Chapter VI – A Victorian widow, a demonic gentleman

and a mourning madman

Third POV

136 years later…

Underligned-telepathy/writing

Italic-Flashback

It was a normal day for David Robinson, a 17-year-old gamer. This past week he has been quite invested in a new game that just came out recently. Its name was Alex Madness Returns and it was a sequel of a game that he deeply enjoyed in his pre-teens.

This game grabbed Alex in Wonderland, the storybook by Lewis Carrol and changed it to a very macabre and sinister video game. David enjoyed that very much. Dressed in only red hoodie and sweatpants, he brushed his dyed silver locks out of his green eyes.

He was almost at its end, but he always had been rushing its playthrough in order to play something different, so he didn't care to collect all of Alex's memories despite the many warnings in red at the beginning of the game.

«No matter what, give me my memories back. Do so or you will be sorry… David»

At first, the fact that the game said his name had freaked him out, but he shrugged it off and just kept speed running the playthrough. When he reached the final boss's room, he noticed a wooden door to enter the fight.

The moment he pressed X to keep going a warning sign appeared:

«Are you sure you want to end the game before getting the collectibles?»

He pressed «yes» and another one appeared:

«Are you sure about that? You cannot go back once you do…David.»

This was starting to freak him out. It was like the game's scenery was starting to become darker and more gore. He was starting to get sick, but he pressed «yes» once more and into the room he went.

When he got there the Dollmaker was already dead, laid in a pool of blood and oozing goo. At his feet stood Alex turned towards the corpse. David threw his hands in the air in frustration: "Damn it! I didn't even get to kill that dick! Oh well on to the epilogue, I guess."

His controller started shaking uncontrollably and he threw it to the ground. The screen flickered to white and red, until Alex stood once more on London with Doctor Bumby's corpse at his feet.

It quickly switched to a mix of Wonderland and London with giant flowers growing atop the tall buildings and glowing mushrooms lurking the streets. Alex looked happy and walked through the streets and «The End? » appeared on the middle of the screen.

The silver-haired teen took a deep breath, stood up and turned his back on his TV to go pick another game: "Meh, that ending was boring. Too cutesy for me."

As he picked Call of Duty to play, a cold chill filled the room and he just heard the very familiar voice of the main protag of his game behind him: "That's not how it went…David."

The moment he turned in fear, the last thing he saw was the Vorpal Blade descending on him, once and again and again…and again, until he fell onto the ground with a wet splat. Alex smirked at the sight and just waved his blade to shake the blood.

Since the corpse had done a huge sound hitting the floor, he heard approaching footsteps. That was his sign to leave and for him to leave a queen card on top of the corpse.

He crawled into the TV again while saying: "A King without his queen is but a fool with only his sorrow to keep him company." Entering the main menu of the game, he waited to see the parents of is victims: "David, honey are you-?! NOOOOOOO!"

Alex turned back and returned to his residence which was in the Red Queen's old castle, since she was killed it was left without an owner. He enjoyed the solitude of the blue halls which he changed the moment he became King of Wonderland.

But what was it worth a huge castle if he did not have anyone to share it with? Sometimes his friends came to visit him. Mad hatter especially, who had recovered with the Doll master's death.

Even though he had regular visits from the inhabitants of his realm, he was lonely. All the people he once knew and loved, died. He had watched over Nan's progress. After he left, she published his diary with a male pseudonym and it quickly became famous. The thing is that the publisher deemed the diary too dark and macabre, so they changed the story to a more PG version, which deeply pissed him off.

Imagine his relief when he found out that a century later someone had found out his diary and turned it into a game, but yet they failed when they removed his love out of the story.

That would not do. People had to know her, to know her story and how she met her tragic and unfair ending. As he walked the halls, he entered a room which he kept locked with his sister's key.

There, it held most of his fond memories and possessions. He used to come there when he wanted to recall them or to suffer. No matter how hard he tried, he could not lessen the guilt he felt.

As he stared in the mirror, he smiled sadly at the small green ribbon on his side low ponytail. His hair has grown a lot since he left England, but Alex couldn't just cut it. Evelyn loved his hair and was always found braiding small braids into it when he fell asleep.

