ONE

You know usually when someone tells you, ‘you’re gonna kill it tonight’ they mean it figuratively. But not in this case, no, it’s never the usual for poor little Dolly. You see poor D had a tendency to attract the crazies. This evident by the number of times she’s been in the local juvenile jail. One time it was because she had switched all the shampoo bottles of her aunty Rayna’s very and when I say very I mean very popular salon with bleach. Let’s just say a lot of lawsuits were filed that day. Another time was when she tied 5 toddlers together and convinced them that silly string would eat them alive…then proceeded to cover the pitiful little things in it. Yeah, this one got her a week. Oh! Not to forget that one time she kicked old man Samuels’s calf off of Morrebays cliff, haha haha haaaaa. Well, at least the lifeless body was retrieved. Old man Samuel enjoyed some tender meat that day. Time? Two weeks, surprisingly.

She was the nicest inmate the little jail had ever received. Prone to bullying by fellow cell mates but always had her guardian Mr. Jo. Mr. Jo was what Del could describe as her adopted god parent. Beneath the title Delinquent Dolly he could see a sweet and innocent girl who reminded him of his late daughter. So! He took it upon himself to take care of the little rascal and maybe find out why she acted this way.

Now don’t get it twisted Del wasn’t a bad kid. Just an unfortunate soul who found herself as the source of entertainment for 3 gods who seem to have nothing better to do with their eternity. These gods being Até the goddess of mischief, Oizy the goddess of Misery and Ponos the personification of toil and hardship…yeah things weren’t looking good for D. Why would three deities bring themselves down to torture a random human being? Well, as far as Dolly had been told it was because of her name. Dolores Desdemona or literally translated to pain ill-starred. Basically she’s unlucky and possibly cursed…yay.

These supreme beings loved to see her do everything they commanded. From telling her to sabotage the school plays lights so that they would fall mid performance, to making her drink excessive amounts of alcohol just so she wakes up with a massive headache the next morning. They had been with her since she turned 13. An age where one is discovering life and molding into the person of their future. If all had gone well and the gods had not showed up Dolores would be quite the character. She was happy, funny, joyful and confident all her life until they came along. Her volleyball skills were second to none and even got the attention of two colleges by the time she was 12. She so adored the sport and wished to pursue it in her adulthood but again they ruined that for her too. They told her to drop the sport and never touch the ball again and if she ever did they’d chop off her hands.

It was the 14th of May and Dolores’ birthday was fast approaching. In recent days the gods had been acting funny. Funny in the sense that they left her alone and just watched her from a distance. She hadn’t gotten in trouble at all that week and was really happy about it. That evening when she got back home she sat at dinner with her mother for the first time in that month. This shocked her mom and brought her overwhelming joy. Seeing her mom like this really showed her the effect her presence or lack thereof had on her sigh, but it couldn’t be helped. The rascal gods would find ways to hurt her mom or make her disrespect her in any ways they can. Keeping away was the only way she could protect her. With the absence of said gods she was happily enjoying the calm before whatever storm was brewing.

She cleaned the dishes and made sure the house was tidy before kissing her mom and retreating to her bedroom for a well-deserved slumber. Instead upon entrance she was welcomed by the sight of Aite holding up her lamp as if she was about to toss it and Ponos hiding behind a pillow as he ran around pleading for his life. Oizy sat on her bed a packet of gummy worms in hand. Dolores’ gummy worms to be exact and when Dolores entered all eyes were on her.

“Dolly!’’ Ponos exclaimed as he dropped his pillow to the ground. Aite took it as an opportunity to strike and threw the lamp at him. He dodged but the glass lamp shattered as it hit the wall.

“Oops?” Aite said as she plopped down on the beanbag chair. All Dolores did was stare at the scene before her annoyed. That was her 4th lap that month and she actually quite liked it. Sighing she left the room to get a broom and dust pan. Her mom met her half way and asked her what the noise was about and she lied saying she tripped and bumped the lamp causing it to fall. Her mom simply nodded her head and asked if she was okay and Dolly nodded and whispered she was fine.

