The Drosseilmeyer

I kept running out of the location while crying, crying of fright. I just can't do this! I don't even want to be an apprentice!

I kept running until I am out of breath then I started walking downtown, walking my entire way home, but how? Especially late at night?

The street I was walking down somewhat takes my mind off of my misfortune and replaces the anguish with fear and even paranoia. It's shrouded with a heavy, misty cloud of fog. This makes the nighttime atmosphere more eerie than normal, and it doesn't help that the occasional hoot of an owl or creak of a rusty door hinge sends goosebumps across my skin and shivers down in my spine.

There is no way that there's a chance to walk home, I need a way to get home quicker and easier.

Upon passing a dark alleyway, as if things couldn't get more depressing and creepy, a faint tune can be heard emitted from it. It sounds like it's being played on an accordion or something of the sort. The tune sounds familiar, but it's too faint to make out the notes. "Huh," I asked myself, "What was that?"

As I step deeper into the shadows, the music grows louder, and I started to know that the tune is 'London Bridge.' Despite its origins, it's normally a happy song, but played in this way, in this place, at this time...

...It's unnerving.

At one point a figure starts becoming visible: a tall, human-like figure. If it's in fact a human, it's a man, wearing a hat, holding something, his arm spinning in a constant, circular motion. I was a little scared, so I spoke nervously, "H-Hello..."

Before I can make out any further details, the figure begins stepping back as I ran towards it, and the music grows fainter as it does. "Hey! Excuse me! Wait!" I kept yelling it him to wait, but he kept going.

As I look around, I noticed an Antique store with its lights on. I ran there, seeing a doll on the display. I thought the man might be here due to the music, so with looking both ways then enter the shop.

Upon entering the shop, I can see the man clearly now. His hair was orange with aligned bangs and violet eyes with doll-like make-up and a fleur de lis* mark on his cheek.

He wore a black hat with a red ribbon and a navy blue soldier outfit with black pants and boots, black and white stripped socks, a red bow, and a white cloth between his pants and his top. He looked like an eerie version of the Nutcracker or Pinocchio. If I look to the floor, beside his chair, there's a music box with a crank protruding from it.

I look around the antique store more, just to make sure nothing's happening.

"Hello..." comes a voice, making me jump slightly from such sudden,although subtle, sound. If I look back up at the man, he'll be still staring at me, a dull, emotionless expression plastered across his face.

I stared at him for a moment. I have no clue who that guy is, but I don't know if I can trust him, "I..Uh...Hello...S-Sir..."

"Please. Call me. Drocell." he insisted with really no emotion in his voice, just like his expression. As if I asked for his name, his head tilting to the side as he tip his hat. A faint ticking noise clicks as he did, "And. You are?"

"M-Madison, D-Drocell." I replied.

Drocell return his head to its upright position, another clicking sound heard as he did. "What a lovely. Name." He respond quietly, eerily.

I do think he is scarier than Undertaker because when he speak, there's a pause between random words, for no clear reason at all. This just makes the idea of him even more unnerving. "So," he say, standing up, "What brings you. Here?"

I took a deep breath, about to cry, "I...I..." He got up, walked to me and knelt closely, letting his violet eyes meet my brown eyes, "My. Such beautiful. Eyes. You have." "I, just..Uh..." I was still about to cry, I can't reply. But then he spoke, "They're. Like Swiss. Chocolate. So much. Sorrow. In them...you don't. Have to. Hide from. Me...I can tell. You are. Sad and. Scared."

I whimper, hugging him as I started to sob. I can fell Drocell's hand stroking my hair then said, "There now. Please, sit down. We'll chat..."

I sat in a chair as I let go of him and told him what it happen, everything, from the very beginning, including my secret.

There's a softening in his eyes showing some life, though it's deceiving. "Oh. Why. That's. Too bad..." he mused, striding over to the counter, fiddling with a doll that, oddly, is frighteningly realistic, on its surface. "Such a tragic. Thing. To happen to. A poor little girl..."

I nodded, crying, "I just don't know what to do!" Drocell turned to face me, grasping the tip of his hat again and tilting his head, another ticking noise heard as he do. "And so I'm thinking to myself, my dear. Lady. Is you must be all alone. And sad. So many negative emotions..." Drocell tilt his head further.