At first, he would deem it silly and embarrassing but now…what would he give to have those moments again. Taking a sit on a green velvet armchair he rested his hands on his face and just took a deep breath.

Yet, his moment of peace was broken by an unknown force entering his realm, he stood up abruptly with his pepper-grinder and stared the intruder in the…eyes? The creature at his door was taller than the door. It seemed male from the black tuxedo he had on. But what disturbed him most was that he did not have a face, only smooth grey skin.

Something inside told him that if he attacked this creature, he would probably die in the most gruesome way. Then as if by telepathy the creature talked: "Alexander Liddell, right?"

The green-eyed male nodded. "How do you know my na-?!" "I know all about you, Alexander. You suffered a great deal for such a young man. And so lonely that you are. I have a proposition for you."

"You know nothing. I deserved it; it was all my fault… Leave."-Alex ordered him, but he felt him closer. "And what if I told you that I can help to lessen your loneliness?" Turning towards him with an interested glance, Alex nodded: "Go on…"

Despite his lack of lips, it was like he could see a smirk form on his face: "I have a mansion where I shelter many souls like yours. Outcasts of society who have decided to make justice with their own hands. I always have place for one more. What do you say?"

"What's the but? There is always a but."-he asked with a glare. "Nothing much. I just want your loyalty and…the souls of your victims. I need sustenance and it's almost like paying the rent."-the tall man explained.

The young man pondered for a while and seeing as he hadn't much to do, he agreed: "As long as I can return here every time I want. Sure, I'm in." Alex offered him his hand and the tall man smirked once more: "Good. This will hurt a little." The moment he took his hand, he felt a pinch at his hand. He removed his white glove and saw a bleeding circle with a cross on over it, on his hand.

"Bloody hell! That hurt!"-Alex cursed. "It's a tracker for me to take the soul of your victim, right away. Nothing much. Well, let us be off. We have a long path ahead of us. Ever visited the States?"-the tall man asked as they entered a portal.

"…No. Why?"-Alex asked confusedly. "There's where you will live from now on. Oh, I completely forgot to introduce myself. I am called Slender Man, in spite of my many names. You can call me Slender."

"Yay, yankees. That's… original. I guess."- and so Alex and Slender man teleported to a huge dark mansion hidden in the middle of the deep woods, where few dared to go through and none who did, lived.

Perhaps he wouldn't feel so lonely anymore. Who knows what would happen…

In 2020 Meanwhile in Wales…

In an enormous stone walled castle hidden among the fog of the Wales mountains, far from human sight, lived Alastair, a crossroads demon. Quite well known in Hell, but not enough for him, he had decided to birth many children to human women, in order to build an army that would overthrow anyone on his path.

He would let them grow and when their mind was easier to manipulate, he would kill their mother.

If they were boys, he would kidnap them and train them until they reached adulthood. Then he would kill them and turn them into demons.

Whereas if they were girls, he would influence their surroundings and lead them to their deaths. Only taking them after.

Despite the differences between them, he would always remove their memories of their human lives and seal them in their prized possessions, which he kept save in his office.

Seeing as the fortress was enormous, boys lived in the left side and girls lived in the right side. Some of them were even siblings, but they either did not know or remember it. Just like his first children which he named Adam and Eve, after the first people on Earth.

They were twins and his most powerful ones. Adam was his best demon and had control over shadows and could teleport to places he had been before.

Whereas Eve was just too powerful, so he had to seal part of her powers and voice with a choker.

Yet with her powers restrained, she had ability to see and speak with the dead. However, she preferred to control ravens and crows.

She didn't enjoy getting her hands dirty, so Eve would either make the ravens kill her victims or she'd control their blood to make them do what she wanted. Before, she could summon dead into battle and could create portals who lead anywhere she wanted. Not anymore… Or so he thought.

Now the castle was mostly empty, seeing as it was time for his children to go hunting. He had news, so he decided to tell them telepathically. His oldest were currently in the streets when they heard him.

