Echoes of Wonderland

The fight of our lives

Red's POV

Thursday night, the night before castlecoming

The cavern of the black lagoon feels like it's closing in on me as Fay and I step forward, our footsteps echoing ominously in the silence. The darkness presses down from all sides, thick and suffocating, but it's not nearly as oppressive as the sight that greets me when I finally see Chloe.

She's chained up, her wrists bound tightly above her head, her body slumped against the cold stone wall. There's blood on her clothes, staining the once-bright fabric dark red, and it makes my stomach turn. I can see the cuts and bruises, the way her skin is pale and clammy. All I wanna do is rush to her side. But I can't. Not yet.

Morgie is standing close, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his knife, his eyes never leaving Chloe. He looks almost bored, like guarding her is just another job, but I can see the glint of sadistic pleasure in his eyes whenever he glances her way. My fists clench at my sides, anger and guilt warring within me. This is my fault. Chloe's suffering because of me.

Uliana steps forward, her dark eyes narrowing as she looks from me to Fay, then down to the book I'm holding.

- You actually brought it. - She says, her voice dripping with skepticism. - I didn't think you'd be stupid enough to do it.

- We're not stupid, Uliana - I say, forcing my voice to stay steady, even though every fiber of my being is screaming at me to look at Chloe, to make sure she's okay. - We're just practical. You want the book, we want Chloe. Simple exchange.

- Oh, Red. You always did think you were clever, didn't you? - Uliana's lips curl into a cold, mocking smile. - But you should know by now that I don't play by anyone's rules but my own.

- We didn't come here to play games. - Fay steps closer, her voice calm but firm. - You get the book, we get Chloe. That was the deal.

- Deals are for fools. - Uliana sneers. - I prefer to take what I want.

She motions to the VKs behind her—Hook, Maleficent, and Hades—who are all watching us with varying degrees of malice and amusement. My heart pounds in my chest as I glance at Chloe again, trying to convey some kind of reassurance in my gaze, though I'm not sure she can even see me clearly through the haze of pain she must be feeling.

- Fine. Take it. - I step forward, holding out the book.

Uliana's eyes narrow suspiciously as she reaches for the book, her fingers brushing against the leather cover. I can feel her power, dark and cold, crackling in the air around us. My stomach twists with anxiety, but I force myself to keep calm. This has to work.

She takes the book from me, her eyes flicking over the cover with a mix of curiosity and hunger.

- Finally. - She murmurs, almost to herself, as if she can already taste the power she thinks she's holding. But then she stops, her gaze snapping back to me, sharp and dangerous. - Something's not right. This isn't—

Before she can finish, Fay lashes out, her wand moving faster than I've ever seen as she releases a blast of magic aimed directly at Uliana. It catches her off guard, knocking her back a few steps. The cavern erupts into chaos.

The tension in the air almost palpable. Uliana's sneer is a cold, cruel thing as she holds the book, and her dark magic swirls around her like a storm. I can barely think straight, but I know that if we're going to get Chloe out of this alive, I need to stay focused.

- You think you can win this, Red? - Uliana's voice cuts through the noise, laced with disdain. - You think you're clever, bringing a fake book and a deck of cards?