Chapter 10 - In the End
"How do you know that.. you can't possibly.." My eyes were wde and I couldn't form a complete sentence.
"As Alice grew accustomed to this world, every time she thought of her world it would bring her physical pain and she would end up not remembering what she was thinking of before. She wouldn't remember her siblings. But Alice did tell us about her sisters, about you, before her memories started fading." Boris explained, I could tell it was hard for him to say this, but it was harder for me to listen. "If you accept this world the same thing will happen to you. The only way you could regain your memories of Alice as your sister, would be... to leave this world." He hesitated on the last part.
"That explains a lot." I sighed, remembering the pain my chest.
Boris wrapped me in a tight hug. I blushed as he brought me close, my face turning a bright red. "Boris!" I put my hands against his chest and tried to push away from him.
Boris nuzzled his cheek against mine, purring. My face turned a deeper red. I scrambled out of Boris' grasp and he looked at me with confusion.
Boris looked up at the sky, suddenly growing embarrased by his actions. "You've been out for long enough." Boris grabbed my hand as we walked back to the clock tower.
"There you are! Where the h*ll have you been?" Julius snapped as soon as we walked through the doors.
I wrapped my hands around my waist like I had just gotten whipped. "I-I'm sorry!" I whispered.
"Sorry doesn't cut it! We've been out looking for you!" Alice joined in.
Boris casually wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "Guys, chill. She's here now, safe and sound, isn't that what counts?" Boris smiled lazily.
Alice and Julius' hard gaze never wavered. "Yeah, I guess. Just go up to your room or something!" Alice mumbled.
I got angry at this. "You aren't my mom!" I turned around to leave whena hand grasped my shoulder.
"Stop being immature Kodie. You've been out for multiple time laps, aren't you tired?" Julius asked. He didn't sound mad, he too sounded tired.
I whirled around and ran to my room, jumping onto my bed. I soon fell alseep.
When I woke up it was noonish. I rolled out of bed, and slowly tredged down the stairs, no one in sight. I bolted to the door. A hand clasped my shoulder, it was Julius. Man he's a ninja!
"I'll be working, and Alice is going out with Peter for the day... just so you know." Julius returned to his desk.
I felt the color rush to my cheeks, Peter and Alice? Well, looks like Peter got his wish... "Okay.." I walked out of the tower. I started skipping down a path which led to the Hatter Mansion. Come on- who doesn't skip to a mafioso's headquarters?
"K-Chan!" The twins were actually at their post.
"Kodie!" Boris was also there. A light blush crept onto my cheeks.
"Hey guys." I stood beside the trio.
"Kodie, great timing. We're going up to the twins room. Wanna come?" Boris asked with a wicked sly smile.
"Uh... sure!" I smiled softly, I mean, I already did promise them I'd vist their room.
The twins grabbed my arms and started to pull me to the mansion and through the hallways. Boris was behind me, making sure I continued walking by prodding me in the back.
By the time we stopped at a door my arms were about to be pulled out of their sockets. The twins pushed the door open and Boris covered my eyes. "Hey... now I can't see anything!" I whined.
Boris laughed a cat laugh, making me once again blush. "That's the point silly!" I was being pulled down onto a couch and Boris took his hands off of my eyes.
What I saw shocked me, there were weapons everywhere; on the floor, leaning against the wall, in glass cases, hanging from the ceiling. Everywhere. At first I was horrified, why did kids have so many weapons? Then the horrification became fascination, I was seeing weapons up close that I only saw in pictures, movies, and videogames.
The twins were no where in sight and Boris was leaning against my shoulder. He looked content, his eyes closed and a soft smile on his lips.
I passed my hand through his soft pink hair, petting him. Boris started to purr and I just had to giggle.
A knife flew past Boris, only inches from his face, hitting the wall. Making a loud thunk sound. I stopped what I was doing and looked around in shock, what could have been passing through the twin's minds?
Boris opened his eyes lazily. "Hey, that almost hit me." How could he know- his eyes weren't even open!
"Stay away from our K-Chan!" The twins said in unison, tackling me and putting space between Boris and I.
"Your K-Chan?" Boris and I said in suprised unison.
The twins nodded. "Ours."
"Quit acting like one, I'm not here, and two, that I'm piece of property!" I hissed. "I'm pretty sure I'm no one's." What did that ever mean? 'Ours'?
"Boris was getting to close to you." Dee stated matter-of-factly.
I blushed, we were getting close. I probably should've stopped that. But still, I'm not theirs. "You could've hurt him!" I pointed out, the bullet nearly hit him.
"So?" Dum asked, tilting his head in confusion. Boris mocked being hurt. My eyes widened, they didn't care if their friend got hurt?
The door flung open. "Why aren't you stains at the gate?" Elliot growled.
"We wanted to spend time with K-Chan you stupid hare!" Dee argued. Elliot's eyes flicked to me as if he didn't know I was there. He blushed lightly when our eyes made contact.
"Y-You know... I probably have to go anyways.." I started, I didn't want Dee and Dum to get in trouble because of me.
Dee and Dum gaped at me. "What, why?" Dee asked.
"Yeah, you just got here." Dum agreed.
"I, uhm, have to pick some stuff up for Julius!" I mumbled. At the mention of Julius, Elliot's eyes lit up with anger and walked out. I sighed, but waved to the boys. "Bye guys." I whispered, heading out of the mansion.
I swung the grocery bags in my arm. I had gotten some food, a sketch pad and pens from the market. I dropped my bags and sat on the bench. How did I spend my days in my world? Drawing and writing mostly- why haven't I done that latley?
I sighed, then a weight in my dress pocket became evident. I fished around in my pocket to pull out the pink vile.
"Whoa, its risen..." I stared in awe at the vile that was keeping me in this world. From nothing, the liquid had risen to a quarter of the way.
I picked up my bags up after I put the vile carefully into my pocket. The humidity had risen and dark clouds threatened to break. Julius was right afterall, the more I talk to the inhabitants, the more the liquid rises.
I stand infront of the door to the clock tower, but I wonder, does that mean Nightmare is also right? As soon as I stepped through the door it started to rain and you could hear the soft rumble of thunder.
Alice was at the table sipping some tea, she realized I came in and smiled up at me. I blushed, my eyes burning with the threat of tears. How can I face her now, when I know she's my older sister- and she doesn't even remember me?
"I bought some groceries." I choked out, I blinked my eyes a few times to banish the tears. I placed the bag of groceries on the table.
"Thanks! I'll take care of it!" Alice jumped up from her chair to put the food away. She acted as if nothing had happened, like she wasn't mad.
I plastered a smile on my face. If she doesn't remember, she doesn't need to know. That's how my life has always been- going on like nothing ever happened. Like I'm not broken inside.