Reaper. death - Oh man! We were so close to the hundredth mark, y'all! Oh well, this time we shall get there and I will give you all that bonus chapter! I'm so excited!
Disclaimer - I do not own Heart/Clover/Joker/Diamond no Kuni no Alice.
Jackie Penski belongs to peekodemeeko12. Shout out to this bodacious writer for helping me!
Alex Hudson belongs to Tailsdoll123.
Lacie Heartfilia belongs to BlackFire22.
Claire Triton belongs to Reaper. death.
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~~ (? POV) ~~
"In order to enter through The Looking Glass to come here, you must either come hither by Looking Glass Line or be summoned by someone such as I..."
The dark shadow smirked as it darted through the empty streets of Toy Town, the Forgottens following him faithfully. Strange thing is, they had no ill-motive to kill or destroy. Whoever this shadow was, he or she must have been important.
"Then again... The Looking Glass Line has been shut down...and I don't give just anyone... Permission," The shadow crooned before stopping its run, the Forgottens stopping just as the shadow did. They crowded around the shadow, as if waiting for orders. Stepping out of the dark and into the dimming light of the sun, a man stood there, with the familiar mask and the feathery jacket. He was dressed darkly; the only bright colors on him were his mask and his skin. Pale. "For this place is too important for trespassers. Hm. And yet people still find a way to get here. Hehe…"
He perked, hearing footsteps from a nearby alley. The man nodded his head slightly as the dark figure stepped out of the alley and rested her back against the building.
"Maybe you're losing your touch, Raven?" The girl asked as she hugged the black cat doll in her arms. She stifled a giggle as Raven shook his head.
"Nonsense. I have not lost anything. I let this happen. It's interesting to watch from afar," Raven stifled a chuckle as the girl sighed. He looked over to her and tilted his head, "Why do you question me? Have you lost faith in our deal?"
The girl looked up and made the movement to shake her head, "No, Raven. I just… Never mind."
Raven was silent before gesturing for her to come out. "Come here, it's time we get to work, yes…?"
The girl paused before taking a step out of the shadow of the building, entering into the sunlight. She brushed her black hair behind her ear, brown eyes looking straight at Raven and nodded. "I'm ready, Raven."
"Very good, Painter."
~~ (Archangel POV) ~~
Archangel bit down on her thumbnail, a bad habit that had formed when the whole ordeal had started, and it became frequent when she was filled with anxiety. Especially ever since that polar bear stuffed animal had delivered that unsettling message. Pacing back and forth around the old church house that wasn't her true territory, she stopped abruptly and pointed to the sniggering Dollmaker, the man carving a doll from a block of wood. Archangel narrowed her eyes, how could this man be so calm? Is there something he was hiding up his sleeve?
Dirty rat, Archangel thought as she watched him wittle the wooden block into a plain, faceless doll. An old fashion one that was originally used for voodoo. How dare he keep things from me, we're partners, aren't we? Or is he just a backstabbing coward who would use even his own friends for gain…? Seems to be so at the moment, allowing his treasured failure, Echo, to get critically damaged by The Joker. Archangel chose to glare at him, her mind slipping to the thought of the broken pieces of wood that was now being repaired in the back.
Echo was nothing more than a ragdoll for the Dollmaker, if only the very doll understood that.
Dollmaker's skilled hands carved the wood thoroughly, making sure that the shape was absolutely perfect. Making small wooden dolls was one of his many different hobbies. The Role Holder chuckled as he held up the small doll and kissed atop of the tiny head. "Perfect."
Archangel scoffed. "Your work is perfect, but your very existence is not."
The comment bounced off of Dollmaker's smile, indicating that it did not affect him at all in any way.
"Ah, but my dear Archangel, perfection is but a mirage."
~~ (No one's POV) ~~
Night time period came as the four arrived in front of the Laboratory. The three of them were exhausted, some grumpy, but Ace was just getting warmed up.
"Haha! Hey, we made it. Though, that day time period was pretty long, even for a time period, how about we head back to Toy Town and—" Both Elliot and Claire swiftly smacked him upside the head, angry tick marks growing on their head, not in the mood to say anything.
Alex grinned as she bounded off for the front door, only for it to open and Sakubo stood there, smiling at them.