"Attention children. I have news for you. We will have a new addition to our beloved family. The youngest to existence, with only 5 years old, Charlotte Bridges. Today will be both her end and beginning."-he said in his demonic voice.

The ones at home gasped in shock. So young and innocent. No one in their right mind would wish this life of torture and pain to anyone. Their stepsiblings mourned her future death and pain. Yet, the only ones truly shocked were the twins.

In Edinburgh, Scotland

Adam, a young man who looked barely 18, stood on top of a flat, in the streets of Edinburgh when he heard the news.

His silver eyes frowned at what he heard. He felt something pull at his heartstrings. Poor girl didn't deserve any of this. Adam has been thinking of ways to run away of the hell pit he called home. He had tried as many times, but he always failed to and was tortured at the end.

Not this time. His father would be distracted with preparing the ritual, so now it was his chance. First, he had to return home to check his office. Adam knows that the reason he knows nothing of his past life, is his father's fault. He must keep something which will help him recover them and then he will get Charlotte to somewhere safe.

Then as he was going to enter his portal, he saw a drunk man hitting on a woman and his eyes turned into slits for a while. Licking his lips at the grisly red soul of the drunkard, he removed one of his gloves with his teeth and walked towards him. But first, a little snack… "H-hey, what're y-you-?! AHHHHHHHHHH!"-only cries of agonising pain were heard as Adam fed on the man's soul.

Some minutes later, only a very dehydrated corpse was left standing and Adam wrote a message on the wall the corpse sat against «Were you not taught any manners?" » Then off Adam went in his portal.

Meanwhile in the streets of Whitechapel…

Walking the empty streets of Whitechapel, Eve swung a silver birdcage on her left hand while Edgar, her beloved raven, flew around her. The news was not something she was ready for.

Yet, when she thought of a small child going through all that she and her sisters went through, Eve wanted to scream but alas father made sure she couldn't any longer. All because she dared to challenge him when he blinded her sister Madelaine.

Hatred. That was the first emotion she felt when she woke up a century ago. It was the only thing she knew about herself. That and the fear of men. Not even her bloody name or if she had a family.

She desperately clung to the only people she held dear which were her younger sisters. Eve paid the price for that, seeing as she offered herself every time her father threatened to torture one of them. Losing count of how many times she lost limbs or fingers to his wrath, Eve gasped at the ice-cold steel of the choker around her neck.

Even if she couldn't die that easily, Eve still felt pain as any other person. No. Stopping for a moment, she inserted her hand on her dress's pocket and felt for a blue velvet pouch, which she found once on her father's office.

It seemed to call to her attention, like it was the most important thing to her. No matter how curious she was, she didn't have the strength to delve into its insides. It was like if she knew what was inside, her whole life would change. One day, perhaps…

Yet, she had enough of this thing she called life. That is if she was even alive to begin with. Her skin was cold to the touch and her heart, if it once existed, ceased beating long ago.

It was sad that most part of her memories were of either torture or murder done by her or her father. To ease her mind Eve would sometimes read or sew her sisters new dresses. All of them were younger than her and most lost their childhood with their introduction to the family.

In spite of how many times she stabbed her finger with needles, the happiness in the girls' faces were worthy the pain, when they saw the new clothes. Being surrounded by her dear sisters made her feel at ease and it evoked something familiar, lost in time and with her past.

No, she had to do something. Charlotte was not going to live the same live as them, even if that costs her life. She signalled her raven which descended on her and rested on her outreached hand. Cawing in confusion at how much she was shaking, the raven nuzzled her hand.

Eve made the cage vanish and reached her hand towards him. Offering him an apologetic smile behind the thick black veil, she plucked out a black feather to which she received a whine.

Her hand patted his back in apology and then he nodded and returned to his flight. Eve removed one of her gloves which revealed four glyphs, the ones for: connection, wisdom, enlightenment and unknow, which shone a bright red.

The moment the glyphs started shining, the feather flew out of her fingers and started wandering by herself. Nothing like a good old tracking spell to find someone. Eve enjoyed being a witch sometimes. Then off she ran after the feather, to try to stop a disaster from happening, with Edgar flying after his mistress. Yet, little did she know that her life was going to change in more ways than one…

Adam POV

The moment I arrived home, it was late evening and my brothers were probably all sleeping. I felt awful for trying to leave this place without them, but I had to save Charlotte first or she would soon enough be joining this hellhole.

