Tonny froze. He heard the whistle of a fast flying object. Something sharp pierced his eye-socket and pain shot through him. The pain quickly subsided, as he was already dead, but the emotional turmoil roaring inside him was worse than any physical damage he received. Blood streamed down his cheek, and half of the world seemed the go dark.
He couldn't seem to find the strength to move, but with some amount of effort, his hand slid to the knife in his eye. The stage lights burned into his skin like fire, and the crowd's murmuring only served to worsen his mood.
He tightened his grip around the blade. He recognized the handle... the way it felt in his hand. He felt sick to his stomach, and he bit his tongue to stop from gagging. No- Julia wouldn't... how did she...?
It was THAT knife. The one he'd taken so many lives with... he seared with guilt. His guilt shifted to a mix of rage and betrayal.
"What... what is this...? Julia...?" His voice quivered as he spoke.
This was no accident. She intended to kill him.
"The dead clown's moving!"
"He's alive!"
The crowd lit up with an uproar of terror and disbelief, and Tonny couldn't agree more. He half wished he wasn't alive, just so he wouldn't have to see that look on Julia's face. She almost seemed regretful, and it broke his heart.
Julia made her way to center stage, tears welling in her eyes. What's she doing?
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the chilling Anthonn Gremminger's Horror Circus!" She yelled, her arms making wide gestures.
Tonny felt his heart tug. She's trying to cover it up... but why?
"For the first time for you all, our new horror show!"
The crowd hesitated, seemingly unsure of whether they liked this "new show". Dotty waved her hand, motioning for the others to follow.
"Come on everyone! Quick!" She whispered.
"Welcome to your worst nightmare!" Julia announced.
The other performers bustled onto the stage, some of them with scary masks, or knives in their heads (Tonny knew that feeling all too well...), or just really anything sort-of-scary they could put together on the spot. Dotty had removed her head, similar to when Kamille had found her, and was showing off to a surprisingly engaged audience. But, Tonny had other things on his mind.
He tore the dagger from his eye, feeling it rip through the tender flesh as his eye began to regenerate. He brandished the tip with his fingers, looking down at the blade with hostile eyes. His stare locked with Julia's, and his heart felt about to shatter. He didn't know what he felt, what he wanted, or really what to do... but he certainly didn't appreciate Sahed's guest appearance. The ah'khon swept her into his arms, carrying her backstage.
"We need to get out of here now that they're distracted!" Sahed urged, his usual smirk apparent on his face.
Tonny didn't catch the rest, but a piece of the puzzle seemed to click in his mind. Sahed. You bastard.
He'd forced her to kill him. He knew that. The guilty look in her eyes, the way he'd ran off in a panic with her after their little performance, but most importantly, he held her contract. He could make her do anything. The thought left Tonny anxious, tightening the grip on his blade. I'll kill him if I have to.
Julia and Sahed were talking hurriedly, trying to get into the attic. Their panicked whispers soon turned to audible yelling, and Tony knew exactly what they were doing.
"Open it again!" Sahed demanded.
"I don't know how!" She yelled back helplessly.
"Damn it! We have to find another place to hide," He snapped, "We need some time to think about our next move."
Julia recognized the sound of footsteps behind them. Her eyes widened as she turned towards the familiar voice,
"So that's what you're trying to do... hide like cowards after what you've done?" Anthonn's normally cheery tone was sour, leaving a bad taste in her mouth.
"Shit! Too late." Sahed cursed.
Tonny's voice was cold, despite his internal wounds, "This is... disappointing."
His emotions were a torrent, tearing him apart from the inside. To think I thought you might... No. Dotty had just been wrong. Plain wrong.
"Seize him!" He ordered.
"I don't think so!"
Sahed reached into his bag that hung by his waist, his fingertips becoming blackened. Bob grabbed his wrist tightly, restraining him.
"You should've pumped up your magical muscles in advance, Sahed. But as usual, you're terrible at making plans."
"Let me go!" Sahed yelled, pulling against Bob's grip.
Julia called out to him- him of all people- and Tonny had to hold back from slapping her to her senses. The blood was beginning to dry and crust around his makeup, forming a teardrop-like shape below it. It itched like all hell, but he'd never admit that. At least not now.
