Two chapters left before the end!

"Quest of Redemption"

Sìnead could sense something was happening, no one had come to her door all day; not even for meals. She didn't particularly care however, she had preoccupied herself with feeling miserable, sitting in her chair, and gazing deeply into the mirror across the way.

She barely recognized herself. The face in the mirror was a woman, haunted eyes rimmed with dark circles, long blondish brown hair hung lank, and her pale face was drawn with untold amounts of fear and worry.

It had to have been past midnight when a hoarse humming echoed around her chamber. Sìnead looked around wildly for the source, and found herself face to face with the same cat from earlier. He materialized onto her dresser and regarded the girl with a jovial grin.

"Good evening Sìnead," he mock bowed.

"What are you doing here?" Suspicion clouded her voice.

"Me? I came to help you, as a friend."

"Why haven't you come before?" She asked coldly.

"Because there's never been a real need."

Sìnead raised an eyebrow.

"You see, I overheard some nasty news from the Duchess. It appears you've finally outstayed your usefulness and she wants to get rid of you."

Sìnead's eyes widened, "I have to get out of here."

"That's why I'm here," the cat grinned, "I have a plan. There is a "Heart of Darkness" in Wonderland. It's very dangerous...no one dares to destroy it, or even try. But you, you with your...skillset… you might have a shot at destroying the Heart of Darkness. Then, you'll have redeemed yourself - you'll return a hero and I'm certain the Duchess will let you stay. "

"Really? W-when do we leave?" Sìnead couldn't believe her ears.

"Right now."

Feeling almost giddy, Sìnead followed the cat out the window, expertly scaling the wall of the manor down into the forest below.

She hadn't seen much of Wonderland - only the Tulgey Wood and the Duchess's Manor.

So stepping into the splendor of this forest finally made Wonderland live up to its name.

"Where are we?" she breathed.

"The Caterpillar's woods."

"Who?"

"Don't worry about it," the Cheshire Cat grumbled, "you're better off having never met him."

Sìnead turned her attention to the beauty of the forest. Spotted mushrooms rose to the skies, enormous flowers with oddly human faces swayed in a midnight breeze.

"What are these?" Sìnead asked when a strange bug landed on her outstretched hand.

"Bread and butterflies, watch out for the dragon flies, they can be quite the scorchers." The Cheshire cat wrinkled his nose at a passing bug.

It seemed like no time had passed before the cat announced, "we're here."

Sìnead peered out and saw a gaping black chasm a few yards in front of them.

"Is this the place?"

"That it is," the cat peered over the edge, "the Heart of Darkness is at the bottom."

"How do I get there?" Sìnead's eyes widened.

"You'll have to jump - don't worry, the chasm is magical, it'll break your fall."

Sìnead nodded and steeled herself. She was terrified, but somehow, the promise of redemption burned stronger than fear.

She stepped over the edge and felt a gut wrenching rush as she plummeted. Just as the cat had promised, her momentum slowed several yards above the ground. Sìnead landed in several inches of soft ash. Blinking rapidly, her eyes adjusted to the dim light. The chasm was empty; devoid of life. Sìnead peered around, trying to make sense of the vacant environment. Where was the Heart of Darkness?

"Cat!" She screamed, "where is it?"

A hoarse laughter echoed down from the mouth.

"Do you know what this place is?" the cat mocked, his carefree tone has morphed into something cruel, "It's the Pit of Despair. Only the Pure of Heart can cross, and you, girlie, are most certainly not. The only thing at the bottom is the bones of others who thought they could cross and your own darkest fears," he laughed more.

"You tricked me!" Sìnead screamed, finally glimpsing the cat's gleaming amber gaze.

"I'll send your regards to the Duchess - no one survives their inner demons - least of all a monster like you."

The cat disappeared.

Sìnead was utterly alone.

Up next = climax

PS, anyone remember the episode where Alice tried to cross that chasm?