Twisted Wonderland 2

Not In a Million Years

"LEMME OOOUT! GET ME OUTTA THIS CAGE!"

With a growl, Ernesto bursts out of the office door and glares at Grim. "How about you stop whining already? You're just wearing yourselves out."

The fox lets out a breath and smooths down his coat. "We should be getting some new stock in any moment now. Bring a cage, would you, Gino? A big one!"

Gino nods and runs off.

Jade grins. "It is rather thoughtful of you to lay out the welcome mat, but don't you think you might be getting ahead of yourself?"

"Indeed." Lilia chuckles. "It's patently obvious the rest of the boys have all escaped and are now working to undermine your plans."

"Just so. They would hardly be captured in such a short amount of time." Jade adds.

The doors burst open and the sound of the puppets' clacketty movement alerts the boys to who's walking in.

"Mr. FoUlWOrTh, I hAVe PrOCeEdED aS iNStRuCTeD. AnD bROuGhT MoRe NIgHt RAvEn COlLeGE pUpPEtS."

The puppets carry Jack and Trey, stopping in front of Ernesto and placing them in front of his feet.

"That was quick!" Grim exclaims.

"How could you let them capture you so soon?" Jade questions. "Not that the four of us have much room to talk as the very first victims."

"We were just denigrating our enemy, too!" Lilia sheepishly clears his throat. "Not that our sharp words have much of an edge as the very first victims."

Jack lets out a growl. "I got nothin' to say in my defense... but I still don't wanna hear it from the first victims."

Ernesto bursts out laughing. "I was curious how capable students of a prestigious school would be. But turns out you Night Raven College kids are just a bunch of pushovers. Talk about a letdown."

Gino comes back, dragging a large cage behind him.

"Ah, Gino, you're back." The fox gestures with a nod of his head to the boys. "Throw the newcomers into the new cage."

Gino smirks with a nod.

Jack bares his fangs with a low growl as he's dragged into the cage. "If only I could move, I'd be giving this guy the knuckle sandwich of his life!"

"How did you get turned?" Lilia asks.

Trey sighs. "I'm not sure. We busted up the puppets attacking us, and then we found ourselves like this. It was all over so fast, I'm not exactly sure what happened."

Jade hums. "I see. According to Ernesto, people get turned into puppets when they commit misdeeds. I suppose yours must have been when you 'busted up' your attackers."

"Precisely." Ernesto twirls his staff with a grin. "If I were to guess, you wrote 'em off as nothing special and just casually smashed 'em to bits, huh. Our puppets are highly valued members of the park staff, yet you'd openly use magic against them? What absolute cruelty! Your arrogance knows no bounds, does it?"

Jack huffs. "Keep talkin' big while you can!"

"Yeah." Trey narrows his eyes. "The rest of the guys will put a stop to you soon enough."

Ernesto flicks his ears. "I'm sorry, what was that? You think THEY'LL stop ME?" He places a hand to his chest as he laughs. "Did you hear that, Gino? What a riot!"

Grim eyes flicker in fear. "Wh... What's so funny? Quit with the cacklin'!"

The fox finally stops laughing. "Now my sides hurt from laughing. Not a chance, young scholars. Not. A. Chance." He lowers his ears, his eyes narrowed. "You really think pampered, sheltered students can stop Ernesto Foulworth? Not in a million years!"