Dollhouse { 𝓑𝔁𝓑 }

{ ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 I }

"So, this is the boy, huh?" His voice was deep and husky, sending a shiver down Etienne's spine.

He extended his inked hand out as he gently rubbed his thumb over Etienne's lower lip. The touch was unsettling, sending a jolt of fear coursing through the boy. Etienne flinched, trying to move away, but he found himself frozen under the man's icy stare.

"Such a fragile little thing," he whispered. "You really don't belong in a place like this, do you?" He leaned in closer, his icy eyes staring into Etienne.

Etienne struggled to catch his breath, his wide pale blue eyes looking up at the beast's icy gaze. What does mister want from me? The questions raced through his mind, but he couldn't form them into words.

"Don't be scared, little one," the man continued, his thumb still resting on Etienne's lip, an intimate gesture that felt more like a threat than a comfort. "I'm not here to hurt you. At least, not yet." A smirk curled at the corner of his mouth, twisting his handsome features into something more sinister. "But you need to understand your situation. Your father's mistakes have consequences, and you-" he paused, leaning even closer, his breath warm against Etienne's cheek, "-are the price he's willing to pay."

Etienne's heart raced as the realization settled in. This man, with his ruthless demeanor and unyielding presence, was not someone to be messed with. He could sense the power he held over the situation, over him.

"Just think," he continued, pulling back slightly but keeping his gaze locked onto Etienne's, "if you play your cards right, maybe you'll come out of this unscathed. But if you make me angry..." His voice trailed off.

Etienne swallowed hard, trying to find his voice. "Please, don't hurt me," he finally managed to whisper, the words barely escaping his trembling lips.

The man's expression softened for a brief moment, as if he were genuinely considering Etienne's plea. "That all depends on your father, sweetheart," he said. "And right now, he's in deep trouble."
"Do you know what's going to happen next?"he said, his tone playful.

Etienne felt tears prick at the corners of his doe eyes. With all his strength, he pulled the man's touch away from his lip and stumbled back, the rough wooden floor creaking beneath him. His wide eyes reflected fear as he clutched the bunny tightly in his fist.

Etienne slowly stepped back, his heart racing as he fell back. Panic surged through him, fueling his legs as he turned and ran up the staircase. He felt the eyes of the men on him, heavy and watchful.

One of the men took a step forward as he reached out to grab Etienne but before the man could make contact, the man in the black suit interrupted.

"But boss-"

"Let him," he said, a playful smirk curling at the corner of his mouth, as if he were watching a game unfold before him."The more desperate he becomes, the more interesting things will get. Besides, we'll see how long he can hide before he realizes there's nowhere to run."

As Etienne reached his room, he slammed the door shut and locked it, pressing his back against. Etienne took a shaky breath, his pulse echoing in his ears. He touched the cross pendant around his neck, for comfort, his bunny still clutched tightly in his arms as he sank to the floor, legs giving up.

God, please protect me, he whispered silently. He closed his eyes, focusing on the faint rhythm of his breath, trying to drown out the panic rising within him.

Suddenly, Etienne's heart skipped a beat. The creak of rough, heavy footsteps echoed up the staircase, growing louder with each step. His chest tightened, every beat of his heart hammering against his ribs as panic surged through him. They were coming. He could hear the weight of their boots on the wooden floor.

The footsteps stopped just outside his door.

No, no, no, he thought, clutching the bunny tighter to his chest. He pressed himself against the door, his entire body trembling.

A soft knock. Then a pause.

"Come out, Etienne," the man in suit said. "You don't want us coming in there, do you? Open the door, sweetheart."

The tears Etienne had been holding back spilled over, streamed down his pale cheeks, but he didn't dare make a sound. His fingers gripped the bunny so tight it hurt, the familiar soft fur smeared with the sweat from his palms. Mommy, help me, he thought.

Etienne's body shook, fragile and soft like a doll, as if one touch would shatter him. He pressed the cross tighter to his chest, a silent prayer escaping his lips, Please... please protect me from this scary mister.

Etienne felt a cold sweat break out across his forehead. They were toying with him. They wanted to break him down, to force him to confront the beast lurking at his door.

"break it," said the man in suit.

"Yes, boss."

Etienne's breath caught in his throat as the words sank in, he threw himself toward the floor, crawling under the bed as fast as he could. His body trembled as he slid into the small, dark space, pressing his hand over his mouth to not make a noise.

The man in the suit stepped into the room, his polished shoes making the wooden floor creak loudly with each step. The sound sent a jolt of fear through Etienne's fragile frame, his trembling growing worse as he tried to make himself smaller beneath the bed.

Please don't find me. Please don't find me, he thought, his hand still pressed tight over his mouth.

"Where are you, little rabbit? Hmm?" he said, his voice husky and deep. But the voice grew closer. "I like this game, rabbit. Do you? The fear in you... it's delicious. I could feel it the moment I walked into this fucking room. You're scared, aren't you?"

He took a step closer. "That's what makes you fun. That's why I let you run, let you think you had a chance. But there's no escape. You know that, don't you?"

Etienne clutched his bunny tighter, his body shaking uncontrollably. The air felt thick, as the beast's footsteps drew closer to the bed, each step heavier.

"Come on now," he continued. "There's no need to make this harder than it has to be. We're just gonna have a little talk." He paused, his voice dropping into a whisper. "Don't make me drag you out, little rabbit. It'll be much worse if I do."