DARLING (yanderes x reader)

XXXIX- escalation

It had been days since the Community Bonding ball and Artty's threat still weighed heavy on Penelope's mind, thick and nauseating. He hadn't done anything at the ball, thank gods, but Penelope knew it was only a matter of time before he actually made good on his threat.

Maybe not today, maybe not next week, maybe not next month... But eventually he would. And that's exactly what drove Penelope crazy, not knowing what he was planning and not knowing when he would strike.

Artty knew it. He was edging her, toying with her, waiting for her to break.

But Penelope wouldn't break. She couldn't give Artty the pleasure of knowing he could control her with mere threats. If she did, that would be the end for her, because he'd make sure to use this against her every time he wanted something from her.

So Penelope needed to find another way to keep her Darling safe and get rid of Artty. But the pest wasn't easily played, as much as she hated to admit it, one thing Artty had going on for him other than his looks was his cunning mind.

Which meant she needed to be careful, convincing. She needed to play her cards right and to use his infatuation with her to her advantage. Because there was one thing Artty wanted more than torturing her, and it was for her to love him back, as twisted and gross as this sounded.

Which is why she had sent him a letter a few days ago, innocently asking him to meet her for a tea party at her house, just the two of them. An invitation to which he had answered positively of course, incredibly eager to see her and hear what she had to say.

She could imagine him jubilating at the idea of her caving, a disgusting and nerve wracking thought.

Ew. Distaste twisted her features as she sat in her garden, waiting for him.

She was donning her prettiest sundress, her blond locks curled to perfection and her makeup light but working wonders in hiding just how tormented she'd been these last few days. She had asked for the maids to take advantage of the Sun outside and dress a table for two, Penelope had taken care of the baking.

Some Earl Grey to soothe her nerves, some peppermint tea for Artty, and a mouth-watering apple pie she knew he wouldn't be able to resist either.

Everything was ready. Now she just had to wait for him to show up.

She glanced down at the golden watch on her wrist. He should be arriving any minute now, and in spite of her determination to get this done and over with, she couldn't help the apprehension swelling in her throat as the seconds ticked by.

The plan was simple, really. Make Artty lower his guard by telling him that she was ready to be his, make it believable by shedding a few desperate tears and giving his sadistic ass the pleasure of seeing her pain... Then get him to drink some of the tea she brewed especially for him and watch him writhe and convulse on the grass as he rendered his last breath.

The tea was already hot and ready for consumption, Artty just needed to show up and drink it. And then Penelope's problems would be over. She would finally be able to rest at ease, knowing he wouldn't be a pest in her life anymore.

She should have done this a while back, should have gotten rid of him when he first started showing signs of being interested in her. But Penelope wasn't a murderer. She liked to scheme and plot, and liked to get others to do things for her, that was for sure. But she wasn't one to kill with her own hands. The implications scared her too much.

But sometimes, you simply didn't have a choice, right? And if she needed to kill Artty to guarantee he wouldn't be a threat to her relationship with (Y/n)... Then she'd do it in a heartbeat.