Hey guys! Sorry for the delay, I had wanted to update on Wednesday but was down with fever T-T. Anyway, thanks again for the reviews and for tuning in to this story! Let's see if I can reach a 100 reviews for at least one of my stories but I know it will take time :)
Also, please note that I will be closing the poll by the end of next week so if you've voted, thank you so much! If not please do so so that I know which of my fanfics should I update next k! So don't forget to check on my profile for the results! Without further ado, here's chapter 4, hope you'll enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything HnKnA except for my story concept and ideas for Wonderland High.
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Chapter 4: The Rosette
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"ARGHHHHH!"
The raw cry nearly made her jump out of her skin as it echoed in the enclosed hallway. Alice's teal eyes grew bigger as she observed the scene before her, mind blank with alarm.
The faceless whip-wielder howled as he gripped his shirt front, dropping the weapon he was holding. And suddenly, just like in a horror story, his legs turned brown and hard, and luscious green vines grew from where he stood, rooting him to the ground.
"Like a tree… He's… turning into… a tree…" Alice whispered breathlessly as terror of the transformation gripped at her heart. She felt her knees wobble and was sure she would have fallen to the ground if it wasn't for Blood's commanding energy supporting her body.
The other two comrades could only watch, paralyzed with fright as the change continued upwards to his torso rapidly, the crunching sound of wood grinding in their ears. Finally, the finishing blow came as huge sharp thorns pierced through from under his skin, impaling him from within. And directly over his heart bloomed a single crimson rose, its velvet folds mixed with his life's blood.
No…
Alice prayed silently, refusing to acknowledge the truth that was slowly realizing.
"Nooo!" The faceless girl screamed, hands covering her face in despair as her companion's body slumped lifelessly against the protruding spikes.
"It c-can't be! She's actually able to use Blood's own power- UGH!"
The other two tried to run away but their own transformation was beginning to take place, restraining them to the ground they stood. The katana user brandished his sword against his own leg in a desperate but futile attempt to cut himself free of the conversion, but bark and vine constantly overlapped the scratches, healing on its own.
"I take it back! Everything I said! I'll do anything so please, spare me!" begged the faceless committee associate, bowing as low as he could.
"I did say I'd kill all of you, didn't I?"
Blood taunted leisurely while his prey shook their heads in denial.
"And unlike you, I don't go back on my word."
"What's… happening to them… Blood? W-what… kind of bullets are those?" Alice asked fearfully, her hands trembling.
I did this…
She bit down her bottom lip hard, concentrating on the self-inflicted pain. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't block out the voices of her victims haunting her conscience as they struggled.
"They aren't just bullets. They're seeds."
Blood clarified, taking pleasure in knowing he was slowly wrecking her mentality. "My energy harnesses the magic of the rose. Once it enters your body, the seed will automatically grow until it roots you to the ground and suffocates… your... heart."
He emphasized his last words, the deep and rich voice filling her mind like honey. But it was anything but sweet.
It was bitter.
"It's…just like… an inverse Iron Maiden…" Alice realized. The same agonizing and slow torture of witnessing yourself being skewered by spikes was most befitting for the coldblooded young Mafia.
"The young lady is very insightful indeed." She could sense Blood smiling sardonically and appreciatively at her thoughts.
"Somebody! Help me!"
Alice's eyes shifted to the sound of the wail and met the face of the flamethrower-girl. Tears streaked down from the eye-less void as she reached out to Alice, trying in vain to clamber away from her half-changed body.
I shot them…
"That's… just horrible!" Alice exclaimed as she looked that the gun in her hands, feeling as if the piece of metal just grew to weigh a ton. The responsibility of ending their lives was too much for her to bear.
"Stop it Blood! Make it stop!"
"No."
"Blood, please!" Alice pleaded aloud, teardrops falling non-stop on the steel of the sub-machine gun, but it did no use in softening the Mafia boss's heart.
"P-please…S-save m-me!" The faceless girl stuttered as she cried.
Alice moved, taking in the girl's hand and clasping their fingers together, wanting to share the pain. But before she could get any closer, she felt Blood's energy wrapping around her waist, stopping her movements effectively.
They'll die at this rate! There must be a way to reverse his energy… If only he'd listen to me!
"Blood! As your Master I-"
"Master? Don't make me laugh. Do not expect me to obey you milady because I have never acknowledged you as my Master…" Blood argued back with words he had wanted to say ever since she audaciously binded him to her.
