Gilbert crashed through the bushes and tried to avoid tripping on tree roots. The footsteps behind him were getting louder. Branches grabbed at any loose clothing and the flowers which were normally bright and talkative, had become dull and silent. Gilbert noticed all this as he ran for his life. Trying to forget, at least for the moment, all the horror at which he had been through and all the deaths he had been forced to watch.
He wiped it all away and focused. The person behind him was obviously faster so he needed to either A) Stay and fight, or B) Hide.
He had no weapon and was sapped of any strength from all the mental and physical abuse he had endured at the Palace of Hearts. The second option then. He turned to the left sharply and dove behind a large patch of shrubbery. As if sensing his predicament, the plants seemed to grow more thickly around him to further conceal his hiding place.
Gilbert covered his nose and mouth with his hand and held as still as possible. The footsteps stopped closer to Gilbert then he would have liked. They shuffled around for a bit obviously confused. There was a small rustling sound then there was complete silence.
Gilbert dared not breath. His tail flickered nervously. The person was still here he could feel it. However, after a couple minutes that felt more like hours, Gilbert poked his head out and looked around. Everything was still.
"Where is he?" He asked the patch of flowers next to him.
They looked at him with fearful eyes and kept there mouths shut. Gilbert slowly emerged from his hiding place making as little noise as possible. He stood up slowly and took out his water flask with trembling hands. His red eyes flickered around nervously and he drank as quickly as he could not wasting a single drop.
He reattached the flask to his hip and started sprinting through the forest once more. He barely made it a couple feet before he heard it. A growl.
"Shi-" He was pounced on from behind falling face first into the cold forest floor his jaw connecting with a sickening crack. The pursuer made quick work of his hands and feet, tying them securely. This person knew what he was doing. "What are you going to do to me you worthless psychopath? Kill me like you murdered my family?!"
There was a pause in his captors movements, but he didn't respond instead he stood and started dragging Gilbert by his feet to an unknown location.
"Are you deaf? Listen to me! I may be helpless, but I still know a coward when I see one and you sir are a big, fat, loser."
"Please shut up. The trees have ears." Came a softer, and more quiet voice then Gilbert was expecting. "I don't want to have to gag you." Somehow this mans voice sounded threatening yet kind all rolled into one. It was more frightening then any voice he had heard yet.
Gilbert continued to harass the man mercilessly, but for some reason he never put the gag in his mouth. Seconds stretched into minutes and Gilbert drew tired of being dragged in the dirt. "Hey Pisshead, can we stop for a water break or something?"
"There is plenty of water where we're going. Not much further."
And that was all he got.
"My face hurts."
"Shut up."
"I'm hungry."
"You're just saying that."
"Am not!"
"Are so."
And on and on until Gilbert grew tired of the bantering and heard a familiar sound. "Is that-"
"Water?" Said the man. "Yes, it is."
The puzzle pieces clicked magically together in Gilbert's head. "YOU'RE GOING TO DROWN ME?!" Gilbert suddenly had a lot more energy then he did before. The threat of death will do that to a person. He kicked his captor in the face.
"Ah! My makeup!"
Gilbert then became very confused. Make-up? Gilbert turned onto his back and finally got a good look at who took him. His jaw dropped in amazement. This had to be the gayest man he had ever seen in his entire life.
His blonde hair was immaculately done. Slicked back with a curl that stuck out oddly. His pink and blue sunglasses were hard to look directly at, as was everything else he was wearing. A pink scarf adorned his neck which matched the shade of the sunglasses and complimented the bright white suit he was in. His baby blue shirt underneath just didn't go with anything.
Gilbert blinked and shook his head. "You look like something out of a little girls worst nightmare."
The mans lip fell into a pout. "I think I look fine thank you. And please, call me Flavio. I would shake your hand, but you are kind of tied up right now." He chuckled smiling brightly.
Gilbert absolutely could not believe his eyes. This idiot tied him up?! It was impossible. He was the awesome Joker of Wonderland! No one could beat him in anything! And if they did they must have cheated, because a thing like that was just not possible.
The mans smile fell. "You don't like me?" Tears suddenly appeared in his eyes.
Gilbert had no clue what to say (for once) except. "Why are you crying you big baby?" And crack up.
Flavio looked even more hurt. "I'm doing you a favor! You're the only one left..."
He sobered at this and looked seriously at Flavio. "What do you mean I'm the only one. I was trying to get to the Diamonds Kingdom until you showed up. Now I have no clue where I am."
Flavio shook his head sadly. "My brother and his friends took over all of the Kingdoms. You are quite literally the only survivor with royal blood in him."
The blood roared in Gilbert's ears. He tried to process this appalling news. "You're brother-. This is a trap."
Flavio looked away and nodded. "They should be here any second. I-I'm sorry. You seem like a nice guy."
Gilbert thought about all he knew about this strange guy. Gay? Most certainly. Kind. Also certain. A killer? Absolutely not. "Let me go."
"W-What?"
"Let me go and I can free this world once more." Gilbert was grasping for straws now. "If you let them take me now, they will kill me."
Flavio's face grew uncertain. "If I let you go, they will kill me."
"Then hide! Or come with me! I'm sure we could figure something out." Gilbert struggled with his bonds and looked up pleadingly at him.
Flavio took out a long bronze knife from the inside of his suit. Gilbert winced at the sight.
"Make it quick." He said closing his eyes and stretching his neck to give him access to his arteries.
He heard a sawing sound and felt his bonds loosen. He cracked open an eye. Flavio stood up and offered him a hand which he hesitantly accepted. They both didn't let go, finding comfort in the fact that now they were both fugitives.
A horn blew in the distance followed by wild laughter.
Flavio's eyes turned fearful and he let go of of his hand. "Allen. They're close. We need to hurry. I know where you will be safe."
Flavio turned and ran deeper into the forest. Gilbert, having no other options, followed. Plunging head first into what quite possibly could be another trap.
xXx
Meanwhile...
Allen burst into a little clearing by the river. "Flavio!" He sang out. "We're here!"
There was no answer except for a fuming Matt who came up behind him and wacked him as hard as he could with his (non-barbed) hockey stick. "How many times have I told you not to leave me alone! I don't know the way out of here!"
Allen yelped and rubbed his leg that now sported a bright red welt. "Ah!-That hurts like hell! Well I wouldn't leave you if you would hurry up! Where's Flavio anyway? He was supposed to bring us the last one."
Matt picked up a stone and skipped it across the river. "Knowing that idiot he probably got scared and didn't do it. Oh well, he's bound to head to one of the Kingdoms anyways. Let's go back to the Heart Palace and report Luciano's brother. It's not our job to babysit." And with that he turned and stared walking back the way they came.
Allen took one last glance around the forest then limped after his brother. Regretting ever leaving Matt. He has a mean swing!