I know that I probably would never see her only if through the dining room's windows during my sisters training sessions. Yes, I enjoyed seeing them sometimes. It made me want to cheer them out. Yet, my favourite to watch was probably Eve, as I heard them call her.

Eve was quite a mysterious girl. Supposedly she was also British and came from the same time period like me. The sad part was that no one, besides father, knew how she looked like. The only things I knew about her was that she loved her sisters dearly and that she once… had a beautiful voice.

Sometimes I would read by the window while she sang English songs mixed with some Gaelic, to her sisters. They seemed…quite familiar. Did I hear them once? No matter. His office will have the answers.

I delved into the shadow of a cabinet and off I went to his office, which was safe kept by many spells and marks, yet I had once studied all of his patterns, so they were nothing against my skill. (Suck on that, knob head!)

Phasing through the thick walls, I fell onto the middle of his office. (Wow, I only have been here once, and it was when I woke up.) Now, I had to find something which might give me my memories back. Looking around, I saw a painting of him (But of course it is.) in the middle of two bookcases.

Something told me that what I wanted had something to do with this painting. I felt around the edges and eventually something clicked. I walked back and the painting and fireplace slid left, showing behind them a storeroom.

Inside it were hundreds of black display cabinets with a variety of old items inside it. All of them remitted to different time periods and countries. Yet, the thing that called most to my attention was a small dark brown beret.

My hands reached for the door and as soon as I opened it a loud alarm started sounding throughout the entire castle. (SHIT! Gotta go!) I took the beret and quickly stormed out of the office.

Alas, I saw a group of father's minions rushing for me as I stood in the hallway. I panicked but I had to get away or awful things would happen.

With a wave of my hand, I made shadows entangle themselves around the minions, keeping them in place enough for me to run.

(I have to get to somewhere as far as possible. But where?) While I ran away from there, I pondered about somewhere where I could hide.

(Scotland would be too obvious because it's my hunting turf. But where? Hmmm…) When I looked behind me, I already had a huge group of demons after me: "Get him! He cannot remember, no matter what!"-they shouted.

Grasping the beret tightly, I created a portal to the Estates. It wasn't obvious because I only been there once for a mission and there was a lot of people to infiltrate with.

Looking back, I smirked and flipped them off as I entered the portal: "See ya, wankers!" "Noooooooo!" And off I went to New York city.

Some minutes later I fell from the sky into a flat with a loud thud. "Ouch, my back! Damn it, I will be sore tomorrow, most probably."

I sat with my legs crossed on top of an air conditioning unit and looked around to see if I had been followed. Seeing as there was no one near, I finally examined the beret and even placed it jokingly on top of my much larger head.

The moment the fabric touched my head, I felt a rush of events and names entering my head which caused me a headache: "Agh!" Images flashed through his mind.

A beautiful auburn-haired woman with eyes as grey as mine stood stuck to a wall with a hand going through her chest. The hand was connected to a man, my father. And as I looked to my right, I saw a young girl matching me in looks, with tears running down her face… Who are they?

Then there is a flash to little me running towards the demon and the girl screaming my name: "EVERETT!" That's my name, right?

The girl...the girl is my twin sister. As I am taken away, only one thing goes through my mind: "EVELYNN!"

With this last name I wake up from the trance. I remember now. My name, my family and how I saw my mother die. Evie! I have to look for her! If he caught me, he must have caught her too! Then I go to look for my long-lost twin with my former mission long forgotten.

Eve POV

Some minutes later...

In USA

The feather took me quite far away, I had to teleport quite a few times. But I think I am close. Right now, I was in the middle of a block of detached houses. (Wow, America is really different from England.)

As I looked around the empty streets, the feather I was following burned off, signalling the end of my path. (Funny, the spell wore off, but I don't see Charlotte anywhere.)

