Dollhouse { 𝓑𝔁𝓑 }

{ ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 II }

His inked fingers curling around the edge of the bed, his voice soft again.

"Etienne," he continued. "You're making this harder than it needs to be"

He crouched down beside the bed, his knuckles brushing against the floor.

"You can't hide forever. So, what's it going to be? Crawl out like a good little boy... or do I have to reach in and drag you out by that pretty blond hair of yours, hm?"

He stood up slowly, his shadow looming large as he straightened to his full height, his voice now a low growl.

"Last chance, Etienne. Come out, or I'll make sure you never forget what happens when you defy me. Don't make me count to three."

Etienne's wide eyes stared into man's black polished shoes under the bed, every muscle in his body tense with fear.

He wanted to disappear, to melt into the floor and escape this nightmare, but there was nowhere to go.

The footsteps stopped just beside him, and his voice dropped even lower.

"Etienne, if you don't come out by the count of three, you'll have to pay for the consequences."

Etienne trembled harder, pressing himself against the cold floor, his eyes squeezed shut as if that could make it all go away.

"One..."

"Two..."

Etienne squeezed his eyes shut even tighter, his whole body stiffening.

Please... let this be a nightmare, he thought. That scary mister... will end up killing me no matter what...

"Three..."

Suddenly, everything went quiet. No footsteps. No voice. Just silence.

Etienne's breath hitched, his pulse pounding louder.

What's happening? Did he leave? he thought, his mind swirling with confusion.

For a brief moment, he almost believed that maybe.
Just. Maybe. They had left him alone. That the nightmare had somehow passed. But then, without warning, a hand gripped his ankle roughly.

Etienne gasped, his body stiffening in shock as he was pulled out from under the bed. His world spun, the room blurring as he was dragged across the wooden floor. His fingers scrambled for something, anything to hold onto, but there was nothing.

"Found you."

Etienne's wide, tear-filled eyes locked onto the man on top of him.

The cruel smile on his lips sent a wave of fear through him, his body trembling as he struggled helplessly against the man's grip.

He kicked, squirming in desperation, but the boss's grip only tightened.

"Thought you could hide from me, Etienne?" he said. "You think I wouldn't find you, hm? How fucking cute."