A/N: This story will be about a concept I had for Hansel. Just a heads up, there's some gore in this. Also, unrelated, I've got a new computer finally so I'm back on the right track. Hope you guys like the story!
Anyone who's lived in Camden Town, London would tell you that it was no secret that Hansel was the apple of every gal's eye, among the canines that is. Hansel has had many lovers who were lucky enough to win the love lottery with the handsome blue-eyed husky. Though, when those relationships fell through, the girls Hansel had been with weren't the same afterwards. Some say they even had a look of a thousand yards in their once lively eyes. But no one ever spoke of what exactly had caused that to happen. So the dull of mind could simply assume it was nothing more than a consequence of pure heartache than anything else.
But only those who have been granted VIP access to the inner world of Hansel knew of the twistedness that squirms beneath the glamorous outer-shell of Hansel. And for Dolly Dalmatian, she was about to get a ticket to witness a secret life starring Hansel himself.
The dark truth was, Hansel used his lovers as accomplices in his murders, using his charismatic charm to entice them into committing heinous acts with him. And for Hansel, Dolly was his latest object of attraction. It had been two weeks since they had been dating and Hansel had grown close enough to Dolly in that frame of time to trust her with his secret underground life.
"Dolly, I have some business I must share with you," said Hansel in a tense tone with a wary look in his eyes.
"Huh? What did you have in mind?" Dolly looked at Hansel with a mixture of surprise and interest.
"Come. I will show you what I mean by that," said Hansel, leading Dolly by the paw in the direction of the old abandoned warehouse.
Inside the warehouse. . .
Dolly's eyes were wide and she took a quick glance at Hansel then back at the border collie who was tied up with a white cloth tied around his mouth. The border collie appeared to be male, and young at that, trembling in fear most likely not knowing why he was brought here. Dolly had a lump in her throat and could practically hear her heart pounding in her ears. She turned to Hansel immediately, wanting an explanation, and asked, "who is this? And why is he tied up?"
Hansel's casual charming smile faded into a cold stoic expression, then he ignored Dolly and instead stepped towards the border collie. Hansel locked his eyes onto the border collie as the border collie watched him in fear, his breaths becoming audible whimpers of fear. Once a few inches away from the border collie, Hansel then spoke cooly. "Ah, Vitara, I see you're finally awake. You know. . . I have always despised wasted potential."
Vitara, the border collie, whimpered out a muffled response. Hansel cocked an eyebrow as Dolly looked at him with surprise, and asked with an air of contempt, "what was that?" Hansel roughly grabbed Vitara's head and untied the handkerchief as if it were a nuisance. Tears rolled down Vitara's face as he choked on sobs.
"I-I. . . I. . . I don't understand. What did I ever do to you?" Vitara looked up at Hansel with pleading eyes.
Hansel scoffed as if Vitara had to be taught his ABCs all over again. "It's not about what you did to me in particular. This is about the canine heritage in its entirety. You have failed your ancestors in squandering your existence with such pathetic wimpiness, lack of direction in your life goals, and clinging to petty things. You lack masculinity, lack a wolf's instincts. It's pretty pathetic, Vitara, I must say," lectured Hansel.
"Hansel, why are you doing this? Let him go, right now or I'm leaving," demanded Dolly sternly, doing her best to hide her own lack of confidence.
Hansel side-eyed Dolly with slight surprise, though he expected this reaction from her as he did with all his other love interests he brought into this business. "Don't be pathetic like him, Dolly. You're better than that. Or are you?" Dolly cowered back a little as Hansel sauntered towards her calmly yet threateningly. "You do love me? Right?" Dolly tried to avoid his gaze, but Hansel firmly gripped Dolly's chin and forced her to look him in the eye. Dolly shed a single tear, never feeling more scared in her life, and nodded her head.
"Yea, I love you, Hansel," squeaked Dolly.
That brought a smug grin to Hansel's face and he nodded. "Good. Good. It is only natural that we do what is right for our lovers. As such, I need you to do what is right, Dolly."
Hansel caressed Dolly's cheek lovingly and said in a soothing charismatic tone, "do it for me. I love you, angel."
The sweet talking tugged at Dolly's heart and as if sensing this, Hansel kicked a red monkey wrench over to her. It was an old worn-out thing, its paint having chipped over time and rust being visible where the metal was exposed. "Pick it up," commanded Hansel in an airy voice.