Then as I was going to conjure another spell, I heard a feminine bloodcurdling scream, coming from one of the houses. "AHHHHHHHHHH!"

(Oh no! Am I too late?)- I ran towards the sound, teleporting inside it and seeing father on top of a black pixie haired woman with his hand through her chest.

Noticing my presence, his red glare found me, and he looked confused: "Eve? What are you doing here? You should be home by now. Leave this instance!"

Staying close to the wall as if it would keep me safe, I shook my head and felt for the girl's presence. I heard a small pitter patter coming this way. (I cannot let her see this! She is just too young!)

"What are you-?!"-he was going to ask but I sent an unkindness (group of ravens) peck at him from every corner to distract him and ran off to get her.

"Agh! You bitch!"- he screamed in pain. Edgar followed behind me and then I saw a little girl with long black hair and sea blue eyes coming down the stairs with tears running down her pale cheeks: "Mama?"-she called out in a small voice.

She was wearing a green nightgown and holding a white plush bunny. The moment she saw me instead of screaming as any normal child would, she gushed at me and came running: "Pweety!"

(Oh my, she is just so adorable!) Then my train of thought was broken by incoming thundering steps: "EVEEEEEE!" The girl stopped in her path and started sobbing but I quickly scooped her into my arms and started running out of the house with her in my arms.

"No, mama!"-she cried. I closed her eyes with my palm to protect her innocence. She flailed around but I patted her back as I ran into the middle of the streets.

Alas when I reached the street, hundreds of demons blocked every known path to salvation. I hugged her close to me as if to protect her with my body.

They sneered and chuckled darkly at the sight. If only I had my full powers again, I could open a rift into another realm. Then when I was starting to lose all hope, I felt Charlotte clutching the fabric of my dress: "I am scawed."

Seeing the small tears form on her eyes, I wrapped my arms around her and started thinking, till he appeared with blood running down his peckered wounds and with his suit all ripped.

He brushed his hair back and reached his hand for me: "Naughty little girl, if you give me back Charlotte, I won't remove anything from you, this time."

I flinched at his threats, but I held myself strong. Seeing the monsters enclose on us, I place her on the ground but made her grab into my skirt. Edgar rests on her head now.

Then a word made out of shadows appeared in front of me: "NEVER!" I turned around and my hands reached for the air as if they were pulling something apart.

As he saw what I was trying to do, he started to approach us: "Are you mad?! I took part of your powers! You cannot do that anymore."

Still my hands gripped the fabric of time and space and started pulling. My gloves started disintegrating and all my glyphs were bleeding.

It hurt excruciatingly, but I had to do this. Blood was now running down my nose, mouth, and neck. Then a small white fissure appeared and as I pulled harder the streetlights started to burst out.

(One more pull and we can do it!). Father noticed that I was doing the impossible despite the big amount of seals placed around my neck: "Stop right this instant! If you don't, I will kill everything you hold dear."

The hatred for my father filled me with great strength and then I opened a full rift into some dark woods near the North of the USA. I grabbed Charlotte and before we entered it, I smirked and wrote in the air: "Feel like a man now, father?"

And we entered it with father screaming behind us, as the rift closed. The moment I looked around; I saw millions of spirits around us. Charlotte shivered in my arms, so I removed my black knitted shawl from my back and wrapped it around her.

She offered me a toothy grin: "Thank you, Wady. What's your name?"-she asked. I couldn't write because she was too young to know how to read. So, I pointed to my neck.

Her smile turned into a sad pout: "Aw, you can't speak?" I shook my head and pointed at her: "I'm sowy. I'm Charwotte! And I am almost 6!"- she signalled 6 tiny fingers which made me giggle silently.

Then she dropped her head out of nowhere and cried a little: "Is mommy dead?" I frown and nod slowly. "Mommy… didn't wike Charwotte but Charwotte loved mommy."

Tears ran down my face at her sadness and at the pain she must have went through. I hugged her as tight as I could, and she hugged me back. From the quantity of spirits here, it meant that there were a lot of murders here. I had to be careful, if not for me, be it for my sister.

