Page 15
Chapter 14
Blue
My creator had fallen, dead at my feet,
Slain by his hand in our own defeat.
I stand still, shocked and confused. How can I move? What did he do? Oh my God, he really did it. He killed her. Our creator.
“Cheater!” Havoc’s shrill shriek echoes through the still air. I look from Firefly, his beautiful, glowing light and color gone from my sight, stolen with my black button eye, to Havoc. The rage and indignation on her face is truly terrifying.
Havoc is right, though: he cheated. I was to die, and yet the Spinster is the one on the ground, turning into dust. He killed her knowing that it could very well seal his fate. He killed her for me. My heart flutters at the sacrifice.
“Cheater! Cheater! Cheater!” Havoc hisses uncontrollably.
“Firefly,” I croak out, fear and apprehension filling me. “You did—you didn’t play the game fairly. W-what does this mean?” Are we free? Does he take over Dreadmoor? Is he the new creator? Will he die? There are many threads to consider when playing a game with the Spinster, but one thread was always consistent; You cheat, you die.
Firefly strides over to me, his hands gripping my face in a desperate embrace. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. I love you. Do you hear me? I love you,” he urges. “I love you, Blue. I am your Firefly, never again the Boogeyman. Do you hear me, baby?”
“No!” Havoc shrieks, shoving Firefly away from me. “No touches! No loves! NO FIREFLY! Cheaters are punished!” She puts her fingers in her mouth as a loud whistle echoes around us, quickly followed by a high-pitched squeal and chittering noise. I knew that noise. The room shakes, a roar growing as the shadowy creature makes itself seen.
The Widow.
“Sick him!” Havoc commands the monstrous spider.
“No!” I cry out as the monster dives onto Firefly, pinning him to the ground. Firefly cries out as one of the Widow’s dagger-like legs drives into his shoulder. I release a cry, gripping my own shoulder as the pain courses through me. “Havoc, please!” I beg her. “Stop this!”
“Cheaters are punished.” Havoc nods her head in satisfaction. “Butttt...” she taps her chin in thought before snapping her fingers. “Oh, Havoc has the BEST idea! To make things right again, Spider can take bug back to Nightmare. Dolly stays with Havoc for play time. Havoc loves dressing up dollies. So many changes!” She squeals with glee.
“No.” I shake my head.
“Bug must make things right, win fair and square, dolly.”
“Havoc!” Firefly rasps as the spider ties him in a web to drag him out of the room. “Let her go! You have me! Kill me, but let Blue go!”
“Havoc doesn’t want you!” She blows raspberries before looking back at me. “Havoc wants to see what makes dolly tick. Poke the guts. Needle and thread. Come now dolly, we have lots to explore.” I back away, glaring at her with all the hatred I have inside me.
“No, Havoc. Let us go. You have Dreadmoor. He and I will leave and never bother you again.”
Havoc’s smile falls as her eye twitches. “Come on, dolly. Don’t be a dumb?—”
“No,” I shout firmly as her face darkens.
“No? Oh, tsk, tsk, dolly, dolly, dolly...” Havoc claps her hands excitedly. “This is so exciting for Havoc! Dolly says no with all the force! Means she’s serious. She demands meaning serious outcomes, yes? Serious outcomes... Serious outcomes...” Her human eye rolls as her head follows suit. “Dolly says no, so let's see what Boogeyman is made of.” She slips up next to me. “If Havoc guts him, will the bugs fall out?” she whispers.
“Stop!” I cry out as Havoc prepares to lunge on Firefly while he struggles against the webbing. “Please, no... Havoc, not him.” Havoc gives me an expectant look, and I know— I know— I have to make the choice; send him to Nightmare where he will be safe and stay here with Havoc to die, or fight her and we both die.
I give Firefly one last look, our eyes meeting, knowing there’s only one choice. I can’t let him die. I won’t. Despite the heartache, I love him. I was conned into lusting after the Boogeyman, but I fell in love with Firefly, and I won’t allow the one I love to be hurt.
“Don’t,” he orders, though it’s weak and desperate as he struggles against the webs. “Baby, don’t do this, I’ll fix this. I’m not losing you.”
“Cheaters and losers, one and the same. Cheaters are losers, never winning the game,” Havoc mutters,and I steel myself while staring at his desperate face.
“Blue,” he whispers as I force myself to look away facing Havoc, my eyes burning from crying. I can’t look at his pleading face anymore. If I do, I’ll break.
“Send him to Nightmare,” I state, my voice hollow. “I’m ready to play your game, Havoc.”