Lost In Wonderland

Chapter 9

"So, what's the Prince like?" I asked once we started to walk again. "Cheshire started to say he's a son of a—"

Cory held up a finger. "Remember what I said about talking trash? That includes you too," He put his hand down. "It's like you all have a death wish. He's allowed to be stubborn. He's the Prince."

I nodded. "Sounds annoying,"

"He's not even royal blood."

"He's not?"

"No, he showed up here about fifteen years ago. Queen found him and took him in as her own. Practically raised the brat."

"What's his name?"

"William. Even has a stuck up name."

I laughed to myself. "Like, William Winsor? Prince of England?"

"Where?" Cory looked completely confused. "England? And who the hell is William Winsor?"

"England is a country and William is the Prince. Do you know Prince William's last name?" I asked, thinking of the little boy from all those years ago.

"I'm not sure. Why?"

"There was this little boy named William who disappeared years ago. It's probably not him."

"It may be, you never know, especially here in Wonderland." Cory winked.

I smiled. "You're flirtatious," I said bluntly. "Really flirtatious."

He shrugged. "Maybe it's just you."

I felt a blush rush to my cheeks and I shook my head. "No, not me. It's you. Guys don't flirt with me, ever."

"I don't see why not. You're hot, you're nice, and you have a great personality." Cory said, slowing down so he was beside me. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

I lowered his arm. "No, I don't think so."

"Oh, don't tell me you have self esteem issues,"

I shook my head. "No, not really, just... I'm not hot. And if I was, no one at my school seems to think so,"

"They don't know beauty if it hit them in the face."

I laughed. "Sure. Whatever. How much further?"

"Mmm... not much longer. I think there's a path we can take that'll shorten the trip."

I stopped in my tracks. "Oh no. I've seen that movie. Let's take the short path. Those guys always end up dead."

"Fine. We'll take the longer way. Whatever you wish, my dear,"

I glared at Cory. "Really? I don't need your sarcasm. I have enough to go around." I started to walk ahead of him. "And quit staring at my ass,"

"I'm not..."

I glanced back and raised an eyebrow. "Whatever you say,"

. . .
It felt like night arrived sooner than last night. It was dark, the half-moon the only real light. With the dark came the cold. "Can we stop a second?" I asked Cory.

He glanced around anxiously. "Yeah, just be quick. There's a clearing ahead that we should stay the night in."

I nodded and knelt to the ground, unzipping my backpack and pulling out my jacket. "Cold?"

"Hm?" Cory was distracted by something else.

"Are you cold? I still have your sweatshirt, if you want it,"

Cory glanced down at me. "No, I'm fine. Hurry up."

I nodded and put on my jacket. I then remembered my phone. I pulled it out to use as a light. I switched on the screen and stood up. "Let's go,"

Cory looked at the phone. "What the hell is that?! Turn it off!"

"What? Why?"

A loud howl sounded through the still air. It lasted longer than comfortable, never wavering. Cory looked at me. "Turn it off."

I switched off the screen and the sound of tree branches snapping rang out. Leaves crunched in the distances, slowly getting closer.

Cory grabbed my hand. "Run."

He darted off, dragging me behind him. My backpack thumped against my back and the twig snapping got closer. Soon, another howl rang out, this one much louder and closer.

"Goddamn it!" Cory yelled. "There's a river up here, we'll have to swim across."

"What?!"

Cory let go of my hand and fell downwards. Water splashed at my shoes. My phone. I sighed and chucked it across the river to the other edge. It landed right in the mud.

I sighed and started to swim, the howling much closer now than before, the crunching right on top of us.

The water was frigid and the current caught me off guard. I started to drift down stream, further away from Cory.

"Cory!" I cried out, water forcing itself into my mouth. I swallowed, the water jammed its way down my throat. I coughed and somehow got more water down. "Cory!"

More water and I couldn't get much air. I couldn't get my footing. I slipped under and blacked out.

. . .
Cold lips. Pressure down on my chest. Air forced down.

"Come on, Aero, wake up."

More pressure, lips, air, cold fingers to my neck. "Come on, Aero! Wake. Up!"

I coughed, a burn irritating my throat and lungs.

"Oh thank god,"

I coughed and gaged, throwing up.

"Ohhh,"

I opened my eyes, slowly sitting up. "What happened?"

"You almost drowned. I saved you." Cory smiled. "Mouth to mouth. You just came to and threw up on my shoes."

I laughed. "I'm sorry." I felt my back pocket, realizing that my phone was gone. "Shit," I stood up and looked around. "Goddamn. How close are we to where we got in?"

"Uh... An eighth of a mile,"

I sighed. "Why me?" I grabbed my back pack and started to trudge upstream. I glanced over my shoulder and saw that Cory wasn't following me. "Are you coming?"

Cory smirked. "You really are something, Aero,"

"I need my phone. My mom will kill me."

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