The Rebel's Choice

[Episode 3- Alice in Wonderland]

We stepped through the limp broken door, into yet again another plain room. With a small cat door and a large locked door, with a fancy, glass, small round table with a small fancy box. This all felt eerily familiar. I swallowed as I remember the movie "Alice in Wonderland" and wondered what sick twistedness that these bastards had set up for us. I inched towards the table, the group behind me and the little girl attached to my my finger. I picked up the small, plain wooden box and ran my fingers along the the engraved words open me. A lot like Alice's 'eat me'. I nervously opened it it reveal a an old skeleton key. I ran my fingers along the heavy metal key, the small intricate design instantly capturing my attention. Sharp leaves jutted out of the dainty vines that wrapped around the shaft of the key, vines the protrude out of the bud crafted shoulder that held upon it a rose shaped handle and led to a root shaped biting. This key was rather breath taking and seemed important. I carefully lifted the small art form out of the box and tested it in the palm of my hand. It was rather heavy as well. I turned around, my eyes still held on the key in my hand, and shuffled over to the door. I poised my hand ready to press the key into the lock to find I was unable to. There was no lock slot on the handle, I started to panic, how were we gonna get out? There was no way we all could fit through the small cat door... the cat door... Disgust, fear, and sickness pitted it self in a mix of emotions deep in my stomach as I realized the only one capable of squeezing through that door was the small child clinging to my had for dear life. There was no way I was going to let this baby crawl through there into god knows what dangers reside on the other side. Someone out of the group must have guessed my thought process, unfortunately, their opinion on the matter was not the same.

Tensie looked at me expectantly. I shook my head adamantly. "No" I whisper.

"It's the only way." he says.

"No I won't let you-"

"Why don't I let her decide." he says and before I can reply he is down on his knees in front of Fawn. This glint in his eye I did not like. He grinned a cat like grin.

"Do you want to help us girly?" he asks her.

She nods.

"Good girl," his toothy grin widens into a more mischievous grin. He walks over to me, pries the key from hand and grabs her hand, he opens it and and drops the key in her palm. "We need you to crawl through there and open that big door."

She nods and starts walking towards the cat door.

"Fawn! No!" I scream already to late. She turns back to me and smiles sweetly.

"It's okay Ko, I'll be fine. Everyone will be okay. She turned on her heel and swept through the small cat door.

I felt the sudden sharp need to go after the young child. I felt a hand clasp over mine, and a small sense of comfort eased over me and I leaned into Blaze. He rubbed my back and whispered soft comfort in my ear ad I sobbed of worry.

"Shhh Lo- Dakota. Everything will be fine." he whispered softly into my ear.

I almost broke at his start of his old pet name for me. I had to talk to him later. I heard Fawns sweet voice and it broke me out of my Blaze induced trance. I stepped away but his hand was still firmly on mine.

"See Koko? I'm all fine." Fawn smiled. I looked up to see her, see for myself if she was okay, and she was stepping through the large door happily.

Everyone started filing through the door into a long corridor. Blaze's hand was still clasped with mine and I wasn't going to forget it was there just like that. The fact that I needed to talk to him about 'us'. Something that was destroyed be me and our lifestyle before it even began. We were close friends and drifted into something more, not in a physical way, but the love I had for him grew from the love of a friend into something more, and when I realized this I put on the brakes. We were starting the mission soon and if we got caught they'd use 'us' against us. I was scared as well, scared to enter into my first relationship in such dark times. But we were caught now and I felt the sick realization wash over me that I needed him now more than ever. I had to talk to him.

"Blaze?" I asked.

"Yes Dakota?" he answered swiftly.

"What does this," I say gesturing to more then our intertwined hands, "mean?"

He looked down at me and sighed, "I really don't know Dakota, I know what I want it to be, but it's up to you, I can't decide that. But think hard and be sure before deciding if this is just one friend comforting another in their time of need, or two lovers trying to spend what may be their last moments together." he answered curtly before releasing my hand walking up to meet the rest of the group.

He was leaving this open, leaving it for me to decide. But did I want to re-open closed wounds that had just began to heal? I just wasn't sure of that quite yet. I know I wanted him, us, more than anything now. But I wasn't sure if that was what would be best.

Tears filled my eyes at one of the best and last memory's of Blaze and I together.

.:Flash Back:.

"Blaze!" I all but yelled as felt the gooey glob of paint hit my chest, "Stop that!"

"Never!" he yelled and grinned mischievously, before leaning down, filling his brush full of the green paint and flinging at me causing it to land across my cheek and in my white blonde hair.

"Oh it's on!" I giggled as I in turn dunked my paint brush in more green paint and flicked my wrist sharply in his direction making paint land in the middle of his chest.

"Oh you didn't." he chuckled.

"Oh but I did." I laughed and soon it became a full out paint war with green paint flying in all directions and us hiding behind tables, at one point before I realized it we became closer than I intended. He tripped on a can of paint and tumbled on top of me.

"Oof!" I groaned.

"Oh my god! Koca-Kola! Are you okay Love?" he inquired, his voice full of concern.

I nodded but still made no move to get out from under him. I kinda liked being here.

It was silent for a while and he was staring at me before he spoke, "Wow Koc- Dakota," he whispered before brushed dried paint off my cheek, "Your so beautiful. You must have no idea. I've wanted to say that for a while. I don't know when my view changed from seeing you as my kid sisters awkward friend to this, but god has it changed. I feel like all this time I've been looking at you, you know? But now I've really seen you and my lord is it amazing. I- I think I love you Dakota, I can't imagine seeing anyone else like I see you. Your face is the only face I want to see in the morning. Will you make me one of the happiest boys alive by being my girlfriend Dakota Lee Black?"

I was struck speechless and I couldn't speak. So I didn't say anything, he closed his eyes and started leaning towards me, and I knew what was coming. Something I've wanted for so long was being handed to me and all I had to do was say yes. I wanted my first and last kiss to be him. I wanted it so bad, but I couldn't say yes.

His lips were mere inches from mine before I finally found my voice, "I-I can't." I sputters out.

He opened his eyed and pulled away. Hurt, pain, rejection, and than understanding flashed through his eyes. I wanted to kiss away the pain that I had brought upon him but I couldn't.

He nodded. "I understand Dakota. I really do. And I'll wait for you. I'll wait till the end of time for you if thats what it takes. I love you Kola. Let me know when your ready Love."

And with that he stood up, helped me up and turned on his heel and left the room. Leaving thick tears sting my eyes.

I love you too Blaze. But I can't hurt you.

.:Flashback Over:.

I was snapped back into reality when the rest of the group came to a stop. And when we did an all knowing voice echoed around us.

"You have made it this far. You are all now in wonderland and you are all Alice's. The wonderland creatures do not like you, and will chase you throughout your Wonderland adventures. A key has been broken up among wonderland and this is the key to your first safe zone. Safe zones are places that once you step through this chase goes on pause. There will be supplies to restock on but it is limited. I suggest you take the stuff and leave, because as soon as the shelves are emptied the chase begins once again. Go!"