ALRIGHT, NEW CHAPPY! AGAIN, SHORTER. BUT THIS ONE GOT TONS OF TWISTS! PLEAS ENJOY, RATE, COMMENT, REVIEW, AND VOTE!

Ch.16: The Plot Thickens

A small warm lump was snuggled against my stomach. I tried to open my eyes, but it was like there was sandpaper inside my eyelids. My eyes closed again and I drifted away once more.

"You really gave me quite a scare C.J." I turned my head to see Nightmare floating above me. I was slightly disturbed by the fact I was used to it already. "Alice is worried sick about you. Where are you and what happened?" His face was showing genuine concern. I shrugged, "Well, I left to go visit the Joker's, got lost, found a dead fox, watched shadow monsters turn it into a clock and then leave with it, and met a cute little fox kit that I named Patch." His eyes widened, "…You've had quite an eventful day." "I'm not finished. Then I got even more lost and wound up in this big dead valley. Then this gigantic monster showed up and hurt my arm. I hid in a little cave, and it went away. Then I fell asleep. Patch woke me up and I left the cave and wandered in the forest more…then I passed out. Last I saw, I was on the ground in the forest with Patch."

Finishing my recount of today's events, I took a deep breath. "So, what were all those things?" He nodded, "Yes, of course. The shadows you were referring to were the afterimages. They are the people of Wonderland who have died and are waiting for a new clock. They bring the clock back to Julius and he gives the afterimage a new life." I nodded, "And the dragon?" He shook his head, "Jabberwocky. It's a fearsome beast that hunts the Badlands; the area you stumbled into. You said it hurt you?" I nodded. "You should get someone to look at that. It might fester." I nodded. The Dream Realm trembled. Nightmare looked to back to me, "It is time to go. I shall tell Alice that you're alright. Be careful C.J…." His warning drifted into nowhere as he disappeared and the Dream Realm crumbled.

I cracked my eyes open as I noticed the warmth that soaked into me. I lifted my head up tenderly. I was sore all over. Patch was resting on my chest. His head came up with mine, and then he snuggled back down. I looked around me. To my shock, I wasn't on the forest floor. I was inside a colorful tent and lying on a soft sleeping bag and a very fluffy pillow. Several multi-colored blankets were piled on me; Patch nestled on top. I tugged the blankets off. I saw that I was still wearing my clothes, but my brown-torso jacket had been removed. I pulled myself upright, and then collapsed in pain as my arm buckled.

I glanced down and saw that my arm was bandaged, the wound properly treated. What…who…. "Oh! You're up C.J!" I lifted my head to see the owner of the familiar voice. "White! Long time no see, man! How the hell did I get here?" The ginger ring master smiled politely, "I found you passed out in the woods near the circus. How did you get yourself so hurt?" I grinned sheepishly, "I got lost on the way here and had a run in with a Jabberwocky." His visible eye widened. Black spoke up from the belt, "JABBERWOCKY? Are you f****** insane, woman? Do you have any idea how danger_" White clapped his hand over the little white mask. "A jabberwocky…you're very lucky to have survived C.J. I suggest you stay out of the Badlands. You're also lucky that I came when I did. If that wound had been left longer, it might have become infected." Black snickered, "Yeah, we'd have to amputate your whole arm!" I smiled, "Thanks!" I looked down at the little fox on my lap. White notice it, "Oh, yes. He was with you when I found you. He refused to leave your side." I smiled at him, "This is Patch! I found his mom dead in the woods, so now I'm going to take care of him!" Black snickered, but said nothing. White smiled, "That's rather kind of you…what are you doing?" I was trying to get to my feet. I managed to stand when White came over to me, "You're still injured! You can't just get up and walk away!"

I stumbled and nearly fell. White reached out his arm and caught me. Black shouted in the little robot-mask-voice, "Are you crazy bitch? You're running a fever!" White looked at me, "Are you alright?" I looked up and grinned sheepishly, "Yup! I'm just a little wonky from blood lose." Black muttered, "Wonky? I think you got brain damage!" White sighed and forced me to sit down on the sleeping bag. "You really should rest C.J. You're not acting yourself." I blinked, "Eh?" He looked at me with a stern look. He opened his mouth to say something when Black stole his line. "GO TO SLEEP, BITCH!" White twitched, "What he said. I'll wake you up for a meal later. Do try to get some rest." With that, he turned around and walked out of the tent. I lay down on the pillow and pulled the covers over my head. I felt tiny pressure points on my chest as Patch padded up and nestled down on me. I closed my eyes and drifted off in an instant. And this time, Nightmare didn't disturb my slumber.

P.O.V Change: Black

I leaned back in my chair as I listened as White left C.J to the tent. I heard the rustle of fabric as White left her tent. I waited a bit before asking, "…So White, what the hell are we gonna do with the whore? Rape her? Kill her?" White's voice came to him in the same tiny robotic voice that his own came in as on the other side. "Nothing." I paused, confused by Whites lack of enthusiasm. "Nothing? We have a perfect opportunity, and you're not going to do anything? Don't tell me that damn foreigner little bitch has got you wrapped around her finger!" White's chuckle echoed eerily through the mask, "Of course not. You know that the Jokers are not part of the real game. I just want to see how this all plays out." "Plays out? Damn it White, you know this is bad!"