 She was fine, physically at least, but she was mentally drained and tired of being a bad kid. This week reminded her of just how great her life could be if she was free. If only she was free.

Again she entered the room and this time it was empty. They were up to something. She shrugged and dealt with the matter at hand. Finally after 30 minutes her floor was clean, bed made, books organized and Oizy had missed a packet of gummies so she gave herself a treat. She freshened up and got in bed ready to finally sleep but was interrupted when Oizy suddenly popped up with a bang as she fell to the floor followed by a laughing Ponos and a smirking Aite. What did they want now?

“What is it?” Dolores asked in a bored tone. Aite looked at her with a devilish grin as she approached the bed.

“I see you’re all tucked in and cozy,” she said as she pulled the chair from her study table to the bed side.

“What are you doing?” Dolores asked confused.

“I’m going to tell you a bed time story,” Aite replied as she grab a blank exercise book from Dolores’ table. Dolores stared at her in shock and fear. A bed time story? She didn’t have a good feeling about this.

“I don’t need a bed time story, I can sleep just fine, I am 17 after all,” she drew out quickly as she got up to shoo her away.

“I broke your lamp little one, it’s the least I could do, don’t you think?” Aite responded staying still in her chair eyes hard demanding obedience. “Don’t you think so too, Dolores?” she asked again.

“Uh, yes?” she responded weakly

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Good, now listen. Once upon time there was a boy. This boy was very sad and very desperate for anything to make him happy. One day this boy was wandering the streets in despair and stumbled into a shady alley way. The boy saw three mean men selling a white powdery substance in a clear bag. The boy knew immediately what it was and wanted it. His happiness was only twenty dollars away. He bought a packet and rejoiced as he went back to his home,” she said now pulling the blanket over Dolores in a motherly manner, “The boy got addicted and seeing as he was a 16 year old he didn’t have much money. So the boy took his father’s gun one day and shot the men dealing in the alley way. He didn’t kill them but he did do damage. He stole $5000 worth of cocaine and ran away. He stole my money Dolores and I want it back.” She said slamming the blank book shut.

“It’s a lovely story but what does it have to do with me?” she asked confused.

Aite began petting her head in a soothing manner and responded saying, “Oh sweet child, you see I know where he is and who he is. I also know that he has snorted 100 dollars’ worth of my batch already. Now when I say I want my coke back I want it all. So I want him dead.”

Dolores’ eyes were wide when she heard this. “Can’t he just pay you the $100?’’

“He could but he also hurt my men and dared to steal from me. I want revenge and nothing sweeter than seeing his body broken, bruised and lifeless.”  She finished with a maniacal chuckle. “And they lived happily ever after, the end” Standing she kissed Dolores on the forehead and whispered a warm goodnight and just as they came they disappeared into the night air.

Dolores’ heart was racing. Blood rushing through her veins as her body quivered, cold sweat dripped from her awoken pores dampening her bed. This wasn’t good. Whatever was going to happen was going to involve her one way or another. She didn’t like it, not one bit. That night she twisted and turned and nightmares of the creek began to creep up again. It had been a while since she had dreamt of her little brother’s loss, 4 years to be exact.

***

The sun seeped through the curtains, spotlighting the small dust particles dancing within its rays. Beams of light grazed her sleeping form, the yellow hue accentuating her brown skin. The concentrated warmth on her face brought her discomfort and she slowly opened her eyes but immediately shut them as the light scorched her eyes. She moved and faced the other direction where the sun would not bother her but this time was met by Ponos’ smiling face. “Ah!” she screamed as she scrambled away from him falling onto the floor in the process. Wincing she rubbed her bruised back and opened her eyes again and was met by Aite’s form standing over her.

“You guys should really stop showing up without notice,” she said through clenched teeth.

“It’s not like we can call you, there’s no service in the teleportation portal!” Oizy spoke as she rummaged through Dolores’ bag. “Hey I left a bag of gummies in here yesterday, did you happen to see it?” she asked as she turned to look at Dolores. All Dolores did was point at the little bin by her bedside, it held all the answers Oizy would ever need. A loud cry fell from Oizy as she crawled to the discarded empty pack of Grunckle Gummies. “You’re truly a despicable human being,” she said as she held the packet like the cadaver of a deeply loved house pet. Dolores simply rolled her eyes as she got up from the floor.

