Miror Terram

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Alyssa didn't understand Alex. One minute he was broken on the forest floor, pine needles in his hair, the next he was up and moving, peppier than ever. He walked with her in silence, brooding until they were out of sight of Will's awful house. He then knelt down displaying a small metal plate. One side was plain grey, but the other was black and white checkerboard. He placed it checkerboard-side up, tapping out a rhythm on the squares. After around 20 seconds, Alyssa screamed. A door had popped up out of nowhere. Alex fished around in the pockets of his jeans, producing the same key they had used before. He placed it in the lock and opened the door.

Within seconds of stepping inside the door, Alex screamed. There was a young girl sitting on the floor directly in front of him. She had long dark hair and unsettling blue eyes, staring right at the two of them, grinning.

"Chessie? What are you doing in here?" Alex walked toward the four-year-old, who stood up and ran towards him, giving him a hug. Alex picked her up and swung her around, sitting her on his hip. The little girl giggled and replied in a high pitched voice.

"I was waiting for her," she pointed at Alyssa. "She needs directions." Alex turned and looked with new eyes at the blonde standing behind him.

"Do you know her?" he asked, directing the question at Chessie.

"I met her in a dream once. She needed directions. Go to the hatter. He'll send you on your way. Save the queen or you all will pay." She giggled again. "Ha. That rhymed."

"What do you mean by that?" Alyssa stepped forward. She ignored the confused stares of Alex.

"She's the one, Alex. She will bring justice to Cordibus," she said, fixing Alex in her gaze.

"Are you sure?" Alex said worriedly. "If you're wrong, then we're all doomed."

"Indeed." With that final word, Chessie's eyes rolled back and she passed out, still sitting on Alex's hip.

Alyssa stood still for a moment waiting for an explanation. When none came, she started the interrogation.

"First. Who is this girl?" she tapped her toe while Alex lifted Chessie off his hip and rested her on the tiled floor.

"She's my younger sister. Adopted younger sister," he clarified. "Her name's Chessie. She suffers from visions and odd dreams. She's slowly going insane. So am I. If she said you're the one to save us, then I need to inform you."

"What? What do you mean you're going insane?"

Alex shushed her."Sit down and shut up. It's going to be a long story, since you have no memory of this place. As I told you, this world is split into four countries. Cordibus, Rutrum, Crystallini and Clava. Each has a Queen and a King and their own individual problems. Rutrum's citizens are constantly plagued with sickness, Clava is plagued with insects and Crystallini is constantly fighting. Rebellions and wars and the suchlike. Our problem is madness. Every single one of us is slowly going insane. It used to be rare, but now it's everyone. No one but the Crystallini know what causes it.

"Their doctors have come up with a drug that slows the symptoms, but they refuse to openly distribute it. They want to use it as a bargaining chip for future wars. A few years ago I decided to sneak across the border to see if I could steal it. It worked and now I have a supplier, so I can give it to some people in order to keep our country running. That's what I fed to Will. He runs the asylum, so it's crucial he can still work. Our queen refused to take the medication, so she is growing more insane with every day. She has become corrupt and is constantly executing innocent people. The king, on the other hand, just laughs and lets Queen Charlotte run the nation." Alex took a breath.

"As for Chessie, she's always been special. Whenever she's not on the meds, she spouts prophecies. Most of the time, they do come true. A year ago, she foretold that one day, a girl would come from the sky and save us from the madness. The fact that she said you were the one to save us really worries me. We need to go visit my friend Maddox."

Alyssa laughed. "Seriously? We're going off the advice of a hallucinating four-year-old? I can't even..."

Alex stood poker-faced. "Yes. I've seen too many of my friends and family lose touch with reality. If there's something I can do help the remainder stay with me, then I'll do it. And if Chessie says you can help, then you're helping me whether you want to or not."

"I can't believe I'm doing this, but sure. I'll help you get your sanity back." Alyssa rolled her eyes.

"Good. Now come on. We're going to see Maddox." He stooped down to pick up the still unconscious child, resting her on his hip once more. Alex led her through the checkered, tile hallways to an oblong purple door with a hat on it. It was several feet taller than the two of them. "Can you get the cake out of this bag?" Alex asked her, pulling a small drawstring bag out of his pocket. "I can't open it with one hand." Alyssa nodded and complied. 

This is mainly a filler. I hope you enjoy this story!