Chapter 24
Ace
We followed the cat-boy, Cheshire, into the door. Upon entrance, I saw the strangest thing. It looked like a garden at least three times the size of Cyclonia! Above us were dandelions and snap dragons. It was very strange.
"We must remain quiet, lest we awaken her Lady's garden." Cheshire said.
"Awaken the garden?" I asked.
"I would say "You will see," but it is best if that option is avoided." He floated off, down the small path. "This way. Keep quiet."
As the Storm Hawks and myself walked through the garden, I could hear the faint snoring of some creature or perhaps a group of creatures. "What is that sound?" Finn asked in a low voice.
"I don't know but it's really creepy." Piper said.
"Let's just try to keep as quiet as possible." Aerrow said, trying to keep everyone calm.
"Agreed." I said. "Whatever it is, it probably is in the garden."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the blue cabbit-Radarr was his name-walking ahead, behind Cheshire. Cheshire floated around the corner, past a giant Bleeding Heart flower. As we followed, something dripped onto my head. The children all made sounds of disgust. I wiped what was coming down my skull from my face and looked at my hand.
"It's…" I said in shock.
"Blood!" Stork squeaked out. I looked up to see that the flower was literally a bleeding heart! The mound of tissues attached to the stem was beating, calmly.
"Shh!" Cheshire hissed, getting close.
"What is this?" I asked him.
"My Lady's Heart. All within Wonder is but a piece of her. This is her heart." He explained, gesturing to the heart. He then looked up at it. "By the sound of it, she rests. Her dreams are either pleasant or she dreams nothing at all. It is different with every night. Sometimes, she never sleeps at all. My Lady has a habit of watching over her kingdom rather than sleeping."
"You seem like you respect her greatly." Aerrow stated.
"I love My Lady for she is the creator of Wonder. She is Mother to us all." He said simply. He then floated down the path again. "Watch your step for her blood soaks the ground."
Stork
Once Cheshire started to move again, we all followed suit. It was very strange to see a giant heart above us as it calmly pumped out blood. I watched it for a moment before watching the path ahead. Radarr seemed attached to Cheshire.
"Hey! Wait up!" A little girl's voice said.
Ahead, there was a little girl with long, blonde hair that stopped in the middle of her back. She was chasing after a bug. Her pale skin seemed to glow as she ran about in a light blue dress.
"What-" Junko started by was interrupted by Cheshire shushing them.
"She is unable to hear or see you all. She can only see me." He explained. "This is the past of My Lady. This was her escape. Stay here." He then vanished and teleported before the young girl. "My Lady, why are you here?" He asked.
"Because I wanna be, Shesh." She said, having trouble saying "Chess," it seemed. "Why are you here?"
"I am on my way to see Absuhlom."
"Does he need to see those strange people?" She said, pointing towards us.
Cheshire was clearly shocked. "How can you see them?"
"I can see ev-we-sing in muh gardeen, Shesh." She said. The girl then turned to us. "Who are you guys and why are you here?" She ordered loudly. "If you don't answer in thirty-seconds, I'll send my lions and dragons after you!" She said, pointing at us.
I studied her. Her face was thin from lack of sugar, her eyes nearly as gold as Alice's, and her hair was tied back with a black headband. She had authority in her eyes. "Twenty… Nineteen… Eighteen… Sefenteen…" It took me a moment to figure out that she was counting down.
"We're trying to fin a friend of ours. She was with us when we fell into your world." Aerrow said quickly.
The girl stared at the leader. She then looked at all of us before her eyes lingered on me. The way she looked at me reminded me so much of Alice. She then looked up at Cheshire to confirm what was being said. Cheshire nodded as he said, "They speak the truth, My Lady. They need help."
Her face softened before she looked at us with a smile. "I'll go with you then."
"My Lady, you can't!" Ceshire said quickly. "It is far too dangerous and-"
"My kingdem, my roolz. Besides, if I go wif you, you can get past my fweinds."
Cheshire puffed out his chest like he was about to assert himself before sighing. "Very well, My Lady. If that is your wish." He said.
She hugged Cheshire's leg, seeing as her face could only reach his mid-thigh. "Yay! Lady can pway wif Shesh and his fweinds! Yay!"
"My Lady…" Cheshire groaned before leading us all away.
I watched the girl who seemed particularly attached to Cheshire. She was very odd and seemed to flaunt her authority. Her eyes were what distracted me. They held so much confidence. Like Alice's eyes.
Alice… My mind spoke as I looked up at the bright grey sky. Just where are you? What are you doing?
Alice
"It is my honor," The principal said. "To congratulate the future; The Class of 2012."
With that, all the students, attired in hot and itchy red gowns, took their red hats-with red and white tassels attached-and tossed them into the air.
I watched my hat fly up. To me, the flying of my hat meant I could finally spread my wings. It was over.
The melodramatic, dull high school days…
The Pizza Fridays that came every other week of the month…
The bullies that constantly berated me…
The pressure to keep calm in class…
I was done with high school and I was going off to college soon. I hate quoting that stupid Disney movie, but…this is the start of something new.
I could just feel it!
I have no excuse, ya'll. I had a play that I've been rehearsing for, my boyfriend dumped me (Via text message, the chicken shit), and I'm finally 18. Yesterday was my birthday/play so it was awesome. I've actually had this chapter typed for a while but totally forgot. I'm sorry you guys. If there's anything I can do to cheer you guys up, LET. ME. KNOW. Otherwise, this is it for a while. I gotta get a job soon. On the plus side, this girl is graduating on May 19th! WOOT! High school is do-o-ne!
Well, I'm sorry for the wait but here it is! I love you all! Peace!