The Marionette

My Love And Comfort

When the fog cleared she was back at the barn. Amanda told her this was were The Entity gather them for meetings and stuff like that, it wasn't a map for trials like she thought. 

All the other killers were at the barn again, they were there to see how her first trial went, though not all were there by choice. As she entered the barn all the killers turned to her, their congratulations and praise cut short form shock.

"What the fuck, how'd the bitch get so fucking tall!"

Frank, a member of the Legion, yelled. Shadow frowned at his words and her joints bowed a little, reflecting her emotions. Anna threw a hatchet at him for making Shadow sad, everyone else giving him a glare. 

Amanda ran up to Shadow, who was now almost two feet shorter than puppet instead of just an inch. She gave Shadow a hug, her head hitting just below her bust.

"That was amazing Shadow! I don't think anyone has gotten a quad kill their first trial. And it looks like The Entity may have made some adjustments to you."

Evan, Philip, and Anna had walked over, Evan knocking her left shoulder, Anna hugging her back, and Philip patting her head. Shadow giggled and looked up at Philip who was 7 feet tall.

"Looks like I'm still not the tallest here huh."

Everyone laughed and Shadow felt tears roll down her cheeks.

"Little one crying, little one sad?"

Anna asks, now concerned for Shadow, Frank yelled at Anna.

"Can't really call her little one if the bitch is taller than you."

He got another hatch for that one.

"Matter not, always little one."

This made Shadow laugh and her tears fall harder, the four now showing great concern for her.

"No, no, I'm not sad, I'm happy, I'm so happy. I haven't felt loved in so many years, I haven't felt accepted or safe. I've been worthless for so long that hearing that all of you are so proud of me is a little overwhelming. It feels like I finally have a family after so many years without mine, I don't even remember if I had one."

Shadow was hysterical at this point, more killers joining the embrace. The four told the other killers Shadow's story when they returned and everyone felt pain for her suffering. Shadow smiled as she took in all the love, she knew this is where she belonged. 

In another part of the realm, the survivors were sitting around their campfire. They were talking about the new killer and finding a name for her as they had all the others. After a few were tossed around they found a fitting title, The Marionette.

After everyone pulled away, Shadow stood back up on bowed legs. She reached for her neck, pushing her dress aside, and opened the small compartment in her chest. The others were confused as Shadow turned the brass key held within the box.

 After she closed the box she let her eyes slip shut as the first notes began to play. Her mouth opened and the beginning lyric flouted from her lips.

"You're alone, you're on your own, so what?"