A Song Named Alice

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

When the door to Alice appears, taking longer than he thought it would, he flashes open the door, slamming it against the wall and startling her. "Alice!" He yells in joy. "I've found you, now let's go. Wonderland has invaded, they made the explosion, so we need to leave quickly." 

She snatches Loki's hand as he whisks her out, both of them running desperately for their freedom, unable to look behind in fear to whoever would chase them. Following the map and instructions, they soon find their exit right around the corner. 

We're almost out of here, Alice. Home free. Wonderland and Asgard will be too busy fighting to notice we're gone, and today's the last day, as Loki told me, so they won't be coming after that. That means we'll be safe, right Alice? 

However, they stop no more than fifty feet from the exit. Before them, with his sword gleaming wide and recently stained, the Knave of Hearts flashes them an unusual smile. It's a bewildering grin, anxious for his chance to win. And with every small step he takes, the more Loki and Alice fear him. 

Taking another step, walking like an animal stalking its prey, he stares cold-heartedly and mercilessly. "You're here, that m-must mean that," he pauses for a few seconds, thinking of the correct words. "You have the pocket watch with you? Right." Then another pause. "It must b-be with you, otherwise you wouldn't be trying s-so hard to e-escape?" His expression changes, struggling to keep talking. "Y-Yes? That's it?" 

Nearby, in a small empty space close to the door, the White Rabbit scolds him. "No, no," he tells the Knave of Hearts, appearing into Loki's field of vision. "You have your questions and statements in the wrong places again, they're still backwards! Come on, learn to do it right for once in your life." 

"But White Rabbit," the Knave of Hearts says after a while, furrowing his brow for words to speak. "You w-were the one who nearly g-got us lost on the way here?" 

The White Rabbit grumbles loudly, holding a hand up to his head. "I am not the problem, you are. You're the one who can barely communicate!" He turns to Loki and Alice, blatantly staring them down. "Whatever, we'll deal with your annoyance later, after we get him." He points to Loki, who shivers in his spot and encouraging his fearful legs to move. 

As soon as they unstick, Loki pushes Alice away, rushing far from the Knave of Hearts and the White Rabbit. They search for an exit, frantically turning corner after corner, going through door after door. 

From behind they could hear White Rabbit shouting, "You won't get away from us! We'll get you and your pocket watch, Loki!" 

With terror stinging at their ear, their legs carry them faster for an exit. In a hallway, decorated with few doors, much like most of the hallways they've seen, they hear cries and shouts from somewhere nearby. 

Wonderland and Asgard are nearby, fighting with no knowledge about us, but the Knave of Hearts and the White Rabbit know we're around here, following quickly by our tail. This couldn't get much worse, or could it? It's not like I can fight them, this body is too weak! 

At the end of the hall, they're lead to a door, thick and still, but the shouts boom against it. Cry after cry, shriek after shriek, it pushes them father from the door. Yet, shortly after, they spot the Knave of Hearts and the White Rabbit, and their fear bounces in their heart again, begging them to open the door. Clashes roar against the door, pounding for it to break; the Knave of Hearts inches forward, all the new blood whipped off the sword. 

"A-An arm or leg won't do much harm, right White Rabbit." The Knave of Hearts says as he forces his way closer. 

"I guess," he replies, sighing. "Though it's going to be an awful mess. Try to keep the blood to a minimal if you can. You may be a knight, but I hate the smell of blood. It reeks in my nose."