"Welcome back, my stupid *****es!"
Claire facepalmed, where her forehead had become red from the constant slapping, "Woow…WOW! Nice welcoming."
"That's how you do it in China Town." Sakubo countered as Ace and the others ran up to Sakubo, all hurrying to get inside.
Perhaps it was by instinct, or the prospect of getting free hot cocoa, but being outside in the night, the time period where the Forgotten are free to roam wherever they wish without fail, is not the smartest move.
Especially not for both Foreigners and Role Holders from Wonderland.
~~ (Jackie POV) ~~
Jackie was lying in a room on the same bed as Lacie – the dual-haired girl didn't trust Sakubo so she decided to room with Lacie – staring at the ceiling worried sick about Joker. Where is he? Is he alright? I keep calling him through the mask but he's not answering back. Jackie sighed as she fell into a trance, staring at the boring sea of grey.
Lacie glanced at Jackie, seeing the woman stare up at the ceiling in a daze, before lowering her eyes to the floor. She wanted to calm Jackie, but she had a good feeling nothing would sedate her. I feel so useless…, Lacie thought as she wrapped herself in the warm thick blanket. I miss Peter…
Jackie couldn't take it anymore. She quietly slipped out of bed letting Lacie stay asleep – or at least she thought she was sleeping – and snuck out into a quiet place in the house. Creeping down the hallway and heading up the stairs, she saw the window. Deciding the roof to be the most private place, she walked over and pulled the window up, climbing onto the sill and pulling herself up onto the roof. Once safely on the rooftop, she laid up there beneath the stars stroking the mask with her thumb. "Joker, please answer. I'm really worried about you Joker...," she continued muttering into the mask begging for a response. What if he's hurt? Or what if he's worse than hurt?!
Jackie heard no response from the mask, and she let out a choked sigh. She knew they were in trouble. And there was nothing they can do.
CHIK
Jackie blinked, hearing the front door of the large house open. She sprinted forward leaning over the edge and spied a Forgotten slipping into the house. Oh crap-! Sliding down the roof, she smoothly dropped back through the window sill and landed on the floor. She flew back down the stairs jerking to a stop; White stood at ease while dragging the bloodied and bruised Forgotten as Black held a sloppy makeshift bag out of burlap that clinked with every step. Clocks? Jackie tried to restrain her excitement. Ok...they're ok...both of them. She struggled to slow her pounding heart which screamed with euphoric joy at seeing them.
"Ah, there you are Jackie. Did you miss me?" White crooned teasingly as Black poked the tip of her nose.
"Yeah, I bet you were-," Black started as Jackie jerked forward wrapping her arms around Black's waist, though for a second she thought he had tensed but pushed that away. Her entire body quivered, thrilled to have the relief of seeing them safe and sound in her arms. I...I really thought something bad happened to them. Jackie sighed in respite.
"Oh? What's this? Did you miss us that much dear?" White purred drawing his hand over her trembling arms. She jerked her head down too embarrassed to let them see her tomato red face.
"I—"
-BAM!-
"Take that!" Growled a voice from below at the front door.
"Whoa!" Jackie cried stumbling back from the sudden noise. Black lashed his hand out and ripped her back as White dropped the Forgotten and pulled out his whip. "Oh? And what have we here?"
The girl was fighting off a Forgotten with her baseball bat at the front door, and when the Forgotten charged at her, she sent a roundhouse kick, sending the monster flying.
"My my~, it seems that we have quite the player here. And I suppose that you will claim to be the REAL Sakubo?" White purred while Black admired the girls handiwork. As soon as the Forgotten with them shuttered away he snatched up the clock and stuffed it into the bag all the while holding Jackie despite her protests.
The girl watched as the trio made their way outside where she was, tapping her bloodied baseball bat onto her shoulders. "Dafuqe, man? Sakubo's inside, sleeping."
"My dear, it, does us no good if we don't know your name, tell us, hmm?" White purred as Black reached for his whip.
The girl eyed them all cautiously, and gave them a good look of her eyes. They matched the beauty of the moon, a pure silver white.
"My name is Claire Triton."
Jackie slipped out of Black's arms and looked over to the new girl. Seriously where are all these people coming from? "Claire huh? You must be wonderland's newest b**** am I right?" Black huffed clearly unimpressed with the girl.
