"Okay, so I think if we turn right here, we'll be able to make our way to the first floor," Boris said as he looked both ways of the hallway. "Or...was it to the left? You know, it was because of Alice that I stopped coming here often..." He sighed. "I'm really out of practice."
Katrina blinked, looking down both ways too.
Before she could think up a good response, a loud voice rang out. "Kat!"
Katrina froze, recognizing Elizabeth's voice.
"That's Elizabeth! Quick, follow me if you want to live!" she exclaimed without thinking.
She turned towards the left, the direction she heard the voice come from.
"Meow!" She meowed as loud as she could, hoping it would be enough for Elizabeth to hear. She then started to run faster, Boris following right behind her.
"Kat!" Elizabeth cried out again, her voice sounding closer.
Yes! Direction!
"Meow!" Katrina replied, hoping that she could lead Elizabeth as she was leading her.
"Kat!"
"Meow!"
"Kat!"
"Meow!"
"Kat!"
"Meow!"
"Kat!"
Taking a sharp turn, there was a large group of maids blocking their way. Katrina came to a sudden halt with Boris bumping right into her. Seeing them, some of the maids screamed, others pulling out small pistols from their sides.
Well...
"Crap baskets." Katrina stood where she was, because probably, no matter which way she moved, she would most likely get shot. Which would suck.
"Get behind me!"
Doing a front flip over her, Boris shielded her and got out of his gun.
Boris meat shield! Wait-
The half formed thought was cut off abruptly as the shootout began.
Gunfire and cries of pain caused Katrina to squeeze her eyes shut and cover her ears. She felt her blood freeze. Soon enough, the fighting ceased, Boris studying his gun with a look of pride. Katrina opened her eyes slowly, but at the first sign of blood squeezed them shut again. Slowly the smell filtered into her nose.
"And this is why I didn't want you go by yourself," he said. "You didn't get shot, did you?"
There was a long pause.
"...Katrina?"
He glanced down to see Katrina frozen in place, hunched over, eyes shut, hand over her mouth, shaking slightly.
Don't throw up. Don't throw up. I got this. I totally got this... Breath. In. Out. In. Out. The ringing in your ears will go away soon.
"Katrina? Shit, not again..."
Boris put his hands on top of her shoulders, trying to find a way to comfort her. Katrina didn't open her eyes but moved her hand from her mouth.
"I-"
"Kat!" Elizabeth's voice was jarring.
Eyes flashing open, Katrina immediately remembered where she was and why. She opened her eyes slowly. Unable to look him in the eyes and refusing to look anywhere else she stared at the man's chest.
"Boris. H-help me move. Elizabeth can't see this."
"What?"
"Kat!" Katrina could tell Elizabeth was getting closer.
"Now."
Urgency filled her voice and prompted Boris to wrap his arms around her like they were hugging and pulled her forward, around another corner. The stairs lay right in front of them. From the flight of stairs, Elizabeth came rushing down, panting heavily like she had ran through the castle and back. Katrina quickly stepped back from Boris and stuffed her fists in her pockets.
"Kat! I'm so glad you're okay."
Elizabeth rushed forward, tackling her friend in a bear hug. Katrina gave a half-hearted chuckle, but didn't move to hug her friend back.
Elizabeth moved back before speaking again. "Hey are you okay? Something smells weird."
"Fine! I'm fine. And besides you just made my day with that game of Marco Polo. Besides, I wasn't the one that was kidnapped." Katrina was surprised at how steady her voice was, but cringed at her own joke.
Why did I do that?
Something in her chest clenched. She ignored it. Keep it together. Neither Boris nor Elizabeth seemed to notice the terrible joke and for that she was grateful. Boris was giving her some worried looks though.
Unfortunately, some of the blood seemed to have splashed onto Katrina's pants and Elizabeth noticed it.
"Kat, why is there blood on your pants?" Elizabeth half asked, half demanded.
"I decided to sacrifice someone to Stan."
There I go making another joke. Too bad I'm the only one who gets that one.
"Boris?" Elizabeth turned towards the Cheshire Cat, who was confused more than anything.
"We ran into some of the palace servants on the way here. I ended up killing them and then she freaked out."
"Oh." Elizabeth said, because there really wasn't a good response to that kind of news.
Boris tugged Katrina back to him, she didn't put up much of a fight, and moved to grab Elizabeth's arm, "And now we can all go back to the Amusement Park!"
"They will not be going anywhere with you, cat."
Quickly turning around, the three of them could see Peter pointing a gun at them, a dark, irritated look in his eyes. Elizabeth stood her ground while Boris just gave a cocky smirk.
"I thank you for bringing the second outsider to Heart Castle, cat," he spat with fake politeness. "Saved me the trouble of having to hunt her down myself."