As if in a trance, Dolly did as she was told and took the monkey wrench into her paws. Vitara watched with wide eyes as the heavy monkey wrench left the ground and was wielded by Dolly. Hansel smiled and neared himself towards Dolly's ear. "Strike him. One blow to the head with all your spirit. Do you understand what I am asking of you, love?" Hansel whispered.
Dolly hesitated and grimaced. She took in the heartbreaking sight of Vitara quivering like a leaf and blubbering as he pleaded for his life.
"P-P-Please, D-Dolly, spare m-m-me," sputtered Vitara.
"I can't do this. I'm not a killer!" Dolly thought to herself, feeling conflicted between choosing her own love life and sparing an innocent soul. An innocent soul who's only crime was not living up to the laborious heritage of his ancestors.
Dolly started to lower the monkey wrench and Hansel's smile faded at this. "What are you doing?" Hansel questioned.
"Hansel, no, this isn't right. You can't play god, what's wrong with you?" Dolly argued.
Hansel rolled his eyes and sighed in exasperation then reached for the monkey wrench. "I guess it is true what they say. If you want something done right you must do yourself," grumbled Hansel. "Give me the wrench."
Tears streamed down Dolly's face and she twisted away, keeping the wrench from Hansel. "No! What you're doing is evil! I won't let you take an innocent life," screamed Dolly.
Hansel scowled and spat on the ground. "You disgust me. You are weaker than I thought, Dolly Dalmatian. Siding with a cattle dog who could nary herd a single calf."
Vitara growled, feeling defensive. "I grew up in the city dingbat!"
Hansel only regarded Vitara with a cold emotionless look as if he were below him. "Hold your tongue if you're lying. I don't believe you," said Hansel.
"You don't even know me! Who are you might I ask?" Vitara demanded. Vitara scowled and stared down his kidnapper, fed up with being bullied by this psychotic husky.
Hansel rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to Dolly. "Anyways, mind the flap-jawed canine back there. He likes to talk to himself. If you will not do it, then perhaps, I could provide a little persuasion," said Hansel in a silky voice that tickled Dolly's ear with his hot breath.
"What are you tal- " Dolly breath was cut short when Hansel suddenly grabbed her and smashed his lips into hers passionately. She was taken aback, shocked even, not expecting this. But her initial shock melted into the passion of the moment and she closed her eyes to reciprocate in this smooching.
Hansel pulled away and Dolly looked at him with dazed eyes, captivated by his presence. Hansel smirked, now knowing he had her under his spell, then whispered with a voice full of honey.
"Strike Vitara over the head, my love. Do it. For me."
Dolly turned back around to face Vitara, monkey wrench in paws. Vitara trembled staring at her with wide eyes filled with terror as if she were a monstrosity come from his darkest nightmares. Dolly sauntered up to him, as if in a trance. "I. . . can do this," she whispered to herself.
Vitara blubbered, all dignity lost, and pleaded for his life. "No-o-o-o! P-P-Please, Dolly! Don't h-hurt me! I'll do w-w-whatever you want," stammered Vitara, now desperate.
Hansel laughed, more out of mock sympathy than actual amusement. "See my meaning, Dolly? Vitara here is made of the weaker stuff, no backbone, no integrity. He is. . . a worm. You most certainly can do it. I believe in you l'amour."
Dolly raised the monkey wrench high over her head using both paws to hold the heavy instrument. Hansel's eyes lit up with anticipation, waiting for the strike. Vitara's noisy cries crescendoed as he wrung his heart out to Dolly. "Don't do this to me! I can change! I'll do better! I swear."
"I can do this," whispered Dolly to herself once more, closing in on Vitara.
"Of course you can," affirmed Hansel.
She wanted to swing, but couldn't. Something inside her wouldn't allow it, something that told her that this was wrong. Hansel, seeing her hesitation, began to sing. It was an old song from the 80s by the musical group New Order, called "Bizarre Love Triangle". The words were belted out by Hansel with perfect pitch, emotion dripping from every single word that rolled off the tongue. It was entrancing. The sound was mesmerizing with those mystical vocals.
"Everytime I see you falling, I get down on my knees and pray,
"I'm waiting for that final moment, you say the words that I can't say.
