Dorothy’s Sacrifice

The youths could only turn to each other, sharing each other’s confusion. Solomon clenched his fist, still glaring cautiously as a bead of sweat dripped from his cheek.

“What?” Ren tilted his head. “No praise for my entrance, Eloi?”

“Eh? You know about me?”

“Yeah? Who do you think gave you those prosthetics?”

“Eh?!” Eloi glanced at his body with the gleaming silvery arm. “You helped us?!”

Clover shot a distraught glare. “You were helping all of them?! What is the meaning of this?!”

The old man whistled and looked away.

“Wait a moment.” Cherry stepped forward. “Why did you lead us here? Did you know we were all close friends? Why are you helping us?”

Ren twirled his mustache around his fingers and playfully winked, sticking his tongue out. “That’s a secret! Teehee!”

Cherry scrunched her face and shuddered.

Charlie turned to Eloi. “Can you tell his intentions from his expressions?” he whispered.

Eloi scratched his head. “I... can’t? His eyes—I can’t read his expressions at all. I’ve never seen such freaky eyes before.”

“What? Seriously?” he whispered. “Who the hell is this guy?”

Solomon gritted his teeth, still tensed up.

“F-Father? What’s wrong?” Dorothy asked.

“That man before us is the most dangerous man in Theatreux,” he mumbled. “One wrong move, and he can tear us all apart in seconds.”

“Huh?!” The youths spun their heads at him.

“Wait, what?” Charlie frantically whispered. “You’re saying that he’s stronger than you?!”

Solomon bit his lip.

“You’re kidding me right?!”

“Hmm? What’s the matter? Why did you all turn pale all of a sudden?” Ren stroked his mustache. “Where did all that courage and desire to beat my ass run off to?”

Clover narrowed his eyes down at the group. He sighed and turned around. “Enough talk,” he muttered. “It’s time to leave.”

The fix whipped their heads back up at Clover, staring distraughtly.

“Oh? We’re not fighting?” asked Ren. “I can easily beat your old man, y’know.”

“And you’d end up destroying this whole place in the process,” Clover muttered. “I’d rather let Horace make the next move.”

“Oh, good point. I don’t feel like fighting anyway.” He shrugged. “But uh, just to be sure, are you gonna snitch on me?”

“We’re only going to report about Solomon.”

“Ah, phew.” The Chevolaire chuckled and raised his cane. “Alright then!” He twirled his cane and slammed it against the roof tiles, red ribbons weaving around the two.

Dorothy took another step. “No, wait!” she shrieked. “Clover! Don’t go! Please!”

Clover glanced over his shoulders and looked down at the group, staring blankly as streaks of red enshrouded him.

“Why are you running away?! We haven’t finished talking things out yet!” Cherry called out.

“Hell, we didn’t even get a chance to say anything back to you!” Charlie shouted.

“Get your ass back down here and let me knock your senses back like a real friend!” Eloi demanded, cracking his knuckles.

“Language!” Solomon sputtered. He glanced back up at Clover and inhaled, only to get his mouth instantly cupped.

“You shut the hell up!” Charlie hissed. “If you beg him to stay, it’ll do the exact opposite!”

“The exact opposite?” Dorothy glanced at Charlie and Solomon, gripping her fists. “Could it be... because Dad is here... that he wants to leave?” she mumbled under her breath, her fingers twitching.

Solomon furrowed his brows and shoved Charlie’s hands away. “But it’s too soon for our final battle. Horace—he must not know that I’m here!”

“Final battle...?” Dorothy glanced at the twins before trailing to Penelope and the Chevolaires. She stared quietly, a shaky hand clutching her skirt and the other extending toward her brother.

The ribbons fully wrapped Clover’s figure and compressed him in an instant, vanishing in the blink of an eye and leaving nothing but a gust of wind.

Dorothy winced, watching in horror as the Crimoire streaks wrapped up the old Chevolaire next. She stepped forward and screamed, “Wait!”

When he didn’t answer, she squeezed her fists, veins swelling at her wrist and jawline. Before Ren could disappear, she picked up a rock.

With a grunt, she hurled the stone and released a booming shockwave, launching it directly at Ren’s head. The spectators grimaced and covered their eyes as a rush of air blasted at their faces.

The rock soared faster than anyone could blink, yet a red ribbon swatted it away like it was a mere bug.

“Hm?” Ren glanced over his shoulder. “What’s up?”

“Dorothy?!” Solomon shot a terrified glance. He slid in front of her and immediately shielded her from Ren.

“Dorothy?” Charlie gaped his eyes, shocked yet impressed.

