I stiffen as I feel something pressing over my chest. I shift to my back feeling the bundle of warmth following my movement. What is so warm on my chest? And ... ah. I cringe as I become aware of something cold lying against my head. Ow ... wow I've got a head ache ...
My eyes flutter open spying the man I landed on before sitting coolly against the couch. I blink and rub my eyes looking around the more so bare room, spying only a coffee table and a fire place from the angle I'm at. Wait ... I look back up spying his smile.
"Are you feeling alright?" He asks, concerned as the cold presence on my head shifts. I cringe and watch as he pulls back an ice pack setting it on a nearby nightstand beside a coffee mug. My eyes narrow in confusion as I reach up, feeling a large bump on my head. I groan and crane my head back, quickly withdrawing from the tender area.
"What hit me?" I ask before trying to sit up. His hand on my chest presses me back down, resting over my heart.
"You're a foreigner?" Jericho asks with a slow forming smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Jericho Bermuda."
" ... Jackie." I say after some hesitation. I shift again trying to make his hand move before finally asking, "why is your hand on my chest?" His eyes widen as if realizing what he was doing before drawing his hands back and raising them, showing me he's weaponless.
"I did nothing inappropriate I promise you. It's my first time meeting a foreigner and your 'heart' is alien to me. Here," he says, gently taking my hand and pressing it against his chest. The tiny ticks become hardly audible as I silently listen to his ticking clock, feeling the strong ticking pulses under my hand. "It's something that I don't have so I was curious."
"You have a clock." I mindlessly note before something strikes me. He has a clock. Which means I'm still in Wonderland.
"Oh man!" I groan, covering my eyes in terrible disbelief. That stupid rabbit just where did he take me now?
"Is something wrong?" He asks, coolly looking over my head with worry in his eye.
"Where am I right now? What territory?" I ask staring up at his eyes. He's a Role Holder too. I've never seen him before.
"You are currently residing in the Art Museum with me as its head." Huh. I look around spying multiple paintings lining the otherwise pure white walls. I didn't even see that. I move to sit up and this time he helps me, pushing my back so I am sitting comfortably beside him.
"So you're the owner ... wait ... what were you doing in that other place? What was it, a graveyard?" I ask. "But when someone dies I thought they turned into a clock."
"Very good. Yes, when someone here passes away they become a clock. I only bury their possessions as the Graveyard Master." He smoothly explains before a servant comes over, handing him another mug of coffee. I stare at the faceless and follow him back spying two men dressed in grave digging suits, both armed with a shovel.
Well that's not strange at all.
"So wait, you have two roles?" He remains silent for a moment, thinking of an answer before sweetly smiling.
"Yes. Coffee?" He offers placing the warm mug in my hands. I glance at his face spying a solid wall blocking his emotions from me. Did I step on a touchy subject?
"Yeah, thanks." I agree, nervously taking a sip of coffee. I don't like coffee but I feel like I owe him for throwing his back out. Speaking of which, "how is your back?
"Perfectly fine. I must thank you for treating me. It worked wonders! I've tried even specialists but they didn't work."
"Yeah? Well, I used to step on my boss's back at the shop. He often had back problems too," but he was like sixty something with a bad leg and I don't think I should mention that particular tidbit of information, "I'm sorry."
"For what? You've made my back feel wonderful." He coolly claims swirling the coffee in his mug around to help cool it.
"But I was also the one that threw it out." I guiltily admit carefully looking over his face. He doesn't seem too concerned with that fact though.
"It's fine. You've repaid it wonderfully." He simply states taking a sip of his coffee. I lean back against the couch and sip at the bland and bad tasting drink before shifting in my seat. What in my pocket? I reach down slipping out my vial.
Which is filled with only a tiny drop.
"What happened to my vial?!" I demand, making Jericho jump slightly. I check the lid to make sure it is tight before tipping it over to hunt for any cracks. Did it leak out without me noticing? But my pants aren't wet at all. Jericho's large hand smoothly slides it out of my small fingers before he holds it up to the light, examining the bottle.
"This is ... a potion of hearts, yes?" He asks, examining it. He lightly pinches the stopper being careful not to damage it before returning it to my anxious hands. "It's my first time seeing one as well."
"Yeah?" I mindlessly say trapped in my own little world of terror. What happened to the rest of it?! Maybe Nightmare will know. "Hey, do you know where Clover Tower is?"