"As if I give a life's f*** about what you think," Claire rolled her eyed and lifted the bucket. "Now excuse me, I have work to do, unlike some people."
...what? Jackie blinked twice in shock. What did she just say?
"You heard me, or are you deaf?" Claire asked, glaring at Jackie. In Claire's case, she never liked strangers, for back in England, she'd always be picked into fights all the time. Besides, this'll teach new strangers to leave her alone, unlike some people.
"Not deaf; blind." Jackie retorted playing dumb as she pointed to her left blue eye. Dealing with idiots was never my forte and I want nothing more than to smack her into next Tuesday. But, for arguments sake, I'll just play along with her useless rambling. Jackie glared at the girl, daring her to reply.
And of course, Claire did.
"Uh-huh, that's great..." Claire said as she glanced at her bucket. "Listen what's-your-face, I'm gonna go and get jelly for master." Claire rolled her eyes. "I've wasted enough time here, with you three."
Jackie's annoyance flared up again as the temptation to snap back at the rude girl intensified. What is wrong with me? Normally I'm calmer than this. Am I PMSing or something? "Wasting?" Jackie growled a little more fiercely than she meant to. Aw man...darn my flexible emotions! Joker slyly glanced at Jackie intrigued by her rather annoyed expression and ready-to-tear-into-some-flesh tone. They both looked to one another as they held their tongue.
"As much as I'd like to fight you, put a rain check on that," Claire huffed, glancing at both the Jokers. "You should be worried about these two."
Jackie immediately relaxed. Fight her? That's not what I wanted. But, while logic clashed with her instincts her body itched to fight her. What the heck is wrong with me? "You mean Joker?" Jackie asked admonished for her earlier thoughts and urges. Ugh...pathetic...I was acting like a child.
Claire scoffed, "Men never really show their emotions. It's obvious that they're injured by Forgotten." Both Jokers glared at her, but said nothing.
A shutter ran up Jackie's spine as she flashed a glare at the two Jokers. Injured...I should have known. I thought that Black tensed up a bit from the hug earlier but... Jackie bit her lip. Again. I've been humiliated again because of my own stupidity. Jackie sighed and clapped her hand to her forehead before rolling her good eye over the troublemaker. I've decided I don't really like her. She's haughty and full of herself. Jackie merely laid back and let Claire spit out what she wanted. She didn't care about what she had to say anymore. Rude little punk though...
"Later! Hope you have fun hiding behind your boys," Claire said as she turned and walked off into the dark forest.
"Hiding...is that what you think I was doing?" Jackie muttered. No, I wasn't hiding; I was making sure they were in front of me do I would have to tear through them first before ripping into YOU for your freaking impudence-! Jackie fumed in silence. Next time...no. Jackie sighed letting the tension roll off her back. She's not worth getting angry just over this.
"Ah, my dear, I didn't know you could act like that," White began before she slapped his hand away. Jackie glared at the two men as her cheeks slightly flushed with anger. "Where are you hurt?" Jackie demanded harshly daring them to withhold the information. Joker trembled as a rather pleased smile lit up his face. "Ah...dear, your fury is utterly invigorating...," White leaned forward kissing Jackie on the cheek. She slapped him across the face.
"Joker. Where. Are. You. HURT?" She hissed again. "Hit me again and let's see what happens b****." Black growled holding his smooth cheek.
"Yes dear. Hit me again~," White purred again pecking her on the cheek to evoke her anger. Jackie backed up with a look of disgust. Seriously? They're hurt and they're flirting around like this?
~~ (Raven POV) ~~
"All is to advance your skills in opening your Role's true potential," Raven said as he perched on a tree branch, leg over the other, as Painter watched the cat stuffed animal trot down the vanilla wafer road, heading straight for The Laboratory.
"I thought this was to do your dirty work so that you can bring…that back?" The young Role Holder asked smugly, rummaging through her bag as Raven chuckled, adjusting his mask. Painter sighed as she stopped rummaging through her satchel and glared up at him. "Don't treat this as a joke, okay!? I'm going through a lot of crap because of you!"