"Despite how unhinged you've been lately," Tonny taunted, "I'd never have imagined that you would be capable of trying to kill me. Not you."
Tonny slowly circled him as he spoke. It felt good to finally be in control for once. Maybe if Sahed were out of the picture, it could always be like this...
No. He'd seen the amount of verbal uproar against him time and time again. Julia and Sahed's plan only served to make him more frustrated. These two were merely distractions.
"Don't pretend you haven't pushed me to my limit. You've left me no choice." Sahed retorted.
Tonny drew in a shaky breath. It's not my fault. Perhaps killing him wasn't the best idea, but he had another one. A temporary way to keep him from making things worse.
"Lock him up."
"Julia!" Sahed pleaded, "Don't tell them shit! Don't trust anything they say!"
Julia shivered, watching him get dragged away. She couldn't help him. Did she even want to? Her blood seemed to run colder. Has she put her faith in the wrong person? Maybe those three-eyes really couldn't be trusted.
"Remember... remember my promise!" Sahed yelled over his shoulder.
His face disappeared into the blackness, and Julia felt tears welling in her eyes.
"Aww, that's cute! I guess planning a murder can be romantic if you put enough macabre imagination into it!" Dotty sniggered.
Tonny stepped forward, turning his attention to Julia, "I'll deal with him later, but first... Julia."
He paused, spinning the blade in his hands, "Where did you get this? Who gave it to you? Was it Sahed?"
The question was almost rhetorical. It had to be Sahed. It could only have been him.
His whole body shook as he asked again, "Was. It. Sahed?"
Julia's heart was beating fast. It's all over. He's going to cut my thread, and I'm going to die.
"I-!" She stammered, the words were caught in the lump forming in her throat.
"You knew what you were doing when you threw it at me, right? Were you trying to kill me, Julia?"
She paced backwards, feeling her clammy hands hit the wall. Please, monster in the attic, please open the door for me... Sweat pooled on her fingers as she desperately sunk her nails into the wall.
"Why? Did Sahed convince you to do this? Or are you a spy from the Kalgratt government?" Tonny spat.
He was a mess. His hair was frazzled, his voice was cracking, and anguish shone in his eyes. Oh his eyes... the one's Julia had used to swim in as she talked with him. Now it was more like drowning.
"I wouldn't be surprised, she tried to send letters to her father in the police." Dotty reasoned.
I did what you asked me to! Help me! I'm not ready to die! Julia silently pleaded.
A figure shot in front of her.
"Leave her alone! She's not a spy!"
Her arms stretched out into a protective "T" in front of Julia.
"Kamille!"
"You were the one's that brought us here! And Julia would never do something like that if she didn't have a good reason!" Her best friend protested.
Tonny hesitated, a droplet of sweat caressing his cheek. Right. Her explanation appealed to his heart, and, God, he wanted to listen. But, Julia had done what she'd done. He couldn't let this go unpunished, no matter how much it hurt.
"Kamille, wait!"
Julia was bawling now. She'd messed everything up and it was her fault. She shouldn't drag her friend into this.
But, despite everything, Kamille continued, "So instead of threatening her, ask yourself what you did wrong!"
What I did wrong? What the hell? She tried to murder me! Tonny bit his lip in indecision, then turned towards the door.
"I don't have the energy for this right now. Lock them up. Not with Sahed."
Julia's heart sparked. Maybe it was hope. They might get out of this mess. Or maybe it was panic. Or both. She was just so confused. She felt like her limbs were tangled, and she just couldn't move.
"We'll solve this as soon as everything is calm out there." Tonny instructed.
Right. On top of everything else Julia had ruined, she'd also ruined the show. She'd messed everything up as usual. This is why she couldn't make friends. Tonny trusted her, and she went as tromped on it all. I just want to know the right path...
Back home, everything would have been so simple. But now, in this God-forsaken circus? What was she supposed to do? Sit around and wait to die? Her contract loomed over her head with every passing second. And I still managed to fail that too. I'm going to die.
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Tonny x Julia Fanfic
FanfictionTonjul fanfic following up after Julia stabbed him. I don't own the characters; they belong to the wonderful creator of the Marionetta WEBTOON, Míriam Bonastre Tur.