"Clover Tower? Jackie, you are in Diamond Country right now. Clover Tower isn't anywhere near here." I slowly blink at the information as it processes in my head.
"You mean this isn't ... Heart Country? O-Or even Clover Country?" I stutter, trying to wrap my mind around it. Just how many countries are there?
"It's Diamond Country, Jackie."
"B-But how am I supposed to go see Nightmare?!" I say in a panic trying to think things through. Now what am I going to do? I'm stuck!
"He lives at the Train Station a few blocks from here." Jericho says watching as I spin around with puzzled eyes.
"Train Station?" They have trains here?
" ... Do you know nothing about Diamond Country?" He asks, honestly astounded by my lack of understanding.
"I guess not. But, thank you so much. I need to go see him." I say as I set the mug down and hurry over to the door.
"Are you sure you're well enough?" Jericho asks as I glance back.
"Why wouldn't I-,"
BAM
I stumble back, holding my head. Did I just hit the door? I stand there in a daze for a moment before twisting the handle. It's stuck? I try again but the stubborn handle refuses to move only turning the opposite way. What's going on with this door? One of the faceless diggers reaches over pushing the handle down and lightly pushes the door open. Whoops. I smile in embarrassment and turn towards him.
"You thank." I say hurrying out. Wait ... was that the right way to say thank you? Oh whatever.
I just need to go see Nightmare and ask what in the world is going on here!
JERICHO'S POV
I watch as the young lady takes the wrong turn down the hallway before heavily sighing. She's going to end up hurt or lost or, with the luck she's having at the moment, both. I turn around and lean back in the couch taking a gulp of coffee.
"Follow her. If she gets into trouble or if the head injury proves too much drag her back if necessary. Even if she tries to stay the night at another location convince her to return here by using the fact we have her violin and tools. And you," I call out as the servant comes back in with another mug of coffee, "prepare a doctor for when she comes back. I should have gotten that injury on her head checked out before I let her leave." It was my guard who gave her that injury so it's my responsibility to watch her until it heals. I don't like that fact she said 'you thank' when she was clearly trying to say 'thank you'.
I'll bet she has a concussion.
JACKIE'S POV
Why am I at the same street as before? I stare at the sign trying to think through how in the world I got to the same street. I took four rights so how did I end up back here? Oh this is annoying!
"Excuse me can you point me the way to the Train Station?" I ask, getting the attention of a nearby faceless.
"Hm? Oh, yes you just take a left here and go straight. That should take you right to the Station." He directs pointing the way.
"Right. Go straight and then take a left."
"No, you take the closest right and then go straight he corrects, pointing at the corner.
"Right."
"No, left."
"Left?" The faceless remains silent for a moment before sighing.
"Here, let me show you." He says guiding me in the right direction. I mindlessly follow the faceless looking around at the town. It doesn't look much different than the town back in Heart Country. Although the architecture looks like it's an older design. "Oh, miss it's this way."
"That way?" I ask staring at his face. "Who are you again?"
"Are you alright?" He asks, concerned as he continues to walk me the right way.
"But I thought we were taking a left not all rights." I say, deeply confused. We're going right now? He slows his pace, thinking something over.
"Maybe I should take you to a doctor first." He says, tugging my hand back the opposite way.
"No I need to see Nightmare. It's very important." Again the faceless sighs, as if asking why he was assigned to this cruel fate.
"Alright. Just for my peace of mind promise you'll get looked at by a doctor later."
"Sure." I say with a smile. He bites his lip, caught in indecision before guiding me down the road. A few minutes later we come up on a large building blocking the road. Who the heck puts a building in the middle of the road?!
"Here we are. The Train Station."
"Hm? Why are we here?" I ask watching as he smacks his head.
"Didn't you say you needed to go see Nightmare?" He asks running his fingers along my head. I cringe as he pushes down too hard on the back of my head.
"Ow, careful." I warn brushing his fingers away. "Anyway, thank you." I say before quickly heading up the stairs.
"H-Hey, I'm just saying this as a concerned citizen but you've got a massive bump on your head!" He warns anxiously looking after me.
"That's alright I'm fine,"
BAM
I stumble back, barely catching the railing before I was sent tumbling down the stairs. I blink, staring at the door. Why won't it open? I push against the door again and again trying to force it open. Why are the doors here so hard to open?!
"Um, ma'am, you've got to pull it."