"… and I never will."
Alice felt her own tears flow silently and uncontrollably as she started sobbing together with the girl, fingers tightening their hold in desperation. She didn't know which was hurting her more; the rejection, the helplessness or the guilt. Or maybe it was all three.
Because of me…
Face or not, she couldn't bear to look at the girl anymore, knowing that she had no way to save her. But she felt Blood's fingers again, holding her chin firmly and forcing her to look straight ahead as his voice spoke hypnotically:
"Do not look away Alice. Because you are in Wonderland High…."
And right before her eyes, the girl arched back in excruciating pain as a large thorn grew and emerged from her back and shoulders.
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"And this is how we live."
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A sickeningly squishing sound was heard as Alice saw a rose bud emerging through the faceless's chest, its petals beginning to unfold. The girl drooped forward as blood trickled from her mouth, her featureless face still boring straight into Alice's as her cold fingers finally released and slipped away from her grip…
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I killed them.
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"NOOO!"
Bright blue light suddenly shone from Alice's body and shot throughout the corridor as it accompanied her voice.
Blood was shocked speechless. Even from within the Foreigner's body, he was blinded by the illumination as it engulfed him from within, minimizing his black energy.
"Urgh!" he cried out as he was suddenly flung to the side, his body hitting the wall.
Cried out?
It suddenly occurred to him as he raised his hand to his throat, noticing that he was finally back in his human form. As the sapphire light faded, he saw Alice, lying on the floor across from him, as well as three other bodies.
Three other bodies that looked perfectly normal with no traces of the effects of his bullets at all.
"Boss! We've got reinforcements!"
Blood turned his head towards the familiar voices as the Bloody Twins and the March Hare ran towards him, their bodies covered with nasty scratches and blood, but none too severe.
"Blood! You finally got released! Are you alright?" Elliot expressed his concern as he helped his Master up, his arm supporting the Mafioso whose astonished green eyes never left Alice's form.
Eyes that gradually narrowed dangerously at her as the fact dawned on him…
My bullets, she negated it! How can that be! ?
Grinding his teeth in defiance over the control she seemed to have over him, he summoned Shadow Rose in his hand and he swiped the gun in the direction of the badly injured girl.
"Isn't Alice your Master?" Elliot inquired, casting uneasy glances between the two. "You know your weapon will do no damage if raised against her."
"We'll just have to see about that."
Blood ruthlessly bite out, finger already on the sub machine gun's trigger when an omnipotent voice boomed from above, startling them.
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"That is as far as I will allow."
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Looking up, Blood frowned, annoyed at the silver-haired man that had appeared out of nowhere and was floating in the air with arms crossed. Nightmare gave a perceptive smile as he drifted down, placing himself between Shadow Rose and Alice.
With a snap of his fingers, a mass of concentrated white aura swirled beside the principal and the vice president of the Hearts committee was revealed, kneeling down on one bent knee, his red blazer a testament to his position.
White lashes lifted and cold ruby-red orbs surveyed his surroundings. But when he caught sight of the unconscious Foreigner, his eyes widened as he flew to her side.
"Alice! Alice, are you ok?" Peter asked worriedly as he gathered her body with all her initial wounds returned. His gloved hands carefully cupped her face, inspecting every injury she had.
"What have you done to her Hatter!"
Glowering back at the hot-headed rabbit, Blood de-materialized his weapon, his mood to continue ruined.
"I did nothing, but she on the other hand-"
"Then you know as well as I do that a Contract was made." Nightmare interrupted calmly. "And it can never be taken back once forged. Pointing your gun at her was useless from the start."
Peter looked at Nightmare in disbelief. "Alice… made a Contract with him? How?"
"You know exactly what happened between Blood and Alice don'cha?" Elliot joined in, also needing answers. But Nightmare only returned them a knowing smile and nothing else.
"All will be explained in due time, since it seems you and your men have sustained a fair amount of damage as well." The incubus eyed Elliot and nodded his head towards the deep gash on Blood's forearm that was caused by the saber earlier. "I suggest it's best for you to retreat for now."
"Did he just think me weak? !" The hare angrily pointed out, taking a step forward and rolling his sleeve up for another good bout of whacking when Blood raised his hand up, gesturing him to stop.
