A Song Named Alice

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

From the distance, as Loki and Alice run, they could hear an occasional shout louder than the rest of the deafening war. "You're not going to get Edwin, I already told you that! Besides, it should be the Queen of Hearts that you should be after, not Edwin." Raven roars. 

A while later, the Knave of Hearts howls, "How can you understand what's going on for me. You know nothing?!" 

However, down the hall, it forks. "How about we try the left?" Alice suggests, unable to see the end of the hall. And upon Loki's nod, they travel down the left hallway. Neither of them had the courage to look back to check on their friends' condition, but they had faith. That's all they could provide in this nightmarish day. 

The hall is long and wide, but as they approach the end, only a single door stands in their path. Could this be an exit? It would make sense for one. Loki squeezes Alice's hand. Yet, opening the door, it's just a room, a dead end. To make matters worse, they could hear footsteps come closer, light, so they couldn't be the Knave of Hearts or anyone else he had seen recently. 

"Should we try to go back?" Alice whispers. 

"I don't know," he whispers back. "I hear footsteps behind us. We're not the only ones in this hall." 

"You're right," she says as she hears the steps herself. "We don't have time to turn back. If they come to this room, we'll ambush them, okay? Then we'll run for the other hall." 

Their hearts beat madly as they wait in the room, listening to the steps slowly getting closer and closer. To Loki, the room seemed rather lifeless. With a light door, no furniture or windows, and the walls an expressionless gray. So barren and plain. 

When his patience starts to tremble with the dagger at his fingertips, the footsteps stop. Are they going to turn around? His mind races though his head, many other questions speeding through as well. 

However, to Loki's dismay, the footsteps start up again. And soon the door opens. They wait as still as stone for the person to enter, but they don't, so they reveal themselves at the doorway. A full on attack, they strike, knocking one away, but realizing there's many more. Five Valkyries, one on the ground, though recovering, use the chance at Loki and Alice's pause to get back. 

The one on the ground gets up and runs away while the others laugh. "It's four against two, but soon it'll be a whole lot more. You have no chance, Loki. Give up easily and we won't hurt you or the Midgard Serpent." 

"Like we would ever do that!" Alice yells as she swings at the speaking Valkyrie. Loki goes for another. 

Fighting with all their tired strength, the Valkyries stand a fair chance against them. Alice and her knowledge in Wonderland, Loki and his recent remembrance in martial arts. Yet, the Valkyries push them further and further into the room, forcing them into a corner. 

Alice yelps, hitting against the wall in one large thrust by both Valkyries. Loki pulls himself away from the two Valkyries aiming to pin him to help Alice, but one of them throws him over their head, across the room. 

All four charge at him, fists and knives at the ready, though as they do, one them is pushed back. Raven makes his way through, sweating profusely, but grinning like his regular self. "I can't remember how long it's been before I fought with people this much." 

"Raven," Alice groans. "I thought Frey said you'd be resting most of the time. What happened with the Knave of Hearts?" 

"Frey and Freya are taking care of them. They also told me to take care you two, since I'd only get in the way with the Knave around." He explains as he thrashes around with a Valkyrie.