"I was dead tired and I felt myself a failure;" —Timothy Williams

Adul

My eyes fluttered open as they adjusted to the bright light coming from the lamp on the dresser. My body was faced away from the window as I stared at the white wall in front of me. The soft white sheets were trapped between my thighs as my head rested on the feathered pillow.

In deep thought, I imagined the night before. A knot twisted in the pit of my stomach as I remembered our bodies entangled within one another's. I swallowed my pride as I lied down on my back and allowed him to control me. All physicality and no emotion.

I felt the bed dip beside me as I held my breath. I looked over my left shoulder as his bare back was present in front of me. His head hung low as he ran his hand through his messy black hair. I stared at the beauty marks on his shoulders. The brown spots creating an array of patterns as he hunched over.

"I know you're staring," his groggy voice spoke, he turned to me with a smirk.

"I'm sorry." I responded, I watched as his small smile faltered he reached for the white button-down at the end of the bed as he placed on his body.

"Something terrible has happened." he deadpanned while beginning to button the white ironed shirt.

"What was it?" I questioned anxiously feeling the small hairs on my body rise.

"Cassidy was found dead at the gates of the mansion, strangely her body was covered in hives as if she had an allergic reaction. Bitten by something in the garden perhaps?" He spoke as I pushed myself up from the bed turning to him.

"F-found dead? Wait how!?" I panicked. He stood up from the bed as his right hand raked through his hair. He eyed me in my position with an unreadable expression.

"The question is why would she be lurking around the gates around midnight. Did she happen to mention something to you about trying to escape?"

I froze in place as my breath hitched. Guilty I looked towards my knees avoiding his stare.

"Not that I know of..." I said as my eyes slowly met his. The lines on his forehead disappeared as his interrogating expression changed to a look of belief.

"Very well then, hurry and get dressed," he spoke as he stood buttoning a white shirt to his neck. "I must ask the dolls if they know anything about this unfortunate occurrence." he frowned.

I panicked as I reached for the large T-shirt he sat out for me to wear. I hurriedly pulled it over my naked torso as I stood it fell a little below my knees.

He began to pace out of the room as I followed behind—the girls all sat in the parlor like once before.

"Why are we here?" Irving humphed as she slouched on the sofa her legs folded behind her.

Taehyung sat in an empty chair as I slowly sat on the floor folding my legs in a crossed position.

"We have lost yet another doll, Cassidy was found dead at the gates of the mansion. Her body red and blotchy covered with hives. Would any of you dolls know about her leaving the mansion last night?" He spoke as the room remained still.

"I-I " Gladyce began. Her cheeks became red as the blood rushed to her face. Looking around the room small saltwater droplets ran down her cheeks as she gripped the arm of the sofa. The color disappearing from her body.

"Don't, " Genevieve mouthed as Gladyce forced a shaky breath from her parted lips. She fell back in Genevieve's hold as she cried hysterically.

He eyed Gladyce in her position raising a brow at her silence. "Gladyce, you wouldn't happen to know anything about your sister's departure would you?" He spoke inquisitively.

She gently shook her head no as her light brown hair covered her face. Her breathing slowed as she remained in Genevieve's embrace cowering from his stare.

"Really? I think you're lying, you are twins come on you two did everything together. Why weren't you around her last night?" His patronizing tone sparked fear within me. I glanced towards Gladyce as a voice disrupted the silence.

"She said she doesn't know anything!" Irving panted.

"I find that hard to believe, " he spoke, "well maybe you might Irving, What did Cassidy say before bed?"

"I-I don't know... I left the room and went to bed early. She didn't mention anything about leaving while I was there." she spoke truthfully.

"We don't know anything. We are grieving a friend." Marisol whispered.

"Very well then, I surely hope that Cassidy's mishap becomes a lesson." He spoke nonchalantly.

"What lesson could a dead girl possibly teach us?" Genevieve scowled.

"Simply that secretiveness and crude behavior doesn't work so well." He spoke as goosebumps rose on my skin.

He planned to torture us until we broke using Cassidy's death as a tactic. A great amount of guilt floated above me, I should've said no, but instead I was a gateway to her death.

"Tea dolls?" Darla offered, she smiled greatly as the glossy red lipstick stained her lips. The white shirt she wore was unbuttoned revealing her breast as the black maid skirt wrapped around her hips. She looked much different than before; younger.

Bending over slowly she placed the cups of tea and cookies on the table. Taehyung quickly glanced down at her positioned figure clearing his throat as he reached for the neck of his button down.

I rolled my eyes at the occurrence, pathetically he bit his bottom lip as he faced forward.

Marisol hesitantly reached for the cup of tea. Sipping it slowly as her eyes lit up with pleasure. "This tea taste divine, what did you do?" she questioned.

I quickly picked up a cup as I felt the warm liquid float on my tongue the sweetness leaving me in a daze.

"Yes, it is really different from the tea you made before." I confirmed.

"Perhaps a different milk? I'm beginning to try new things, " Darla shrugged, bending down carefully she picked up a glass turning to Taehyung with wide eyes. "Would you like to try some sir, I know you're stressed?" She smiled as her white teeth dazzled.

He glanced at the cup in her hand as his eyes shifted to her breast his mind pondering a response. I began to feel a burning rage within me.

How could he claim to love me and behave so perverted?

He did not attempt to be subtle as his eyes moved from her cleavage to her face.

"No, I'm not interested." He responded.

—
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