The Clown's Jester

IV

      My heart dropped with those words, I try to hide my fear as I speak, "What is it, mister Jack?" He clears his throat, staying silent for a moment before speaking with a hint of something in his voice, "What we did, with the kissing and you on my lap," he paused a moment, "your...-Jason wouldn't like it at all. And I'm telling you so you know that you have 2 options."

      My eyes widen with fear and sadness, "A-and they are...?" He speaks, emotion draining from his voice with every word, "You can choose not to tell him what we did-" I speak before I think, cutting him off, "I can't do that to my papa! If-if he found out, he'd be furious..."

      He sighs, several minutes of silence filling the room before he breaks it, "Then tell him the truth, and I'll tell him I forced you to." I cover my mouth, looking down at my knees. I wish I could cry so badly, it would help me feel better. A few sniffles leave me as I tremble, I grasp the fabric of my dress by my knees tightly. He must've heard me, even though I tried to stay quiet, because he turned to face me.

      I don't look up at him, but I can feel his eyes on me. I am trying to stop myself from trembling by holding my dress, I'm holding it so tightly my knuckles are white. All of a sudden he lays his hands on top of mine speaking, but this time his voice is comforting, "Don't worry, I'll be behind you, no matter which path you choose."

      I look up at him, seeing him smile, and I slowly loosen my grip as I begin to stop trembling, "P-promise...?" He nods, "I promise." I smile, leaping forward and bombarding him in a hug. For a moment, he doesn't move, and I begin to feel like I've done something wrong. As I begin to let go, he wraps his long arms around me, pulling me as close as possible.

      For once in my life, I feel conflicted about something. I've always felt so certain, I put my trust in papa and never question him. But in this moment, I'm not certain that I want to tell him what happened. What does this mean? Am I a bad child? Am I deserving of my papa's love?

      Mister Jack breaks me out of my thoughts when he kisses my forehead. I smile, nuzzling my face into his chest before speaking, "Mister Jack, would it make me a bad child if I choose not to tell papa...?" Just then I heard my door open, and Papa's voice coming from the doorway, "If you choose not to tell me what?" My eyes shoot open and I nearly jump out of my skin before I move from behind mister Jack to where I could see papa.

      I hold my hands, "If I...choose not to tell you...a-about..." Papa gets a serious and irritated look on his face, "Tell me what, Magnolia? Answer like a good girl, or I will have to punish you." I feel so scared, I have no idea what to do, if I could sweat I'd be drenched in it. I finally say, "If I choose not to tell you about seeing something outside of my window. I told mister Jack what it looked like, and he said that it was someone named Axel Tongue? Because I know you don't like people on the property."

      Mister Jack chuckles before turning and saying, "You mean Long Tongue." Papa stays silent for several minutes, and I feel more anxious as the seconds pass. Papa turns to face mister Jack and says, "Jack, is this true?" Mister Jack looks at him, nodding, "Yeah, she woke up because of a nightmare and ended up seeing him." Papa sighs, a slightly relieved sigh before holding his arms out as he walks over to me.

      I feel his arms wrap around me, and I hug him back as he speaks, "I'm so sorry I had to leave you with Jack, my dear. I wish you could've gone with me, but it simply wouldn't have been possible." I giggle, "It's okay, papa, I was a good girl." He stands up, releasing me from his grasp, "I know you were, the thing I was worried about was if Jack would behave, you are a very pretty young lady, and I wouldn't put anything past him." As he spoke the last bit, his eyes narrowed.

      I tilt my head, "What do you mean, papa?" He shakes his head, smiling, "It's nothing dear, grown-up business. Would you like to see your possible playmate?" Excitement fills me and I nod my head, "Yes, papa, I would love that." He holds his hand out to me and I take it as he begins to show me to the door of a room that I'm somewhat familiar with. It's the room papa punishes me in.

      I stop, fear striking me, "Y-you're not going to punish me, are you, papa?" He looks at me, raising an eyebrow before shaking his head, "No dear, your potential playmate is in here because he was a naughty boy." I feel a hand on my head, but it isn't papa, I look up to see mister Jack giving me a small smile.

      I look back at papa and nod, "Okay, papa, I trust you, as always." Papa smiles and then begins to open the door, stepping aside, "Ladies first." I swallow my fear and step through the door, seeing a boy strapped to a table on his back. I slowly walk up to him, seeing that he hasn't been turned into a doll yet, once his eyes land on me, he begins to struggle as he yells.

      "Magnolia! Magnolia, it's me! Maverick! Help me!" I stammer backwards, bumping into someone, my eyes not leaving the boy as he lifts his head to keep his gaze on me. I can see his spirit practically leave his body when he sees the person behind me. I feel hands on my shoulders before I hear papa's voice, "My dear, what do we say to naughty children who try to escape?"

      My eyes are wide with fear and worry, "Papa, who is he and how does he know my name?" Papa begins to usher me towards the boy before I wriggle out of his grasp and run to mister Jack, hiding behind him and latching onto his arm and just barely looking at papa. He says with a serious voice, "Magnolia, dear, you wanted to see him." I begin to tremble, I try to keep my voice calm as I say, "I don't want to anymore, papa, he's scaring me."

      I see the boy's face drain of all color when his eyes land on mister Jack. The boy speaks, "Magnolia, get away from them! You have to get out of here! Your parents have been looking for you ever since you disappeared!" I hide my face behind mister Jack's arm as my trembling begins to worsen, "M-mister Jack, I don't want to be around him anymore...he's loud, and scary, and thinks I'm someone else...And he has no manners at all..."

      Mister Jack kneels down to around my height and looks at me, "Would you like to go make some tea for your dolls?" I slowly nod and he stands up, looking at papa before speaking, "I'm going to take her to make some tea and then to her room." Papa looks at mister Jack, raising an eyebrow, "You seem to have grown fond of her rather quickly, Jack."

      The boy is laying there, dumbfounded by all that he's seeing and hearing. He then gets a mad expression on his face, "Now hold on just a minute! You two aren't raping her, are you?! You human scum!" Papa grew very angry at the boy's words, "Shut your trap, young man, that is no way to speak to an adult! Besides, my precious little doll doesn't need to hear such horrible words."

      Mister Jack begins to gently nudge me out of the room, but not before the boy says one last thing, "I love you, Magnolia...I always have."

~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter End~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me:  What a twist, huh?

Magnolia: I don't want him to be here anymore, he's quite scary and rude...

Jack: Don't worry, kiddo, it'll be okay.

Maverick: Hello? Is anyone there? If you're reading this, you have to get us out of-

Jason: *He closes the door to the room Maverick's in*He's so annoying. And to think I thought he'd make a good playmate for her since she knew him. 

Magnolia: So I did know him, papa?

Me: Ooooookaaayyyyy! Well, that's the end of the chapter. I threw in a little easter egg from her origin story, which you can also find on my profile. Have a great day and a good night.