I put a hand over my eye. If that damned foreigner got White under her thumb, they were in serious trouble. Yes, the Jokers were not part of the game, but could it possible we were still influenced by foreigners? As the Jokers, a role holder could kill us as many times as they want, but we never really die. We just come back. BUT, if a foreigner killed us, we would be dead FOR GOOD. Adios, bye-bye, end of story. Foreigners were their true worst enemy. And unlike Alice, this one seemed capable of killing them! So why the hell was he inviting her into their territory?

"I would be more worried about you than me, Black." I narrowed my eye, "What the hell are you talking about?" I could almost see the smirk on Whites voice, "I'm just saying I have no intention of becoming attached to her and I advise you to do the same. Besides, it's best to have her on our side. You know what they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Also, I want to ask her about the Badlands." I frowned at his reasoning. It made sense but…he wasn't telling me something. "I know the complications. We both best tread carefully. Now, I really must attend to some business." White's voice faded from the mask as he broke connection.

I leaned back again, rubbing my temples. This is too much. That girl could destroy us, and White was insistent on keeping her close. What was that bastard plotting?

There was a large clank as a prisoner tumbled from his cell. He scrambled up and started running. I jolted from my seat, "Hey! You stop now, or I'll throw you in the f****** pit!" I charged after the escaped prisoner.

P.O.V Change: ?

I smirked as the red-headed warden ran off yelling to chase the escaped prisoner. This would buy me the time I needed. I reached out of my cell and started tinkering with the locks. There was click, and the bars swung open. I had already undone my shackles, so I was free to roam. That is, if I could get out before the damned Joker came back.

I pulled the cursed mask off my head and threw the atrocious thing back into the cell. I looked around and started walking to the exit. I had been here the last time the little foreigner was here, and I vividly remembered how she had stormed out in huff. I didn't know why, but the Black Joker hadn't liked the idea of letting her near them. Perhaps she had some power over them of which she was not aware. I turned to the right and walked down the hallway.

Yes, the blonde foreigner was the secret to my freedom. I was sure of it. If I was near her, the Jokers would not touch me; whether it was a matter of they could not, or simply would not, I did not know. I came to a large door and pushed it open. The sunlight was near blinding. I blinked hard, trying to adjust my eyes.

I glanced down to my wrist while trying to get the sunlight out of my eyes. Imbedded in it, was a scar. The scar wrapped around my wrist, a parting gift from the metal shackles that had held my prisoner for so long. The foreigner girl would surely keep the role holders away from me. I smiled at the sky. With the blonde foreigners help, I would get my revenge on the role holders…even if it took me 1000 years.

P.O.V Change: C.J

My warm brown eyes fluttered open. Patch was sitting on my face. I reached up with my uninjured arm and plucked him off, setting him down beside me. "PUN!" He seemed happy I was awake. I pulled myself into a sitting position. There was a twang from my wound, but I was feeling a hell of a lot better now. I looked around. I was no longer in the tent, but in what seemed to be a guest room. I looked down and grimaced at myself. My orange T had blood stains all over it right side. I glanced around and saw my jacket lying on a desk, along with my bag. I pulled it over, held it up, and groaned. There was a large tear in the long sleeve where the jabberwocky had cuffed me. Blood stains, I can deal with. But I drew the line at big ass rips.

"Crap! That was my only jacket!" "Don't worry. I'll be happy to provide you with a new one." I spun around to see White standing with a tray. "I hope you feel well enough to eat." He set the tray, piled with food, down next to me and sat down in the desk's chair. I smiled brightly, "Thanks, I'm starving!" I reached out and started to chow down. Patch padded up and tried to muscle in on my grub. I smiled and shared a bit with the mini-mooch. White watched me eat quietly, his head resting on his fist.

"C.J, did you see anything…odd…out in the Badlands?" I cocked my head, "Aside from a killer monster, no. What do you mean?" He shrugged, "There are rumors about strange occurrences out there. Anyone who wanders out there usually comes back with a story." I leaned forward a bit, "Stories? About what?" "Strange ruins, hearing weird noises …some have even claimed to see people out there." My eyes widened, "People, as in people living out there?" He shrugged again, "I don't know. Most folks write off the sightings as a mirage. Everyone who tries to map the area has either comes back saying that there was nothing out there but rocks and dirt or…." I tilted my head, "Or what?" Black spoke up, "Or they come back stark raving mad."

THE PLOT THICKENS INDEED. WE NOW HAVE A MYSTERY TO SOLVE, AND A NEW CHARACTER! (THE NEW CHARACTER IS AN O.C) BTW, THE THING ABOUT THE A FOREIGNER BEING THE ONLY ONE TO KILL THE JOKERS WAS ACTUALLY NOT MY IDEA. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S PART OF THE GAME OR NOT, BUT I GOT IT FROM THE COMMENTS BOARD ON A YOU-TUBE VID. I DON'T REMEMBER THE COMMENTER, BUT THE VIDIO IS KISS ME KILL ME, A JOKERXALICE VID. I REALLY LIKED THE IDEA AND INCLUDED IT IN THE STORY! :D THANK YOU, UNKNOWN YOU-TUBE COMMENTER!