Echoes of Wonderland

Unsteady

Chloe's POV

As I make my way back to the castle, the weight of everything I've learned about Maddox's control over the town feels like a heavy burden on my shoulders. The townspeople, once full of life, are now mere shadows of themselves, their memories faded and their emotions dulled. I can't shake the unsettling feeling that we're running out of time to fix this before the enchantment becomes irreversible.

The castle looms ahead, dark and ominous against the dim sky. I take a deep breath and prepare to sneak back inside, retracing the path Red and I took earlier. But just as I'm about to slip through the gate, I see a figure emerging from the shadows. It's Red.

For a moment, I'm relieved to see her—until I notice the expression on her face. Or rather, the lack of expression. Red's face is blank, almost numb, as if the life has been drained out of her. It's not like her at all. My heart clenches with worry.

- Red. - I call out softly, stepping closer to her.

- Hey. - She replies, her voice flat and devoid of emotion.

- What's wrong? Did you find out something else about the anchor?

Red barely looks at me, her eyes unfocused. She hesitates for a moment before shaking her head.

- No. - She finally says, her voice distant. - I couldn't find out anything else. Maddox stopped talking after you left the vent.

I can tell she's hiding something, but I don't want to push her too hard. Whatever happened while I was away, it's clearly shaken her.

- What's up with that face? - I ask, trying to keep my tone light. - You look like you've seen a ghost.

- It's just... everything's getting to me, you know? This whole situation is messed up. - Red shrugs, brushing off my concern. - I'm tired, frustrated, and honestly, a bit overwhelmed.

I study her for a moment, wanting to press her for more, but something in her demeanor stops me. Red isn't one to show vulnerability easily, and if she's not ready to talk, pushing her won't help. Instead, I decide to share what I learned about the brainwashing, hoping it might distract her from whatever's weighing on her mind.

- So, I talked to some of the townspeople. - I begin, keeping my voice steady. - It's worse than we thought, Red. They're like NPCs, just going through the motions. Their memories are all blurred, like they're living in some kind of fog. They don't even remember how things used to be.

I go on, recounting the conversations I had with the villagers, explaining how disconnected they seemed from reality. But as I speak, I notice that Red isn't really listening. Her gaze is distant, her mind clearly elsewhere.

- Come on, Bae, what's wrong? - I ask, my concern deepening. - You're not yourself.

Red shakes her head again, but this time she seems more frustrated than before.

- I'm fine, Chloe. Just... thinking.

I can see she's not fine, but I don't know how to reach her when she's like this. Red has always been the strong one, the one who keeps it together no matter what. Seeing her like this—withdrawn, almost defeated—makes me feel helpless. I wish I could just make everything better, but I know it's not that simple.

I try to comfort her, reaching out to take her hand.

- We'll fix this. - I say softly, hoping my words can somehow get through to her. - We'll figure it out, and everything will go back to normal. I promise.

She nods, but the motion is mechanical, lacking conviction. Desperate to lift her spirits and keep momentum, I press on.

- Listen, I was thinking... We should head to Wonderland. Maddox's workshop is there. If the anchor is anywhere, it's probably hidden among his things. Maybe we can find something to help us break this spell.