"I suppose so. It has been quite a day and I'm tired Elliot. I would like to resume my sleep." Blood addressed the incubus boredly with his characteristic suave smile, knowing best when not to cross the line when dealing with the principal, while his right-hand man sulked disapprovingly.
"Get Alice to the infirmary, quick." Nightmare instructed Peter as Blood herded his Shields back to their territory. The albino man nodded.
"Alice, please be ok…" He whispered anxiously as he gently carried Alice in his arms and ran to get medical help.
Once the white rabbit disappeared from his sight, Nightmare returned to his concern at hand.
"You will learn to live being Alice's Shield." His molten silver orbs peered from behind his eye-patch as the young mafia leader stopped in his tracks, his back facing towards Nightmare while clutching at his arm wound.
"And if you dare hurt her, you will face the penalty of the game." Nightmare warned with a deadly tone, earning him vicious looks from Elliot and the twins who turned to glare at him while Blood replied.
"I've got my own agenda regarding the young lady. But don't worry, I won't touch her… yet."
Without turning around, a sly smile curved Bloods lips as he continued to walk away uncaringly as his three Shields followed guardedly behind.
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"Because fortunately, the Foreigner just made this game a whole lot more interesting…"
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A familiar purple and green haze filled her surroundings, embracing her as it danced formlessly around. But it did nothing to comfort the girl who cradled her knees close to her body.
Alice knew where she was, but she was tired. She wanted so much to hide, away from all the confusion and chaos that just happened.
She wanted to sleep. But here in Dreamland, she was too wide awake instead.
Alice… this is all your fault…
"No it isn't. You were just trying to survive. It's part of the game."
I killed them… they're dead because of me…
"No they're not. They're still alive. Because you saved them, Alice."
I clearly shot them. How do you know? The other voice in her head was beginning to irate her.
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"Silly Alice…I know everything, because I'm the caterpillar of Wonderland remember?"
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Alice finally opened her eyes then and lifted her head from her knees to see Nightmare, kneeling in front of her and smiling gently as they floated.
"Yes Alice, really." The incubus patted her fair head reassuringly, removing her doubts and Alice finally allowed herself to heave a deep sigh of relief.
She wiped off brief tears of joy, taking a deep breath before asking, "What… happened back there?"
"You forged a Contract with Blood Dupre. Shadow Rose came in contact with your blood when you touched it. It is the basis for all bond- forming." Explained Nightmare as he took her hand and helped Alice to her feet.
My blood? Right… I was bleeding all over…. Alice figured, looking down at her now cleaned hands.
"However a Contract can only be triggered if the Shield willingly gives his or her True Name to the mutually accepted Master, and there must be a strong connection between the two." The incubus continued, keen eyes watching her reaction.
"A connection…? No…There's no such thing between me and him." Alice insisted fiercely. Blood must have reminded me too much of him. But it still doesn't make sense… Hmfp! Whatever! Connect with that…that barbarian! Over my dead body! She fumed at being reminded of the atrocious actions of the Mafia Lord.
Nightmare sniggered but her insidious stare silenced him instantly.
"S-such language… shouldn't you be more lady-like?" He flinched at the very vivid verbal assault hurled in her mind.
"Lady-like?" Alice sarcastically repeated as she raised an eyebrow at him. "I didn't know that women are judged by their range of vocabulary. But I can assure you that my language skills are quite sufficient and very approriate for ladies these days, shall I show you more?" She retorted while cracking her knuckles.
"N-no thanks..." Nightmare rejected. He cleared his throat as he carried on. "But if you chose to believe that there is nothing between you and the Hatter then so it shall be. Here, wear this."
And just as he did for her white gun, Alice saw the principal fashion out a silver metal bracelet from the air with a wave of his hand. The circlet was of medium width, allowing enough space for the intricate swirls and interlinking designs of a heart, diamond, clover and spade around it, the engraved lines tinted in a light blue hue. And along the middle of the bracelet was a dark obsidian circular gem. The gleaming piece of jewelry opened and clasped gently around her wrist as Alice stared at it in surprise and awe.
"It's a Enhancer that will help facilitate the magical link between you and your Shields, as well as to increase your energy levels against theirs if they don't obey." Nightmare began explaining, ignoring Alice who was look at him with eyes and mouth wide open.
"It can't be helped since you skipped Stage 1 of the Shield Summoning process-"
"What? ! There isn't going to be anymore Contracts! And no way am I going to summon Shadow Rose again!" The foreigner protested, aghast.
