Now, back to escaping!
Death Note © Ohba & Obata
Alice in Wonderland © Lewis Carroll
The plot and writing is mine.
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Chapter Eleven: An Unlikely Ally
"Don't worry." Nate assured him. "We're almost there."
"Really?" Mihael looked doubtful.
"You know, bunny, you're going to get in REAL trouble." They heard a voice say, and then the Cheshire Cat, Mail, appeared in front of them. "Drop the kid and turn back."
"No." Nate frowned, moving one hand to cover Mihael with his cloak.
Mail sighed heavily and then stepped towards them. "Look, I'm saying this for your own good. Drop the kid and go."
"I'm not going to!" Nate said firmly. "This tradition will end!"
Mail stopped and then looked thoughtful. "It has worn out its amusement, I admit. Still, you really think one boy will make them change their mind?"
"It's worth a shot." Nate glanced back at the stairwell and then looked at Mail. "Will you help us, or not?"
"I won't rat you out." Mail shrugged. "Unlike the other three, I hold no allegiance to anyone."
"They hold allegiance?" Mihael wondered aloud. Nate took his hand and they walked past the cat, Nate looking over his shoulder at him.
"Thank you." He said quietly, and then they dashed on, leaving Mail to meet the people heading up the stairs.
The door banged open and Hatter came out, frowning. "Mail. Have you seen anyone pass by here?"
"Nope." He shrugged, his tail swishing back and forth. "Not since the Queen went downstairs."
"Damn." Hatter growled. "The boy's not in the prison, so everyone's out looking. Audrey found out when he went to check on him that someone drugged the guards."
"Who do you think it was?" Mail asked, looking at his claws.
"Not sure. One of the maids, a cook, or even the Rabbit." He scowled.
"You think the White Rabbit drugged the guards and broke out Her Majesty's meal?" Mail looked amused at the thought. "He works for her, isn't that a silly thought?"
"Damnit, Cat!" Hatter snapped. "He's obviously against her right now! We need to find them! Come join the effort."
"Hatter, reeeelax." Mail laughed, vanishing and reappearing behind the man, his hands massaging his shoulders. "Leave the search to people who actually CARE about the Queen. Let's go home and have some tea with the other two, forget about exerting all this effort." He smiled as the man turned to him. "It's just not like you to get so worked up over something that involves the Queen, Beyond."
"…Fine. You're right. It's not like me." Beyond smiled, nodding. "Let's go find the other two and get some tea back at the house."
"Of course." Mail smiled, walking down the stairs with him. It seemed that Beyond was the only one who thought that Nate would come this way, because he meets no one else on the way down.
Upstairs, Nate watches quietly from a slightly-ajar storage room as Mail leads the older man downstairs. 'Good.' He thought. 'If he had stuck around, we may not be able to pull this off. That guy has a nose like a bloodhound.' He nodded to Mihael and opened the door farther, leading him out into the hall.
The silence is deafening; an unnerving silence, like the calm before the storm. Each step to the treasure room takes them closer and closer to Mihael's escape, and Nate nervously fingers the key he'd put in his pocket when he'd taken the pendant from Mihael the day before.
"Are we gonna make it?" Mihael asked quietly, looking around anxiously.
"Shhh." Nate glanced around as they passed each room, getting closer and closer. They reach the end of the hall and there's another staircase leading up, going even higher. "Of course." He murmured. "The North Tower. Only the Queen was allowed up there." He looked at the key in his hand and nodded, starting to go up the stairs.
"Wait." Mihael paused. "Nate…what's going to happen to you once I'm free?"
"We've been over this, Mihael." Nate turned to him, pocketing the key again. "I will be branded a traitor and most likely killed. But, for the sake of your world, I'm willing to take that risk." He reached up and stroked the boy's cheek with his right hand, his eyes quivering a bit. "Just promise me that you will never return here; never chase a white rabbit with a pocket-watch again. In case…in case I fail…I want to be sure at least you will be safe.
"Don't talk like that!" Mihael grabbed his hand firmly. "You're going to succeed, I know you will! You're going to win and save all the kids of my world and the Queen and Beyond will never eat another child again! I know you can do it!"
Nate closed his eyes and then gave a shaky smile, pulling the other boy close. "Thank you for your confidence. I needed that."
Mihael nodded, holding him close. "I thought you might." He pulled away a bit. "Well…let's get me home." He smiled, starting up the stairs.
"Stop right there!" A voice yelled, and Nate looked over to see the King and a lot of soldiers approaching.
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I'm-a sing the doom song! *whacked with a boot* Okay, fine. I won't. I'll just post up the next and final chapter.