[An AU of Animal Within

{Trigger Warnings: Dolls, kidnapping, murder, imprisonment, Whumper, Pet names, character is forced to go dress/act a certain way, f—king Kodi Hart.}

Please read carefully if these things can trigger you, or maybe don't read it at all.]

Nova looked at Kodi in fear, her brother's body now on the floor. Tears were running down her face as she struggled to break free, but she couldn't undo the ropes holding her to the chair.

"Nononononononono—" she muttered, looking at Divakar. Her blood ran cold. "Please no! Get up! Please, please— you— you have to! Divakar!"

Kodi smiled sinisterly, wiping blood off his knife. He turned to face the struggling girl, watching her in amusement. "Aw, doll. Don't worry, it's alright. Everything's fine. Just calm down, okay?" He cooed, approaching her like one might do with a startled animal.

She cried, struggling even more as Kodi bent down, taking his hand and forcing her to look him in the eyes. Bloody metal brushed against her cheek as Kodi moved the knife so it was ever so slightly biting into her skin.

"You're beautiful, kitten. Look at those doll eyes of yours." He hummed, brushing her hair out of the way. "Don't cry sweetie, just breath. Breath, no need to panic."

"Y-you— you killed—" Nova choked on her words.

"I saved you sweetheart," he hummed, chuckling slightly. "Divakar couldn't take care of you, look at you. Your underweight. He left you alone most days so he could work all day and still barely made enough to feed you. He couldn't even be bothered to teach you normal things about the world."

"I— nonononononono Divakar— Divakar loves me— and you just—"

"Please. If Divakar loved you he would have found someone who could actually take care of you and leave you with them. Not drag you all around the world." Kodi said, sounding bored. He stood up straight, turning around and walking towards the door that lead to the stairs up and out of the room.

"I'll be back, doll. Clear up the tears while I'm out. Normally it's cute, but right now it's annoying." He said, his tone sharp. He opened the door, giving her one last grin. "Remember, you look best when you smile."

With that he walked out, clicking the lights off before shutting the door with the lock clicking into place.

Nova sat there and cried, hoping, praying to wake up.

She didn't.

Nova jolted awake when the lights came back on, illuminating the room. She looked around, but her surroundings and position was no different from when she fell asleep.

The room looked exactly like one would expect the room of a dollhouse bedroom to look. Light features and colors. Which made the blood stained floor all the more noticeable. She chocked up again.

"I'll have to clean that up later." Kodi muttered, looking at the forgotten body. He closed the door before looking up at Nova.

"Well, you managed to stop crying. That's wonderful. Now all you need to do is smile." He  said with a sadistic grin of his own. "I got you some better clothes, and even makeup, but you'll look so much better once you just smile."

He cut the ropes holding her to the chair, grabbing her shoulders and forcing her to look in the mirror.

"Come on now." He said, sliding a knife under her chin. "Smile."

She managed a weak tight smile, fearful of what would happen if she didn't.

"Now isn't that better? Now, time to get started~"

"Now, you best not start crying again. Wouldn't want to ruin your makeup now, would you?" Kodi asked cheerfully, still holding a knife in his hand as he appraised his own work.

Nova gave him the same tight fearful smile that she had before. It was an hour later and she was in a new dress, and she looked very much like the dolls she saw in story books. Her hair was brushed, bows now styling it properly.

"That's my doll." He hummed. He held her by the shoulders, bring her over to a stool in front of a makeup mirror. "Now, sit right here and watch while I clean up the mess from earlier, okay? Don't forget to keep smiling."

Nova nodded, trying not to let her smile falter. Her body was shaking with fear.

Kodi set to work, cleaning everything up. Having to go back up multiple times to get more cleaning supplies for the blood. Every now and again he would grumble over how hard it was to get off the floor.

After what seemed like hours he was finished.

He took off his gloves with a sickening snap, before walking over to where Nova was still sitting.

"You can move now, doll." Kodi said sweetly. "I'm tired, so you're going to stay down here while I go back up. I'll be back tomorrow. If I'm not busy."

Nova shook slightly, her hands gripping the stool she was on. She gave him a small nod out of fear.

"Hm. Sweet dreams, kitten." He cooed, setting towards the door. Once again she watched as it shut behind him, hearing the hopeless click of the lock.

Stiffly, she walked over to the bed and sat down. Her mind racing as she tried to understand. Her heart sunk once more seeing the now fainter stains of blood on the floor. Not knowing what do to, and not having many options, she grabbed a cat plushie that was on the bed. She hugged it tightly, trying to cry again.

Eventually the girl would fall into a restless sleep, praying that when she woke up this would all be some terrible dream.

That she would wake up next to Divakar and they would be far away from this damn city and back to their traveling.

Unfortunately she had no such luck.

[Word Count: 940]