"Huh?" I say before changing tactics and pulling it out. Oh. Right. "You thank!" I say before slipping inside. I trot into the station looking around the spacious room. The ceiling is monstrously tall with windows lighting up the entire station. This place is huge.
"Ticket, ma'am?" Someone asks as I approach. I look up spying a faceless woman with her hand out. I stare at her hand unsure how to respond. What about a ticket? "Um, ma'am? Ticket?"
"No thank you." I say with a smile slipping by her. She reaches out and catches my arm holding me in place.
"No, ma'am I mean I need a ticket from you." She clarifies. Ticket?
"I don't have a ticket. I need to see Nightmare." I explain. What makes her think I have a ticket?
"Oh? Master Gottschalk is -,"
"Right here." Both of our heads snap up spying a young boy with eyes approaching.
"Night...mare?" How did he get so young?! Nightmare tilts his head, puzzled as he stares at me.
"How did I get so young?" He repeats, confused before something sparks behind his eyes. "Ohhhhhh I see what it is. It's alright, she's with me." Nightmare says as he turns around. The woman releases my arm slightly bowing.
"My apologies."
"Oh ... yeah, fine it's." She looks up, her lips twisted in confusion as I follow Nightmare. I look around the train station spying hardly anyone inside. Even all the stores look like they are all closed down. Why?
"It's because no one really takes the train anymore." He explains, hopping up some steps. I follow after him staring at the train stationed on the tracks. So strange ... what does Wonderland need with a train?
"This way." Nightmare says opening the door for me. I look up and slip through the door looking around the office like room. He smoothly closes the door trotting by me as he loops up to his desk and takes a seat. His fingers intertwine as he tries to look as professional as he can behind his desk. "What can I help you with?"
"Oh, right." I say, reaching into my pocket. I grasp the empty space before my eyes grow wide.
"Oh no don't tell me I lost it - oh, here it is." I say, plucking it out of the opposite pocket and show him the vial. "This was halfway full back in Heart Country. Why did it vanish?"
"Because this is Diamond Country. The vial automatically loses its volume when you come to Diamond Country because the time is flipped here."
"Huh?"
"Everyone's age and memories are different. For example, in Heart Country, I'm older. Here, I'm younger and I don't know who you are."
"Hey ... does that mean no one remembers me?" I ask, shocked as I stumble back. "You mean I have to start over?!"
"Well, in a sense, yes."
"That's terrible! UGH! This sucks why do I have to freaking start over again?! I was almost full back in -,"
"BLARG!" Nightmare hacks up some blood, the red liquid dribbling down his chin.
"Oh my gosh you haven't changed a bit!" I growl, pushing his head into a trashcan so he doesn't ruin his desk or floor, "and where in the world is Gray?"
"Gray?" Nightmare asks as his face pales. "W-Why would you ask that?"
"I mean, he's your assistant isn't he? He should be the one cleaning this up." I huff as I wipe off his paling lips. Nightmare's eyes grow wide as his focus shifts, his mouth wordlessly gapping.
"Hm? Nightmare?" I ask as I feel something cool touch my neck. I gasp and look back spying Gray's cool topaz eyes coldly looking down on me. "Um ... Gray?"
"Why would I clean up his mess when I'm here to kill him? Just curious to hear your reasoning." He simply states with a deadly spark raging behind his eyes. Wait ... Gray used to be an assassin. Does this mean he's here to kill Nightmare?! I nervously gulp as he raises his blade, forcing me to stand up if I didn't want the cold metal sliding through my throat. "Well?"
"W-Well, you're his assistant, aren't you?" I squeak as I gulp. "So why would you want to kill the sickly kid?"
"I'm an assassin, little girl." He coolly explains despite the interest embedded deep in his eyes. "And sickly?" He asks as Nightmare throws up more blood into the trash can.
"Y-Yeah. He's always has been sickly. So why kill him when he's probably going to croak in a week anyway?" I sheepishly laugh poorly trying to persuade him not to kill Nightmare. Oh this is awful! What sort of excuse is that?!
"Sickly hm?" His eyes drift over nightmare's big gray eyes dabbed with tears, " ... I suppose you're right. What fun is there in killing a sickly child?" Gray says as he pulls back his knife, deep in thought. "I'm going to stay here for the time being. I don't need any other predators coming after my target."
... Oh my gosh did I actually help Nightmare or condemn him?
"So, instead, I will wait until he gets better," both Nightmare and I let out a sigh before Nightmare stiffens, his face paling even more, "and then I'll kill him." Did he just miss my point entirely?! Gray kneels down beside Nightmare, softly patting his back. "Don't get blood in the carpet. It will stain."
