SENSELESS

VIII - Charm

                               ♣ Gentleman-at-Arms ♣ 

The first thing that gave away the fact that I was knocked out was the agonizing pain on the back of my head. Next thing that welcomed me into consciousness was the chains tightly wrapped around my wrists and ankles that fettered me against the strange cool metal behind me.

Well, isn’t that quite welcoming.

Opening my eyes, I squinted to see shadows and a dim light. I hear the ticking of a clock, the sound of gears and cogs whirring and my own ragged breath. Grunting and cursing, I struggle to break free from my chains. Alas, I could not. Narrowing my eyes, I searched for my cane and came up with no signs of its bearings thus I decided to search for any glowing signal that marks my location.

 There was none.

Don’t panic.

Breathing in and out, I dropped my gaze unto the dim light. It was golden orange in color but was weak to provide sufficient light. Straining to see more of it like how I do whenever I wish to see if there are any enemies in the distance, I was able to distinguish that it was the face of a clock.

I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from panicking. Dear God, Hatter, do keep your wits about and think of a solution. Panicking will not aid you in this situation nor would it ever do so.

The clock struck one.

Chimes ringed in my ears and I wince, wanting to block the accursed sounds. Gears and cogs click and I hear a door opening. A cuckoo bird emerged and its infuriating blarney echoed in the vicinity. I felt myself boil inside.

“Oh will you all just shut the hell up!”

The ditty ended and everything succumbed to silence.

“Well,” I say aloud, scowling. “Thank you very much and since you seem to obey me, then I shall order you to release me from these agonizing chains.”

Nothing happened.

“Charmed, I’m sure,” I mutter.

Still no response.

“Do you need time?” I raise an eyebrow, half smiling at the pun.

A squawk.

“I take that as a yes? Oh wait, that’s nonsense. Alright, squawk once if yes and twice if no.”

Two squawks.

I scoffed. “Agh. Is this very funny for you?”

Annoyance tightened in my veins as a squawk echoed in the shadows. I groaned, wishing that by glaring at the accursed thing, I’ll be able to summon a bolt of lightning.

“I take it that you won’t be dealing with me seriously.”

The expected squawk came to existence. The cogs followed a rhythm that resembles a laugh.

I glared at the dim light. “Well, that’s very wonderful of you to do such a thing.”

The door opened and I heard the awful blaring of the cuckoo bird. The chimes, the clicks and whirrs continued and I felt annoyance burning inside me as I chose not to curse at everything. Sighing exasperatedly, I lowered my head, trying to shut the noise out which did not avail myself at all as I shut my eyes.

A pair of emerald green eyes flashed in my personal darkness and my eyes shot open just as everything quieted down.

Alice.