Raven leaned back, gripping the tree branch. Painter was so humorous to him. So very naïve yet strong… The best part was that she was so innocent-! Completely the opposite of what the Role she's stuck with requires. "Oh come now, the paperwork isn't that bad."
"Not when you leave it all on me!"
Raven waved her away, not wanting to speak anymore and disappeared in the shade under the tree. Painter groaned as she slipped something silver from her bag. A silver colored mask gleamed in the moonlight as she slipped it onto her face. Grumbling, she pulled out her paintbrush and stomped in the opposite direction of The Laboratory.
"Busy, busy… always busy! I'm always late and never on time. Everyone always says that I'm late late late!" With the way the Role Holder had said it, it sounded almost like a song. Not that she noticed as she stepped off the path and into the forest. Up ahead, there was a few Faceless walking around, nervousness on their empty smooth faces.
They were trespassers.
"By the creed of the Raven, visitors with no permission are deemed as trespassers and punishment is held without hesitation." The girl recited as her paintbrush turned into a machine gun with a colorful ribbon tied around the barrel. "Death is the punishment, a punishment with no judgment."
Her finger was placed at the trigger, her other hand holding the bottom of the machine gun steady, eyes focusing on the lost Faceless. One turned and pointed at her, opening his mouth to shout—
Ratatatatatatatatata-!
Blood splattered throughout the air as dead bodies fell to the ground and Painter turned the gun back into her paintbrush, immediately putting it away. Her eyes softened at the sight of the dying Faceless before she pulled her mask off, holding it against her chest and bowed slightly. "I'm sorry… You didn't have to die…"
At that moment the night turned to day, and Painter cringed, looking up to see Raven sitting on a tree branch above her. Tied to his belt dangled a cluster of pocket watches, in the same numbers as the Faceless that she had shot down. In his hand he held one of the small plain pocket watch that he snapped closed, his mask grinning down at her.
"No time to cry, I see. I was late to do so…"
~~ ( No one's POV) ~~
The Dollmaker was in the other room, speaking to The Archangel, as the Forgotten worked diligently on The Gatekeeper, Echo. They had replaced her broken limbs with new wooden arms and legs, her torso being repaired with a special type of glue and porcelain being layered over the entire thing. Echo sat on the examination table, glaring at the ceiling with anger and hatred.
Her memory goes to the angry face of the Foreigner with the apple red bangs and black hair. Her name…Jackie, wasn't it? Jealousy made her clock tick faster with hatred. Why would her beloved Dollmaker be so enthralled with a Foreigner like her? Wasn't The Mad Scientist enough? No… Wasn't she, Echo herself, enough? Apparently not, she supposed.
"SiT uP," A Forgotten hoarsely said and Echo scoffed, not liking to be ordered around by anyone other than her darling Dollmaker. Struggling to make her chattering limbs obey her, she slowly sat up, heaving with a Forgotten holding her steadily.
The Gatekeeper rasped, glaring at everything in her sight. This pain that an living inanimate doll feels… It's horrible and disgusting, knowing that broken limbs can be replaced while you're awake and watching.
"Joker and Jackie shall pay…" Echo seethed as she moved her stiff fingers, clenching them into a fist. "And then, the other Foreigners and Role Holders shall die. And we all will take their place." A sly smirk crossed on face as the Forgotten ran around numbly, doing their best to finish her repairs.
~~ (Jackie POV) ~~
Before Jackie could slap White again, it suddenly turned to day. The night time period had ended.
"Ah~ what a beautiful day. Now, Jackie dear, would you mind introducing us to the young lady hiding over there?" Jackie followed the length of White's finger spying Sakubo watching them from afar. "Ah, that's Sakubo. Lacie and I stayed here for a bit."
"Ohhhhh haaiii thaaar strangers~" Sakubo grinned, waving. "You guys are sicko for rizzo! Do you want me to patch you up or something?" Sakubo asked, finding the scalpel that was suddenly in her hands more interesting. "Cuz I have a very important tea party coming up and I need all my guests in tip top shape."
"Thank you my dear but Black has it under control." White thanked walking inside. Sakubo showed them to the living room where they sat down and pulled of their shirts without hesitation. Jackie flushed slightly at their muscular physique, while Sakubo found her scalpel more interesting. Only a few painful looking scratches were present which constantly oozed their precious blood. "Hmph. Not for long; this is my last bit." Black growled slipping out a red silk pouch. Jackie observed as Black pinched the last of the red glittering sand sprinkling it over their wounds.