I have read about these woods now that I think of it. Slender man, one of father's rivals, roams here. Many people disappear here but I knew that whoever entered here, did not made it out alive.

Whatever happens I will protect Charlotte with my life. Perhaps he won't be as protective of his forest when he realizes I am not human. As I passed by the trees sometimes, I would see a creepy drawing or message.

(Perhaps someone lost them. I better get them.) I started grabbing each drawing I saw. Yet, I always felt something watch me among the shrouds. (We have company…)

The moment I grabbed the eighth page, I noticed a large mansion hidden among the trees and a tall faceless man in front of me.

Charlotte has fallen asleep some minutes ago, so I just nursed her closer to me. I felt his tendrils approaching me dangerously, but I reached my hand and offered him the drawings I found: "Are these yours, sir?"

His tendrils stopped and his face contorted in confusion. I was not afraid of him and was acting way too calmly for someone about to be killed.

"...Yes. Yes, they are."- he answered. I gave them back and did a small curtsy. "I apologize for entering your territory, but my sister and I are being tracked as we speak. We will be out of your hair soon. Just let us pass, please."

He receded his tendrils and shook his head: "I see… May I know who's tracking you?" Gulping, I wrote: "Our father, Alastair. The crossroads demon." He gasped at what I told him and quickly offered me a deal: "Poor things. What if I offered you protection? I heard great things about your skills and a medium is always advantageous. What do you say, Eve?"

I looked at my little sister and then at the man: "I just have two requests." He nodded: "And what are they?" "I would like my sister to be protected till I can assure her a safe place to live and a large room for my ravens."

He chuckled inwardly and offered me is hand: "Deal. Pleasure to meet you.

Offering him my hand, I felt a tiny prick on my right hand where his sign appeared: "The pleasure's all mine, Slender Man."

Then he signalled me to the house and opened the door: "Today's an interesting day. You're not the first offspring of your father to appear here. A boy appeared here today, looking for his sister. He kept saying that he felt her smell on one of my pastas. It was a few minutes ago, perhaps you'll be able to help me break their fight."

Nodding in confusion, I entered the large house feeling everything become silent a I entered the room. My arm wrapped tighter around my sister as I passed by the psychopaths and serial killers.

He noticed my murderous aura, so he signalled his pastas: "Don't you know that it's not polite to stare. You're making her anxious."

Some stopped doing it and others returned to their job. "My apologies. They're not used to have new faces, around here. And today you're the second one so they're a little on edge."

As we entered the living room, I saw only chaos and broken furniture everywhere, while two males stood bloody in the middle in a fighting stance. Some pastas were cheering them out and others were making bets on who would win.

I inspected the boys fighting. The one on the right had long black hair in a side low ponytail and green eyes. He was holding a silver knife with a snarl on his face. (He is quite handsome, isn't he? Wait what? Bad Eve! You know most men are wolves.)

The other boy on the left looked weirdly enough like my male counterpart. And he had five throwing knives between his fingers.

(Why do they seem so familiar to me? Have I seen them before?) As I was thinking, Slender Man broke them apart with his tendrils, barring them against the walls: "Enough! You are not children anymore, so stop acting like it! Besides, we have a new addition to our house." - they calmed down the moment they noticed me peeking out from behind Slender man.

"H-hello there. I am Eve. Sorry for breaking your roughhousing moment there, gentlemen."-I wrote above me. As if in a daze, both approached me and offered me each their hand.

Something told me to grab them, but I hesitated and retreated my hand to my chest. "You! You are father's prodigy! I saw you training in the gardens, sometimes. I guess we must be half-siblings then?"-the red-haired boy pestered me with questions and as soon as we was going to touch my arm, I slapped his hand off and breathed deeply: "I would ask you to refrain from touching me."

He nursed his hand and nodded: "I…apologize. My impulsiveness was always one of my faults." Then as he was going to question me one more thing, the raven-haired boy with a permanent sad shine on his emerald green orbs, did a small curtsy: "Pleasure to meet you, Eve. My name is Alexander Liddell but please call me Alex." I nodded and felt my face grow warmer.

Something told me that my life was certainly going to be different from that moment on…

Chapter VI-END