𝐖𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 ♤ 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 ˢ

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟎

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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟎
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐋'𝐒 𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎𝐔𝐓

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After racing out of the Caterpillar's lair, Indigo reluctantly began leading Will and Alice toward the Whispering Woods. Her thoughts were zooming around in her head, which annoyed Jefferson to no end, as they walked in silence through the woods. The Ace of Spades would never admit it, but she debated a few times with herself about leaving her traveling companions behind and going back into hiding. In her opinion, no wish was worth facing the likes of the Grendel.

What felt like an eternity to the Lark girl passed when they finally got out of the Wonderlandian woods and made it to a grassy clearing. A wave of anxiety washed over her when she realized how close they were to their destination. However, before another thought could run through her head, Alice opened her mouth and broke through the silence. "What do the two of you know about the Grendel?"

"Nothing good," Indigo responded as she slowed her pace down to walk beside them, "only a few people have seen him and lived to tell about it."

"And what they tell is nasty," Will added, causing chills to run through the girl standing next to him.

"What would a creature like that want with a Forget Me Knot?" the Kingsleigh woman questioned after the Ace of Spades gestured for them to turn down another path.

"I suppose he wants it for the same reason as the Caterpillar does, Alice," the Knave of Hearts continued speaking while the Lark girl nodded along in agreement, "there's power in knowing things other people don't. Knowing their secrets, things they've tried to hide, mistakes they've made."

"So we're going to make the most cruel and powerful insect in Wonderland even more powerful, and therefore, even more cruel?" the blonde woman rambled, only for Will to mutter a snarky comment in response before Alice continued speaking, "there must be a way to get what we want without just putting our troubles onto others."

Indigo let out a long exaggerated sigh that made Will send her a confused look. The three of them soon stopped in the middle of the clearing then Alice turned just in time to watch the younger girl look up at her. Silence surrounded them as the Ace of Spades continued to stare at the Kingsleigh woman before the latter broke through the stillness. "What if I were to tell you you could be with Cyrus forever, but somebody else had to suffer because of it? Would you do it?"

Alice just stared at Indigo dumbfounded. "Well, that's not an option-"

"Maybe it's not an option today, but it could be tomorrow. How much is he worth to you, Alice?" the Lark girl stated, earning another confused look from the Scarlet man before she continued walking down the path while muttering under her breath, "because I would do anything to get Kaden back."