"Everytime I see you falling, I get down on my knees and pray,
"I'm waiting for that final moment, you say the words that I can't say."
It was all too much for Dolly to handle, Hansel had her heart. There was nowhere to run. She was all his. Dolly swung the monkey wrench down with all her might straight onto Vitara's skull with a sickening crack! The loud cries ceased, and Vitara toppled over knocked-out, dark crimson fluid pooling around his head.
Hansel tossed his head back and cackled at the scene before him. "Oh, this is simply splendid! Vitara got what he had coming to him," gloated Hansel. Dolly dropped the monkey wrench and it clanged onto the cold concrete ground with a resounding thud. For Dolly, this was a moment that signified a shift in her persona. A deep sense of guilt and sadness seeped into her as she only stared at an unconscious Vitara. Her expression was blank, eyes glassy and distant as was her mind.
That was when Hansel came forth and clasped a confident paw over Dolly's shoulder. "Well done, I honestly didn't think you had it in you. I think we're going to make a great duo. Just you, and me, and all those other pathetic excuses for alpha males that fail their ancestors." Hansel had vitriolic spite in those finishing words.
Dolly said nothing, but only stared down at the ground with an ashen expression. All her life she had fallen head-over-heels for Hansel, but now, she grieved the day they ever came into contact.
"Now let's take out the trash," said Hansel with sadistic excitement. Hansel lowered his head and picked up Vitara's hindlegs with his jaws. "Get the other end, love. We're taking him to the bleeding room."
For a moment, Dolly hesitated a bit confused by the name of the room. "Oh, forgot to mention, this building used to be a slaughterhouse. Quite fitting for the fate befitting this waste of space," informed Hansel.
She only nodded faintly taking in this demented information, then came around to grab Vitara's forelegs. The two of them then carried Vitara into the bleeding room of the slaughterhouse, which thankfully, was only a few feet away. Her nose crinkled at the pungent odor of dried blood. It was a sickly sweet and coppery smell, a marking of the sanguine horrors that took place within the facility, that she hoped was from poultry production and certainly not an affair Hansel had any dealings with.
Hansel ordered that they drop Vitara on a metal table where they can begin. Dolly took in her new surroundings from the blood-stained stark white walls to the metal conveyer system that ran throughout the factory to different stations. Her brow tightened and she looked at Hansel wanting to back out. She was no fool, she had seen those late night chiller movies that gave the pups nightmares. Oh yes, she knew all too well what was to come. And Dolly would have no part in it. "Hey, Hansel?"
Hansel was in the middle of strapping down Vitara and didn't bother looking up. "What is it, love?"
"Mum is expecting me to be home for dinner, I should probably start heading back," said Dolly. Though it really wasn't just a fib to weasel out of this because there actually was a seed of truth to what she had said.
Hansel frowned a little, his stoked fervor dissipating. "Well then, you may as well tell your family to cover your dinner for you then. . . because you're here with me now and we need to finish what we've started," said Hansel in an uncaring tone.
At this point, Dolly was starting to get frustrated with Hansel and she was now more mad than in fear. "I'm leaving," said Dolly in a curt tone. She started towards the door, but she was immediately grabbed roughly by the shoulder by Hansel, who spun her around to face him. Hansel had a blank, yet measured expression, and looked Dolly in the eye. She wanted to avert her gaze under Hansel's piercing blue eyes, but he wouldn't allow it.
"Listen to me, dearest. . . you are on my time now and I am the alpha wolf. You will not be leaving until I permit it. Do you understand?" Hansel raised a brow, expecting a sincere answer.
Realizing she had no choice in the matter, she finally caved. "Ohh, alright, tell me what I have to do," sighed Dolly.
Hansel smiled. "Brilliant! That's the right attitude, now. . . I want you to roll that cart over to me, then we'll get started," beamed Hansel as he pointed to a metal cart a few feet away.
Dolly sighed in defeat. "As you wish," she muttered mirthlessly. On cue, Vitara stirred awake to find himself bound to a metal table with thick leather straps. At first he was confused, but a rush of unpleasant memories came around to smack him across the face. His eyes widened when he saw Hansel, the last husky he wanted to see right now, and immediately he cowered back.
"Ahh, Vitara. . . Glad to see our little house guest is awake. You're going to love the little ceremony we have prepared for you," cooed Hansel ominously.