~TICK~

"Is that the truth. My dear?"

I nodded again as I dry my eyes, "I-It's true, I never been so afraid!"

Drocell return his head to its normal position again. "And so I think to myself... you are. Looking for. Joy? Shelter? A trip. Home? Is that true. As well?"

I nodded again since I really want to go home, far away from the thing, "Yes!" He took an ominous step towards me. "I can help you. Acquire. All of that... and more."

My eyes widen, I couldn't believe that I finally have someone to help, someone that can bring me home. I smiled with tears of joy, "Thank you! Thank you so much, Drocell!"

His head tilts forward a little, which is his version of a nod.

~TICK~

"Of course. But. There'd be but a small price to pay." He spoke.

"O-Oh right!" I spoke as I dug in my pocket, "I still have 3 dollars, will it be enough?"

Drocell lift his head only enough for his eyes to be seen, glowing a menacing purple under the shadow of the brim of his hat. "Oh. My dear lady, I'm not asking for money... nothing. Of the sort, you see."

Hopefully, it isn't like Undertaker's foolish laughs or anything, but I spoke, "Oh, ok then. What will you like?"

He sidestep over to the door, discreetly locking it. "Well. You'd have to agree to my. Proposition, first before. I tell you." He tilted his head again with an eyebrow raised.

~TICK~

I didn't know what he mean, but I know it's a deal. "Do we. Have a deal. Miss Madison...?" Drocell inquire.

I was cautious about it until I made my choice, "I'll take it!"

He smirk a little, putting a thoughtful hand to his chin. "Hm. I wonder what. Materials. We should use. To build you up..." he mutter thoughtfully.

"Eh, Come again?" I asked with my head tilted.

Drocell's eyes widen slightly for a second as he realize he did said this out loud, "Oh, forgive me. I. Tend to. Think aloud sometimes..." He spoke again as he turn. "Please. Follow me."

He begin walking towards a room whose doorway blocked by only a curtain. I can hear him humming 'London Bridge' softly to myself as he enter the room and disappear behind the curtain.

I was cautious at first again until I started walking through the curtain, "I'm coming!"

As soon as I walk through, Drocell shoot his hand out to cover my mouth, like I was muffling any screams of alarm that might emit from it. "Shh. My dear. You mustn't make a sound" he scold in a bone-chilling whisper "We wouldn't want to. Wake them up. Now would we?"

I didn't know what he meant from them, but I nodded slowly. He slowly remove my hand. "Come along," He whisper, turning and continuing to walk.

Finally, after walking through empty hallway after empty hallway, we reach our apparent destination. Drocell turn the doorknob on a door, opening it, and stepping inside, disappearing into darkness.

I stared at the entrance, took a deep breath then enter the room.

As soon as I went through the door, it slams behind me!

I tried opening the door, but it's locked.

I look around the place for Drocell, but he's nowhere to be found. It's an empty, dark, quiet room, aside from the soft crackling of the fire in the hearth on the side of the room, with a slightly chillier atmosphere than the hallway or any other room.

I walked to the hearth, trying to warm my hands, but spoke to call his name, "Drocell? Where are you?"

"...I'm. Right behind you..."

Before I had time to react, and before I can process what just happened, I suddenly being restrained by two little girls about my age... except their skin doesn't feel like skin.

It feels like... porcelain.

"W-What's going on!?" I panicked

"We've made our agreement, I believe. So now. I shall be collecting. My fee..." He spoke.

Drocell raise his hand and begin to wave his fingers as a conductor would, and begin to sing:

"Lon~don Bridge is falling down..."

The dolls begin to drag me across the room as I screamed for Sebastian's name, "SEBASTIAN! HELP ME!"

"Falling down..."

They pinned me to a table as I kept screaming.

"Falling down..."

He follow me over, leaning over me.

"Lon~don Bridge is falling down..."

Another girl leans over me as well.

"My. Fair. Lady."

The girl throws a sudden strike to a certain spot on my neck, rendering myself unconscious...

All I can think is..

What have I done!? What am I going to do!? And Why do I have to faint every time!?

*Fleur de lis = a famous French symbol,

a stylized lily composed of three petals bound together near their bases. It is especially known from the former royal arms of France, in which it appears in gold on a blue field