It was eerily quiet when Billy entered the empty hall. Nothing was stirring in the big jailhouse, not even the tumbleweed dared to venture out. The only sounds recognizable were hushed whispers from dark corners and the lighting of matches. Something was wrong and Billy knew it, which made him more twitchy than normal. He sat at the table in the middle of the hall nervously glancing around and jumping at every slight noise: terrified the point of practically wetting himself. His eyes darted from dark corner to dark corner, from long shadows to short, from burnt-out matches to burning – something was definitely wrong.
"And you know what to do now, don't you dear?"
"Oh Miss Sunshine you've done such a splendid job! I can't believe she looks so good!"
"Yes well after so many years of stage make-up ruining her lovely skin it took a good deal of pastel shades to cover those stains up…"
Once upon a time Velma would have cringed at the words 'pastel' and 'shades' but she didn't even blink. She just sat there. She simply sat there, bolt-upright in the wooden chair and stared straight ahead. Miss Sunshine and Roxie prowled around her, Roxie squealing occasionally and Miss Sunshine gently nudging the odd stray hair or two into place on Velma's head. After a few minutes they stood back and admired Miss Sunshine's creation. It was… disturbing, to put it one way. Velma sat like a zombie, unblinking, her hair curled perfectly and not a blemish seen on her skin. Her face was swathed in baby pinks, and light rouges and around her neck hung a necklace of pearls.
"It's…it's…breathtaking." whispered Roxie, her eyes wide in awe.
"Why thank you my dear! I tried my best, and if I don't say so myself I think I've done a pretty fine job," smiled Miss Sunshine. "Now for the moment of truth…"
She stepped forward and bent over so that she was in Velma's direct eye-line, before calmly and softly saying: "Miss Velma Kelly…welcome to the new you."
A mirror was produced in front of Velma and gradually a sickening smile crept across her immaculate face.
"Oh thank you Miss Sunshine! Thank you so much! I love it, you've made me see the light, and what can I say? Pastels do suit me after all…"
Billy felt a presence form behind him and his heart skipped a beat. He daren't turn around in case it was Miss Sunshine so he sat and gulped for air, gazing intently at the grain on the table.
"Aren't you going to be a gentleman and pull my chair out for me?" someone whispered above him.
He blinked a few times, trying to distinguish the voice that had just spoken to him. His brow furrowed in confusion and his hand shook on the table, he thought hard. It couldn't be Velma, could it?
"Well, well Mr Flynn you do disappoint me. Especially after you haven't seen my latest works!" squealed an all too familiar voice directly behind him.
At the shrill noise, Billy jumped in his seat knocking his knee on the table and causing him to squeak…or was that just his fear escaping? He gulped hard and shut his eyes as Miss Sunshine made her way around the table to sit in the chair opposite him, yet the presence stayed behind him.
"H-h-hello Miss Sunshine," Billy managed to whimper out. "W-w-what brings you here?"
"Oh just some business," she purred licking her lips, before straightening up and staring at him tenderly. "A client of yours in fact."
Billy thought for a moment. 'But the only client I have here…oh good God no!' his mind shrieked, and his eyes responded by widening in terror.
A chuckle reached his ears and he looked up to see Miss Sunshine smiling sickeningly at him.
"Don't look so scared dear!" she shrieked, sending Billy's nerves to pieces and triggering him to squeal in shock. This just made her laugh all the more. "I simply… helped your client's appearance, shall we say. It will certainly help in her upcoming trial! Let's see what you think of her…"
Miss Sunshine pointed out a perfectly manicured finger and beckoned the presence towards her. Billy hung his head in dread as a shadow formed at his side. 'This woman in pure evil.' He thought and slowly brought his head up to meet the scariest sight he'd ever encountered in his entire life – including Miss Sunshine and 'that' incident. It was simply terrifying…it was disturbing…it was…Velma Kelly…in…pastels!
