6.
~ A hand snaked over the door. Pale fingers, long and spidery. The Monster held her ground as the Red Queen released her pets into the room.
Like zombies, they stumbled out of the catacomb. Hissing and leering up at their fiery foe. Their pale skill a sharp contrast to their red lips. Stained from their last feeding. They coward away from the Monster as if afraid of her. They sensed her dominance in the dream and that she was not afraid of things that hid in the shadows.
"So you are the Monster." The Red Queen purred. Her dictation perfect and cold. The Queens long frame was larger and more menacing then the Monster's. It was easy to see why so many before her were frightened of this demon.
"I am." The Monster said. Unafraid of such a creature.
"Funny, you don't seem very dangerous." The Queen said circling her.
The pets in the shadows, laughing and waiting for the Queen to cut the Monster with her scissors. Waiting for the blood to be spilled.
"Most of the time, I'm not." The Monster admitted. "Dreams, are another matter."
~ From her hiding place deep in the well, the Child heard all of this. She waited as she knew then end was near. The Queen would kill the Monster. All without gaining the information they needed.
After Arabella Marks woke, her subconscious would protect itself from future intrusion. They would not be able to save those women and it would be all her fault. She had compromised this mission.
~ The Red Queen raised her sharp scissors to the Monster.
"Don't you have something you want to ask me first?" Marks asked.
The Red Queen paused. Her attack eminent.
"What?" The Queen asked. Her face distorted in malice. Questioning the Monster.
"You came here to find something out. Where I hid them. Where I put the women." Marks said. Her wild eyes focused solely on the Queen. As if watching a dangerous animal. One that would attack at any moment.
"What make you think I care?" The Queen said cutting the air with her scissors. The slicing sound was loud and chilling.
"Do you want to know where they are?" The Monster asked. Her voice bold and unfeeling.
The Red Queen regarded the Monster for a long time. Her good eye trained on the fiery one. Her dead eye reflecting the flicking light of the fire. Ghost like.
"Tell me." The Queen asked.
"Over there, through that door." The Monster said. Looking over her shoulder at a little red door. Painted bright red. Taking her gaze off the queen for just a moment.
In that moment, the Queen attacked.
~ Animal like screams tore through the air, ripping sounds as the hungry creatures from the shadows were ravenous for their food. Awful cries of pain and struggle reverberated down the well as the Child covered her ears to such abominations.
Silence then. So profound and empty that the Child could hear her own breathing. Hear the blood running in her veins. She was frightened. More afraid then she had ever been in the dream before. She huddled in the cold well as she tried to control her breathing.
The steady unearthly lullaby coming out across the cave. It's sorrowful song impending the news that the Red Queen was there. Had beaten the Monster.
There was a sudden noise that broke the dead air and the Child looked up. She saw eyes peering back at her. Reflecting the light of the fire.
"I see you." A voice said above her.
The Child whimpered helplessly as she hugged the slippery walls. Trapped in the well. Awaiting her doom. Those eyes glaring over her.
'Eyes that had the seeming of a demon that is dreaming.'