A small hum was sewn across the room. The inaudible lyrics were threaded like a spiderweb, and the dead bodies were the spider’s prey. Enchantingly, the lullaby marveled in the shadows.
Until, a broken giggle cut the tune.
Silence stretched its fingers over the scene. And then, her voice finally spoke:
“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall…” She kneeled beside the body like it was a sleeping doll. One hand cupped the cheek — so cold, so lifeless.
“And all the king’s horses licked him dry…” His smile seemed so wrong. Crooked. Too wide. Large. Awkward. The corners twisted in all the wrong directions. She thought of moving his lips. Make them more smiley. Less upset. Less frowny.
No.
No.
Instead…
“Shhh… Shhh…” A finger pressed to his gaping mouth. Then, slowly, she leaned forward and extended her tongue.
Her voice began to taste like dust and sugar and something sharp — something red. Then it changed. It became the sound of piano keys slamming. Hard. Over and over. Vibrating against her teeth.
It was too loud.
It hurt.
It hurt.
Why wouldn’t it stop?
I said,
“‘Shut up!’” She whipped around. Something moved. Or breathed. Or laughed.
Her white dress flared with the turn — like wings or a warning. Her fangs glistened with a trembling growl.
In and out.
Eyes gleaming.
Breath ragged.
But nothing was moving.
She stared at her dead audience. They looked like toys someone got bored with. Their limbs looked like they had forgotten where to go. They were utterly still. Utterly silent. Utterly twisted. Broken.
“I was just trying to save them.” She was saving them.
Helping them.
Her body curled into itself. Her back hunched over. Arms wrapped around her knees. Bare feet curved into each other. Toes touching. Scrunched inwards. She wanted to disappear. Make it all go away. Make them go away.
The bedtime story. Tell me again. “I.. I,” She began, keeping herself as polite as could be,
“I was just trying to save them.” Lily repeated. It was her favorite line of the story. It was the safest line.
“I was just trying to save them.” Her voice was sugar-glass soft. It sounded so convincing. So real. It made her want to scream. Her nails dug into her skin. She just wanted to save them.
Hush little baby, it murmured.
Don’t say a word… A smile tugged on her. A small twitch on smudged lips.
“Daddy’s gunna buy you a new bedtime,” she whispered.
The silence clawed its way over the room once more. It echoed around her. It screamed it at her, and then, its eyes stared at her. She couldn’t escape them. And, quietly, it opened. It opened with small hums. The hums matched the tears swelling in her eyes.
What happens next? You remember, don’t you? Her humming shattered. The pieces of lyrics dripped onto her white dress.
Red. It was everywhere. She could smell it, too.
Her breath broke.
She pressed her forehead to her knees. Ivory skin glistened in the moonlight from the dusty window. She was shaking.
“Humpty-Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty-Dumpty had a great fall.
Humpty-Dumpty’s pieces scattered too far.
All-all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn't make him right.”
Her voice cracked. Eyes lost in an endless daze. The body was sprawled in front of her. He was pale and still. A small smile fractured her face.
The silence crept inside of her. It began humming, again. Her smile twitched and quivered.
Tap.
Tap.
Her fingers trembled to the lullaby, still digging into her skin. And suddenly, they stopped.
Her body uncoiled. Stretching towards the body. His chest was still, but her ears ring. Her heart pounded like a drum.
You should sleep, now. “No…” she whispered, hands trembling.
Quiet, now, it hushes.
You know you’re safe with me. The voice is warm and soft. Like lies in velvet. Its words trail like ribbons around her bones.
Her teary eyes look down at the body. It’s cradled in her arms. She’s rocking it back-and-forth. A warped lullaby drips from her lips,
“Humpty-Dumpty hard a great fall. All the kings’ horses cannot fix them all.” With a shaken, crooked smile, her mouth opened. Teeth grazed the cold, purple skin she was once stroking. The boy made no sound. No heartbeat. Only the wet echo of the night made a sound.
“I was… I…” she whispered with an unfocused graze.
Shh, hush, little baby. Don’t say a word. “I was just… tr-trying to save them. She nearly chokes on her quite words.
You did. You saved them. We all did. Her head shakes. Tears trickle down here porcelain cheeks. Smudged with a cherry color.
“N-no…” A choked cry tightens in her chest.
“S-stop. It’s not right.” It’s alright. It’s always alright. You know it is. The silence settles over the room, but this time with a slow calmness. Lily closes her eyes. Her body curls into itself once more. She moves in a soft endless sway. As she rocks herself she gently whispers:
“I was just trying to save them. I was just trying to save them.” Nothing can hurt her now.
She was safe.
They were safe.
Lily breathed softly, a quiet farewell. Moonlight fractured the floor like a lullaby fading into the night. Her dress flared around her.
“Goodnight, Moon…. Goodnight.” At least, for now.
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