H&S: Story Of Dorothy Oneshots

I Love You

You made it this far?

Yes.

And your memories have returned?

....

...Why?

        Dorothy had dodged that question, responding with another. She knew what he was asking. Why was she so stubborn? Why did she persist in trying to revive everyone that died, knowing deep down that she'd do nothing but lose time and time again? There was no one left but her. Even her parents had died, just when they were planning on moving from the house. But she highly doubted the house was the problem.

         Wherever they went, she was sure Sue would follow. There was no escaping this, she couldn't even give up. It was far too late to call it quits. If only she hadn't loved those presents he gave her when she won so much. She wouldn't have kept playing, and lost, causing the start of the deaths.

          "This is really the last, right?" Dorothy inquired, facing the raven-haired boy down in that disgusting cell-like room in the sewers. Soon, this would all be over. No more deadly games of Hide and Seek. No more servants dying. No more monsters chasing her. No more guilt and grief weighing down on her conscience.

          "Yes," Sue replied emotionlessly to the redheaded twelve year old, "your last mission is to get out of the house." His maroon blazer and shorts were absurdly crisp and clean when they were surrounded by filth. "Since you made it this far, you should try a little harder."

       "I will." Dorothy nodded, voice soft but eyes hardened in a determined stare. Yet, there was a tinge of apprehension, for she knew he wouldn't make this as easy as it sounded.

        Sue's strikingly violet cat eyes softened, seeming to squint at her sadly. Could he possibly be feeling remorse too? Had he truly not intended for things to go this way? He even told her not to feel bad that the maid died because of her greed. Dorothy loved him for being her only friend, but hated him for being what he was. Nothing but a devil. "Alright, I wish you luck." He said, his form beginning to lose color and fade to white. She knew this would be the last she saw of him, so she threw her hand out and yelled,

        "Wait!"

          Sue's pale skin, dark hair, and formal wear turned fully opaque again as he listened. His expression didn't alter much, but he awaited whatever she had to say with a patient gaze that still seemed to bore into her. Dorothy breathed out a sigh, grabbing her arm in an insecure manner and lowering her head. Her parted bangs, orange like ripe mango flesh, dangled in her matching eyes. A moment or two passed. She didn't even know what she wanted to say.

        "Is there something you wish to tell me?" His voice was quiet, silvery, sweet to her ears. How could someone who seemed like such a gentleman also seem so sinister? Yes, she knew the blame could mostly be pinned on her for all this, but surely he played an important part too, other than forming the bets. She just didn't know how or why. Did he kill all those people himself? Was his plan to trick her all along? ...She still cared about him deeply.

          "Y-yes." Dorothy mumbled uncertainly, rubbing her arm up and down. She raised her head up again but looked at the old grandfather clock that had summoned him rather than the boy himself. "I just wanted to say... That I love you." She finished quietly, now staring into his eyes so he'd know she was telling the truth.

        Sue blinked twice, quicker than normal. He shifted slightly. "You...?" Was all he could muster, as if he were at a loss for what to say.

         "When things go back to normal," Dorothy went on, "I hope we can still be friends." She gave a watery smile, forcing her lips to curl upward just so she could heighten his spirits. Give him and herself hope that things would soon be better. Times would be happier. And they could feel the warmth of their friendship again, rather than empty stares and regrets, radiating throughout the entire house so that it's atmosphere of gloominess would vanish.

        Before he could respond, Dorothy said yet again, but with more feeling, taking his cold yet baby soft hands into hers, "Sue, I love you." It was true. She was so cheerful, being with him, before the bets started. She trusted him with all her heart. Even despite what he was.

         Sue smiled back, slowly but surely. His eyebrows, wide and black like crow's feathers on his forehead, turned upward like what one does when they are sad. His eyes seemed to gleam with a sort of sadness too, his smile almost looked pitying, but it wasn't that. He looked both sad and happy at the same time, which puzzled her.

       "Thank you, Dorothy." He told her very earnestly. He put his hand over his chest. "You...you hold a special place in my heart. And as time drags on...Years passing into centuries." His body began to lighten, all the colors on him whitening again as he grew transparent. "There will always be a place for you in there. Of that, I'm certain." He vanished in a flash, the kind that reminds you of lightning smothered behind clouds.

         Dorothy now grinned, her worries about this being the last time she would see him not subsiding but her heart fluttering with joy. Those were the most affectionate words he ever said to her. He said them so intensely, whole-heartedly, as if they had been life-long soulmates...Or as if they'd be the last words he'd ever say to her. With a light, bubbly feeling in the fancily-dressed girl's chest, she left from that dreadful room with it's overbearing stench of negligence. The cell door squealed into the gloom of the gray corridor beyond as she opened and closed it, the rust making it difficult.

        From far down the right side of the corridor, Dorothy heard a deep, monstrous growl resound through the darkness.