"P-Please. . . Don't do anything," whimpered Vitara.
Hansel only smirked at this, leaning in close to slowly pet Vitara's head. "Oh, sweet, sweet, Vitara. . . Save your breath because you're gonna need it for all the ochestra of screams you'll be producing for me."
The squeaky metallic sound of Dolly rolling the cart over closened and then came to an abrupt halt. Hansel pulled away and made his way over to the metal cart. Laid out on top of the cart was a light blue mat with a spread of assorted surgical tools. His calculated gaze scanned across the tools in search of the ideal session starter. That's when Hansel picked up a thick intimidating motorized bonesaw, inspecting it for a moment. At the sight of it, Vitara let out a squeal of horror and squirmed trying to break free of his restraints. "This could be a spectacle. . . " After a quick lookover, Hansel laid the bonesaw back down. "But, I'd much rather save that for later," said Hansel to himself, looking for a different tool. Vitara sighed in relief.
"Ah-hah, how quaint." Hansel's eyes brightened with interest as he picked a new non-motorized tool up. What he picked up seemed insignificant at first glance, a long metal chisel. But Vitara knew better than to let his guard down around this Hansel character. Hansel chuckled lowly as he approached Vitara. "Want to know something about me?"
"No. Just leave me alone you punk," spat Vitara.
Hansel's eyes widened slightly at the brash response, but kept his cool demeanor. "Such spirit from such a weak male. I'm gonna say it anyway. I wanted to be a surgeon's dog when I grew up, but I could never meet the stringent criteria," said Hansel wistfully.
Vitara felt no sympathy and only rolled his eyes at this. "Oh, poor you, couldn't become a surgeon's dog so now you need to kidnap dogs to fulfill your little fantasies. Do you feel good about yourself with what you're doing? Do you?"
Hansel smiled at this. "Actually, yes, I do. . . because I'm gonna cherish every thing I'm gonna do to you."
"So tell me, Vitara. . . Do you know what happens during height enhancement surgery?"
Vitara tightened his brow and went into thought for a minute and guessed. "They give you special medicine that stimulates growth hormones?"
That got a hearty laugh out of Hansel and he shook his head as he regained composure. "No, no, nothing of the sort. It involves an instrument such as this." Hansel held up the metal chisel displaying it for Vitara to see. The shiny metal reflected in Vitara's eyes as he stared at it with apprehension. "You see, the leg bones must first be broken before they have room to grow artificially. Which is where this handy tool comes in. Though, you won't live to see the results as I can't possibly allow such a waste of oxygen to continue breathing the same air as me," said Hansel with contempt.
Hansel's tone lightened slightly and he turned to Dolly. "Love, fetch me that small mallet over there." Dolly only had a blank expression that made it hard to read her thoughts, but she nodded obediently in response and ran off to go fetch the mallet. In a jiffy, Dolly returned with a small metal mallet with a wooden handle and gave it to Hansel. "Thank you, dearest."
"No, don't do it, don't do it. I can be a better male, I swear," pleaded Vitara on the verge of a panic attack.
Hansel frowned. "I'm afraid it is far too late for that, Vitara. The time for reprecussions has come. This is for all your ancestors that you have disgraced with your weakness," lectured Hansel. "Now, don't think I am entirely unsympathetic, because I'll do you this one favor in warning you."
Vitara raised a brow and asked, "what?"
"You're going to feel a lot of pain in three seconds, worse than getting ran over by car," said Hansel nonchalantly. Hansel poised the titanium chisel over Vitara's shin bone and raised the mallet up high.
"Wait, wait, wait, wai — " Vitara started, but his pleas morphed into a loud scream. Hansel had swung the mallet down with unforgiving strength that sent the chisel halfway into the shinbone. Tears matted Vitara's face black as he whimpered tearily.
"I say, little mouse, your bones are tougher than I thought. Not bad for a failed herding dog such as yourself," said Hansel genuinely impressed. "Not tough enough though." He raised the mallet once more.
"No, no, don't — " Vitara's pleas fell upon deaf ears as the mallet swung down again even harder. He screamed as he bawled being engulfed with pain and unable to hold back his tears any longer. He convulsed and spasmed as he tried to break free from his leather restraints, but alas, it was no use. This was where it all ended. Vitara hated giving Hansel that satisfaction of breaking down before him, but the pain was much greater than his own willpower.