"What makes you think I brought her to you?" Boris replied coolly. "I was simply trying to reunite her with her friend. Who you kidnapped, according to her."
He let go of both girls and stood between them and Peter.
Elizabeth glanced worriedly over to Katrina who had just closed her eyes and was breathing a little too evenly.
"While it is awesome we've got three more outsiders because of you, I think Katrina and Elizabeth have had enough of you for now."
Opening her eyes again Katrina asked, "So, Peter, how'd kidnapping Elizabeth go? I imagine she probably punched you. Do you really want to keep her here?"
"I have to. She is my responsibility and apparently so are you." Peter narrowed his dark red gaze. "Besides, I brought Liz here because I need her to help my true love's struggle. As for you and the other, you came under your own free will. Though I do have to ask, did you drink any liquid out of a vial?"
Katrina sighed, eyes fluttering closed again and let the silence stretch on.
I imagine we can't leave here without a fight. She swallowed heavily. No I won't let them. What else could we do? Surrender? What about Boris? Would he surrender us? Probably not. Urgh. What to do? What to do?
"Well?" Peter demanded.
Katrina blinked, "Oh, uh. Yeah. Yeah, I drank it."
"You were supposed to escort the outsiders to the throne room, Peter."
A new voice answered. Vivaldi stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at the small group.
"Of course. I was just doing that." Peter replies curtly, ascending the stairs, obviously expecting the others to follow.
"Katrina?" Boris asked worriedly.
"I- I'm fine." Katrina said, moving jerkily, but by herself. Elizabeth sent her a pointed look she stubbornly ignored as she unsteadily made her way up the stairs.
Boris however refused to be so passive and scooped Katrina up onto his shoulder.
"Boris! I said I could do it by myself."
"Yeah, but this way is much faster. And I'm kinda afraid you're going to fall back down those steps if I let you do it by yourself."
Elizabeth hurried after, slightly grateful for Boris' intervention and very worried about friend.
When the three finally walked into the throne room, Vivaldi thundered, "We order you to tell us who you are. Elizabeth informs us that you are named Cat. Although you do not look much like one."
But on the way up Katrina had started shaking again, already flashing back to the massacre despite her best efforts to avoid thinking about it and had buried her face into Boris' scarf. Boris responded for her.
"Heh, sorry about this your majesty. But things got a little messy on the way here and Katrina isn't doing so well."
"Then we demand she rest here! You shall release her to us and leave at once!"
"Aww. But I found her. Besides she obviously likes me the most." He replied possessively, grip tightening just a little.
"The Queen gave an order, cat." Peter drew his gun. Upon hearing the gun being drawn, Katrina spoke up.
"It's alright Boris. I promise I'll come visit you soon. Just let go. Please? I don't want any more fighting." All three role holders were instantly reminded of Alice.
"Alright, but promise it'll be soon okay?" Boris said, reluctantly setting her down.
"Yeah I promise." Katrina gave a smile. "So, where were we?"
She turned around suddenly acting normally but if Elizabeth was being honest it weirded her out because she should not be that normal after what had just happened.
"Right, well it was night, right before midnight, and Peter appeared out of nowhere. Then he just picked Elizabeth up and started leaving. I jumped on him. We fell into a gigantic hole that wasn't there before. And I might have gotten hit with a shoe somewhere along the way."
Vivaldi, seemingly unperturbed by the mood change, sighed and glared at Peter.
"We see. The Prime Minister will be reprimanded accordingly for his actions. As it is we have ordered the maids to prepare three rooms, one for each of you girls." she explained, "They will be right next to each other, so you can visit whenever you wish. Once the night period, or periods, are over, we will bring back your friend back from the Clock Tower."
Elizabeth blinked. "Wait, 'Clock Tower?' Katie ended up at the Clock Tower?"
Katrina laughed, it sounded hollow to her own ears. "Nice!"
Maybe I can go stay in neutral territory.
"Yes. Our Knight of Hearts reported a new outsider being there," Vivaldi replied. "Apparently, she had fallen from the sky and landed right on top of the clockmaker. She was out cold, so he decided let the clockmaker tend to her until she awakens."
She gave off a soft chuckle, as if the thought amused her. Both Katrina and Elizabeth stopped in their tracks, Elizabeth bursting out laughing while Katrina's mouth twisted upwards, genuinely.
Wow, Katie. Smooth.
"Oh my God..." Laughing so hard, Elizabeth fell to the ground, having a difficult time breathing.
Vivaldi turned to face them, smirking while she waited for them to regain control of themselves. "We suppose this amuses you?"
Katrina nodded while Elizabeth leaned against the wall for support.
"Indeed." Katrina said.
Out of all the ways to get to Wonderland, out of all the people to fall on top of...
Even she couldn't hold back a small smile, imagining what Katie's reaction would be once she found out what happened. Maybe Wonderland won't be so bad.