Elijah POV

I see Corl as he rushes into the hallway. Where does he think he's going? I look to the hallway and see the group of dolls collecting at the entrance of the painting. He's fending them off. Great. Just what we needed. A formation of dolls trying to get inside as we only have 5 minutes left to escape before we.. before we.. die.

"Guys, h-hurry up and help Denis! I c-can't fend them off much longer!" Corl yells to us from the entrance to the hallway.

I look at Y/N from the other side of Denis. One thing I've noticed about her is that she's actually really brave, but she just doesn't know it. However, she cracks under pressure. She saved me though. I need to return the favor. I need to take control. This is my time to prove myself.

I summon all of my strength and pull Denis to the chair and strap him in. Since he has one black eye and one normal eye, half of him wants to hurt us. On the other hand, the other half wants to stop himself from doing so and help us.

This makes it even more difficult than having two of the same because he's constantly battling himself and his contrasting emotions. I glance at the watch once I've fully strapped him into the chair and can relax.. well, sort of.

11:57

THREE. MINUTES. LEFT.

I need to pull myself together. Y/N hands me the jar with Denis's name on it. I quickly pull his eye out of the jar, accidentally dropping the jar. I hear the glass shatter on the floor. I try to pull his black eye out, but he keeps squirming.

"Elijah, please hurry!" Y/N calls to me, even though she's right next to me.

I can't let her down. I hold Denis's head still with maximum strength as his forehead sweats and he breathes heavy. Finally, I'm able to yank out the black eye.

"Elijah, it's 11:59!!" Y/N reminds me.

Crap! Where did the other 2 minutes go? I hear the ticking of the second hand on the clock as it inches closer to the 12. My heart pounds as the sound of ticking engraves itself in my brain.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

I begin to sweat as I try to hold back the burn of tears. Denis can't seem to stay still and my hands keep shaking. The dolls burst into the room as Corl's arms give out. Finally, I shove his eye into it's socket. I stare at the watch.

12:00

I'm too late...