"O-Ok." Nightmare coughs, spitting more into the trashcan. Nightmare looks up to me and gives me a small, thankful smile before unleashing a bucketful of blood.
"Hm? What's wrong?" Gray asks rubbing Nightmare's back.
"D-Don't think about ways to kill me while I'm still here BLARG!" He whines coughing up even more blood. Oh that looks bad. I raise a hand to help catching Gray's eyes.
"You. Out."
"Huh?" I ask. He sighs and gets up, tightly gripping my arm as he swiftly walks toward the door.
"Get out so I can heal him." He commands, tossing me out into the railing. He moves to shut the door before pausing. "You might want to get your head checked out by a doctor. You have a concussion." He notes before shutting the door.
"Concussion?" I ask, softly touching the tender part in the back of my head. Ow ... that really hurts. But what am I supposed to do? Leave Nightmare here with his before assassin turned assistant? But then again they were fine when they were in Heart Country. Gray says he'll wait until he gets better ... I hold back a snickering laugh. No wonder he's been his assistant for so long Nightmare never got better! I tightly grip the railing as I make my way down, looking around the Train Station. I wonder if nightmare can give me a job here? I'm sure he would if I asked him. I just saved his life ... or ended it.
I heavily sigh and wobble out of the train station barely catching myself on the door to the way out.
"Oh? Ma'am, are you alright?" The woman calls out looking over me concerned.
"Hm? Yeah, fine I'm." My eyes narrow as I think over my words. I don't think I said that right.
"Eek -!" The woman squeaks. I look up, spying her paled face before she quickly put up the 'sorry, we are closed' sign up in the window and ducks down under the glass. What's wrong with her?
"Miss Jackie?" I look up spying a large statured faceless holding a shovel over his shoulder.
"Hm?"
"I've had enough watching. You're clearly not in the right frame of mind."
"Mind of frame?" I ask, making him sigh.
"Yes, frame of mind. Come here." He says, taking my hand and guides me out of the tricky door.
"Where are we going?" I ask, looking around the town as everything turns to dusk. How long was I out for?
"To the Art Museum." He says as another larger man with a shovel follows close behind, whistling under his breath.
"Oh. Why?"
"Because you aren't in the right frame of mind."
"Why's that?" I honestly ask. What makes him think I'm not in the right frame of mind? I'm perfectly fine!
"Because I went an' hit ya with a shovel. Sorry 'bout that, Miss Jackie." The faceless behind me apologized tilting his hat back.
"You did? When?" I ask. I don't remember being hit with a shovel.
"Last night when you fell on Master Bermuda's back and threw it out."
"I did?" I gawk at my own idiocy. How could I have fallen onto someone's back?
"Her memory's goin." The one notes with a small laugh, although it sounds more like a nervous chuckle.
"Obviously." The other one said with an aggravated huff.
"It is?" I ask as I stumble forward. The one behind me catches me before tossing his shovel aside.
"Alright I'm done with this." He says before easily hoisting me up and lightly tossing me over his shoulder.
"Same. Why did we have to come and babysit her?" The one leading growls, clearly unhappy. Why is he mad? Did I do something?
"Well, she's someone Master Bermuda deems interesting."
"True." My eyelids get heavier and heavier as they continue to walk, the swaying actually putting me to sleep. Hm ... I'm tired ... I jump as a hand lightly taps my face. "Hey, no sleeping until you get checked out by the Doc."
"Who's Doc?"
"Good hell you need help." The one huffs as I hear doors open. I crane my head looking around the halls filled with artwork. Oh.
"Why are we at the Art Museum?"
"Can we please just gag her?" One begs as he stomps the dirt of his shoes outside.
"No." The one carrying me says before doing the same. "We can leave her soon enough."
"Fine." The one huffs before they jog up some stairs. I groan and try to lessen the pressure on my stomach as his shoulder jabs into my gut. Ow that hurts. I can feel the bruise Peter gave me from when he kicked me starting to really come in. A door creaks open as they bring me into a pure white room with a few pictures of butterflies and birds. They lay me down on the bed carelessly tossing my legs up with me. I glance around the room spying an older faceless dressed up like a doctor.
"Now let's see what sort of trouble your head is in, eh?"
‡
I'm starting to like this as a writer. 10 REVIEWS for the next chapter~