A/N: I know, I know...you don't have to spell it out for me. To any readers of my other chapter story, forgive me. I just can't figure out what the hell I'm gonna do with it. *strangles the thing* And a heck of a lot has been goin' on. Anywho, enjoy mah newest obsession. Wooh!
Oh...and on a side note, just so you know...Graves with his narrator schtick has always seemed timeless to me; like an immortal who has seen it a thousand times, fighting himself over whether to get involved or stay out of it(and losing of course. His head advisor *we all gots one* beat him and said 'Don't be an idiot! Get yo butt over dere!). I'll get more into it later when his 'employer' contacts him and when he finds Shiloh. Don't worry, it'll be highly enjoyable, trust me. I expect a few people to say "Why didn't 'I' think of that?" So anyway, enjoy this preview. OH! And don't expect any real Wonderland characters to show. Sorry, it hurts me too, but bringing them in would make huge plot holes that I only have duct tape to patch up. Not pretty.
Disclaimer...I REFUSE TO DO A DISCLAIMER FOR EVERY CHAPTER. THIS IS FANFICTION, IT'S INEXCUSABLE. THIS IS ALL YOU GONNA GET: Must I? *flinches at several shotguns being pumped* O-okay. But this will have to do for all the chapters. *ahem* I, ….Anono…hereby declare that no money is made from this. I own nothing, except the Ring Leader, Lucky, and Jack, and that pretty awesome little poem down 'dere :3. Maybe one more OC. It depends on whether I include Grave's backstory or not. (kinda complicated ya know? Might make him dream….*goes to drawing board*)
Random army on a hill: GET ON WITH IT!
Prologue
The surprisingly brightly dressed, yet still dark and mysterious, figure sat behind its beautiful oak desk sporting a grin that could have been stolen from Cheshire's evil twin(unintentional rhyme! Gaspeth!). Its unusually sharp teeth, made all the sharper by the sadistic grin, could only add to this figure's picture of madness and horror. It wore a suit made of bright red cloth, and tight leather boots ended at its knees where tan breeches took over. The entire outfit was a little too baggy to determine definite curves. Stark white powder, dark eyeliner, and impossibly dark purple lipstick brought to mind nightmares of kid-eating clowns. All of this, with the boyishly slim figure and top hat stuffed with hair, brought a question to mind as well: Man, or woman?
The man just now entering the haphazard mess that some might dare call an office truly did not care. He worried more for the ever weaker connection between his head and shoulders. The smile widened, if that's even possible, when its owner heard the loud gulp from its newest spying friend, companion, lackey, servant, minion, slave…whatever suits you to call the unfortunate young man.
The very much afraid spy whipped off his hat in respect and began nervously wringing it in his hands. He was not a coward. You could never mistake him for that, no. Outside that office, he was tough as nails and not afraid of a fight. But he also had a very strong instinct for survival. His employer terrified him for reasons the spy could never explain in words.
Old, knitted cotton yarn stretched and twisted and threatened to break for a few moments longer than the wearer would have liked. He managed to swallow a lump of fear before it formed in his throat and stuttered out a greeting to the figure. "G-good evening," he swallowed again, audibly, as he tried to wet his dry mouth, "R-ring, Ring Leader."
His efforts were not to be rewarded that night.
"You will address me as 'Leader' and only 'Leader'! There are no circus tents here, or have you gone blind? I can't have blind animals in my act!"
The young-ish spy trembled minutely at the sound of his Leader's voice. Listening to that authoritive tone was as if a whip had cracked dangerously close to his backside.
"N-no. Of course, my apologies…Leader."
Ring Leader's smile lessened, but was just as sadistic. "That's much better, Jack. No, this entire island will very soon replace that awful, tacky piece of tarp." Leader's slim body did a graceful handstand on the desktop and smoothly flipped forward to land in front of Jack. Tapered fingers patted Jack's cheek, as if he were a small child. The grin widened in glee at his annoyed grimace.
"Oh, don't worry your hideously normal," proving him…her…itself wrong, a tongue darted out to moisten lips, "little head. You come through for me, Jack, and I'll come through for you. We had a deal after all, right?" The Ring Leader continued at Jack's nod, but not before planting its… (his? -.-) backside primly on the edge of the desk, legs crossed. "Of course. But because I'm kind," a giggle, "I'll help you remember. RECITE!"
Jack jumped at the sudden exclamation, then stood ramrod straight. He knew that whatever came out of his mouth had to be good. If nothing else, it at least had to be better than the man's whose blood stained the carpet uncomfortably close to Jack's feet. Lucky for Jack, he happened to be a very good spy and eavesdropper. It did not mean he had to enjoy playing bard for this mad person.
Jack opened his mouth with difficulty and began with absolutely no emotion.
"Aye, Leader."
A promise made,
Is a promise kept.
A promise broken,
Is why he wept,
That day on the hill,
over an ill-gotten deal.
"It's gone!," he cried,
"The power, it's gone!"
With a final sob,
He shuddered and died,
That day on the hill,
Over an ill-gotten deal.
When a promise is made,
So is a bond.
The keeper, the receiver,
Both are forever bade,
To keep their part,
And the promise made,
Like the one on the hill.
Such an ill-gotten deal.
A promise fulfilled,
Brings reward unequaled,
But if a promise is broken,
That bond breaks with it.
The greater the promise,
The greater the punishment.
The power was once yours,
Forever it is spent.
That man made a promise,
And great it was indeed.
He lied, he cheated,
He fell to his greed.
That is why, that is how.
He died that day,
Out on the hill.
The man had died,
Over an ill-gotten deal.
