Dollface

The Wedding

Gerald Glow awoke to the sound of church bells ringing and the feeling of being wrapped up like a mummy. He opened his eyes to see that he was strapped to a church bench by leather and tape, seated in the front row next to his wife Delores, also bound. He tried to call to her, but he couldn't utter more than a groan over the piece of tape that sealed his lips shut. He began to panic, and looked around for anything he could use to free himself. He realized at once that he was in a church, though seemingly one not in Washington, as he remembered. The walls were adorned with pink and blue hangings such as ribbons, flowers, streamers, and even tapestries, the ground space where one would make their way down to the altar was covered by a blood red carpet adorned with tiny flower petals and little bows, and hung from the ceiling were flaming bodies of dolls, all strangely different colored flames.
Gerald looked around himself more closely to see that there were more people-- all bound and gagged-- seated in the benches all around him. Some were conscious and obviously trying to scream for help, some were still unknowing and unconscious, and-- Gerald could tell by the complexion of their skin, their blank eyes, and their strange positions-- that some were even dead. He began to thrash and moan, which alerted his wife and caused her to start thrashing, too. However, that was when the bells stopped ringing and an unsettling chill set itself onto the people in the church. Then, there was music... from an organ. The Glows looked up to see a very young man playing the organ on the altar, not that he had much choice. He, too, was gagged, but there was also a gun trained on him on top of the instrument. Tears poured out of his eyes as he continued to play, secretly begging his captor to spare his life.
Suddenly, a ray of light shined on the altar, revealing the gruesome scene in front of the hostages. On the table, seemingly impaled by a large golden cross, was an elderly woman wearing robes of a church's pastor. Standing behind the podium, trembling consideringly, was another young man, also gagged and held at gunpoint. And finally, standing in the middle of it all with a sickeningly satisfied smile on his face was the infamous Dollmaker. His scarf that usually covered his face was kindly wrapped around the neck of the man behind the podium. He looked down on his hostages with his blue and pink eyes and his painful sewn smile. He caught Gerald's eye and his smile stretched further.
"Welcome," he announced. "To this, the wedding of myself and a lovely young woman named Elenore. Now, now..." his eyes narrowed gleefully as he watched the Glows cry out and struggle at the name of their daughter. "...I know what you must be thinking: how could such a miracle happen? How is it that a simple doll maker and a financer could come together? Well... you should know. You're all a part of our story, whether you're family, friends, acquaintances, or coworkers, you all deserve to attend our wedding. And now, if my lovely bride could join me for our binding..."
"I'm coming, pumpkin," a high, girlish giggling voice called from the back of the church.
Many of the hostages turned their heads to look at the bride as she slowly made her way down the aisle. She wore her pink unitard, stockings, and heels but now a bright green skirt flowed at her waist and her tiny hat now had a rose sitting on it. And resting on her blue hair was a gleaming golden veil that hid her glowing face. Clutched tightly in her hands was a bouquet of roses and lilies tied together with a white ribbon. And even through the veil, one could see her almost glowing green eyes, her bright blush, and her smiling glossed lips.
There was a collective hush as she walked by and even in a deadly situation her beauty was admired by all. Not even the Glows could say a word as the young woman they once called their daughter stepped up to the stage and took the hand of the murderer they feared.
The Dollmaker lifted her veil and brushed his hand against her soft cheeks. "Is there anything you would like to say before the ceremony, cupcake?"
"I think you said it all," Elenore responded. "I am your Dollface, and you are my Dollmaker. I could never live without you, pumpkin, never. You've opened my eyes to the world and I don't want to face it without you. What more is there?"
The Dollmaker smiled at his Dollface. "Then let's begin, shall we? Pastor..."
The young man behind the podium quickly ripped the tape of, pulled up a Bible, and began reciting, "Ah... dearly beloved, we are gathered today to celebrate the union of the Dollmaker and his... lovely... Dollface. Now, before we proceed, is there anyone in this room who suggests a reason why these two should not be married? If so... speak out now or forever hold your... peace."
Nothing could be heard except the constant groaning of Gerald Glow, who continued to struggle against his bonds. The Dollmaker sighed sadly but his bride was nothing short of infuriated. She pulled her handgun out of her bouquet and took a well-aimed shot that hit her father right between his eyes. Her mother started crying and shaking at the sight of her dead husband but Dollface set her gun on the table and turned to the absolutely terrified young man. "Resume, please," she told him.
He jumped at being addressed by her and consulted his Bible. "Ah... Mr. Dollmaker, do you take this... er... lovely woman to be your lawfully wedded wife in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, as long as you both shall live, til death do you part? If so say I do."
"I do," Vine said.
"And do you, uh, Dollface..." the young man continued. "Take this, um, charming man to be your lawfully wedded husband in--"
"I do, I do, I do," Elenore squealed, staring lovingly into the eyes of her beloved.
"Ah," the young man murmured. "Then by the power vested in me by... um... the holy church, I now pronounce you... husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Elenore threw her bouquet over her shoulders, not caring where it landed, and allowed her new husband to pull her into a soft kiss, glorified by the sound of their wedding bells. When they separated, the Dollmaker pressed a button on his sleeve and both guns threatening the young boys dropped, allowing them to run for their lives. As for all the other hostages, they trembled and cried at the thought of their fates.
The Dollmaker glanced at his "guests" before returning to his wife. "What do you suppose we should do with our guests, cupcake? With the exception of dear old dad, they've all been wonderful for the wedding."
His Dollface giggled. "Oh, pumpkin, you're absolutely right. They deserve a reward for such good behavior. Why don't we make them pretty?"
"Not as pretty as I made you," the Dollmaker said, guiding his bride off the stage. "We don't need a third wheel, cupcake."
"That we don't," his Dollface agreed, drawing her gun with a sadistic smile on her face and a firey glitter in her deadly eyes.