ALICE’S CELL, RADCLIFFE LUNATIC ASYLUM
B ack in my cell, I sit next to my silent Tiger Lily and enjoy the silence. There is this strange feeling that follows every episode of madness I encounter; it’s that euphoric feeling of I’m great. I managed to survive another day in this insane world.
What a great feeling.
I plan to sleep today, continue my Mush Room sessions with Waltraud tomorrow, then wait for a new mission around next week. Let’s step it up a notch, Queen of Hearts!
For my own sanity and safety, I make sure Lewis’ key is still hidden in the wall of the cell. It is, and it should stay safe in here.
I have no idea how I will get the next one, or if I will be able to get back the one with the Queen of Hearts now, but we’ll see what happens.
To put myself to sleep, I sing, “I am a mad, mad girl in a mad, mad world, it’s not a bad, bad thing if I am crazy.”
But suddenly, I hear someone sing it in the cell next to me. It’s not a girl’s voice but a boy’s.
I keep singing, and that boy sings with me.
Slowly, it dawns on me. “Jack?” I whisper to the wall.
“Who else do you think is mad enough about you that he’d voluntarily go in an asylum to be with you?” he says from behind the wall.
I place my two palms on the wall, wanting to hug it, and maybe kiss it. I can’t believe this is true.
“Jack,” I pant. “How did you make it? I thought you were crossing over to the other side.”
“Let’s put it this way,” he says in a smiley voice, “I told the guys in hell to go to hell.”
“Poetic.” I laugh.
“I also told them I’m mad about you, so they suggested I come here,” he says. “They didn’t think I’d do it.”
“But I don’t think anyone can voluntarily come to the asylum. I mean, it’s ironic that if you tell someone you’re mad, they probably won’t believe you.”
“Not until you walk butt naked across the street in front of them,” Jack chirps.
I laugh hysterically.
Then the evil thought hits me that I may just be imagining it.
I turn around and watch my Tiger Lily. She is just standing still. She isn’t talking to me, so Jack must be real.
“I missed you so much, Jack,” I tell him.
“Me too,” he says. “How about we go on a date tomorrow?”
“Date? Where?”
“I managed to slip my name to Waltraud,” he says. “So I’m right behind you in the Mush Room list. Not a bad place to meet.”
I am floored. Laughing. Happier than ever. I love this goofy and weird guy. He just wants to be with me. What else can I ask for?
“It’s a mad world, Alice,” he says. “But together, we…”
“Together, we can make it through.” I cut in.
“And you know how we’ll do it?”
“Have no clue,” I chuckle.
“By being madder.”
I almost cry out of joy. With all things not making sense, Jack, here next to me, makes the most sense of all.
And even if I am imagining him, I don’t mind. I love you, Jack Diamond, and together we’re about to stand up against Black Chess in the most nonsensical—but greatest—war of all time.