Dolly grimaced and looked away, no longer being able to stand watching the torture session unfolding before her. In fact, she started shedding tears of her own as she started crying silently. This wasn't at all what she imagined dating Hansel would be like. She always envisioned it would be them reading love poems to each other under the moonlight (with some help from Dylan obviously), watching the fireworks show on boom night, or skating together down at the park. Not this! It crushed Dolly not only to find out that Hansel was a sadistic killer with a personal vendetta against weak dogs, but that she was now an accomplice in the murders of those that fall victim to Hansel.
She then scowled, feeling her fighting spirit ignite within her. It was up to her to put an end to this. Surreptitiously, Dolly picked up the big monkey wrench and held it firm within her grasp. Slowly, slowly, she crept up behind Hansel while he administered his blows. Then, the monkey wrench raised high in the air lingering there hesitantly. "Come on, you have to do it. . . Vitara's life is on the line, Dolly," she thought to herself. She squeezed her eyes shut and swung the wrench down as hard as she could onto Hansel's head with a sickening crack!
The blows stopped and Vitara looked at Dolly stunned but with gratuity. Hansel took a wobbly look back at Dolly with confusion. "I. . . I always knew you were the weakest link. . . " Hansel murmured before collapsing to the ground unconcious.
"Come on, Vitara, let's get you out of here," said Dolly sympathetically. She dropped the wrench and loosened the leather straps binding Vitara to the table.
"Th-thank you. . . I really thought I was a goner," said Vitara in a weak voice. "By the way, do you know where the nearest vet is?" His gaze wandered toward his now bloodied leg with a gushing hole in it.
Dolly recoiled at the site of administration and made a face. "Uh. . . Yeah. . . I'll take you there." Dolly glanced down at Hansel's limp body and glowered at it. "As for you. . . " She spat on Hansel and kicked him roughly. "We're through you freak! Find some other accomplice to take part in your revenge schemes."
Gently, Dolly helped Vitara up and off the metal table. "I think I can walk. . . well, with a bit of help that is," said Vitara much to his chagrin.
"Say no more," said Dolly with a smile, and draped an arm around Vitara's shoulder to which he did the same. Vitara stumbled at first, and his stumble turned into a limp, then after a few more assisted steps he settled into the rhythm of things. Together, the two of them walked out of the abandoned slaughterhouse and into the chill night. Though no words had been exchanged, it was a given that they would both watch their backs from then on for Hansel. It would be a rough road ahead of living their lives in fear before they could return to normalcy, but time would heal their pain surely enough.
"Do you think it'll be safe here at the vet?" Vitara asked with wary eyes.
"This animal clinic is partnered with the hospital my mum works at. Security is top-notch, also request that you be discharged during the day time and not at night," reassured Dolly.
Vitara smiled at this and nodded. "Yeah, I'll do that." Dolly helped Vitara limp into urgent care where they approached the counter. The receptionist was a frail woman older in age and looked disinterested, typing away on the computer. She said nothing and only pointed at the clipboard with a sign-in sheet on the counter. Vitara reached for the pen, but Dolly took it instead. "No worries, bruh, I've got you."
Dolly generously signed Vitara in and set the pen down. "You should probably start heading back home now. I appreciate the help, I really do. You sure saved my ass back there," said Vitara with a soft smile.
"Ah, heck, I did what needed to be done. If anything, I'd say that psycho got a taste of his own medicine," said Dolly half-heartedly.
Vitara shook his head playfully at the bad joke. "Watch yourself out there now, that guy's probably gonna be up and about by now," warned Vitara in a more serious tone. There was a fearful wariness in his eyes that reflected his concern and his own fears for his safety. There was a thick clunk outside and they both whipped their heads around to the glass revolving doors. Despite their own paranoia, it was nothing more than a gray SUV pulling up at the curb-side to drop-off a family of four with a panting beagle in their care. They then diverted their attention back to the conversation at hand.
"No doubt. But with my amazing parkour skills, I think I can manage should I get stalked," brushed off Dolly. "If not, I'll just beat the shit out of Hansel," she bluffed." That got a small chuckle out of Vitara.
"Don't fly too close to the sun now, that guy seemed pretty ticked off about whatever nonsense he was spouting." Vitara grimaced a little remembering the traumatizing ordeal.
