“What makes you think I give a fuck?” I snap.
She shifts her eyes to Noir as she responds. “There’s something off about him though, Hell. I don’t think he has what it takes. I’m almost certain he will try to flee on Dark Night.”
I take a long drag of my cig, gazing up at Noir while she climbs the silk, my obsession with her growing as she moves with such fluidity. She bends like something delicate that I could easily fucking snap beneath me. The range of sounds I could coax from her body—whether cries of pleasure or complete anguish—it’s a symphony I’m desperate to fucking orchestrate.
With an exhale of smoke from my nostrils, I reply. “We'll lock him the fuck up for the night. Problem solved.”
I notice her staring at Dolly with a curiosity, similar to my own. It's unusual to see Madame like this; usually, she only employs those who come from the Shadow’s society. I have never known her to take in outsiders who are oblivious to what they're getting themselves into, only if it’s the carnival, but never Dark Night.
Most of us came from the Shadow's Society, trapped in a world of horror and violence—a hidden underworld no one dares to mention. There, children are moulded within a sinister web of trauma and control. In my upbringing, I became obsessed with the thrill of killing while others took other routes of criminality. Each death surges through me like a shot of adrenaline, bringing an unsettling peace in my chaotic mind. I found my way to Madame when I was just thirteen, after my mother died. Though I can’t be tamed or don’t own a heart, I still share a bond with her as strong as the one I had with my own mother. It’s similar to the one I have with Soul and Wrath—my brothers.
“You knew what the fuck you were getting them into as soon as you employed them both, Ma. Now they’re in, there’s no way out, unless it’s by death, the same as it is for everyone here.” I say firmly, reminding her of the rules.
She remains silent, still gazing up at Noir and I follow suit until she finally responds in a trance. “I know. But look at her—she’s amazing.”
“I want her to be our girl.”
Madame now looks at me sharply, “But what about Pearl? She has been The Hollow’s girl for years.”
I sit forward, dropping my cig between legs and stamping it out with my black boot. “Things fucking change,” I now turn my eyes toward her as I continue. “As you said, she’s good.”
“I know, but—”
“It’s fucking happening, Ma.”
“But she’s not ready for Dark Night—She needs to be prepared.”
As I get ready to stand with my hands on my thighs, I glance up at Dolly, twirling like an elegant beauty. “Don’t worry about that. I have plans for her. She’ll be more than prepared for Dark Night once I’m finished.”
While standing and walking away, Madame attempts to whisper-shout to tell me what to do again, but I ignore her bullshit and head straight for the wheel of death. My eyes remain fixed on Noir as the wheel spins, with Soul flipping skilfully inside one of the rotating rings and my insane mind swirls with ideas of how to torment her.
When Soul reaches close to ground level, I leap up, catching the edge, and effortlessly pull myself onto the wheel as it turns before dropping down into his ring.
He breathes heavily as he steps forward while I walk backward, giving him a nod in Dolly's direction. “Light her the fuck up.”
He glances her way before breaking into a mischievous smile, ready to wreak havoc like a cruel motherfucker. As soon as our rotating ring nears ground level again, he jumps down, landing with ease. While I continue walking backward, slowing the wheel down, I watch him head straight for her until he stops beneath her fabric. He flicks out a gas lighter, and I see her freeze, staring down at him with wide eyes as he ignites the flame. Seeing herpanic is fucking breathtaking; she’s no longer trying to hide it. She needs to understand exactly what the fuck we represent.
His green eyes flash with wicked intent before he finally places the flame to the fabric. As it catches fire, my gaze lingers on Dolly while she frantically shakes it in a pathetic attempt to try and extinguish the flames, but the fire only grows and climbs higher.
Soul steps back with a grin, and she scowls at him before glancing my way, her eyes narrowing. She spots another fabric within reach, sways, and grabs it, letting go of the burning one. But Soul isn't finished; he lights the end of the new one as well. Yet she continues to play the game, leaping from one to another, moving steadily in my direction, exactly where I want her.
When she runs out of material and clings to the last one, Soul moves to light it as well. She glances at a hoop hanging between us, then briefly locks eyes with me. I slow the rotating ring even more by stepping to the side, using my strong legs.
With the flames growing closer, she takes a final leap, catching the hoop and dangling beneath it. As she pulls herself up, I peek at her ass before she perches on it. Trying to catch her breath, she looks down at me with an eyebrow arched. A small smirk twitches on my lips; she thinks she’s won, but I'm far from done playing.
I dig into my sweatpants pocket and retrieve my knife. Flicking out the black blade, I admire the white swirls engraved on it and the red letters spelling out ‘HELL.’ My evil orbs flash to hers above me before settling on the rope holding the hoop. I peer into her eyes once more, seeing her pupils dilate as she realizes exactly what I'm about to do.
Without warning, I swing my arm with force, releasing the knife in her direction. It slices through the rope with precision, and the hoop drops, a terrified scream escaping her lips as sheplummets toward the ground. I reach up quickly, grasping the top of my ring before leaning out of it.
As she passes me, I stretch out my arm, catching her around the small of her back. She wraps her arms around my shoulders, her tiny body trembling as I pull her inside until she is standing on her feet in front of me.
“You bastard, you both could have killed me!” She shouts furiously.
Now looking up at me, she shoots me an angry glare while attempting to catch her breath which only amuses me, though I don't show it.
I press my face close to hers, searching her blue gaze as I respond coldly. “Not even death could take you from me, pretty girl.” She squints her eyes even more, ready to deliver me another rejection, but I continue. “Besides, I saved your ass.”
She now lifts her brow in defiance as she responds. “And what do you want? A fucking thank you when you’re the one who did it?”
