Andy's Apple Farm: Dolce's Game

CHAPTER 23: ACCEPTANCE (pt. 3)

A/N: Dolce's internal narration / *Flashback/ Dream / Vision sequence*

Dolce stared up at Claus in bewildered, stunned silence in the dimly lit toolshed as he stood before her with Andy's axe in his gloved hand. He was no longer wearing his usual formal orange suit-coat and dress pants, but was now dressed in a black collared shirt, dark brown pants, and umber work boots.

"Claus...What the Hell are you doing? What is all this? Untie me dammit!" Dolce demanded, struggling against the rope tightly binding her hands and feet.

"I'm afraid I can't do that. You remember what I told you last time, don't you?" he flatly said, shutting the door behind him. He slowly moved in closer towards her...

"You can't be serious about doing 'this' now! What if that 'thing' that got to Mel and Felix attacks the house?! We need to-!"

"-The others have nothing to fear. I have the culprit right here before me." he coolly gazed down at her.

Dolce warily eyed the axe in his hand. Its blade seemed to glow from the moonlight reflected on its surface. Her heart began to race, but she did her best to hide her panic.

"Think about what you're doing; where we are." she tried to reason with him. "That's Andy's stuff you're using!"

"Indeed. Andy has always taken great care in providing for his farm. Everything he uses has its importance in tending towards its maintenance. But the equipment too will serve my purposes just as well in disposing of you." he calmly stated.

Dolce tried to inch back the best she could. "And what do you think will be the first thing the authorities look for searching for evidence? It's not rocket-science when they trace all this stuff back to Andy. What do you think will happen to him then huh?! You're going to betray your best friend by throwing him under the bus for your crime?!"

"If my crime is discovered so be it. I will admit full fault entirely. Andy has no knowledge of this and he has the others as his alibi."

"Like it'll be as simple as that." she bitterly spat. "And you think you'll be a hero by killing me and take the fall for it, like some martyr?"

"If it will ensure Andy's safety as well as our friends, I'll gladly surrender my freedom to achieve that,"

"And how do you think Andy will feel once he finds out his best friend murdered the love of his life?" Dolce then stopped and looked back briefly once she felt her back hit the wall.

"It will pain me to see Andy suffer...but in the end it is for the best. As least he will still be alive." Claus solemnly admitted.

"You're assuming too much for someone who prefers using logical reasoning." she bared her fangs a bit.

"You will not be able to talk your way out of this. You've proven more than enough times how dangerous and unstable you truly are. This is for the best—for everyone." he concluded.

"Once again, assuming a lot. All it takes is one good scream or shout, and your plan's busted. They'll wake up and hear, then come running and stop you." Dolce bluffed in an "undaunted" tone.

"It is you who is assuming too much. Did you think I would not have taken all factors into consideration in advance?" he bluntly countered.

He planted the axe down into the ground and took out a pre-tied rope loop. Trepidation rose within Dolce as her eyes fixated on the rope. He got closer and loomed over her before pressing his hand against her neck, holding her in place before forcibly looping the rope around her mouth. Dolce wriggled and resisted under him but he had managed to pull the end of the rope, securing the loop around her muzzle shut, preventing her from making any loud noises, biting or calling for help.