The Ring Leader jumped to…its feet, clapping wildly and over the top like a rabid fan. "Marvelous, marvelous! Oh, you will make a most magnificent citizen of the Land of Wonder!" He/she/it draped an arm over Jack's shoulder and roughly drug him through, and around and over, piles of paper, weapons, and the occasional wild animal to stand in front of the large, floor length windows. Jack kept silent, knowing Leader would keep talking, prompted or not.
"Just look at it all Jack, all that filth and disease. All those poor, weak, ignorant people. So easy to shape any way I wish." None was said with anything other than excitement, a sickening joy, and underlying hints of sarcasm and mirth. To this…thing, human lives were toys to be played with. Animals to be trained in immoral ways.
Jack did look. The view was not unfamiliar. Any high window or rooftop would unveil the same picture. Down below, near the island's shore, graveyards sprawled on the edge of everything and nothing. The larger cemeteries cropped up right next to the main city and encroached upon higher class and "old money" districts. Pale moonlight would occasionally fall gently on the old stones, making an eerie, yet beautiful, and entrancing sight. That was where the more pleasant sights ended. Money or no, the houses in that old district weren't well kept and many were abandoned in lieu of repairs.
His gaze moved closer to the inside; it swept over GeneCo trucks and their non-living cargo, dark alleyways filled with shady dealers and addicts. Jack lingered over one particular alley, better lit than most others. It was there that his prey haunted the night. He moved on, over surgery ads, mass graves, arguments to keep organ repossessions legal. Sluts rambled the streets, half-conscious and crawling through refuse. Anyone with enough money, or not enough sense, obsessed over physical perfection. It disgusted him and at the same time made him want to weep in despair.
Jack began to realize Ring Leader was waiting for him to respond. The rarity of the Ring Leader asking for and wanting a reasponse was startling. He swallowed the sudden nausea and terror to comply. "It's…quite a sight…Leader." It was a simple statement that could be taken one way or the other. It made the Ring Leader's eyes twinkle with mischievous amusement.
"Very good, Jack! I knew you'd be trainable!" The Ring Leader spun towards the back wall, a flourish with every simply movement. Jack was glad Leader's back was turned to him. He was having a hard time stamping the look of disgust, horror, and self-loathing off his face. Luckily, the Ring Leader was preoccupied with a monitor and scratching a large jungle cat with his free hand. Jack had just reassumed his role of underling when Leader began another dramatic monologue from he/she/its leather swivel chair.
"Yes, it is the perfect show ring, don't you think Jack?" A response was not wanted this time and the unfortunate spy knew it. He did not have to respond even if he wanted to. Ring Leader answered for him. "Of course it is. What a loyal little dog you are to agree with your master. Think of it!" He/she/it pointed to the two large screens with too much enthusiasm. The glamorous Largos filled one, featured next to a poster promoting GeneCo's newest product and surrounded by blinding flashbulbs. The other replayed a grim scene; the ruin of a young girl's life and naivety.
"Soon, very soon, what is theirs will be mine! And then," Ring Leader swiveled around in the chair eerily to aim the grin at Jack, "I will be able to obtain for you whatever it is that you wish. If only you would have agreed to tell me as well as spy for me." Loud, mad cackles erupted from the frightening grin.
Jack tried to ignore the icy fingers trailing down his spine and turned to look instead at the bottom corner of the young girl's screen. There was a small box he hadn't noticed before; a surveillance video of the large, simple man Jack had unwillingly drugged and led to the resident dungeon. His jaw tightened while his stomach twisted with guilt and Jack tried to reason with himself that no harm would come to the man; he was comfortable, warm, and fed. Regardless…the spy had to ask.
"What of him?" Jack gestured to the small surveillance video even though Ring Leader knew exactly what he was speaking of. The Leader's expression darkened like a sudden summer storm. He/she/its tone became calm and composed. The calm before the storm, Jack could not help to think.
"He is useless. His only purpose is to continue breathing and not get lost in another rift."
Jack nodded respectably, his own expression neutral to keep from setting off Leader. He turned his head to the window, catching sight of his target's haunt. He tilted his head pointedly at the window.
"And him? The rumors; they're few and far in-between, but the stories and theories…" Jack trailed off, not entirely sure how to convey his suspicions. Ring Leader neither wanted nor needed any of it.
He/she/it swiftly became the grinning mask of mischief and devilry once more. Leader sat back, legs crossed, and fingers laced.
"Delightful little man! Are you afraid, Jack? You should…and shouldn't be. Formidable, yes, but very much alive I can assure you!"
"But…you said anything-," Jack was cut off sharply with a scathing look. Once again, he felt as if a whip cracked and lashed through the air, millimeters from his skin.
Ring Leader's eyes conveyed anger at the interruption that normally would not be considered an interruption and continued gleefully with, "Of course I said that! It's true. Anything is possible in Wonderland! We're all mad after all! But there is one thing that isn't possible in this or any other world."
Jack nearly scowled at the annoying, dramatic pause. He grudgingly played his part for Satan's stunt-double. "What would that be, oh Leader?"
Ring Leader's smile became a chilling smirk, eyes flashing like a fox's. It readily provided the answer.
"Well, even here, dead men walk no trails."
A single thought broke through the ensuing maniacal laughter of the Ring Leader and battled its way to the front of Jack's mind.
'Heaven help me, I never meant to sell my soul.'
Bob: *clops in and sticks an arrow sign in the ground then building a fire pit and setting out s'mores fixins, apparently preparing for incoming flames. The sign is pointing to that pretty little lilac button at the bottom corner there* REVIEW! My Master just might hold to her threat and set the Great Chicken on me! *rubs a thick red line imprinted on his cheek* She wields that blue glowstick masterfully.