what you said about the skulls." My fingertip traced the hand-carved skulls.

"But how?—"

"I hid them," she whispers so softly I can barely hear her. "In my cheeks, then when... when she stitched—" She lets out a sob as her fingers tremble over her lips, her arm shaking violently. "When she stitched my mouth, I moved them to press on the roof so she wouldn't feel them in my cheeks. The corners are still so sharp. They cut me." I feel the sharp edges cutting the edge of my thumb as I rub them. I don't think there's ever been a time in my entire existence that I've hated someone as much as I do myself right now. Not even the bitch Spinster is at this level. And the worst part is, I knew this could happen. I knew she could end up going there and getting hurt or killed. And I allowed it. I allowed a sweet, beautiful girl who has a laugh that makes me feel things in my chest go alone to fight my battle. And she went. She went willingly, risking her life just to get me these dice, even though she ended up beaten and tortured. Because she likes me.

"They are yours, right?" she croaks out, her hand still hiding her mouth.

"Yes," I whisper hoarsely, setting the dice down. "Does it hurt to speak?" I ask, trying to move her hand. She stops me and shakes her head.

"No. I-I mean, it hurts b-but it's fine. I should go, though." Go? Where is she going?

"What? Where? Why? No. Let me finish helping you." Blue stands, her legs shaking with exhaustion as she starts for the stairs, but I grab her wrist to stop her.

"Ah!" she cries out, and I jerk my hand away, seeing the cause of her pain– her wrist is viciously bruised, the skin dark and almost purple, unlike her usual faint blue tone.

"Doll face?—"

"Good night, Firefly." Blue quickly steps onto the stairs.

"Please." I desperately force the foreign word out as she freezes. Turning around she still has her mouth covered as she stares at me, her brows pushed together in confusion. I drop to my knees, my eyes burning into hers as she stares down at me. "Please, Blue. Don't leave here, don't—don't leave me. I can't—fuck..." I grit out. This is so fucking hard. "I can't—Blue, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I put you in danger. I'll never allow it to happen again. But please, if you leave me here alone, I'm going to put on that suit and that fucking mask, and I'm going to hurt everyone for what happened to you." My throat burns as I growl the words, fighting back a wave of emotions. I need her to stay, to be with me.

"No one here hurt me, though," she whispers.

"It doesn't matter. I can't get to her , so I will cause everyone pain here. Blue, doll, you're the only thing stopping me from becoming the Boogeyman right now, and I genuinely believe it's because I don't want you to be afraid of me. Please, I–I don't want to be him right now." I feel so vulnerable, so exposed, kneeling at her feet, pleading with her, a creation, to save me.

Blue considers me for a moment before slowly stepping back down the staircase and walking to me, carefully dropping to her knees. A pink dragonfly lands on her nose before flying off as it makes her giggle, warming my soul. God, that laugh.

"Pink, right?" she asks, watching it flutter away. I nod softly.

"You're learning." I'm so fucking proud of her.

"I wasn't leaving because of you, Firefly." She picks at her nails. "I was leaving, b-because I'm embarrassed." What? "I mean, look at me." She points to her face, her expression soaked in pain and sadness. "I'm sure I look an absolute mess! I don't want you to see me this way. To see me so ugly."

"Blue... " I grab her hand gently as I bring it to my face. "How do you not see yourself as you are?" Chuckling lightly, I continue. "It amazes me to think you have no idea just how stunning you are." She lowers her eyes, a heaviness weighing on her mind.

"I see myself as I am. I'm not beautiful or pretty or strong. I'm just a to?—"

"Don't," I snap at her. "You are not a toy. You know that better than anyone. Don't you dare soil your name by calling yourself a toy."

Her laughter has a melancholic edge to it as she shakes her head. "I'm nothing but scraps, Firefly," she cries, the words morphing into light sobs. "Do you think the Creator purposely chose this for me? I am made of broken parts and pieces. I don't think or act like the others because I am nothing like them. I am a mistake, sewn together with bitterness and disdain. I am nothing."

"Don't say that. Blue—" I try to interrupt, but she cuts me off with a shake of her head as she stands up, making her way back towards the steps.

"Where are you going?" I demand, quickly following after her. She doesn't respond. No, I won't let you leave. I reach out and grab her wrist, but she lets out a pained cry as I quickly release her again. "Sorry," I whisper, taking her hand gently to examine her injured wrist. My scowl deepens as I see the dark bruises and cuts marring her skin on both arms. "Blue, were you—were you chained?" I grit out, my anger reaching its tipping point.

"Yes," she whispers weakly, snatching her wrist away and cradling it against her chest. "S-she had me chained while she stitched my mouth—hey, where are you going?"

I stop in my tracks, having raced halfway up the stairs, and look down at her slumped figure. "I'm going to find a way into Dreadmoor," I say firmly. "I'm going to grab that bitch and shove my fist so far down her throat, I'll rip out her intestines and strangle her with them as she watches me kill her with those fucking button eyes of hers."

"Why? If you don't die crossing the portal—which you know you will—why would you risk giving her the upper hand? Why would you risk getting hurt or killed?"

"Because she hurt you!" I bark out, punching the wall with all my might. The bugs immediately fall into darkness, their color snapping to blackness, startling Blue more than my temper. The aching pain is a brief distraction from the seething rage coursing through me. "Goddamnit, Blue! Why can't you fucking understand? You. Are. Important. You're not just some toy! Not to me." She silently begins making her way up the stairs, her eyes locked on me. As she passes by me, she stops on the step ahead of me and places a hand on my chest before leaning in to kiss my cheek softly, her bloody lips brushing my cheek.

"That's sweet of you to say," she murmurs. "But Firefly, I was nearly killed over a pair of dice. I am disposable, both to her and—" She stops, swallowing her sentence. "To you." No. "Now please, just let me go home and rest. And I beg you, don't follow me. Don't come to my window tonight or wait outside my door, Please, just—just leave me be." I want to argue, to fight for her safety, but I see the exhaustion in her eyes and think better of it.

Reluctantly, I step aside and let her pass, ascending the stairs and leaving me alone in my basement.

Blue .