“You sleep really pretty,” Ponos said out of the blue.

“Uh?” Dolores started but was cut off when he continued speaking

“It’s like one of those Disney princesses, magical, you should sleep more often,” he said as he nodded as if confirming what he said with himself.

“Thanks? But uh I can’t ‘sleep more often’ if you guys are always barging in on me like this” she said wiping the crust from her eyes. Disney princess who? She thought as she scratched her hair from the safety of her silk bonnet.

“Alright Cinderella enough of the chit chat we’re here for a reason,” Aite said as she picked up the notebook from the night before.

“Don’t tell me you’re gonna tell me another story,” Dolores whined as she eyed Aite suspiciously.

Aite chuckled and shook her head no. She tore a paper from the book and grabbed a pen from the night stand.

“I need you to go shopping for me because humans disgust me,” she said as she scribbled on the vacant paper.

“Okay?” Dolores answered towel in hand as she gathered the rest of her toiletries. “I’m gonna go take a bath now, just leave the list and money on my bed”

“What money?” Aite questioned.

Stopping in her tracks Dolores turned around and said, “The money you will give me so I can buy the things you want? That money,”

“Oh you think I’m paying,” Aite said beginning to laugh. “Guys she thinks I’m paying” she added encouraging the others to laugh as well. Lifting her hand abruptly all laughter died down and she proceeded to say, “Dolores, Dolores, Dolores, you’ve got a really cheeky funny bone don’t you, Looks like we’ve been a little too soft on you. You’re paying and I want everything by end of day today.” Saying this Aite left and was soon followed by Ponos. Oizy kissed her teeth and tossed the empty paper of gummies at Dolores before disappearing too.

Still trying to process what had just happened Dolores looked down at the paper and noticed that it was only a few items. A sigh of relief blew past her lips as she scanned the paper closer.

A pack of tissues

Plastic wrap

Kitchen knives

A chair

Rope

And chloroform

Quickly she pulled out her phone and calculated how much in total all of it would be and came with a sum on 100USD. She wouldn’t be going clothes shopping any time soon.

Finally she entered the bathroom and began her day with a fresh cleanse. Once out she smelt of vanilla and coconut and as for her outfit she wore a simple pair of loose blue jeans and a black tank top topped off with an unbuttoned lumber jack shirt in the color baby blue. Her hair was combed out into an afro and her wrist was covered in different types of bangles, chains and beads as well as a simple gold watch.

She planned on watching a movie after shopping and buying a few more gummy bears to refill her stash, hopefully Oizy wouldn’t find them this time.

She grabbed her skateboard and headed out. Her mom had left early for work. She was a philosophy lecturer at the towns most prestigious university thus their comfortable living. It came in handy to be well known for your skills thus being paid ridiculous amounts of money for a teacher just so you don’t leave.

Her local Take ‘n’ purchase was not far. Five minutes on her skateboard 15 on foot. Upon arrival she took a shopping cart and began her journey between the aisles. She had found everything but a chair, deciding she would simply give away her own she purchased her items and left heading home.

Everything was deposited on her bed including her chair. The gods would simply pop in and take them. She found an empty pickle jar in the kitchen and placed two packets of gummies in it and placed this jar under her bed. The other two packets she put in her old worn out sneakers. Then placed these at the furthest point of her should closet, nobody was messing with her gummy bears anytime soon. Again she picked up her skateboard and headed for the door but before leaving she left a note mentioning where she was going and how long her mom was to expect her to be out, she stuck it on the fridge and left for the movie theatre.

“Oh this is rich” Aite said as she watched Dolores skate down the street. She grabbed everything on her bed and poofed back to the others.

***

"Guys I don’t think this is a good idea" said Ponos

"Are you calling me dumb?" Aite asked offended placing a hand on her chest

"No no I-" he stammered

"Shut up Ponos and grab the body bag" Oizy interjected.

"Fine" he grumbled as he grabbed the bag

***