Sweat trailed down Dorothy’s neck, and her arms and legs trembled with obvious fear, yet she maintained her stare. She dashed around Solomon and sharply inhaled. “Take me with you!” she hollered.

“What?” the group asked.

Charlie blinked, slowly processing her words as if she had declared her own death sentence. “Pardon?” he asked weakly.

“Ooh?” Ren stroked his curly mustache, staring with piqued interest. “May I ask why?”

For a second, a pair of red pupils glowing with fury pierced through those pitch-black sockets.

“I… I want to talk to Clover and hear a proper explanation! Especially from Horace!” she shouted. “So take me with you!”

Solomon quivered his lips, horrified. “Dorothy, don’t! It’s too dangerous—”

Dorothy spun to her father and wrapped her arms around him, tears finally leaking out of her sockets.

“Dad, the fact that you’re so worried about me makes me super happy,” she said softly. “Thank you. I’m so glad you’re my real father after all. I’m so sorry I’ve forgotten all about you.”

He trembled his arms, holding her shoulders delicately like a flower.

“If Clover works for them, then as his sibling, I’ll probably be fine,” she whispered, breaking off her hug. “As long as you’re here, he won't calm down, so I’ll go and talk to him myself.”

“No, Dorothy, don’t go.” Charlie knitted his brows next. “I—we still haven’t explained the full truth to you yet! Don’t you want answers too?”

“Of course I do, but... it’s alright. I’m too worried about Clover to worry about that right now.” Dorothy rested a hand on her chest. “Thanks for worrying about me, but that can wait. I can already tell we were all close friends before. Knowing that is more than enough for me.”

“Dorothy, are you sure?” Cherry asked worriedly. “You don’t have to go.”

“But who else is going to stop Clover then? He only ever listens to us! Plus, if he refuses to listen, only I can make him.” She smacked her fists together.

The twins drooped their heads, wrenching their faces.

“There’s still one more problem,” said Eloi, crossing their arms. “With that mask on, he can still control you…”

Dorothy raised her fringes, revealing a cracked edge where tiny wisps of Crimoire sparks leaked.

“Never mind, you’re good to go!” They tossed a thumbs-up.

She nodded and took one last glimpse of everyone’s reluctant stares before turning back to the Chevolaire. “Ren, I already made up my mind! Take me with you!” she demanded.

Ren stroked his curly mustache. “So that’s your resolve huh, Dorothy my dear? Hmm..." He cracked a grin and snickered.

“What’s so funny?” Dorothy spat.

“Heh, I’m just imagining what everyone’s reaction would be like when they see the Co-founder’s precious little sister walking among them.”

“Wait, what?” everyone else asked.

“Hold on a minute. Clover’s the Co-founder?!” Cherry asked.

“That asshole was also behind all our suffering out in the capital?!” Charlie spat.

“My son... established the Chevolaires with y—w-with Horace?” Solomon croaked, his eyes dulling with betrayal.

“Pfft—hahaha!” Ren hunched over and wheezed. “Oh, what excellent reactions! Indeed, Clover’s our second-in-command! So cool, am I right?”

He sneered at the young lady in yellow. “Oh, to see those barbaric killers holding back their bloodlust will be a hilarious sight! What a brilliant decision, Dorothy my dear! Let us go!”

He guffawed and slammed his cane onto the roof tiles, the scarlet streaks wrapping and compressing her in seconds as a roaring wind blew the scene.

Everyone but Solomon and Charlie covered their faces and backed away. The two who could watch only stared helplessly.

Dorothy glanced at them. She waved and said, “See you later!” Her tone was bright yet cracked with fear and anxiety, but she stood calmly as she vanished, leaving nothing but a trail of dust circling her spot.

The remaining four didn't bother to look up at Ren as he disappeared next, his cackles echoing across the sky.

The group sank their heads at Dorothy’s empty spot and Theodore and Eloi’s unconscious bodies as the silence returned as fast as a flip of a coin.

Misty gray clouds still blanketed the sky, delivering harsh, cold winds through the trees and shrubs. The group was as quiet as the mansion towering above them all. They surveyed the surroundings with slouched shoulders.

Dorothy’s garden didn’t look colorful anymore.

The figure in red gasped in realization and clutched their head. “That son of a bitch left without unsealing our masks!” they shouted in dismay.

“...It sounds strange hearing that in Penelope’s voice,” said Cherry.

The worn father collapsed to his knees, his body hunched over and his gaze blank.

“Uh, hey, you alright?” Charlie unnecessarily asked, patting his mentor's back.

“I’m at my fucking limit,” Solomon croaked.