Adventure of a Lifetime

Chapter 7

"I sure hope Jessie will be okay." Mallymkun says as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Let's just hope Mally. She was hurt pretty badly by Stayne." Nivens sniffed.

Suddenly, Hare hopped into the room. "J-Jessie's gone!"

MEANWHILE…

I looked back at the White Castle, the Vorpal Sword in my right hand. I sighed. "I'm going to finish this, once and for all…so I can go home."

I whistled very loudly. The Bandersnatch came running out of the forest and I got onto his back. "To the Red Castle!"

And so I journeyed to the Red Castle and once I arrived, I slipped off the Bandersnatch's back. I stroked his snout. "I don't know if I'll come back out….so….just go."

The creature licked my face and then rushed away.

I sighed and with the Vorpal Sword clipped to my belt; I climbed up the same black tree from earlier all the way to the top and softly landed on the grass.

"My Queen….Stayne has….." I heard one of women say.

I quietly walked over to see a woman with a large nose talking to the Red Queen. She sighed sadly. "I know…that pathetic girl will pay once I get my hands on her."

My right eye twitched. At least she didn't call me little.

I then noticed the sun was setting. I walked through the same doors from before and quietly and quickly made my way to where I could try to kill the Red Queen.

Finally, I arrived at a large doorway and carefully opened it, looking in. Indeed, I saw the Red Queen on her balcony.

I grinned to myself. Now I can finally go home. I took the Vorpal Sword off my belt and slowly raised it above my head, approaching the Red Queen.

SHUNK

I felt a searing pain in my uninjured side and screamed out in pain as a sword was thrusted out of my side and I dropped the Vorpal Sword. It clattered on the ground and I fell, clutching my bleeding side.

The Red Queen turned around and gasped. "Stayne! You're alive!" she said happily.

I looked over my shoulder and glared at Stayne. I coughed. "Bastard….."

He placed his foot on my head and pressed it to the ground. I was unable to move. "Damnit….." I whispered.

"Stayne, how are you alive?" the Red Queen asks. "I thought this little girl finished you off."

"No. I survived." The Knave answered.

"I should've killed you when I had the chance." I snarled.

"Oh shut up." His foot released my head and stomped down on the middle of my back, making me yell out in pain.

The Red Queen giggled as Stayne picked up the Vorpal Sword. "Good work Stayne. Place her in the dungeons. We'll chop off her head in the morning."

Two Red Knights came in and grabbed my arms, dragging me to the dungeons.

….

I coughed again and saw there was blood on my hand. I sighed. I'm gonna die…

I suddenly heard a whoosh. "Hello luv."

My eyes looked up to see the Cheshire Cat. "Oh….hi Chessur."

He sighed. "I was really hoping you would defeat the dragon."

"Un….so did I." I coughed again. "I was gonna kill her because I thought I would go home…..I'm either gonna die by having my head chopped off or I'm gonna die of blood loss."

"Hatter and the others will be here soon. You'll be okay."

I shook my head. "No….I think I reached my limit Chessur." I whispered as tears began to trickle down my cheeks and I closed my eyes. "I never asked for this…..I just wanna go home….."

Chessur sighed. "I guess I'll see you soon." And I heard a whoosh, menting he vanished.

…

BANG, BANG

"Hey girl! Get up! Your execution is in a little bit!"

I pried my eyes open to see two Red Knights. I snorted. "Just leave me to die in peace."

"Fine, if you want the hard way, we'll do the hard way." The first knight unlocked the cell and both of them grabbed my arms and dragged me all the way to the courtyard.

"Stand up!" they yanked me up when I was dragged onto the stand and they shoved my head into the thing where my head would be chopped off.

I felt the executioner move hair away from my neck and I saw the shadow of the axe as it rose. I closed my eyes. Sorry guys…but…this is the end.

"JESSIE!"

I heard the roar of the Bandersnatch and I saw the executioner knocked away. With a sigh, I allowed myself to hit the ground like a sack of potatoes.

"Jessie."

I allowed my eyes to open and I saw Hatter. I gave a weak smile. "Never thought you would come….."

"C'mon, we're getting out of here." He picked me up and set me on the Bandersnatch.

"The…Vorpal Sword….."

"Chessur snuck in and got it."

"Okay…." I muttered before everything went black.

…

"RAAAHHHHH!" The Red Queen's scream could be heard from all throughout the castle. "I hate that girl so much! She escaped…with the Vorpal Sword!"

"Your highness." Stayne began. "The Frabjous Day is tomorrow."

The Queen began to calm down. "Ah yes…..tomorrow…we shall kill her."

…..

"You bulbous idiot! What in the world were you thinking?" Mallymkun shouted angrily.

I looked away. "That I could kill her and go home."

"Whatever, you're still an idiot."

"True…."

"Tomorrow is Frabjous Day." Nivens says. "Tomorrow…it's victory…."

"Or death…" I finished.

"The blood of the dragon will send you home, if you defeat it." Mirana says.

I have a death wish…..

The next day…..

We marched to the battlefield. I, on the other hand, was scared. What if I died? Then let's hope to God I don't.

