Chapter Text
*Robin’s POV*:
I don’t know what I was thinking. What I was doing was practically reckless. It was almost as if I went into hyperdrive. I saw the way Lea marched right up to Doro as I was trying to ask her a question and just SHOVED the poor kid off the balcony. As he was screaming, I somehow managed to move my feet and quickly ran to the ledge, grabbing one of the strings from his overalls. His screaming ceased and though I managed to stop his fall, I knew it wasn’t going to last long. I let out a grunt as I tried to hold him, my arms shaking rapidly from the weight.
“Heyheyhey! You’re okay! I gotcha… I gotcha Doro…” I heavily breathed as I tried my best to reassure him.
For a split second, I saw the relief on his face, but was quickly replaced by fear. That expression will forever haunt me. He suddenly looked down towards the ground and I saw the way his pupils grew even smaller.I don’t even know what drove Lea to do something as cruel as this. Is whatever she’s trying to accomplish really worth the death of an innocent child? As mad as I was, this wasn’t the best time to focus on that. It's taking all my strength just to hold him.
“Miss…I-I'm scared…I-I’m really scared!”
“I-I know Doro, I know. Just look at me.. don’t look down, j-just look at me” I stuttered. It took a couple seconds,though it felt longer, but he started to comply. “Y-yeah! Good job! Y-you’re doing great, I-I won't let you go…” I don’t even know how I somehow managed to throw a smile but I did. It was taking everything in me not to just cry in that moment. Ignoring the stinging sensation in my eyes, I knew I had to be strong. Not only for him, but for myself.
Just when I thought I had a good grip, I suddenly lost my footing, which set me off edge. A quick yelp of panic escapes my lips before I could even suppress it. The string was starting to snap. I heard Doro’s piercing scream once more. I winced, doing my best to block it and managed to right my footing,tightening my grip once more to stop his fall.
“Ugh…you’re going to be okay… y-you’ll be okay Doro.. I promise”. I knew deep down that I was lying to him. But I refused to believe the latter of what was going to happen to him if I lost my grip again. That was a dangerous close call.
I turn my head and look towards Lea. Her expression was fierce. Hardened. Despite what she just did a couple seconds ago, I didn’t know how much longer I could keep this up. My arms were getting tired and the pain was killing me. I needed help. “Lea! I need your help! PLEASE! Help me get him back up!” But she just looked at me in silence. Almost in a mocking manner. Just when I thought she wasn’t going to do anything, I saw her pulling out her book from inside her blouse, drawing out a sword. The movement slow motion like.
…What? Why is she doing that?! I thought as dread filled me. Is she going to kill me right now?! She makes the motion of lifting her sword up. I then noticed that her eyes were looking at the string I was holding. My whole body turned to ice as I finally realized what she was about to do.
“No… NO LEA! LEA PLEASE! I draw out, begging her. “PLEASE DON’T DO THIS!!” Her expression was completely stoic, I couldn’t trace any emotion on her face. She was practically a robot. Nevertheless, I still kept begging. Shouting. Trying to reach out to her. “ LEA PLEASE NO!” In that moment, the panic I’ve been trying to suppress suddenly released like a dam. “HE’S A CHILD!!” I shout off the top of my lungs as she’s about to go for the kill. My voice echoed throughout the city that I'm so sure everybody heard my scream. The fight/conversation that was going on between Hook and the Witch down there suddenly went silent.
…SHING!...
I shut my eyes tight, then opened them slowly. I don’t feel anymore pain then I’m currently in, much to my relief. But the weight in my arms suddenly felt light. My eyes widened as the horror settled in. I quickly look over the ledge and see Doro FALLING TO HIS DEATH. Lea looked down as well, without a hint of remorse for the unforgiving crime she just committed.
I leaned even more dangerously close to the ledge, arms spread out, still trying to reach out for him even though he was far out of my reach. “NOOOOOOO!!!” I yelled out. In that short amount of time, the last thing I saw of him was the look of a scared...little…boy…
…CRACK!!
I physically shuddered as I saw his once moving body go limp as he landed headfirst into the ground, blood splattering everywhere. The sweet, innocent Doro. The one that was so worried about his aunt. The one that I only knew for a short amount of time and quickly bonded with was no more. The string of his overall being all I have left of him in my hand. I slowly back away from the ledge, my legs shaking. I couldn’t even bear to look at his body for any longer in fear that I was going to throw up. I hold the string close to my chest and mourn silently for him, the tears finally spilling across my cheeks. Suddenly everything around me started to be absorbed by darkness. I think back on what the Witch told me back in my true tale. About the reset. Of course. Doro is the main character. So because of his death, the story is rewinding right back to the beginning. I also think back to the most recent event I had with him. How he compelled me after I gave my true name because I thought I could trust him, but he just used that to his advantage and shoved me in that room. Told me, “Stay in this room. No matter WHAT happens.”
I let out a big sigh to try to calm my already unsettling nerves, but it wasn’t working. No one is going to come save me. I know this because I saw the way the Witch made eye contact with me after he opened up a portal and just.. left. I still haven't managed to know the whereabouts of Tank. I really don’t want to be consumed by this darkness. What’s going to happen to me?! I-I don’t know how I’m going to get out of this one. The anxiety I was feeling is too much to bear. I thought I was finally ready. I can already hear the Fates now. They’d most likely just mock and belittle me as they’ve always done throughout my time here.
“Of course she couldn’t handle it by herself in the end”.
I shut my eyes as more silent tears drop, clutching the string in my hand even tighter. My heart just feels heavy after all that hurt and betrayal I experienced in my time at Oz. I finally let hopelessness consume me after fighting it for so long. Then I felt a huge force come at me and everything was starting to go black.
“I’m so sorry Tank, I…I let you down.”
The last thing I saw was the bottom of my dress being ripped to shreds.