Twisted-Wonderland: Our Precious Treasure (Part 2)

(99) TMotDS: Let's Find Some Wisdom!

Jonah barely registered when they were about to leave the Mostro Lounge that Deuce and Floyd entered. Ace and Grim were thrilled to meet up with the last of their trio. When they finally jumped out of the mirror, Cater and Jack was waiting for them at the Hall of Mirrors.

"Put me down," the captain spoke. Despite Trey's best effort to keep him in his arm, Jonah pushed himself off of the senior.

"Jonah-"

Jonah stepped back, back turned against the approaching Riddle. "Don't."

Riddle let his hand dropped to his side, letting out a pained sigh. Of course, he would. But Jonah was too mess up to consider that. "I just..."

"If I could at least try to protect you from ever giving up your unique magic, I would do it," Jonah muttered in a hoarse voice. "But, in the end, I can't even do that."

"You nearly die-"

Jonah glanced back. "Is it really worth it?"

Riddle's brow furrowed. He took a step forward, voice steady and filled with certainty. "Yes."

Jonah bit his lip and looked down at his feet. "Just... I need some time alone."

"Jonah-"

Ignoring the call of the Heartslabyul Prefect, Jonah ran away, never looking back. Riddle didn't know how to feel. Was this supposed to be a rejection from Jonah? Was it a good idea to give up his unique magic? Yes. He was sure. He saved his life. So why he can't see it?

Trey looked at Ace who was holding Jonah's cutlass. Opening his palm as a silent request, Ace understood it easily and gave it to Trey. The greenette knelt next to Grim who was holding Jonah's cutlass. "Grim," he said, offering the blade to the cat. "Can you go with him?"

Grim looked up at him worriedly. "He won't die when looking at me, right?"

"No," Riddle answered without looking at him. "He shouldn't be. Azul made a deal for that."

Trey sighed through his nose and looked back to Grim. "He'll need someone to comfort him right now."

Grim nodded at him. "Alright." The cat grabbed the sword then flew ahead of them, hopefully, able to find the missing captain.

Ace walked toward Riddle and gently put his hand on the still frozen redhead. "Prefect," he said, voice gentle but filled with guilt. "We're sorry we've failed you."

"I just..." Riddle sighed. "I thought I was doing the right thing."

Trey walked up to him and knelt in front of him, hands on both of the boy's shoulder to make sure he was focusing on him. "You did it to save his life. You did the right thing," he spoke gently. "He just needs some time to process this."

Riddle sighed again. "He's angry, isn't he?"

"At himself? Maybe. But never at you." Trey ran his hand down Riddle's hair in an attempt to give the prefect some reassurance. "Come on, let's go back to Heartslabyul."

Riddle mutely agreed. The Heartlabyul gang walked back to their mirror while Jack walked to his. None of them had any clue what to do next.

-----

Walking through the main street, Jonah felt numb. Maybe because of the tiredness from the battle earlier or maybe the guilt of failing to keep what he has left finally settle in. He felt like shit right now, both physically and emotionally. Looking up, he didn't even notice that he had turned and found himself in front of the brightly lit Ramshackle Dorm. His home. And Ashengrotto took it.