Destructive Memories

Despite lack of reviews for the last chapters, I'm content to keep writing. There are just so many ideas to explore on this subject, it's fascinating.

13. Lizard Tears and False Accusations

Warm strands of fur draped over her as Alice's eyes fluttered open. I'm still at the Amusement Park.

Boris had snuggled close to her, a soft purring sound coming from his chest. Twisting slightly, hoping not to wake him up, Alice leaned up and wiped the sleep from her eyes. Placing her hands in her lap, Alice thought about what she had said to Nightmare.

GET OUT OF MY HEAD, YOU BASTARD!

I can see we aren't going to agree. Just think about.

I'm sorry, Nightmare. I'm so sorry.

Standing up, Alice strode over to a window, pulling the hot pink curtain away to peer outside. " What are you doing?" a voice asked from behind her. Turning around, she saw Boris was rubbing his eyes intently. " Boris, remember when I said all I wanted as an apology was to find Pierce?" Boris nodded. Alice crossed her hands over her heart, exactly where Nightmare had touched her.

" Well, something has come up and.. I have to go. But, is there any way you could just try looking for him? I know you don't want to, and right now.. it's fine if you don't. You were right. About everything."

Nightmare was too.

Boris frowned." What's the deal? Why do you have to go?" Alice's palms were starting to sweat. " I can't say, that is, I don't want to talk about it. But, you don't need to worry, i-if you were, I mean."

Boris shook his head." That's cool. I wouldn't force you into it or anything. I'll walk you to the gate."
Alice smiled. Boris stood up and took her by the hand, leading her outside the railing and guiding her to the ladder. After what seemed like forever, Alice's feet finally touched the ground. Boris grabbed her hand again and they made their way through the park, waving at the ghostly employees and checking obvious places Pierce may have been hiding in.

The gate came before them, it's rusty and tarnished bars darkening in the sun. " Bye, Boris," Alice waved at him. She stepped out of the park, but a hand clamped around her wrist." Hey, you don't think you're getting rid of me that easily, do you?" He pulled his hood on and smiled.
I wish I could.

The forest seemed to be petrified, the flames never moving out of place. Alice pressed close to Boris, his cloak repeling the heat. The tower came into view, the broken walls and dismembered sections lying around what remained." Man, this place was ripped to pieces," Boris said aloud. Alice glanced at him." You didn't know?" He shook his head." Haven't been over here since you left. I would've thought they would have at least kept half of the tower together. Can't even do that, though."

" Don't call them weak! They have more ge-" Alice stopped mid sentence. I can't tell anyone about the hoards of gems inside the tower." What was that?" Boris asked. Alice shook her head." Uh, nothing, nevermind." Alice walked faster, entering the smashed doorway and climbing the broken, unmendable stairway. Twisting the knob halfway, Alice pulled open the door, Boris following her closely inside.

Gray stood at the window, slowly opening his eyes at their arrival. They were alluring, like liquid gold twisting beneath slits of solid black (but he only has one pupil?)

" I wondered when you would would return. I've wanted to speak with you for quiet some time now." He stood there, his dark navy cloak swaying with the light breeze. Alice turned to Boris, plastered by a fake smile." I'll be fine. You can go." Boris frowned. " I don't think so. I got a bad feeling about this guy, Alice." Boris whispered to her.

"If you have such a bad feeling about me, then stay for as long as you like. It makes no difference to me. However, I require Alice by herself in order to speak with her." Boris jumped back, amazed by Gray's hearing. Alice touched Boris's arm, her tiny fingers like feathers." I'll be fine," she assured him, sauntering to Gray's side. Placing his hand over the wall next to him, Gray pushed against an oddly colored brick, one lighter than the rest by just a hair." Come." The wall moved on it's own, opening a passage Alice had never been told about." It won't take long."