Dolly rolled her eyes dismissively at the remark. "Whatever it was, me and him and through. I'm never talking to Hansel ever again after knowing this is what he does in his spare time. For all I know, that sicko was getting a sick pleasure out of torturing innocent dogs," spat Dolly bitterly as her brows furrowed and quivered. Her expression loosened and she spoke in an easier tone, "so, I guess this is where we part ways, eh?"
Vitara nodded with a melancholic sad smile. "Guess so. . . I shouldn't need an amputation, but then again, I'm no doctor." He sighed. "Farewell, Dolly. I will forever be grateful to you for giving me a second shot at life."
Dolly teared up and sniffled a little. "Stop it. . . Y-You're gonna make me cry. . . "
Vitara only looked at Dolly with a wistful expression, then said before turning to walk away. "Be safe out there, wild one."
At that, Dolly said nothing, she couldn't. All she could do was sit there with the same teary-eyed expression as she watched Vitara depart into the waiting room and vanish into that cramped interior full of stiff clinic seats. "Goodbye, Vitara. . . " Dolly stood up and turned towards the door languidly and sauntered towards it.
Though, she was cut off by a little girl wearing a white dress with a blue lilac pattern adorning it. She immediately ran up to Dolly to pet her excitedly with a big smile. "Doggy! Doggy!" The girl cheered. Dolly only gave a sheepish smile in response. Her father jotted down information on the sign-in sheet hastily, in a rush to get their sick beagle checked in.
"Hey dude, I appreciate the affection, but I've gotta run," said Dolly tentatively.
"Come on, Trish," hurried the father as he took hold of the little girl's hand and pulled her along. Trish looked back at Dolly with an impassive expression as she was tugged along to keep pace with the family.
"Bye doggy," parted Trish.
"Seeyah, kid," waved Dolly to which she then continued on her way out.
"Wait, did anyone just see that dog wave? Or am I the only one?" A teenage boy in the family asked. But no one entertained the outlandish question and continued onward to the waiting room.
It was a quiet walk home through the downtown area of Camden, London. The thick hum of a bus stopping at a bus stop to pick up an elderly lady with a basket and then taking off was about as loud as it ever got. Dolly was constantly on edge, looking side-to-side and over her shoulder as if there were a bounty on her head. Her parents and brother, Dylan, wondering where she's been was the least of her worries right now. She kept a steady quickened pace down a familiar route she knew, staying out of direct sight under the streetlamps as to not be seen by unwanted eyes.
To her absolute relief, she had made it back to 101 Dalmatian Street without trouble. Though it may of been just her imagination, she could have sworn she heard footsteps behind her, but whenever she would look, she would be alone. "Probably just the wind," she had thought to herself. Dolly stepped up the front steps of her Victorian style house and stood at the front door. She only stared at it for a couple of minutes before lowering her head and letting out a deep sigh of defeat. Then, she pressed her paw to the paw scanner and unlocked the door, opening it.
"Just my luck," she thought to herself in defeat. Dylan happened to be sweeping the floor in the hallway before looking up with a stern expression at the sight of his tardy sister, Dolly.
"How nice of you finally to drop in, Dolly," said Dylan in a calm, level voice. "Care to explain to me what was so important you had to miss dinner?" Dylan cocked a brow and crossed his arms.
Dolly shifted her weight uneasily avoiding eye contact, struggling to find the words. Dylan noticed her distress and pried. "Did something happen out there? You're acting like you just walked in on a secret meeting between the creatures of the forest."
"It's that. . . I. . . Me and Hansel had a night out is all. The time slipped away from us and I walked home. That's it, nothing more!" Dolly spouted with tense desperation.
"Uh-huh. . . I see. Well, for future reference, let us know when you're gonna stay out late. It's kind of a waste of kibble to leave it out only to spoil," said Dylan rolling his eyes.
Dolly forced an awkward grin and gave a thumbs up. "I think we should stop hanging out with Hansel, like. . . for good. Don't ask me why," said Dolly suddenly.
This got a surprised look from Dylan and his tone shifted to one of confusion with a hint of curiosity. "What? Why?"
Dolly facepalmed and groaned in exasperation. "Didn't you hear me say — Listen, Hansel is not who you think he is and you shouldn't go near him. Trust me on this one," said Dolly in a serious tone. Her eyes were shifty and fear-stricken, telling a tale that Dylan couldn't decipher.
