Button Eyes, Clock Hearts

Sad Melody

At the clover tower, piano music filled the air. The scents of before were long gone, the White was combined with grey and washed out green. Three Role Holders walked in, each with a specific plan, Julius to search in his younger sister's room. Meanwhile Nightmare and Gray had to find the body. The temperature was dropping, would they freeze to death? They walked down the steps if they were hearing a piano, they needed to find the music room, the one only she used.

"Foolish demon! Stupid assassin! a perfect guest does not overstay, the perfect guest stays home! This is Clover Fortress. Where you shouldn't come at all!" The other mother yelled. Julius had left, only Nightmare and Gray could hear her, angered by her scolding.

"We are playing idiotic wench!" Yelled Gray into nothing.

"Welcome curious men." She answered with a sweeter tone "You may not believe it, but beauty loved this house. And beauty lives here still... Show yourself!" The voice of the other mother made Gray growl angrily. On one of the black portraits was Juliet pictured from behind, nostalgically playing a black piano "Lovely, isn't she? Come, I have more beauty to show you."

Suddenly the stairs were Gray and Nightmare had been standing on transformed into a ramp made of cold marble. Both of them letting a surprised yelp. Of course, she would, playing with them this way, wishing their deaths. Suddenly they stopped, the floor suddenly straight again.

"Vat ze hell?!" Exclaimed Nightmare.

"This is just getting irritating" added his subordinate.

"Oh, I didn't mean to frighten you. There is much to see, so look alive, and stay together. I'd hate to lose you... so soon." laughed the Beldam. "As you travel you will admire these priceless works of art, perhaps you sense a disquieting metamorphosis?"

It was true, the floor started to fall, locking them in a crystal panel. And after some seconds they were in front of a pretty painting, where Juliet could be seen without wings sitting with Gray. Yet, when a gunshot was heard it changed, there was Juliet crying and holding Gray in her arms.

"I remember this...I almost died...but somehow she saved me." Mumbled Gray. "The three of us fell into Wonderland..."

"Maypee it is a tghik of ze light."

"Of course, it's only a trick of the light. The real beauty of this house awaits us farther on." Answered the voice beaming, causing the men to frown as the box fell once again.

"For fuck's sake!" Exclaimed Gray angered while Nightmare coughed Blood.

Another painting, this time Julius, Gray, Ace, and Juliet sitting and laughing on a picnic cloth. the sharp sound of a knife made the role-holders freeze. The painting now changed showing Juliet looking up at the sky, crying desperately, while Gray was trying to comfort her. Ace had his head buried in Julius' clothes. The tragedy replaying in Gray's head, allowing Nightmare to see the desperate image.

"If I grant thy wish, both will no longer be outsiders. Clocks shall replace the hearts. Thus a role shall be given to thee"

"Anything! Just save him!'

Nightmare was speechless, not even noticing how it fell again, showing a smiling Juliet talking to a brunette dressed the same way as the other mother. They looked like friends, yet later glass seemed to break. Juliet was unconscious and the brunette laughed as she dragged her away.

"Zat bitch!" Exclaumes Nightmare.

"Perfect wording" added Gray.

Fallen again, Juliet looked nostalgic, yet at the ticking of a clock, her hair was now Alice's, dirty blonde. In front of her, a man with glasses waved a watch in front of her. Again, the bells of the clock chimed showing only shadows, grabbing the girl in unspeakable places.