Wonderland In Ruins

Chapter 38: Show Time

I sneak my way into the Flesh Kingdom.

My dress changes into one fit for a queen.

I snicker; how ironic.

I walk towards the maze and find the White King.

"Oh hi, Alice."

"White King, what're you up to?"

"After my wife got slaughtered by the Red Queen, I tried to kill her myself. But she condemned me to this god forsaken maze."

"I'm sorry White King, what can I do to help?"

"A sacrifice must be made.."

I look up at him and nod.

"Kill the bitch and not let this sacrifice be in vain."

I grab my hobby horse and smash the White King.

Shaking the image from my mind, I walk into the maze.

Dylan's POV

Alice has been convulsing for the past 4 hours.

It's already noon and I called up Matilda, worried about Alice's state.

"Mati! Come over quick, Alice has been *asleep* since 8! I don't know what to do anymore. I'm frightened, what if I lose her!?"

"Dylan, calm down! She'll be alright. I'm on my way now, has she made any progress?"

"Last time I talked to her about this, she said a White Queen was going to die and next thing I know, a fountain of blood is shooting out of her mouth. She's fine now, but I'm pretty sure she's going to have to fight the Red Queen soon. How can we help her?!"

"Okay okay, give me a second to get over there and then we can take it from there, see ya soon."

"Okay."

Alice, be strong, everything will be okay.

I kiss her face; praying that she wakes up soon.

Alice's POV

I slow my pace from a run to a walk and let the cloak wash over me; revealing myself to the Queen.

"Alice.."

"Red Queen." I say confidently.

"Why won't you give me Wonderland? You refuse the madness of my tentacles."

"I won't miss them." I look her in the eyes.

She looks like my older sister.. and me.. when I was 6.

"You know the answers to everything, yet you hide in your madness?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I say, insulted.

"You don't know your own mind."

"It's merely a stranger."

I look around me, this place is pulsating to the beat of my heart.

I look up into the Queen's eyes; I see my childhood.

I see everything that's happened to me to make me this way.

I can't take it; I close my eyes.

I try to dispel the images. But they won't leave.

I thrash around and begin falling.

I'm so used to this whole falling thing, it's not fun anymore.

I'm in Dylan's bed.

"Dylan..?" my voice comes out as a whisper.

Why do I feel so weak?

"Baby.."

I look to my right and Dylan is there, sitting on a chair.

He looks like he's been crying.

"What's wrong?" I try to get up and hug him but he won't let me.

"Alice, you're weak, please just stay there."

"No Dylan, I'm fine, how long was I out for?"

It looked about 9-ish

"You've been out for a day and a half. It's almost midnight."

Uhm. What?

"I'm okay, I feel fine."

"Alice you're emaciated. I'd ask you to eat but I'm afraid if it'll even help at this point.."

"Bring me food.."

"Alice.."

"Then lay with me."

He hesitated for a bit and then sighed.

He climbed into the bed beside me and wrapped me in his arms.

His touch brings me to life. I feel stronger with him.

"Dylan, stay with me. Stay exactly like this. Just stay near me. I know with you here I can defeat here. No matter what happens, come back to me and stay.."

He looked like he was about to cry.

He wrapped his arms tighter and kissed my forehead.

I kissed him.

The blood rushed through my veins.

I let myself fall.