Ring around the rosie,

A pocket full of posies...

She hummed and smiled at the glint of the steel in her hand. It was shiny. She liked shiny things. He didn't like shiny things though. He tried to take them away. She didn't understand why. They were so bright, so happy. Shouldn't she be allowed to be happy?

Ring around the rosie...

She touched the sharp edge with one finger and giggled. Pain tingled through her hand. She pressed harder on the edge, laughing girlishly when beads of red popped out of her skin. Harder still, the liquid running down her fingers and dripping to a pool on the floor.

Ring around...

She pulled the metal away and rubbed her finger against her thumb. The thick liquid made her fingers slippery. She smiled, humming.

The rosie...

A knock on the door startled her. Her humming stopped. She stared at the doorknob, mesmerized. Another knock sounded through the room. Her head tilted to the side, her gaze still fixed upon the glinting golden-hued knob. It turned, allowing the door to open. He entered, shutting the door behind him.

She stared past him, the knob still holding her focus.

He stepped in front of her, trying to get her attention. Nothing. She didn't see him, only the glare shining off the knob. He waved a hand in her face. "Stella?"

No response.

He stepped in the way of the knob, blocking it from her vision. "Stella? What are you looking at?"

She looked at him and smiled. "Oh, hello, John."

His gaze wandered down her white nightgown clad body to the red puddle on the floor. He opened his mouth to comment.

She spoke first. "It's a lovely day, isn't it?" She turned her head to look out the window.

He stared at the matted black mass of hair covering the back of her head. "Stella, where did that come from?"

She looked at him. "Where did what come from?" He pointed to the floor. She giggled and held up her hand. A thin, red line ran across her finger.

He knelt, reaching for a roll of paper towels lying on the floor. He spoke, beginning to clean up the mess. "I thought I told you that this wasn't good to do."

She smiled, her pale, blue eyes staring straight into his dark emerald ones, and said nothing. He sighed, continuing to clean up the blood. "How did you do this?"

Her smiled faltered, and her grasp tightened around the steel clutched in her fist. He reached for the object, but she pulled it farther away.

"Stella. Let me have that."

A cold look took over her eyes. She glared, mouth turned into a frown.

He reached for it again. "Stella..."

She stood, looking down at him, her bare feet looking pale in contrast to the dark wood floor.

"Come on, Stella." He held out his hand.

Immediately, her face softened. She smiled again, and opened her mouth to sing.

"Ring around the rosie..."

She padded toward him, blade held high over her head.

"...a pocket full of posies..."

She lowered it, closer and closer to his chest. He stood frozen, eyes wide in terror.

"...ashes, ashes..."

She plunged the blade deep into his heart. He gasped, his eyes losing their life. His body slumped to the ground, hands clutched around the handle of the knife sticking out of his chest.

"...we all fall down."

She gently removed his hands from their grasp and pulled the blade out. She looked at the blood smeared metal and giggled. Slowly touching the red object, she sat down and began to hum.

Ring around the rosie...