Strong Body, Fragile Hearts

Her gardener, Unknowing

 Third Person POV

 I was about to scream at him some more when I felt something hard and heavy hit the back of my head. I collapsed and watched with half lidded eyes as Peter moved around to the front of me. When he saw my eyes were still open his eyes hardened to an almost fanatical gleam and he hit me with what I thought was a board again. Everything went black.  

Peter glared at the unconscious Bells, who was tied to a chair in the corner. " Snooping girl!" He exclaimed, jumping into the middle of the conversation, startling everyone into silence. "We should go ahead and kill her. Joker's plan failed, she figured out that Finni didn't have those pictures. Now we need to make sure she doesn't reveal our secret." 

Doll's mouth tightened into a thin line and she said quietly, "Why don't we ask Joker, both about this and about how our assignment to grab Lord Phantomhive may be compromised? We don't need to kill her. She may not know anything..." Doll was desperately hoping that her plea would convince some of the more rational first stringers to spare Bells's life. If it came down to it, she hoped Dagger would help her. She looked over at him pleadingly, hoping he would speak up on her behalf, but he refused to look at her and remained silent.  

"She has point." Beast spoke for the first time since she had walked into the tent and saw Bells tied to the chair. Everyone turned to look at her as she continued, "We need to warn Joker about the possible danger to the mission, especially since Suit, Black, and Smile, those new second stringers have all run off. It's best that someone leaves to tell him." Peter smiled, a frightful sight that sent chills down Doll's spine. "Doll, why don't you go ask Joker? You can take a horse and catch up to him." She looked around at everyone, begging for someone to come to her aid, to Bells aide, but no one would look at her. No one would take her side, not against Peter, especially since she had screwed up by talking to Smile. 

Doll looked coldly at everyone in the room and said, "Fine, I'll go." She felt her heart sink as Beast led her away to give her a horse. "It's not your fault." Beast said, and Doll looked down at her her eyes widening, "But? I-" she stuttered and Beast shook her head and smiled sadly, "It doesn't matter, but I will do what I can to ensure they don't hurt Bells. Now go!" Doll barely had time to direct the horse before Beast's hand came down on its flank and she vanished into the night. 

Beast returned to the tent to hear them debating about what to do with Bells, or rather Peter arguing on how they should kill her. "Why not take her with us?" Wendy proposed softly. Peter turned to his sister, "What do you mean? If we take her with us then we jeopardize the mission!" he exclaimed. "Or, we could use her as a bargaining chip. Phantomhive is sure to have some guards, they won't want to hurt her since Finni loves her." Peter paused as he opened his mouth, considering the idea. "It could work. We may be able to avoid bloodshed if we use her." Beast said. She maintained a calm facade though internally, she was pleading for the idea to work, at least Bells had a chance of surviving if this was the plan. Peter acquiesced to this idea and they mutually decided to hide Bells in the second storage tent until it was time. Jumbo would guard it; none of the second stringers would get passed him. 

Dagger carried Bells to the tent. He remained silent, he wanted to stop this, he wanted to let Bells go, but Peter would never allow it. Peter entered the tent shortly after Dagger had situated her inside and watched as Bells woke up.

Bells POV

I awoke with my head throbbing. I tried to reach up to check to see if I had a bump but my hands were bound. As I began to truly wake up I understood that I was tied to a chair, my hands and feet bound, my mouth gagged. Peter, the little shit, saw me awaken from his place on a box and he smiled and walked over to me. "Oh so you're awake, you little spy."  Peter leaned up and grabbed my hair, yanking my face closer to his. "I won't let you endanger us or this circus, got that?" Then he released my hair, patted my cheek and smiled. He left the tent and tears began to flow down my cheeks.

What were they doing, who were they covering for? Why had they resorted to this? I would never have hurt the first stringers they were my family! I heard  voices from outside the tent. I strained to hear who they were, maybe they would help me. My heart sank as I heard Peter's, Dagger's, and Jumbo's voices, coupled with... Snake's! This was great. Snake didn't seem to be involved in their schemes. I tried to to scream, to yell. To somehow get Snake's attention, but he couldn't hear me. I sagged against my restraints, it was pointless. I was trapped. 

My tears flowed. I couldn't understand it. Why would they do this to me? Beast, who was always willing to help me. Wendy, one of my closest friends. Peter, who used to help me sneak sweets from Joker's personal stash that he kept. Jumbo, who was really just a gentle giant. Dagger, who was a true clown, helping me learn new tricks and never treated me like I was useless. Joker, my older brother in many ways. Doll, Doll my mentor, Doll my best friend. 

Memories began to cycle through my mind. Wendy, Peter, and I laughing together. Dagger and I performing tricks together. Beast helping me do my hair for my first performance. Joker winking and sneaking me extra treats at dinner. Doll and I doing everything together. I wept all the harder for these precious memories that were being tarnished by their actions.

A/N: Hi Guys, I just wanted to let you know that I am working on the latest up date for this story however, I won't be publishing it until I get at least 50 reads and 10 votes on this chapter, come on guys, I have 1.5K reads and 75 votes that's pitiful, so NO MORE SILENT READERS!!!!! Thank you my rant is over, and to those of you who do vote, thank you and continue voting please!!!