Marianne raised an eye at Joshua’s words, a dark grin creeping up onto her features. Turning to Rose, she deposited the unconscious younger version of herself near her. It didn’t need to be said that she expected the Nebula to look after her. One glance told Rose all that was needed.

“Goodness, you’ve certainly grown bold over these last couple of years,” Marianne said idly, placing her hands on her hips. “It’s not like I couldn’t take you if I wanted to. Rather, I just wanted to see how insane you’d drive yourself with these self-inflicted games. That’s all!”

The image of her form flickered out of existence, only to appear right in front of Joshua. The smell of decay and ruination wafted from her dress, and the pale girl tilted her head to the side playfully.

“Ahaha, there’s really nothing stopping me from taking your life right here you know! But of course you [i]do [/i] know, don't you? That’s why you’re shaking right now, heheheh!”

Marianne leaned in closer, blowing an icy breath of air into the Collector’s face.

“Hmm, maybe I’ll finally rip you apart the moment you cease to entertain little boy! That’s before these nice folks here are through giving you a piece of their mind. As for me, well you already know my policy, don’t you?”

The dark dressed girl grinned eerily, a smirk that could freeze any heart solid.

[i][b]“You’ve been very naughty Joshua. And naughty children get their hands cut off.”
[/b][/i]

The sound of something whizzing in the air made the girl take pause, before she dissolved into shadow. A moment later, something landed where she stood, a knife embedded into the floor. Marianne appeared by the group again, hands on hips and eyes glimmering with amusement.

“What’s this? You’re still using that worn down puppet Joshua? Ahahaha, oh see this is why your heart’s still beating!”

The [url=http://cdn.i.ntere.st/p/9882104/image]figure[/url] was tall, impossibly tall. It wore a black striped suit, boots, and gloves. Pale hair crowned its head, and when it opened its eyes, all that was seen were two holes devoid of all light. It moved unnaturally, like a spider on stilts ready to pounce.

The creature twisted its head to face the group. The source of the creaking was finally discovered.