"Alice, in this game you have to grow stronger-"
"It's a game I never wanted to take part in." She grabbed his kerchief and violently pulled the frail man down to her eye level, rattling him in frustration. "And I don't want to grow stronger… I want to go home!"
"Urgh…Alice-"
"I don't belong here Nightmare!" she yelled, trying to make the paling man see reason when suddenly…
"A-Alice I-... hurrrrrrrrrgh!"
"Uaaaah! N-nightmare!"
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Alice grimaced, half disgusted and half sympathetic as she patted a very green- looking Nightmare's back while he wrapped himself up in a blanket-cocoon. Then that means the red 'ink' on the acceptance paper wasn't actually ink? Ew! And I touched it more than once too!
"I'm sorry." She told him apologetically.
"It's nothing, I'm fine…" He waved her worries off while wiping the remaining blood from his mouth. "You… just shook me too hard… that's all…"
"But seriously Nightmare, needles or not, you should really go to the hospital before you actually die." Alice told him with a deadpanned face. With that much blood loss it was already a wonder that he's still alive.
"No way." Nightmare childishly huffed with a serious tone and turned his head away from her. "And you can't make me!"
"Well you can't make me stay here either!" Alice countered stubbornly before falling silent again. The incubus waited patiently for the girl to speak, even though he could already read what was bothering her.
"What's the meaning of keeping me here when I don't have a True Name, let alone use a weapon?" Alice despondently began. "I'm not like any of you at all."
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"It is precisely because you are not, that there is a reason, a need, for you to be here." He told her softly.
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"Can you not speak in riddles for once?" She tapered her blue-green eyes at him, confusion already gnawing at her patience.
"And I thought you'd be smart enough to figure this out." The man smirked, teasing her deliberately…
PAT PAT PAT!
…but was quickly subdued in heavy bouts of cough as the pressure on his back intensively increased.
"B-but you're adapting to this world considerably well!" Nightmare quickly added in order to save his life. "Alice must be amazing to be able to survive the first three days of school."
Alice grumbled. "That's not exactly the compliment I'd want after being ambushed at every corner and stairs, and nearly getting shot, sliced, diced-"
"-Stoned, strangled and stabbed to death. But of course, I should know." He hinted as he smiled and tapped a finger to his head. "And to be able to keep yourself alive all these while is not something any ordinary Foreigner could achieve." In fact, in Wonderland High, it is almost impossible…
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But not for Alice.
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He thought to himself, contemplating the extent of the Foreigner's power as admiration for the girl's persevering qualities grew steadily.
"Hmpf!" Alice gave a disagreeing grunt as her hands went to massage her calves. Although in Dreamland, her body was unconsciously reminding her of its aches. And if that doesn't kill me, then the muscle cramps from all that running certainly will!
"Allow me to send you into a peaceful sleep before it does then." Monitoring her ever-entertaining thoughts, Nightmare chuckled as he offered helpfully.
"Please do." She bluntly replied, giving him an 'Isn't-that-obvious?' look. But Alice managed to slip in a few more words before Nightmare could bring his hands together.
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"And thanks… Nightmare..."
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No matter how annoying or odd he may seem, she knew that the incubus-cum-principal was always looking out for her. And just knowing that there was at least one person in Wonderland High she could count on to be her friend lifted the heaviness on her heart.
Nightmare stared at Alice, stunned for a moment by her admittance and the genuine trust he was reading off of her, before smiling at her affectionately.
"Anytime. Sweet dreams… Alice."
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CLAP.
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I's not as long as the last chapter but I hope it's ok :) Plus this chapter will conclude the ending of the first episode. But don't worry, as many of you would have probably read in my poll, I already have the next episode planned out! Well... sorta lol!
Sneak summary for next episode and chapter: Alice wakes up in the infirmary, one guess who's the doctor!^^ And Nightmare tells her to visit the Hearts student commitee to discuss about the unusual nature of her Contracts with the lovely *cough*and deadly *cough* President, who is non other then the arch rival of the Hatter faction. How will Alice get caugh in between the next territorial shoot out? And will she Contract another Shield? Find out next!
Thank you so much again for reading and reviewing! Reviews really encourage me to write faster and longer chapters lol! Don't forget to check out the poll results by the end of this week! I'll be trying my best so till we meet in the next issue! :)