Alice entered the cold room, nothing but cobblestone clanking beneath her feet. The entire room was made of cobblestone. A stool sat in the middle of the room, it's solid pale silver jumping at from the cold blue backround." Sit if you like," Gray's voice came from behind. The wall had closed behind them, leaving Alice trapped. She sat on the stool. Maybe.. Boris was right about Gray. This might end badly.

Alice glanced over to Gray, who has slowly making his way to her. He stopped right in front of her. He's shaking. With no hesitation, Gray fell to his knees, his armor-clad shoulders rustling." Alice, where have you been?" was the last thing she heard before Gray pulled her into a hug, his arms cradling her back, pulling her as close as he could. His cloak was warm, tickling her cheeks. But tickling wasn't what concerned her.

The warm drops of water on her face did.

Glancing up, she saw that Gray's eyes were flowing with hot saltwater tears. Without thinking, Alice put her wrist to his face and wiped away the tears. He looked at her, his eyes pink from crying." Gray, what's wrong?" Even through his tears, Gray made no sound at all. Just looked at her, his eyes shredded with misery. His eyes.

Alice reached out, her fingers lightly brushing over Gray's eyes." Gray, what happened to you?" Alice looked further down, noticing his scarred neck, thinking about the barbed wire.

"The Jabberwock made us fight. We were neutral. We said we wouldn't, but he forced us to fight." Gray coughed up, his throat burning from the previous crying." He sent an army of monsters, they filled the tower in minutes and killed everyone they touched. Before they reached us, the Jabberwock called them off, saying this was our lesson for disobeying him."

"But, how did this happen?" She lightly touched his neck, the once soft skin now rough were the scarring touched." I tried to get as many people as I could to where I was residing with Nightmare and Julius, but I was jumped by one of the lackeys. They grabbed me and..." Gray stopped talking, his gold eyes wide with terror. Alice couldn't help but feel her heart knotting up with sadness.

She pulled out of his arms and sat back on the stool. Reaching out, Alice pulled Gray into a soft embrace, leaning over him. His head rested against her chest, her beating heart calming the weeping lizard. " Is this why the Knight is so obsessed with you? This.. sound?" Gray asked, listening closely to the constant thump in her chest." Yeah, it is," Alice replied." Don't start acting like him though, I might have to avoid you too, and I don't want to do that," Alice laughed, hoping to bring the lizard's spirits up. It worked, Gray lifting himself off the floor, standing like the strong stoic man she remembered." See, I knew it would make you feel better," Alice giggled, pointing at the cloaked man before her.

" Yes, I guess.. it did." Gray held a hand up." However, it would have worked even better had you not included me with that ignorant Knight," a smile spread over his lips. Alice smiled. Lifting her hand, she ruffled his hair and laughed." That's for making me worry about you."
All he could say was sorry.

" Um, Gray, do think Nightmare would still talk to me, even if he were mad at me?" Alice asked, hoping for a positive answer. He glanced down at her, surprised at her question." Well.. yes, I suppose he would. Even someone as composed as himself can't stay away from you. Why would you ask this?"

Alice scratched her head, a guilty look over her face. " Well, uh, we kinda got in a scuffle the other night in the dream world. I feel really bad, because I.. might have said some.. pretty bad stuff to him." Gray's eyes widened." What did you say to him?"

Alice looked down to the floor. " I may have.. called him a bastard for looking in my mind and told him to.. stay away." Alice rubbed her arm, as if that would erase what she had said.

" Alice, psychological problems aren't what I excel at, but I know for a fact that Nightmare can't look through anyone's mind any longer. Only in the dream world, though, he can send you thoughts, but that's it."

If Gray hadn't been there, Alice may have cried herself. She felt even more guilt coarsing through her veins. " I have to find him and apologize! Do you know where he is!"

" Well, he should be in... now that you mention it, I haven't seen him all day."

NO! He can't be gone!

He can't be. I have to find him.

I have to apologize!

My fingers hurt now T_T