We finally arrived at the battlefield and I jumped off the Bandersnatch. Mirana and her sister approached each other. "Here we are again sister." The Red Queen spoke.

"Yes. I hope you are ready."

"I am. Release the dragon!"

There was a loud rumbling sound as the ground came apart and the four-headed dragon flew out, all heads screeching.

"Oh god….this is impossible…." I said, my body shaking.

"Only if you believe it is." Hatter said, who was standing next to me. "I believe in you Jess."

I sighed. "Yeah….."

"Are you ready Jessica?" Mirana asks.

I nodded and approached the four-headed dragon. "Hmm? This is our opponent? A little human girl?" one head asks.

"Uh-oh….." I heard Hare say.

My eye twitched and my lips curled into a smile. "You will regret that dragon." And with a yell, I ran at it. Its long tail came towards me and I easily ducked. The heads came at me and tried snapping at me. I dodged to the side and raised the Vorpal Sword and then brought it down on the nearest head. It came clean off. "One down….three to go." I whispered.

"We will rip you apart and eat you!" a second-head screeched.

I grinned. "Come and get me." And I ran towards the ruins.

I ran up the stairs and as the dragon came towards me, one head snapped right at me. I barely dodged and got a good hit. "Yahhhh!" I yelled and cut a second head off. This is too easy.

Suddenly, the dragon's tail came out of nowhere and wrapped around me, bringing me up to its face. "Hmm, you will seem delicious!" the third head said and its jaws came towards me. With a yell, I thrust the sword upwards into its mouth and the sword came out from the top of its head. It screeched out in pain and clamped its jaws down on my arm.

I bit my lip, trying not to scream and yanked the sword out. With a yell, I cut its head off while it was distracted.

Breathing heavily, I slashed at the last head and managed to get its eye. It roared and dropped me. I landed hard on my back and quickly got up. But I didn't get very far as I felt jaws clamp down onto my shoulder. I screamed out in pain and it thrashed me around while I was still in its grip. It then let go and I was thrown at a pillar. With a groan, I fell to the ground.

NOBODY'S POV

"Oh-no! Jessie!" Mallymkun cried out.

The Red Queen grinned. "She cannot defeat the dragon."

Hatter's eyes narrowed. Come on Jessie! You can defeat it!

JESSIE'S POV

Clutching my shoulder, I shuddered as I felt the blood seep through my fingers.

"Now, you will die!" the dragon's jaws came towards me.

I moved to the right and let the dragon's jaws clamp down onto my already bleeding arm and I raised the Vorpal Sword. "OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!" and I cut the last dragon head off.

Its jaws became limp and the head fell to the ground, along with its body.

Breathing heavily, I stood there for a moment and then I heard cheering. I let myself smile. Thank…god…..I thought before I let myself fall off the ruins.

NOBODY'S POV

The Red Queen screamed out in anger. "Not again!"

Hatter and the others quickly rushed over to the fallen Jessie and when they got there, her eyes were closed and there was a puddle of blood slowly appearing underneath of her. Hatter knelt down and put an arm around her shoulders, lifting her up. "Jessie?"

Her dark blue eyes opened and she smiled weakly. "Hey….." she said, her breathing labored. "I….defeated it….."

He smiled. "You did. But….you're….."

She coughed. "Dying?" she finished. "Yeah….I know. I think my….old wounds reopened…..I can't….really breathe that well…." She coughed again, this time wheezing.

"Oh shut up. You're gonna be fine." Mallymkun said, her voice breaking.

"You guys….taught me what…friendship is. I'll…never forget you." Jessie said weakly, a small smile on her lips.

"Jessie….if you think you're gonna die….." his voice trailed off as she reached up and gripped the collar of his coat. She lowered his face to hers and kissed him. He was REALLY surprised at first, but then he kissed back and she pulled away as her arm fell to the ground.

Tears trickled down from the corner of her eyes and she smiled. "Goodbye…" and with one last wheezing breath, her eyes closed and she went limp.

"J-Jessie…?" Mallymkun whispered.

Nivens put two fingers on the side of Jessie's neck and shook his head, sighing sadly and taking his fingers away. "She's gone."

Mirana looked at the ground sadly and then up at her sister. "From this day forward…I banish you again. Along with your Knave."

Even with the Red Queen screaming, they were chained and taken away. Mirana walked over to Hatter and the others. "I'm so sorry."

"Even if I wanted her to stay…she wouldn't." he said sadly.

Jessie's body began to disappear in a white mist. And before they could even think, she was gone.

"Maybe it's for the best." Mirana says. "Jessica didn't belong in this world."

Hatter stood and looked up at the sky. "I guess. Well….should we head on home?"

….

"Jessica? Sweetie?"

With a groan, I opened my eyes and saw my aunt and uncle. I'm….alive? "What happened…? Where am I?"

"Jessica, you're in the hospital." Wilma replied. "We found you near a big hole. It looked like you got mauled by an animal."

I blinked tiredly and looked to the side. "I guess so….I don't remember much….." I lied.

"We were worried about you kiddo. We thought we lost you." Charlie says.

I sighed and then gave a small smile. "But I'm alive."

I'm alive….