"But that's not enough for the wound on your head, is there? I got some Red Silk, but I ain't done making it," Sakubo chimed, watching as the wounds disappear on Black and White, then moved to see the gash on their heads. "Though you are one and the same, you can't heal one and expect both well."
"It's good enough for now, I don't trust your a**," Black hissed at the unfazed girl.
White chuckled as before smiling sweetly at Jackie. "My dear, where is the little miracle girl?"
"Ah, she's sleeping." She weighed whether or not she wanted to wake her for Joker's sake, "I'll go get her."
"Be quick about it, my dear," White said before turning his attention to Black having a onesided argument with Sakubo, who was juggling scalpels.
Jackie walked calmly out of the room but as soon as she was out of sight she darted up the stairs and flew into Lacie's room. "Lacie!" She shouted in a whisper walking over and shaking her a bit, "Wake up! I need your help! Please!"
B-BMPH!
B-BMPH!
Lacie shot up in bed, holding her heart, "Nnnngh!" Her heart began pounding painfully, an attack being provoked so suddenly, even if Jackie was slightly gentle.
"Ah! L-Lacie, what's wrong?!" Jackie cried, immediately sensing something wrong. What happened? "Hey!" It was just like back then as well…
"I...I'm f-fine..." Lacie weakly reassured doubling over, clutching at her heart. "...hhaghh...is s-something wrong?"
"Ah, yeah. Joker is hurt and...and Lacie, are you sure you're alright yourself? You're as pale as a ghost!" Jackie cried, frightened. Did I scare her? I didn't mean to! "I-I'm really, really sorry! Did I scare you?"
Her breathing becoming labored, Lacie let out a painful cry before trying to get up. "I...I swear...nothing is w-wrong..."
"Well, obviously there is! S-Sakubo!" Jackie cried not knowing who to call. Why is Lacie acting like this?
Jackie turns away from the bed, aiming to fetch the little Mad Scientist, but a small hand grabs her own. Jackie glances back, seeing that Lacie had managed to grasp Jackie's. "N...no, Miss...Jackie...I'll be...fine...give me a few minutes..." Jackie knelt beside Lacie, holding her hand. Her small, fragile hand strained and relaxed as the girl struggled to get her body back in rhythm. I hurt her...I really, really hurt her-!
~~ (Peter White POV) ~~
He stared at the forest around him, the candy that made up the trees, the grass, the germy dirt and the sky. Disgusting. Food shouldn't be kept out in the open, it's unsanitary. "How I wish to be at the castle with my love. It's hard to avoid these germs, even while wearing gloves."
Peter tugged at his gloves, pulling them on tighter before pushing his glasses back up his nose, glaring at the scenery. Disgusting. Disgusting.
"Peter!"
White rabbit ears stood up, tall and alert, as crimson eyes softened. Peter looked around before glancing up in front, where there was a few bushes that led into the darker part of the forest. "Lacie?"
He didn't think twice to make his way through the germy sugar plants.
"Lacie, I'm coming!"
(To be Continued)
Reaper. death: And we end it there. It took me all day and night and this morning to finish this chapter. I'm sorry, but updates are getting slower because next Saturday, I'll be busy going somewhere important. I'd have spent this whole week writing new chapters for all of my stories, but I've been making some important decisions for school, life and FanFiction.
My decision is, I will always continue writing for this account, BlackFire22's account and finally, my newest account. Except updates will be stupidly slow.
Yes, big news indeed. I have decided to create a new account only for original stories. It might be a while before I go ahead and do it completely, but YOLO—Gosh dangit…
Feel free to check it out; I'll put a link to my new account in my profile. Don't be shy. And yeah, I did name my account THAT. The complete opposite of this account's name.
And one last announcement, there will be less humor and more horror. I'm sorry it had to come to this, but all this humor is making everything less creepy. The Dollhouse is supposed to be horrific.
Please read and review, it makes me really happy.
Anf if anyone sees it, there is a rivalry sprouting in this chapter. See if you can point it out in your review.