For a moment, Dylan said nothing, only looking at Dolly with wide eyes and a blank expression not knowing what had gotten into his sister. Then, his face tightened into an expression more serious, a guarded look. "What did he do?" Dylan asked in a low tone of voice. At this point, Dylan was itching to know what was going on with Hansel. He had known Hansel since childhood and he was always a genuine guy, always down-to-earth. The thought of him being involved in unscrupulous mischief was unfathomable.
Dolly furrowed her brows and let out a deep sigh. "Are you sure you want to know?"
"Uh, yes! If he's dangerous I need to know why," insisted Dylan sounding a bit annoyed at Dolly's hesitance.
"Okay, you asked for it. . . Hansel is. . . a serial killer," spoke Dolly slowly, the words rolling out of her mouth like boulders hitting concrete. There was then a deafening silence between the two of them, and it stayed that way for what felt like an eternity before Dylan finally got the guts to speak his mind.
"No. . . Not Hansel. You have to be messing with me," said Dylan in denial as his brow furrowed. He looked at the ground, one part of him adamant on believing this was a misunderstanding, and another part wondering what could have led Hansel down such a dark decrepit path.
"I'm not kidding, dude! He took m — He had a dog held hostage and he broke his leg forcefully. . . Like some kind of twisted torture method," said Dolly, shuddering as she went over the icky details. Dylan said nothing and only looked at Dolly with an expression that was unreadable. Dolly scowled at this. "Fine, you don't wanna believe me? So be it. But stay the heck away from Hansel, he's not right in the head."
She turned and started to walk away when something Dylan said stopped her. "Actually. . . It isn't out of the realm of possibility. In fact, you might be surprised to hear I totally believe you, Dolly."
Her eyebrows raised and she tilted her head, not expecting this answer from her brother. "Huh?"
"I think I know exactly why he may have done something like this, but. . . We shouldn't discuss this any further out in the hallway," said Dylan a bit apprehensive.
"Why's that? Oh. . . " Dolly and Dylan both turned and looked unimpressed by Dante who was sitting on his haunches in the middle of the hallway, watching them with his iconic nervous twitchy demeanor. "Don't you even think about it, Dante."
A low whine emanated from Dante's lips.
"Do you have to?" Dylan groused with an eyeroll.
Dante's whine grew into a low hum as he started to shake, about to explode.
"He's gonna," stated Dolly dryly.
"IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD! HANSEL'S OUT HERE — " Dante was abruptly tackled to the ground by Dylan who forcefully clamped a paw over his mouth.
"Would you shut up? You're gonna cause an uproar of panic among the pups," chided Dylan sternly.
"Hansel? Hansel's here?" Destiny came over to see what all the yelling was about out of curiosity. She was apparently in the middle of painting her nails a gaudy pink.
Dolly and Dylan both had faint sheepish smiles on their faces and decided to play it cool. "Oh, no, Hansel isn't here. Dante was just about to say Hansel had to walk home late at night because he sucks at time management," explained Dylan with a small remark.
"Hey!" Dolly glowered at Dylan, offended. Dylan elbowed her. "Ow." She then rubbed her arm with a slight frown.
"Aww, I was gonna give him a makeover. But, oh well, at least I won't have to waste product," resigned Destiny, sad that she couldn't have the honor of being Hansel's personal stylist. Destiny shrugged and went back to her room where the other two D's were having a nail polishing session as they discussed next week's audition and rehearsal scheduling.
Once Destiny was gone, Dylan and Dolly both sighed in relief in unison. They then turned their attention to Dante, expressions turning serious. "Okay, Dante, you're in this with us now. You can't tell the other pups about Hansel unless we give you the go ahead, capisce?" Dolly directed in a hushed tone that was firm in nature.
"Yeah, and I'm gonna uncover your mouth. When I do, you're not gonna scream are you?" Dylan raised a brow and looked Dante in the eye. Dante thought for a moment, as much as he loved being the bearer of bad news in the family, the gravity of the situation was weighing in on him. So, Dante accepted defeat and shook his head, agreeing not to cry out if he was giving his speaking privileges back.
A/N: There's the start to my idea about an evil Hansel. This is gonna be one of the shorter stories I'm gonna write. Stay tuned to see how everything unfolds!